"Move to a bigger house?"
Feng Li, who was tidying up the room, paused.
Her husband’s greatest hobby was fishing with his so-called "good buddies."
Every time they went out wild fishing, he would bring back a load of fish.
But today, for some reason, as soon as he returned, he started talking about moving to a bigger house.
"You won’t believe it! Today, while fishing in the outskirts, someone caught a huge treasure!"
Zheng Liang chuckled, the joy and excitement on his face unmistakable.
Then, he recounted what had happened during their fishing trip.
"Haha, that idiot and those old guys probably still don’t know that what they caught was actually Ancient Wood! In the end, a few of us cooked up a plan, pretended to help them with the wood, and managed to snag it!"
Feng Li’s expression brightened as she listened to her husband’s account. She grew excited too. Grabbing Zheng Liang, she couldn’t help but ask, "Is this thing really as valuable as you say?"
After learning the full story, she didn’t think there was anything wrong with it. It’s just like finding overlooked treasures in jewelry or antiques. To someone knowledgeable, some items are priceless. To those who are ignorant, they’re worthless. If anyone’s to blame, it’s those people who were too blind to see the Ancient Wood’s potential.
Zheng Liang leaned back on the sofa, grinning from ear to ear. "Hehe, it’ll be worth even more than I said! I’ve already discussed it with the others; no matter how much it’s worth, everyone gets a 100,000 yuan service fee, and the rest is ours!"
"With this piece of wood alone, we can buy a 140-square-meter, four-bedroom apartment with a living room, a study, and a large balcony in the most bustling area of Jin City!"
"Enough talk! We’re taking it to the appraisal center right now to get it appraised and find out its true value!"
Saying so, he slapped his thigh and shot up from the sofa. Without even pausing for a drink of water, he rushed impatiently out the door.
BANG!
Feng Li watched the door slam shut behind her husband, suddenly losing all motivation for housework.
She quickly took out her phone and searched online for the value of Ancient Wood. The search results were shocking. Ancient Wood, valued per cubic meter, had once sold domestically for a staggering four million yuan!
I never expected we’d be this lucky! For such a windfall to land right in our laps!
Feng Li tried to contain her excitement. She opened a popular property app and began filtering for apartments in the most bustling neighborhoods of Jin City, not even considering anything under 140 square meters.
An hour later, after carefully considering multiple factors, she finally narrowed her choices down to apartment layouts in three different neighborhoods.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK—
Puzzled, she opened the door.
"Hello, we’re from the Jin City Police Station. May I ask... does Zheng Liang live here?"
Outside stood a team of police officers led by Shen Dao. Since the case involved suspected gang robbery, he had brought a dozen officers with him. The lineup was quite imposing.
"Th-this... this is... Wh-who are you..."
Feng Li stared at the formidable lineup at her doorstep, momentarily stunned and frightened.
「Jin City Appraisal Center.」
Zheng Liang and his five fishing companions parked their car in the underground garage. The six of them worked together to transport the Ancient Wood to the appraisal department on the third floor. After paying the 2,000 yuan appraisal fee, they settled in the waiting area for the results.
"Brother Zheng, how much do you think this Ancient Wood of ours is worth?"
"I’ve heard some say it’s worth a few hundred thousand, while others claim it could fetch one or two million."
"No matter what, we’ll each get at least a hundred thousand. But this was all thanks to Brother Zheng’s sharp eye. Otherwise, how could we have scored such a deal off those old, weak, sick, and disabled folks?"
"The appraisal report won’t be ready for another two hours..."
The six men huddled together, talking excitedly. Their conversation gradually shifted from the Ancient Wood to how they would spend the money.
One said he’d buy a deluxe fishing gear set—it was free money, after all, so why not spend it? Another owed tens of thousands in debt, and this windfall was a godsend. Zheng Liang, for his part, said he planned to get a bigger house and move to the city center with his wife and child.
Two hours later, a staff member from the appraisal center announced, "The appraisal results are out," and handed a thick report to Zheng Liang.
Zheng Liang and the others eagerly tore open the appraisal report. Instantly, all six of them stared, wide-eyed.
"Holy shit! We’re rich! We’re rich!" one of them exclaimed.
"I can’t believe this thing is so valuable! Brother Zheng, poverty really does limit your imagination! Two million! It’s actually worth two million!"
"Brother Zheng, this Ancient Wood can sell for so much on the market? Isn’t giving us each just a hundred thousand a bit too little?"
"We all helped out, and we all chipped in for the appraisal fee. We put in the effort and the money. We’re not asking for much—just two hundred thousand each. You’d still keep a million for yourself..."
The other five men surrounded Zheng Liang, their eyes fixed on him. Faced with this enormous sum of money, none of them could remain calm.
Zheng Liang stared at the appraisal report in his hands, suddenly plunged into the delightful agony of this unexpected fortune.
Just as he was pondering how to divide the money, he suddenly saw a dozen police officers appear outside the appraisal center. Upon noticing him, they walked straight towards him.
"Hello, are you Zheng Liang?" asked the leader, a middle-aged officer with a square face and an air of integrity.
Zheng Liang nodded blankly, unsure of what was happening. But the middle-aged officer’s next words completely stunned him.
"Someone reported that you and your companions are suspected of gang robbery. Please cooperate with our investigation."
"G-gang robbery?" he stammered, swallowing hard.
The middle-aged officer nodded. "Let me see your ID cards—yours and your companions’."
Zheng Liang didn’t dare refuse and obediently took out his ID. Appraisals at the center required real names and identity registration, so he had it with him.
"Very good. Take them all away," the middle-aged officer said after confirming everyone’s ID cards. He nodded, and the officers behind him stepped forward, handcuffed Zheng Liang and his five companions, and led them all away to the police station.
「Two hours later. 7:00 PM. Jin City Police Station, interrogation room.」
"Robbery? Officer, there must be some mistake! We’ve always been law-abiding citizens. How could we possibly be involved in a robbery?" Zheng Liang yelled, sitting in the chair and facing the interrogating officers. The word ’INNOCENT’ might as well have been stamped on his forehead.
Opposite him, Shen Dao sat calmly. He took a sip of water and began the routine interrogation.
"This afternoon, around three o’clock, were you fishing in the waters on the outskirts of Jin City?"