In China, the term dīngzihù or “nail house” refers to homeowners who refuse to move for construction projects. One such case recently resurfaced: Ye Yushou, a tofu vendor, declined a government offer of 1.6 million yuan (about $220,000) and two new homes in 2022. Instead, he demanded 2 million yuan and three homes.
The government didn’t budge. They demolished neighboring houses and built the G206 highway around Yushou’s two-story home in Jinxi County, Jiangxi province. Now surrounded by dust, traffic, and construction noise, his house sits in the middle of the road—dubbed the “Eye of Jinxi.” A special path was even made so he could access his house.
The project cost around 460 million yuan (about $63 million), and the highway opened just before China’s Spring Festival. Yushou spent $14,000 on legal help, hoping to negotiate a better deal, but many locals say he gambled and lost. As one Reddit user put it: “He got greedy and FAFO.”
