A life of success begins with being a landlord.

"Thank you for the reminder, senior brother. I'll think about it some more." I hung up the phone and frowned in thought.

Sister Li reminded me, "Just focus on driving, we'll discuss it when we get home."

I nodded and focused on driving.

Back in Hongxing Village, we had dinner first.

It was already past nine o'clock at night, and everyone was starving.

I was eating when the phone rang again.

I asked impatiently, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Brother Zu, Kuai Dafa."

The fat man's voice came cautiously: "I've been released. I'm in Sanlichuan. Brother Zu, where are you? Can you come out and meet me?"

Kuai Dafa?

I was momentarily dazed before I remembered that there was such a person in the world.

"Now that you're out, go back to your hometown. What do you want with me?"

I snapped, "Sanlichuan has nothing to do with you anymore. You'd better disappear right now, or I might send you to Zhangshutou for another two months of secluded training!"

"Brother Zu, I'm definitely leaving, I'll leave right now." Kuai Da sighed.

"But I still have some small things to take care of in Sanlichuan. My clothes are still in room 404. I also need to sell my motorcycle, otherwise I won't have the money to get home. Please have pity on me and come out to meet me."

"No time, let's talk tomorrow morning!" I hung up the phone.

When Sister Li learned that it was Kuai Dafa who had returned, she chuckled and said, "My old neighbor is back! I've been missing him!"

I rolled my eyes: "What, are you planning to throw him a welcome-back party?"

As they were talking, Kuai Dafa called again.

I was furious: "Kuai Dafa, if you dare harass me again, believe me, I'll have you chopped up!"

My current style is becoming more and more like Dao Zai Xiong's; I only want to solve problems with violence.

"Please, Brother Zu, have mercy and let me say a few words."

Kuai Dafa sobbed, "I have no money left, and I can't even get into apartment 404. I'm truly desperate and about to die on the street, Brother Zu!"

"Damn it!" My heart softened.

"Wait at Fatty's place. I'll have Gao Jianfeng bring you two hundred yuan. Find somewhere to stay for the night. We'll talk again tomorrow morning!"

Kuai Dafa expressed his deepest gratitude: "Thank you so much, Brother Zu."

I hung up the phone, quickly ate dinner, and decided to go find Director Nie to ask about Sister Liang's situation.

Erxia volunteered to come with me.

I called first to ask Nie if he had taken a break.

Normally, people like Nie Suo have a vibrant nightlife and wouldn't be able to sleep at this time. It's only 10 PM; for southerners, going to sleep at this hour is practically a waste of life.

Sure enough, Director Nie was still awake and told me to go to the Qingshan Club to find him.

I drove to the Qingshan Club and met Director Nie at "Caijuxuan".

Judging from Nie's sallow complexion, unsteady gait, and sweat stains on his face, he must be working hard day and night.

I lit a cigarette for Director Nie and said with a smile, "Director Nie, you've worked hard. I'm so sorry to bother you so late."

"There's no way around it, that's how it is when you're doing this job, investigating everywhere." Director Nie yawned and laughed, "Why are you calling me so late? Are you in a rush to solve Sister Liang's case?"

"No rush, I'm just here to get some information."

I started by probing, "Is Sister Liang still imprisoned in Sanlichuan? How many years will she get in the end for a case like this?"

"I can get Sister Liang to serve ten years in prison. Just gather more evidence. Strictly speaking, a life sentence would be appropriate for someone like her."

Nie smiled meaningfully: "Some things, if you don't weigh them, they're nothing. But if you do weigh them, they're worth a ton."

I understand this statement, and I believe it.

People like Dao Zixiong could be sentenced to death, and being executed three times wouldn't be a problem.

Bobo, Sister Ju, Sister Liang, and others, if strictly investigated, all have a minimum ten-year history.

I work as a security guard at Jin嗓子 (Jin嗓子 Throat Lozenges). If Jin嗓子 Throat Lozenges gets investigated, I'll be considered a related person and could be locked up for three to five years, which shouldn't be a problem...

Nie laughed and said, "How many years do you plan to keep Sister Liang locked up?"

"Brother Nie, people from our hometown have come to plead for Sister Liang. I'm in a difficult position now, and I can't decide what to do."

I sighed and frowned. "This is strange too. The mediator from our hometown knew I was retaliating against Sister Liang and came directly to me. Brother Nie, did the brothers let something slip when they arrested Sister Liang?"

"That's impossible. I made a special arrangement to make sure that arresting someone is an arrest, and there's no personal grudge involved."

Director Nie shook his head: "If I let it slip, it's definitely not one of my men, don't worry."

I nodded quickly: "I trust Brother Nie, I was just asking casually."

Suspecting Nie is useless; I have no evidence. Even if I had evidence, I couldn't defeat him.

Nie nodded: "So what do you plan to do? I can detain Sister Liang for a month to continue the investigation and gather more evidence. But once the case is transferred upstairs, it will be difficult to release her later."

"Brother Nie, let's lock up Sister Liang for now, and we'll talk about it after I've thought it through." Right now, I can only take it one step at a time.

Nie nodded and then asked me if I wanted to find a place to have some fun.

I glanced at Erxia beside me and smiled as I declined, "No, Brother Nie, I'll head back now."

Nie got up, but unexpectedly stumbled and almost fell.

I reached out to support him and said with a smile, "Brother Nie, take care of yourself."

"I can't take it anymore. I'm middle-aged now, and I'm getting weak."

Nie pounded his back with his fist and laughed self-deprecatingly, "I'm getting old, brother. You're still young. Take advantage of your good health and enjoy your youth."

Excessive indulgence in wine and women damages one's very constitution; what's the point of talking about being old?

Is forty years old really that old?

I suddenly remembered the medicinal wine and said with a smile, "By the way, Brother Nie, I have some homemade medicinal wine that's good for strengthening the kidneys and improving male virility, and it won't harm your health. How about I bring you a bottle next time?"

"Medicated wine? Really?" Nie asked, somewhat surprised.

"Of course it's true, it works very well, better than Western medicine."

"Damn, why didn't you say so earlier? I've been taking Western medicine and it's made me sick." Director Nie patted my shoulder: "Quickly send two bottles over, I want to try it out."

"No problem, Brother Nie, I'll send it to you tomorrow."

I nodded and smiled, "There's no doubt about its effectiveness. Once you've used it once, you'll know how wonderful it is. In the future, Brother Nie, please help me promote it so I can sell some medicinal wine and make a little money."

Nie laughed heartily: "If it really works, we can make a fortune here."

……

After saying goodbye to Nie Suo and getting into the car, Erxia rolled her eyes at me: "Is your medicinal wine really more effective than Western medicine?"

"You don't believe me? We can try."

As I drove, I pointed to the desolate area ahead: "How about we go over there and try it out in the car?"

"Get lost, you're so irresponsible."

Erxia chuckled and pinched me: "Doing that kind of thing in the middle of nowhere is very unsafe. Don't think you're the boss of Sanlichuan just because you're a local thief. They'll still chop you up!"

I thought about it and realized that was true; it would be safer to try it at home.

Ten minutes later, we returned to Sanlichuan.

Erxia asked, "Why did you come back to Sanlichuan?"

I grinned mischievously: "The medicinal wine is here. I'll bring you back to try it out."

Erxia shook her head, smiled and said, "If it doesn't work, I'll... call you an old eunuch."

I got out of the car and pulled Erxia upstairs.

"Brother Zu, you're finally here!"

Kuai Dafa suddenly appeared in front of me from who-knows-where.