Chapter Twenty-Five: Golden Nanmu Wood

Although Zhang Guonian also found it hard to believe, he knew that his son worked with antiques and jade in Jincheng. Perhaps there was some truth to his words. Moreover, his son had sent him half a million in cash, which was convincing enough.

“Son, are you sure those four pillars are made of golden-thread nanmu?” Zhang Guonian thought for a moment and then asked.

Zhang Can nodded. “I’m certain, Dad. Over the past few years in Jincheng, I’ve learned enough about identification. There’s no way I could mistake golden-thread nanmu!”

His sister-in-law, Zhu Hongyu, immediately grew anxious. She glanced toward the door, then leaned in and whispered, “Can, if those wooden posts are really worth that much, isn’t there a risk someone might steal them?”

Zhang Can chuckled. “Who would know about them? Who would come to steal them? They’ve been there for years, and no one’s ever tried.”

“So what should we do?” Zhang Jiye scratched his head and frowned. “Are you suggesting we go steal them back ourselves at night?”

Zhang Can shook his head. “Definitely not. Later, you’ll come with me to the village chief’s house. I’ll offer ten thousand yuan to help repair the village roads and pave them with concrete, and at the same time, we’ll propose replacing the riverside pillars with concrete ones. That way, those four wooden pillars will be ours to deal with.”

Zhang Jiye slapped his thigh in delight. “That’s a good idea! But ten thousand is a bit much, isn’t it?”

“Not at all. Listen, bro, those four pillars will net us three hundred and twenty thousand. Spending ten thousand to get three hundred and twenty thousand—however you see it, it’s a profit!”

Zhang Can grinned, thinking to himself that these four golden-thread nanmu pillars were an unexpected windfall. He already had six million in cash; his family would have enough for any needs. With the power of his clairvoyant eyes, making money in the future would hardly be an issue. It seemed that in life, what one lacked wasn’t luck, but ability.

Take these four pillars, for example. Who could have imagined that these dark, weathered posts, standing in the river for who knows how many years and seen daily by the villagers, were actually worth a fortune?

Both Zhang Jiye and Zhang Guonian agreed to his plan, but after a moment, Zhang Guonian added, “Second, I think it’s better if you don’t go. We’ll set the stage, but your brother and I will talk to the village chief. Donating money to fix the village road—only a fool would refuse!”

Zhang Can laughed. “That’s fine too. Dad and bro, you go to the village chief about the donation, and I’ll head to the county to withdraw the ten thousand. We’ll get everything settled properly.”

Zhang Jiye nodded, overjoyed. “Who would’ve thought? When luck comes, you can’t block it even with a door panel. Maybe it’s because our grandfather’s grave is well placed. Second brother made over a hundred thousand this year, sent fifty thousand home, and now we can make another three hundred and twenty thousand. We should renovate the house and build a new place for you!”

“No need,” Zhang Can replied calmly. “Dad, bro, our family’s future will be even better. There’s no need to fix up the old house. I have two suggestions: first, buy a house in the county; second, buy one in Jincheng. Dad, Mom, Bro, and sister-in-law can all move; there’s no need to stay in Zhangjiazhuang!”

His words left his family stunned. Zhang Guonian was the first to object, “No, Second, you know we’re all country folk. How would we survive in a big city without any skills? I hear city houses are expensive—over a million easily. Our money, even with the pillars, only adds up to three hundred and seventy thousand. After buying a house, there’d be little left. It’s better here. Renovating the old house only costs twenty thousand, and we’d still have plenty left. What’s wrong with that?”

“Dad, there’s nothing to worry about,” Zhang Can replied with a smile. “Before I came back, I made six million from an antique. With the pillar money, that’s close to ten million. That’s enough to live well anywhere in the country. Besides, I have a yearly salary of a million. We’ll be fine—no need to worry.”

His declaration left the family speechless, even his mother, Liu Chunjü, didn’t know what to say. If they doubted him, there was still the fifty thousand he had sent home.

“Enough, Mom, Dad, let’s stop arguing. The sooner we settle this, the sooner we can be at ease. Dad and Bro, go tell the village chief I’m donating ten thousand to fix the road and build stone steps and water-blocking pillars by the river. As for those four nanmu pillars, just make up a reason and ask for them. That should be no problem. I’ll head to the county now.”

Zhang Guonian nodded. Now that the secret was out, none of them could sit still. All they could think about was bringing those pillars home as soon as possible.

After a moment, Zhang Can added, “Dad, Mom, I’ll pay for the house in the county. When we sell the pillars for three hundred and twenty thousand, Bro and little sister get a hundred thousand each, you and Mom keep a hundred thousand, and the remaining twenty thousand goes to Liangliang’s education fund.”

Zhang Jiye and Zhu Hongyu were stunned, then quickly shook their heads. “Second, that won’t do. Sure, things aren’t easy, but not so bad that we can’t cope. It’s fine if you want to give us something—you’re my brother—but a hundred thousand is too much. You keep it for your business. It’s not easy for our family to have a talent like you. We can’t support you, but we certainly can’t hold you back.”

Zhang Can waved them off. “We’re family; there’s no need for such talk. Making money is easy for me. You don’t need to worry. I still have five hundred and fifty thousand in savings. Even if we buy two houses in the county, that’s at most two or three hundred thousand. I’ll still have plenty left for business. You just enjoy the good days—I’m off!”

People are selfish by nature. At this moment, Zhang Can’s family could only think about how to get those four pillars home without arousing suspicion. Once they had agreed on their story, they prepared to go see the village chief.

Zhang Can left with a grin. There was no need for him to instruct them on what to say. He waited outside the village until a Changan minibus came by, then hopped on, paying five yuan for the ride to the county.

He didn’t recognize the driver, which was a relief—less small talk. Sitting by the window at the back, Zhang Can watched the scenery go by. The bus soon filled up, packed like sardines. The driver was reckless, speeding and braking abruptly, making Zhang Can’s scalp tingle. Still, it took just over twenty minutes to reach the county, when usually it would take forty.

The county had changed a lot in recent years, with more high-rise buildings than before. Last time he’d been too worried about his mother to notice, but now, in a good mood, he strolled the streets, taking in the sights. He found a bank, and, as usual in a small county, the spacious lobby was not crowded, so it was soon his turn.

He handed his bank card to the teller and said, “I’d like to withdraw one hundred thousand.”

“What?” The young woman at the counter was startled. It wasn’t unheard of in a small county town, but not common either. Those who withdrew such sums were usually well-known local wealthy people. This young man was a stranger, and his card was from another province—clearly, he’d made his fortune elsewhere.

“One hundred thousand,” Zhang Can repeated, his calm expression steadying the teller. She was fair-skinned, with a few freckles on her nose—not exactly beautiful, but charming in her own way.

A few years ago, withdrawing over a hundred thousand would have required an appointment. But with more wealthy clients, the rules had changed. Now, only withdrawals above three hundred thousand required prior notice. For out-of-province accounts like his, they processed it on the spot, since the fees were higher.

For withdrawals over a hundred thousand, the teller would provide a branded paper bag to hold the cash. Zhang Can casually stuffed a few scraps of paper on top and left the bank with the bag.

In the past, carrying such a large sum would have made him nervous, but now he strode down the street confidently, attracting no particular attention.

As he headed to the bus station, a thought occurred to him. Didn’t Liu Xiaoqin’s family live in the county? Why not visit her while he was here? She’d said she’d come to his home the day after tomorrow to meet his family, and they’d be married within a month—soon, she’d be his wife. Since he had time, he might as well visit. He’d sensed she was troubled earlier, but with so many people at his second aunt’s house, she might not have felt comfortable speaking. At her place, she might open up, and he could help if needed.

But he wasn’t sure of her address. He quickly called his father, Zhang Guonian, to ask. His father didn’t know either, so Zhang Can asked him to call his second aunt for the information—he didn’t have her number.

Zhang Guonian told him to wait while he had his wife, Liu Chunjü, make the call. But since she wasn’t home, he asked his daughter, Zhang Hua, to call instead.

Zhang Hua didn’t call their second aunt, but reached out to their cousin, Liu Xiuzhu, who promptly gave her the address—after all, both families had agreed to the marriage, so there was nothing to hide.

In under five minutes, Zhang Hua called her brother back with the address. Zhang Can thought it over, then went to a supermarket to buy gifts for Liu Xiaoqin’s family. Not knowing who lived there, he bought a bit of everything—wine, cigarettes, assorted presents, fruit—the best the county had to offer, spending over three thousand yuan.

He hailed a taxi, gave the driver the address, and set off.

They arrived at an old alley in the northern part of town. The taxi couldn’t go in; the driver stopped and pointed out the way, saying it was a narrow alley only accessible on foot. Zhang Can paid the fare, gathered his bags—quite a load, with both hands full—and headed in.

Counting the house numbers as he went, he saw that number seventy-nine was on the left. The first house on the left was number one, the right was two, and odd numbers were on the left.

The alley was lined with old houses. In recent years, the government’s development projects had focused on the southeast, leaving the north as the old town, now essentially a slum.

He walked three or four hundred meters, turned a corner, and finally saw the number seventy-nine.

It was a two-story house, clearly aged. Just inside the gate were several coal stoves; further in was a small courtyard. A few women were washing vegetables and clothes in the courtyard. Seeing Zhang Can with his many bags, they stared at him curiously.

He quickly approached and asked, “Excuse me, is this the Liu Xiaoqin residence?”