Chapter Twenty-Eight: An Inch of Wood, an Inch of Gold

Zhang Jiye hurriedly explained, “This rotten wood has been soaking in the river for so many years, it’s so heavy—it must be all waterlogged!”

“Yes, just water and decayed wood; otherwise, how could it weigh so much?”

...

Everyone began to chatter, but their attention was no longer on the pitch-black golden nanmu. After a few sentences, their conversation turned to the ten thousand yuan that Zhang Can had donated—how the village roads should be repaired, how many people would be needed, how long it would take, and so on.

Zhang Can found it amusing. Before long, the village chief came rushing back, lugging a large bag of drinks—orange juice, cola, even canned beer—at least twenty or thirty items, with each person getting two. It seemed Zhang Can’s two hundred yuan had been spent almost entirely on refreshments, with only thirty or forty yuan left unused.

The dozen or so villagers laughed and picked their drinks and beers, chatting and showing Zhang Can newfound respect. People are always like this; when you lack money and ability, few treat you with respect. So-called respect is simply rooted in status and wealth—it’s all about face.

Once the drinks were finished and the laughter subsided, the village chief called everyone together to lift the wood again. This time, Zhang Can watched from the side. Seventeen people struggled to carry the log, showing just how heavy the golden nanmu truly was.

Back at the house, the log was placed in the main hall, alongside the other three. Zhang Jiye, putting on a show, fetched an axe from the kitchen—not that he would actually dare damage the wood. Each log of golden nanmu was worth a million, and even the bark could be worth hundreds of thousands. No one would risk harming it.

The village chief, having pocketed the ten thousand yuan, could not stay at Zhang Can’s house. He hurried back, needing to gather people and calculate how to make the most of the opportunity.

With the chief gone, the others followed. Zhang Can had no instructions for them, but they wanted to keep an eye on the chief; the ten thousand yuan must be accounted for openly, and not allowed to disappear into his pocket.

Watching the crowd swarm after the village chief, Zhang Can felt that handing him ten thousand yuan in front of everyone was the right move. Smiling, Zhang Jiye quickly fastened the door and turned on the lights.

Zhang Guonian was still worried, fearing Zhang Can had misjudged. Apart from their unusual weight, the four logs looked like nothing but rotten, pitch-black wood. Could they really be worth a million each?

“Second, now that we’re home, take a good look and make sure. After all, you spent ten thousand yuan.”

But Zhang Can needed no further inspection. Smiling, he said, “Brother, try shaving a bit of bark off with the axe.”

With Zhang Can’s instruction, Zhang Jiye grew bolder, no longer worried about losing a bit of money. He swung the axe at one end, but the wood was so dense that the blade left only a mark.

Now only family remained in the room—no outsiders. Zhang Can spoke freely, smiling: “Brother, use more force, don’t worry about damaging it. Shaving off some bark won’t hurt. Golden nanmu is as hard as metal—imperishable for a thousand, ten thousand years. Without strength, you won’t budge it!”

Zhang Jiye grunted, lifted the axe, and with a hefty swing, shaved off a thin slice the size of a palm.

All eyes were fixed on the cut. Where the bark had been removed, streaks of golden grain appeared, flowing like threads of gold. Just from this sight, Zhang Guonian and Zhang Jiye were convinced—golden nanmu indeed lived up to its name.

Zhang Can grinned, “Dad, Brother, now you’re convinced? This is definitely golden nanmu. I won’t mistake it. In ancient times, officials regarded offering golden nanmu as a matter of utmost importance—success could even be a criterion for promotion. Ordinary people who could present a log of golden nanmu would be granted official rank instantly. But golden nanmu was rare, found only in deep forests in Sichuan and Hubei. Back then, the roads were nothing like today, and the old saying was that the road to Shu was harder than climbing to heaven. Harvesting nanmu in the mountains often cost many lives; they used to say ten lives for one log. The wealthy, eager for office, would pay huge sums but still couldn’t buy it—golden nanmu was worth its weight in gold, but impossible to find!”

As Zhang Can spoke, his family listened in awe. Zhang Hua, holding onto Zhang Can’s arm, shook it and said, “Second Brother, you seem like a different person now. I never realized you knew so much!”

“Silly girl, if I’m not your second brother, who else would I be?”

Chuckling, Zhang Can continued, “Golden nanmu is precious for several reasons. First, it’s resistant to decay—even buried underground or soaked in water, it lasts thousands of years, hence the saying: imperishable for a thousand, ten thousand years. So emperors’ coffins were often made from golden nanmu—no prince or minister could use it, showing its rarity. Second, it repels insects; golden nanmu has a special fragrance. But even golden nanmu isn’t the most valuable nanmu—there’s a kind called ‘Qi Nan,’ also known as ‘Agarwood,’ which is even more precious. Its price is calculated by the gram. If you had a log of agarwood this size, it would be worth tens of millions, even billions. But such a log is a once-in-a-lifetime miracle; no one ever encounters it. The scent of golden nanmu repels rot fungi and termites. Third, it has insulating properties—warm in winter, cool in summer, not harmful to the body. Fourth, the wood is superb—stable, with smooth grain, resistant to warping or cracking no matter the temperature or exposure. Ordinary wood used for doors and windows warps in sunlight, but not golden nanmu.”

Zhang Guonian nodded, “Yes, I heard adults say golden nanmu was priceless, but I’ve never seen it. These four logs by the river—I’ve watched them all my life, never imagined they were such treasures!”

Zhang Can smiled, “Wealth isn’t something to force. If it’s meant to come, it will; if not, you can’t force it. Just let things happen.”

“That’s true. If not for Second learning how to recognize golden nanmu, who here would know it was a treasure? So knowledge is valuable—without skill, even a mountain of gold and silver before you would do you no good!”

Zhang Jiye sighed, ever since Zhang Can returned and spoke of golden nanmu, it felt like a dream. Such is life; without diamond tools, how can you cut porcelain?

The family lost themselves in reverie. After a while, Zhang Hua looked up and asked, “Second Brother, you mentioned ‘Qi Nan’ wood, also called ‘Agarwood,’ which is even more valuable than golden nanmu. Have you ever seen it?”

Zhang Can paused, then tapped his sister’s head, scolding gently, “You silly girl, what do you know? Agarwood is priced by the gram; every inch is worth its weight in gold, more precious than gold itself. It’s not something you can simply see.”

“Enough, enough—let’s not talk about useless things,” Zhang Guonian urged. “Are you sure about this golden nanmu? If you’re certain, we need to discuss how to transport it out.”

Zhang Can pointed to the cut, “Dad, I won’t mistake it. Golden nanmu is extremely rare, but easy to identify—break it open, and the cross-section shows golden threads, unique to this wood. No other wood has this, so I can’t be wrong.”

Pausing, Zhang Can mused, “As for moving it, I think we should wait until my boss from Jincheng arrives tomorrow and discuss how to transport it discreetly.”

“Your boss is coming tomorrow?” Zhang Guonian was surprised. “Won’t that arouse suspicion in the village? Think about it—golden nanmu is so heavy, and you’ll need a dozen people to load it. There’s no way to move it without everyone knowing!”

Zhang Can fell silent, pondering for a while, then said, “Let’s wait until he arrives. Dad, I may need to go to Jincheng first. Things are busy there; when I called my boss today, he urged me to come. The shop needs me urgently—work can’t be delayed!”

“No way!” Zhang Guonian disagreed at once. “Everything is ready—you’re supposed to meet the family and settle the marriage. Finish that before worrying about your job.”

Liu Chunju, eldest brother Zhang Jiye, sister-in-law, and sister all opposed the idea. The arrangements with Second Aunt’s family were set, the date fixed. If Zhang Can left now, what would happen to the engagement?

Zhang Hua bluntly asked, “Second Brother, if you leave, who will meet the in-laws? Me? I can’t stand in for you!”

Though it was said in jest, it was true. Zhang Guonian, Zhang Jiye, Liu Chunju—all refused to let Zhang Can go. No matter how busy, surely he could spare time for his own wedding?

They didn’t know Zhang Can had already turned down Liu Xiaoqin. If he didn’t sneak away, there would be no one to meet the in-laws, and the situation would become even more awkward.

The family argued noisily, giving Zhang Can a headache. He finally got them to stop, waving his hands, “Dad, Mom, Brother, Sister-in-law, don’t worry about me. I promise you—I’ll definitely have a wife. Let me focus on my work, alright? A man needs a career to stand tall!”

The family kept the doors shut all evening. After dinner, Zhang Guonian and Zhang Jiye laid out bedding in the main hall, guarding the logs without leaving for a moment, ignoring Zhang Can’s attempts to persuade them.

In truth, each log of golden nanmu weighed more than a thousand catties. Even if outsiders knew its value, they couldn’t carry it off. If anyone tried to steal it, they couldn’t come in large numbers.

Zhang Can took the thin slice cut from the golden nanmu and broke it into small pieces, handing several to his mother, sister-in-law, and sister. “Mom, Sister-in-law, put these golden nanmu chips in your wardrobe. The fragrance repels insects and is harmless. Those mothballs sold in supermarkets are toxic, especially if a child mistakes them for candy. Golden nanmu chips don’t have that risk.”

“Second Brother, are these chips valuable too? We don’t want to attract thieves. If I have to guard them every day, that’s no good,” Zhang Hua joked, sniffing the chip at her nose.

Zhang Can tapped her head again, chiding, “Golden nanmu isn’t agarwood. Agarwood is valuable even as tiny fragments, since it’s a top-grade medicinal fragrance. Golden nanmu is precious for making carvings and furniture, but its chips are useless. Of course, if the chip is finger-sized, it’s still valuable—good for carving seals. But golden nanmu has been a tribute since ancient times, forbidden for private use, so even finger-sized chips are rarely seen.”