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These neighbors, when idle, enjoyed nothing more than watching Chu Yuening give fortunes at Temple Street, finding it more captivating than any primetime melodrama.

Assuming there would be no business today, he was surprised by the second client after the second-in-command.

Lu Min forced a smile, "Master, those fortune-tellers earlier have already said their part. Can you perhaps tell me something unknown to others?"

In business, losses often led to debts.

He began to doubt Chu Yuening's abilities.

"Very well," Chu Yuening smiled. "I'll fulfill your wish."

"You started your own venture at 30, establishing a leather shoe factory. It wasn't a large-scale operation with only 15 employees and key technicians, including one partner besides yourself."

"The shoe factory primarily supplied exports, and business was decent at first. However, after profits covered the initial investment, the factory's fortunes took a sharp downturn."

"The partner couldn't bear the pressure and left the factory. You held on for a while longer, but eventually had to declare the shoe factory bankrupt."

Lu Min, astonished that his story was accurately predicted, nodded and sighed. "That's right. In the end, I was left with a debt of a million dollars."

Chu Yuening continued, "But you didn't seem deterred by the setback; you quickly embarked on your second venture."

"Liu Min recalled, "One must have faith and not fear death. I was only thirty, with a million in debt—so what? I wanted to be like the resilient little cockroach, persistent and undaunted. I trusted that fate would guide me to success in entrepreneurship."

The onlooking neighbors were divided in their admiration. Some supported his endeavor, while others criticized it.

"This young man is commendable. Even after failing, he doesn't give up easily."

"To risk another shot at business with a million in debt, that takes guts."

"In my opinion, pursuing business with such debt is neglecting one's family—it's selfish."

"Selfish?" Chu Yuening said thoughtfully. "No, Mr. Liu's wife didn't see him as selfish. Instead, she strongly supported his decision."

Liu Min added, "I'm fortunate to have a supportive wife."

Chu Yuening continued her calculation.

"The second venture began swiftly. This time, you ventured into the pager business, selling pagers to the mainland, and you had a partner. Both of you were full of ambition, aiming for a large market share. But less than half a year after the business started, you announced its closure once more."

"This time, you and your partner each owe another million."

Lu Min forced a smile. "Maybe I'm just plain unlucky, without any fortune on my side."

Yuan Tianbo sighed deeply, patting Lu Min's shoulder. "I've had multiple failed ventures too, but eventually, I succeeded. Don't give up, no matter what."

Hearing this, Lu Min replied, "Tianbo, you know I have a wife and children to support. I'm already 45, and if I don't succeed soon, my life will just pass by like this. I can't bear that thought."

The situation of his old classmate was indeed too challenging, having to strive at such an age.

Yuan Tianbo couldn't help but feel sympathy. He nodded in understanding.

Chu Yuening waited for Lu Min to finish before continuing the calculation. "Your third venture was at 36. You started a pharmacy business."

As she spoke, voices from the neighbors echoed around them.

"Pharmacies usually have stable profits. Surely it didn't fail again, did it?"

"Yes, running a pharmacy requires connections. With the right network, business usually isn't a worry."

This time, Lu Min took the initiative to say, "Yes, I've lost again. The pharmacy was a joint effort with my partner. Both of us thought it would be profitable, but who could have imagined that we'd end up in the red once more."

Looking at Lu Min's black hair mixed with strands of white, the neighbors couldn't help but feel sympathetic.

"Mr. Lu, you've really had a run of bad luck."

"Yes, it's rare to see someone so unlucky. Quickly let Ning Ning take a look for you. Maybe you've offended someone?"

"I heard that some people can cast curses, making others' lives miserable."

Lu Min seized the opportunity to continue, "That's right, Master. Can you tell me if there's any way to change my fortune? Am I destined never to prosper in this life?"

However, Chu Yuening looked at him slowly and said nonchalantly, "Others succeed in starting businesses, yet you've tried more than ten times and failed each time."

"Shouldn't you be looking within yourself for the reason?"

Her words were like a slap in the face to Lu Min.

He forced a smile and said, "Master, I don't understand what you mean."

Yuan Tianbo was also puzzled but didn't voice his questions. He understood that Master Chu must have a reason for saying this.

"Didn't you understand?" Chu Yuening raised an eyebrow slightly, feigning surprise.

"For your first venture, you genuinely wanted to do business, but you didn't know how challenging it would be to run a factory. You only managed a small portion of foreign trade deals, and later, due to cost-cutting and using inferior products as substitutes, you even terminated those contracts."

"But your desire for money was too intense, so you hatched a plan against your partner. You created countless fake contracts, deceiving your partner into investing. In a 50-50 partnership, when the business needed funds, your partner paid their half, while you issued a fake check to pretend you fulfilled your part."

"In reality, their money never went into the business; it all ended up in your hands."

"You used this excuse to swindle a million dollars. When your partner couldn't bear it anymore, they voluntarily left, and you pretended for another six months that the factory had gone bankrupt."

Lü Min's face turned pale instantly. These were all secret dealings he had conducted alone, never sharing them with anyone else. How could Chu Yuening know such intricate details?

It was as if she had been there at the time.

Seeing Yuan Tianbo's doubtful expression, Lü Min immediately retorted, "What she's saying is all false! Don't believe her!"

"As for your second venture," Chu Yuening impatiently brushed off imaginary dust from her clothes, "this time, you didn't even bother with pretenses. You established a shell company and used the same method to deceive your partner's money once again."