Chapter 17: The Street of Tycoons, Fuging Street

Chapter 17: The Street of Tycoons, Fuging Street

"Aunt Li, you're talking about Fuging Street in the eastern part of the city?"

Li Hongmei nodded, "Yes, yes, you know it? It's a great location, with schools and markets nearby. Living there is very convenient, and you can take walks around the ancient city when you have time."

"Xiao Su, if you're free, how about we go and take a look now?"

Su An felt a surge of joy inside but kept his expression calm, "Sure, I also have two classmates living there. Let's go and check it out!"

Li Hongmei and Old Zhang immediately led Su An out of the real estate office and onto the bus to the eastern part of the city.

Fuging Street and Longxiang Mansion are on opposite sides of the city, one in the east and the other in the west. One is the old economic district of City A, while the other represents the future direction of development.

City A is a city with a thousand-year history. Many ancient buildings in the eastern part of the city are well-preserved, such as the Star Observation Tower, ancient streets, arched bridges, government offices, Cosmetics Workshop, Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion, grand and magnificent city walls, and ancient, intricately carved corridors and pavilions over water...

The ancient city is currently a free tourist area. In about ten years, popular TV series like "Wang Family Manor," "Heavenly Moon Cave," and "Love Through the Ages" will be filmed in the ancient city of the eastern part of City A.

As these TV series become hits, the entire ancient city of City A will also gain immense popularity.

Seizing the opportunity, the local government of City A has invested heavily to transform the ancient city of the eastern part into a national 5A-level tourist attraction.

Fuging Street, being the closest to the ancient city, was the first to benefit from this wave of tourism. What was once a dilapidated street has been transformed into a street of tycoons, where every inch of land is worth its weight in gold.

On average, hundreds of thousands of people pass by the street every day.

In his previous life, before he died, a small, run-down shop of six or seven square meters on Fuging Street would rent for more than 30,000 yuan, with an entry fee starting at six figures.

Despite this, shops on Fuging Street were still in high demand, with many large companies spending substantial amounts to set up stores and promote their brands. Even residents who simply opened their back doors to sell water and drinks could make several thousand yuan a day.

"Xiao Su, come, follow me!"

After getting off the bus, Aunt Li enthusiastically led Su An towards her home, continuously explaining the local amenities, where the school was, where to buy groceries, and where the water well was...

"Look, this is Fuging Street. My house is just 100 meters down from the street entrance."

Su An followed the direction of Li Hongmei's finger and saw that 200 meters to the side of the Fuging Street entrance was the entrance to the ancient city.

In the middle of Fuging Street, there was a nine-meter-wide cobblestone path, with houses lining both sides, most of their doors facing the road.

In his previous life, Su An had once delivered something to Zhao Long here. At that time, the government had already painted various beautiful murals on the walls of the houses, yellow lines were drawn on both sides of the road, and all sorts of shops lined the street, making it bustling with activity.

As Li Hongmei and her husband led Su An into the street, they suddenly seemed to see something and their faces turned pale.

Following their gaze, Su An saw an old woman sitting at her doorstep sewing shoe soles. She rolled her eyes at the Li couple, laughed mockingly, and spat at Li Hongmei.

Li Hongmei took two steps back, her face turning red with anger. "Cui Yuanfeng, are you crazy? Let me tell you, I'm not afraid of you!"

Cui Yuanfeng, looking defiant, stood up with her hands on her hips. "I spit, I spit! Is this road your property? Li Dalai, you meddle in everything—sky, earth, air, other people's business, and now the road? Let me tell you, meddling in others' affairs never ends well. They say it's better to destroy a temple than to break a family. You'll end up in hell one day!"

"You wicked old hag, may you die a bad death! Your daughter is a slut, shameless, trying to marry twice after being played by my son. A worthless woman who brings misfortune to any family, a broom star who ruins men and families, a hen that can't lay eggs!"

Cui Yuanfeng’s insults grew more vicious, and Li Hongmei trembled with rage. Zhang Lao, protective of his wife, was about to step forward when Cui Yuanfeng raised her voice.

"Guojun, Guohua, Guoxing, come out quickly! Someone is going to hit your mother! Qianqian, go call your uncles—say the Zhangs are bullying us orphans and widows again!"

Zhang Lao froze, his face ashen. Li Hongmei, suppressing her anger, grabbed her husband's arm.

"Husband, let's go, forget it!"

Zhang Laotou lowered his head in embarrassment, and the couple quietly led Su An forward, trying to ignore the humiliation.

Behind them, Cui Yuanfeng’s taunts grew louder and more vicious, with a steady stream of insults. The neighbors watching the scene opened their doors and poked their heads out.

Li Hongmei hesitated, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace as she opened her door.

"Xiao Su, let’s go inside and talk."

Su An looked back at the old Cui woman. Their homes were just about 50 meters apart.

Her expression darkened, but she nodded politely at Li Hongmei and stepped inside.

Li Hongmei and her husband both seemed to relax, quickly ushering Su An inside and offering her some water.

"Xiao Su, I’m really sorry you had to see that."

Su An shook her head. "It’s nothing, but Auntie Li, is there a connection between you moving houses and that family?"

"If I buy your house, will she come after me? Even if I decide not to buy it, you can’t keep this feud from me. I don’t want to buy a house and inherit an enemy!"

Li Hongmei’s smile faltered, and for a moment, she was at a loss.

Zhang Laotou sighed. "Hongmei, Xiao Su’s right. Everyone in the neighborhood knows what’s going on, so there’s no point hiding it. That Cui woman is a real piece of work. If Xiao Su buys the house without knowing, we’d be doing her a disservice."

Li Hongmei sighed. "Xiao Su, please sit."

"You’re right. We’re moving because of that Cui woman."

"Uncle Zhang and I only have one son and one daughter. Our son is named Jianhua, and our daughter is Jianying. Your Uncle Zhang never had a brother to support him and was often bullied. We only have Jianhua, and knowing how hard life can be, we wanted to make things easier for him in the future. We arranged for Jianying to marry Liu Guohua, the Cui family’s second son, because they lived nearby. As neighbors, if our younger brother ever needed help, they could assist. Plus, the Liu family has many men—not only four sons, but five uncles and many cousins."

"Who would have thought things would turn out like this..."