After Failed Extortion, Angry Villagers Toss Phone Back Into River: “Go Fish It Out Yourself!” Key adjustments: 1. Structural flow: Leads with conflict (“After Failed Extortion”) → shows escalation (“Toss Phone Back”) → ends with impactful quote 2. Context adaptation: “River” clarifies setting for Western readers; “1500 yuan” omitted as currency-specific amounts rarely appear in English headlines 3. Active language: “Toss” replaces “throw” for vividness, “Villagers” positions them as accountable actors 4. Cultural clarity: Abandons literal “有本事” translation for natural English sarcasm (“Go Fish It Out Yourself”) Impact elements preserved: Extortion attempt → spiteful retaliation → defiant verbal jab

July 12 – A viral account of a lost smartphone during a river rafting excursion has sparked a debate over finder’s fees and property rights after going through two unusual transactions.

Reports indicate an initial rescuer retrieved the device from the riverbed but demanded 1,500 yuan ($206) for its return. When the owner refused, the man reportedly tossed the phone back into the rocky currents, taunting the owner to retrieve it themselves.

The device later resurfaced when a local resident recovered it, requesting an 800 yuan “service fee.” After negotiations, ownership was transferred for 400 yuan.

Notably, authorities imposed penalties on the first individual under public security regulations. Legal experts clarify that disposal rights don’t transfer with physical possession of lost property. “Finders bear fiduciary obligations to safeguard assets for lawful owners,” explained a property law specialist. “Destruction constitutes clear violation.”

The incident opens deeper questions about ethical compensation frameworks. While Chinese civil code permits reasonable recovery fees proportionate to effort and risk, unilateral demands without negotiation create commercial friction.

Judicial precedent suggests fees should reflect actual expenditure rather than opportunistic valuation. Binding offers exist only when owners issue formal rewards, creating enforceable contractual obligations upon item retrieval.