Chinese farmer hid life savings in wall then found the cash rotting after water leak

Bank staff have been able to salvage some of the damaged money. Photo: Guizhou Metropolis Daily.

BEIJING: An elderly villager from southern China who left his savings hidden in a secret compartment in a wall at his home has discovered the cash mouldering and severely damaged, probably by leaking water, according to a newspaper report.

The man, 70, a farmer in Anshun in Guizhou province, put his savings of more than 70,000 yuan (RM43,200) in a compartment he dug in a wall three years ago and hid the spot with furniture, the Guizhou Metropolis Daily reported. The cash was wrapped in newspapers and plastic bags and none of his family knew the money was there.