The following day.


    At noon, Charlie made his way to the mid-level vi situated in Champs Elysees Hot Spring.


    Zhang Ermao had arrived an hour earlier to wait for him.


    Upon seeing Charlie, Zhang Ermao greeted him with respect, saying, “Master Charlie, what can I assist you with?”


    Charlie offered a slight smile and inquired, “Zhang Ermao, did you bring the items I requested?”<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    Zhang Ermao nodded enthusiastically, retrieving a handbag from his car. He presented it to Charlie, saying, “Master Charlie, I have brought everything you asked for!”


    “Great,” Charlie replied. “Let’s head inside to discuss.”<fnbc28> Chapters first released on fin?novel</fnbc28>


    Once they reached the vi’s living room, Zhang Ermao eagerly opened the suitcase. He pulled out several pieces of wood, each varying in size and thickness, yet all as ck as charcoal.


    As he disyed the logs, he exined to Charlie, “You mentioned you needed lightning wood. This is all the genuine lightning wood I could find from yesterday until now. In our market, most of what’s sold as lightning wood is actually fake. If you don’t know where the lightning strikes the trees, the locals will snatch them up before you even get a chance to buy. Although the quality of the lightning-struck wood I found may not be the best, I can assure you that they are all authentic, with no issues!”


    Charlie examined the wood briefly, nodded, and said, “These are indeed lightning-struck wood. While the quality isn’t perfect, it’s exactly what I need.”


    Zhang Ermao looked puzzled and asked, “Master, why does this quality suit your needs? I’m worried these pieces won’t meet your standards…”


    Charlie smiled and replied, “I can’t really exin it to you.”


    Continuing, Charlie then asked, “I also asked you to find the old finger puller. Were you able to locate it?”


    “I found it!” Zhang Ermao quickly pulled out two old-looking jade wrench fingers from his pocket and handed them to Charlie. “Master Charlie, take a look. These jade wrench fingers are genuine and quite old, but the material is just ordinary Hetian jade, so the quality is average.”


    Charlie examined the two jade ring fingers andmented, “These seem to be from Shukeng. They must have been unearthed at least a few decades ago, right?”


    Zhang Ermao gave a thumbs up, eximing, “Master Charlie, your eyesight is remarkable! These fingers are indeed from Shukeng, and I estimate they’ve been out for at least thirty or forty years.”


    Charlie said, “I’m looking for something that appears freshly unearthed, ideally like it was dug up just a month ago. Is that possible?”


    Zhang Ermao hesitated, replying awkwardly, “Master Charlie, that’s quite a legal grey area… Recently, there aren’t many people in Aurous Hill engaged in this business, and most of the pieces that are recoverable are simply broken. The jade ring fingers I found are already quite good.”


    Then, with curiosity, Zhang Ermao asked, “Master Charlie, if you don’t mind me asking, why do you specifically want something that’s been recently unearthed?”


    Charlie answered, “Zhang Ermao, since you’re now associated with Hong Wu, which makes you my associate as well, I won’t hide my intentions from you. I n to use the finger puller to deceive others. If it’s too familiar or too recognizable, it may be challenging to pull off the deception.”