In the afternoon, I returned to the guesthouse and, based on my memory, drew a layout of the "Jiulongju Commercial Pedestrian Street" and the two surrounding streets. I did nothing else all afternoon but focused on researching why this street wasn't popular.

I lit a cigarette and marked the few shops still open in the commercial street. I found that they were all restaurants, which shows that the shops on this commercial street are very homogeneous, which may reduce tourists' interest in spending money.

As I was engrossed in my work, Tie Nan sat down opposite me. After glancing at what I was fiddling with, he asked, "I've seen you sitting here all afternoon, what are you doing?"

I put down my pen and said to him, "These past two days, I've discovered a rather interesting commercial street in the ancient city. First of all, its location is great, right in the center of the ancient city, and the environment inside is also nice, but it's just incredibly deserted... Don't you think that's strange?"

"You mean Jiulongju?"

Tie Nan had lived in Dali for many years, so he knew exactly where I was talking about as soon as I mentioned it.

I nodded, then asked him, "Do you know what the situation is like there?"

"Just one word: evil."

"Isn't there a more scientific explanation?"

"You think I'd create a science program out of a commercial street? Anyone who's lived in Dali long enough knows that street is cursed; whoever opens a shop there dies!"

"I heard the rent inside is very cheap now."

Tie Nan laughed dismissively, "Even if it's cheap, it won't make a difference... Everyone opens a shop to make money. In the current market, if there's any fool who dares to open a shop there, I guarantee he'll lose so much that he won't even be able to save up his wife's savings."

"Is it really that pessimistic? I think everything has a cause before an effect. If I can find out the real reason why this commercial street isn't thriving, maybe I can take advantage of the rock-bottom rents and make a fortune."

"Come on, there have been plenty of people who didn't believe in bad luck and opened shops in Jiulongju these past few years. Go ask around and see if any of them managed to get out unscathed. ...Aren't there any of these people who have more capital and vision than you, Michael?"

I was still trying to persuade Tie Nan, so I patiently said to him, "It's not that I don't believe in superstitions, I just think these people didn't examine or study this street scientifically. They flocked in to open shops, probably because, as you said, they just didn't believe in superstitions..."

Iron Man interrupted me impatiently, saying, "Michael, buddy, I advise you not to have such dangerous ideas. I can tell you're up to no good on that street, but is it a place for humans to go? Or do you have hundreds of millions in your hands right now, so you don't care if you lose some money there?"

I then gave up the idea of ​​continuing to communicate with Tie Nan about this matter. I smiled and said, "I'm just curious right now. As for making a move, I really didn't think about going in to do any business..." After a short pause, I changed the subject and said, "By the way... Ye Zhi transferred the transfer fee for taking over the hotel to my card this morning... Give me the card number now, and I'll transfer 100,000 yuan to you and Taozi each."

"Alright... With this money, we'll be much more financially comfortable for now... To be honest, Ye Zhi is alright. Unlike other capitalists, she doesn't oppress us little people and then try to wipe us out in the end!"

I smiled and then called Taozi over. I was going to transfer the 100,000 yuan in front of them, but Taozi said that she could transfer her share to Tienan as well. She felt that they shouldn't be too particular about dividing the money between them.

I respected Taozi's opinion and knew her true thoughts. Since Tie Nan was unable to work, she could find a bartending job to support herself. Therefore, keeping the money with Tie Nan would prevent him from being too anxious and would also give him the face that a man should have.

Taozi loves Tienan too much, which is why she thinks of everything for him... I just wonder if, one day, her past is unfortunately exposed, Tienan will also think of her and remove this thorn in his heart?

Hopefully he will, because Peach's experience has already determined that she is a woman who cannot be let down.

...

That evening, I met Sun Jiwei, whom I hadn't seen for a long time, at the entrance of a restaurant serving Chaozhou cuisine in the ancient city. He was still energetic and sociable. When he saw me from afar, he waved to me and called me brother.

I greeted him with a smile and said, "Brother, you look radiant, have you had some good luck lately?"

"I'm just happy to see you... My brother's treating us to a nice meal today."

As Sun Jiwei spoke, he led me into the restaurant. After we sat down, he asked the waiter to bring me a menu and enthusiastically told me to order first. I didn't stand on ceremony and started ordering myself. But I definitely wouldn't let him treat me to this meal, because that's basic courtesy, since I was the one who invited him.

After I finished ordering, I handed the menu to Sun Jiwei. As he ordered, he asked me, "Brother, is your inn still open?"

"Yes, it'll probably be open until January next year."

"Oh... I heard that the demolition work in your Longkan area has already started. Logically speaking, shouldn't all the businesses there be closing down by the end of this month?"

I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. After a brief silence, I said, "It's a stroke of luck amidst misfortune. I have some connections with the boss of the project developer, and she put in a good word with the higher-ups, so we can stay in business until the demolition work is finished."

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