Identification of the manufacturing company
The process of identifying the maker of the fortune cookies began. Nate’s team identified the Chinese restaurants that the winners had visited, one by one. After examining restaurants in 32 states scattered across the country – New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Texas, and Florida – one common thread emerged: the logo printed on the cookie bag. The logos printed on the cookie bags. They were all made by the same manufacturer.
Welsh Fortune, Inc.
The cookies were manufactured by the Welsh Fortune Company in Trenton, New Jersey, an established manufacturer since 1952 that distributed its products to more than 4,000 Chinese restaurants throughout the United States. When Nate visited to check out the production line, he was met by Beth Campbell, the plant manager. The message inside the cookie changes randomly each month,” she explained.
Lots in March 2024
I need to see the lucky numbers of the lots you shipped in March 2024.’ At Nate’s request, Beth opened the warehouse database. The moment she saw the data displayed on the monitor, her complexion changed: “10, 13, 14, 22, 52” were printed in the “lucky number column” for the March shipment. The numbers printed in the “lucky number column” for the March shipment were “10, 13, 14, 22, and 52,” exactly the same as the winning number of the second prize of the Powerball.
Why that number?
Why this number?” Nate inquired, and Beth answered in a trembling voice. ‘Every month the person in charge of the numbers picks one at random; the one who was in charge of March was …….’ She opened the file and found the name of one employee. Grace Liu, 68. A 30-year veteran of the company, she was in charge of selecting the lucky number for the first time that month. How in the world did Grace choose that number?
Grace’s room
Nate went to Grace Liu’s desk and found a small picture frame there. Inside was an old photograph. It showed her as a young woman and her late husband, Henry, smiling. These are the dates of my husband’s birthday and our wedding anniversary,” Grace said quietly. Grace spoke quietly. She had lost her husband of 30 years that month to illness.
A moment of coincidence
From the day Grace made the cookies until they were delivered to Chinese restaurants across the United States, no one had any idea that the numbers would be used for the lottery. One woman’s quiet grief created numbers that unwittingly changed the lives of 110 people. This was no scam.” Nate quietly closed his notebook. But he still did not know how to tell the world about it.
Report to Diane
FBI Director Diane maintained a long silence as she finished reading Nate’s report. ‘So it’s not a scam–‘ Nate replied, ‘it’s a coincidence. One woman’s grief generated numbers that were printed on cookies all over the country that matched winning lottery numbers. That’s all there is to it.” Diane looked out the window and said quietly, “Coleman, this is an official announcement. ‘Coleman, can we make this official?
The world doubts it.
When the conclusion that the FBI investigation was over and that there was “no fraud” was announced, reactions around the world were split down the middle. Some said, “This is impossible,” or “There is something behind this,” while others were moved to believe that this was a true miracle. Lottery officials officially approved the payment to 110 winners, but the media coverage did not abate, and the demand for the truth grew louder and louder.
Rush to Grace
Once the facts were reported, Grace Liu was contacted from all over the world. One of the winners, Sarah Mitchell of Texas, wrote directly to Grace. ‘Your love for my husband has changed my life. I hope you will allow us to use a portion of the prize money to benefit a charity in your husband’s name.” Grace wept silently as she read the letter.
Henry’s numbers
Grace made her first public appearance at a press conference. Her husband Henry always told me, ‘Hold on to your precious numbers. “My husband Henry always told me, ‘Hold on to your precious numbers, because one day they will bring someone else good luck. Keep the numbers that are important to you, because one day they will bring someone else good luck. The room was silent. I just didn’t want to forget him. I never dreamed that this would happen. As he spoke, tears were wiped away here and there in the audience.
