Chapter 925 - 925: Hidden Tycoons Among the Common People

Tiebushan didn't hesitate much, almost immediately starting to move the wooden sticks on the wall.

According to him, he hadn't been here in five years.

Yet judging by his proficiency, it didn't seem like he hadn't been here for five years.

There was only one explanation for this: Tiebushan was so familiar with the process that it had become instinctual.

Like some pianists with dementia, who can't remember their way home, but once seated at the piano, their fingers on the keys, they can still play beautiful melodies.

Of course, this is muscle memory, but there's a commonality between the two.

You could see Tiebushan turning nine wooden sticks, each at different angles and frequencies, making it impossible to discern a pattern.

However, neither Xiao Feng nor Sun Shijie had any intention of coveting his treasures, so they didn't bother to memorize it.

Two minutes later, accompanied by the sound of "click-click-click," the wooden board automatically retracted, merging with the yellow-brown wall without leaving a trace from the outside.

Tiebushan unbuckled a key from his belt and went to the door to open it.

"Click!"

With a crisp sound, Tiebushan called out, "You can go in now."

After saying this, he pushed open the heavy wooden board and walked in first.

With the light shining through the big door, Xiao Feng immediately saw the furnace facing the door.

The furnace was a full two meters high, and both the bellows and the hearth underneath it were much larger than usual.

There were numerous inconspicuous vents on the surrounding walls for releasing the heat generated during casting.

Looking up, the entire roof was black, evident of years of smoke and fire.

Additionally, various tools and molds whose names Xiao Feng couldn't call out hung on the walls, all covered with a layer of dust.

In the corner, a small bed sat quietly, with a kerosene lamp on the table beside it.

Sun Shijie walked over and lit the lamp, and also lit the tobacco pipe.

He puffed a couple of times and asked, "Old Tie, is this the accumulation of your life savings?"

"These are just tools. My real collection is behind this door," Tiebushan said modestly.

Xiao Feng and Sun Shijie simultaneously looked in the direction of his finger, then exchanged glances, both feeling like "Are you not joking?"

Because Tiebushan was pointing at a wall where there was no door.

But, recalling the entrance procedure, they both understood.

The door Tiebushan referred to must be a secret door, only accessible with the right method.

And it was indeed the case, as Tiebushan walked to the bedside, raising his cane to knock three times on the wall.

"Thump thump thump!"

After the three sounds, a hidden compartment on the wall opened.

Inside the hidden compartment was a square, finger-thick, black-colored protrusion.

Tiebushan extinguished the kerosene lamp at the bedside and handed the candlestick to Xiao Feng: "Align the base with the protrusion, turn right twice, left once, then right three times."

Xiao Feng nodded silently, walked to the hidden compartment, placed the candlestick inside, and found the candlestick fit with the protrusion, as if they were one.

Following Tiebushan's instructions, the rumbling sound echoed in the small space, dust falling from above, resembling signs of an impending earthquake.

Meanwhile, the direction Tiebushan had pointed to opened inward, just enough for one person to pass through.

"Let's go inside and take a look," Tiebushan smiled.

Xiao Feng and Sun Shijie naturally didn't refuse, squeezing through the opening one after the other, and were immediately stunned by the scene before them!

As far as the eye could see, there were all sorts of metals and stones in various colors and shapes, numbering in the tens of thousands, among which many rare and unusual items could be found.

This made Xiao Feng marvel at how these skilled old fellows were all hidden millionaires!

Sun Shijie had inheritance, that's for sure, but the precious metals stacked higher than a person in Tiebushan's room, if converted to cash, would be a fortune unimaginable to the average person.

"These are the accumulation of my life's savings," Tiebushan's voice echoed through the wall.

"Old Tie, showing us these, surely isn't just for bragging, is it?" Sun Shijie turned and asked.

Tiebushan sighed, shook his head, saying, "Because of the relocation, I feel guilty towards the villagers.

I originally wanted to take out some, convert it to cash, and compensate the villagers, but worried about gossip causing unnecessary trouble.

So, I entrust you both, if one day I'm gone, use what you can from inside here, sell what you can't.

Convert it to cash and share it with the villagers as my way of apologizing to them.

I don't want to be cursed at my grave after I'm gone."

"Rest assured, I will certainly take care of this matter for you!" Xiao Feng agreed without hesitation, thinking it's time to learn about this field.

At that time, sort them by preciousness, sell off the least valuable batch and share with Iron Village folks, keeping the rest for himself.

It's known these items aren't just for forging weapons but can also make armor.

If the timing is right and the quantity ample, a 'Iron Armor Army' could be built, just imagining it is thrilling.

However, that's all in the future.

Moreover, thinking is easy, doing is hard, although there are materials, finding a Casting Master as skilled as Tiebushan is another difficult task.

Tiebushan thanked, guiding Xiao Feng to select some materials to prepare for casting short swords.

Finally, they closed the mechanism, locked the door, and the three of them descended the mountain back to the village.

Along the way, they happened to encounter a funeral procession.

No music, no fireworks leading the way, everyone walked silently, appearing cold and mournful.

Tie Wa held a basket filled with paper money, occasionally throwing some to the air.

The three stood by the roadside, watching the procession leave, each feeling differently.

…

It wasn't until lunch that Lao Lu returned from the town.

He took down some ready-made food and drinks from the car, sparing the need to cook.

"Here's fifty thousand, here's a phone, and the rice, oil, and other supplies are in the car," Lao Lu eagerly handed a tote bag to Xiao Feng, saying, "The bank card is also inside."

Upon withdrawing cash, he incidentally checked the card balance, nearly fainting at the sight of a string of zeros.

However, unbeknownst to him, this card was merely Xiao Feng's pocket money, with the real fortune not on it.

Xiao Feng took the bag, nodded contentedly: "Divide the items in the car into three portions, leave one for yourself, give one to Old Tie, and leave the rest in the car, I'll use them in the afternoon."

"Okay!" Lao Lu responded energetically, not even bothering to eat, busying himself again.