Chapter Twenty-Nine: Repairing the Plank Road in Plain Sight While Secretly Crossing the River at Chencang

Zhang Hua rested her chin in her hand, lost in thought. In the past, she had worked hard just for a few coins, but now, all of a sudden, she had become exceptionally wealthy. Her second brother had even slipped her ten thousand yuan in private. To her, this sudden windfall was so great that she didn’t even know how to spend it. Aside from buying a few beautiful dresses, she had no idea what else to do with the money.

Zhang Can patted his sister’s head and smiled. “Go to bed early. I’m heading back to Jin City tomorrow. Once I’ve prepared the house, you can come over. I’ll find you a job—it’s good for you to gain some experience outside.”

Zhang Hua was taken aback and quickly asked, “Second Brother, are you really leaving tomorrow? What about when Sister-in-law Xiao Qin comes to meet the family?”

“Go to sleep, little girl. Why so many questions?”

Zhang Can, feeling a headache coming on, knocked her lightly on the head and slipped out of the room. The lights were still on in the main hall, where his parents and elder brother Zhang Jiye were playing poker around the four golden nanmu logs. Zhang Can couldn’t help but find it amusing, but he didn’t join them, lest his parents start asking about Liu Xiaoqin again.

Around nine in the morning, Zhang Can, still lazing in bed, heard someone speaking Mandarin outside. Listening carefully, he recognized Zhu Senlin’s voice and hurriedly got up.

Zhu Senlin had arrived with a large travel bag, having hired a car from the county seat. There had been no delays along the way, and since Zhang Can had already mentioned to his parents and siblings that Zhu Senlin was coming, Zhu had no trouble finding the Zhang household after asking at the village entrance. Zhang Guonian and Zhang Jiye hadn’t gone to work in the fields; instead, they were drinking tea in the main hall. When the stout Zhu arrived with his travel bag, they quickly invited him in to sit.

Hearing Zhu’s voice, Zhang Can abandoned his lazy morning and got up at once. He hadn’t expected Zhu to come so early; it was only nine o’clock—he must have caught a flight at five in the morning.

Zhang Guonian and his son were not fluent in Mandarin. After a few awkward exchanges with Zhu, they fell silent. Zhang Can hurried out, calling as he went, “Old Zhu, how did you get here so fast?”

Having been briefed by Zhang Can, Zhu glanced at Zhang Guonian and Zhang Jiye and said with a smile, “I’m exhausted. The shop is swamped; I need you there to help. Mainly, I came to bring you back, and to transport those four golden nanmu logs!”

As soon as Zhu Senlin mentioned the golden nanmu logs, he glanced around to make sure no one was outside. Zhang Guonian, catching on, closed the main hall door.

Zhang Jiye, a bit nervous, asked, “Boss, do you think this really is golden nanmu?” Truth be told, even though Zhang Can had confirmed the wood, they were still anxious until the buyer himself declared it so.

Old Zhu squatted beside the spot Zhang Jiye had shaved down, running his hand over the exposed wood. The cut gleamed like a golden ribbon, a stark contrast to its dark exterior.

He didn’t comment on the exposed surface but instead turned to Zhang Jiye. “Do you have a knife?”

“Yes…”

Zhang Jiye hesitated, then dashed to the kitchen and returned with a hatchet. Zhu Senlin pointed at the other three logs. “Shave a bit off the tip of each one for me to see.”

With yesterday’s experience, Zhang Jiye chopped off palm-sized chips from the ends of the logs.

As the chips fell away, the dark outer wood gave way to a brilliant, golden surface. Zhu Senlin grinned. “Well, well! Four huge golden nanmu logs—how did you find them, Xiao Zhang?”

Hearing this, Zhang Jiye and his father finally relaxed. This could only mean it was genuine.

Zhang Can replied with a smile, “I stumbled upon them by chance. No one in the village knows what they are, so I was able to get them for a bargain.”

There was no need to elaborate. Zhu Senlin, being in the trade, understood the rules of seizing such opportunities. The secret must be kept; only when others are unaware can one buy cheap or even get something for nothing. Once the secret is out, there are no guarantees.

Zhu Senlin didn’t press for details. Instead, he dragged the travel bag over, unzipped it with a flourish, and revealed stacks of bank-wrapped hundred-yuan bills. The bag was packed with cash—at least several million—no wonder Zhu was sweating from carrying it.

“Xiao Zhang, here’s three million two hundred thousand yuan in cash. If I’d used a draft or check, such a large transfer in a small county would arouse suspicion, so I decided to bring cash instead.”

He wiped his brow, beaming. “Take it. Let’s not waste time—find a truck to get those logs out of here.”

He pushed the bag toward Zhang Can. The entire family—parents, brother, sister-in-law, and younger sister—was stunned by the sight of so much cash. None of them had ever seen so much money in their lives. Even when Zhang Can had sent home half a million, Zhang Guonian hadn’t touched it; now, seeing such a bag of cash with their own eyes, how could they not be astonished?

Zhang Can had already explained how the money would be divided: three million two hundred thousand, split into one million each for his parents, brother’s family, and sister, with the remaining two hundred thousand set aside for Liangliang’s education. He himself wanted none of it.

“Mom, you and Sister-in-law take the money inside and put it away. Brother, go ask Zhang Kuan if he can find a long-haul truck. Dad, buy a few thousand kilos of potatoes from the villagers—offer a high price. If the market price is eighty cents, we’ll pay one and a half yuan; if it’s one, we’ll pay two. Spend a few thousand—it’ll be our cover story. When we load the logs, say we’re using them to weigh down the truck on mountain roads.”

“Yes, that’s a good excuse!” Zhang Guonian exclaimed with delight. “Buying potatoes is even better. The villagers won’t worry about the logs if we’re buying produce. And the mountain roads here really are winding; big trucks do get unstable. Using the logs as ballast is reasonable. Second son… you stay with your boss; I’ll handle the potatoes!”

He left, grinning with satisfaction. With the boss confirming the wood and bringing over three million in cash, he was so excited he could think of nothing else—he even forgot about the upcoming family visit from his son’s intended.

Once Zhang Guonian and Zhang Jiye had gone off to their tasks, Zhang Can led Zhu Senlin into a side room and whispered, “Old Zhu, once everything’s settled this afternoon, I’ll leave with you for Jin City. Don’t mention anything else—just help cover for me.”

Zhu Senlin, already briefed over the phone, chuckled quietly. “What’s wrong—trouble?”

Zhang Can gave a wry smile. “It’s complicated—personal matters. No need to discuss it now. I just have to leave with you, or things will get messy.”

Zhu Senlin laughed heartily and clapped Zhang Can on the shoulder. “A real man never worries about finding a wife! Don’t stress, Xiao Zhang. With your abilities, I guarantee you’ll have no trouble finding whatever kind of woman you want. These days, as long as you have a solid financial base, everything’s negotiable. Besides, you’re good-looking and wealthy—finding a woman should be easy!”

Zhang Can clasped his hands together in mock despair. “Old Zhu, please, don’t bring that up now. If my family hears, it’ll be even more trouble. Let’s be careful.”

Zhu Senlin laughed again and waved his hand. “Alright, I’ll drop it. Let’s talk about the golden nanmu. These four logs are even better than I expected. Once I get them back to Jin City, I can sell each for 1.2 million. As for the money—”

“No matter how much, Old Zhu, I won’t take an extra cent. I have enough,” Zhang Can interrupted firmly, understanding Zhu’s implication. Greed only leads to trouble.

Truthfully, Zhu Senlin had never intended to make a huge profit off Zhang Can; he’d given almost all of it to him. By openly discussing potential profits, Zhu showed he truly saw Zhang Can as a friend. Even if Zhu wanted to offer him more, Zhang Can would refuse.

Zhu smiled. “Alright, enough talk of money between us. It only hurts the friendship. Let’s talk about more pleasant things instead!”

Zhang Can could only smile wryly; somehow, the topic always circled back.

Within an hour, Zhang Can’s mother, sister-in-law, and younger sister had prepared a meal. Though it was simple country fare, Zhu Senlin praised it repeatedly.

Zhang Can knew he was sincere. In Jin City, delicacies were commonplace and had long since lost their appeal. A meal of local specialties was a rare treat.

Afterward, Zhang Hua brought a cup of tea to Zhu Senlin. He thanked her, then suddenly remembered something. He rummaged through his small backpack and took out three red brocade boxes, smiling. “Auntie, girls, I came in a hurry and didn’t prepare much, just three small gifts.”

He handed the boxes to Zhang Hua, who hesitated and glanced at her brother.

Zhang Can waved his hand. “Take it, Third Sister. Old Zhu is half my boss, half my friend. Gifts from others I might not accept, but his you must take, or he’ll be offended. Go on.”

Judging by the boxes, they contained gold jewelry. Although not extravagant, each piece must have cost several thousand at least.

Zhu Senlin, pleased, smiled at Zhang Hua. “Your brother’s right. In Jin City, Zhang Can is like a brother to me, so don’t be shy. I came in a hurry, but when you visit Jin City, I’ll get you something even better.”

He had brought three identical pieces: thick gold necklaces with platinum heart pendants that shone brilliantly. When Zhang Can saw his sister open the box, he knew each must be worth over ten thousand yuan—Zhu had put some real thought into it, even at short notice.

Since her brother had insisted, Zhang Hua didn’t refuse, giving one to her mother and one to her sister-in-law. None of the three realized the value of the pendants; if they had known each was worth more than ten thousand, they’d have been even more shocked.

As for the three million two hundred thousand yuan, Liu Chunju, her daughter-in-law, and daughter all stared at the money in a daze. They had thought to count it, but there was simply too much. In the end, they gave up, and Zhang Can showed no sign of wanting to check it, either.