Manhattan Reborn 1978

new York.

It's approaching evening.

Manhattan, Chinatown.

Xincheng Restaurant.

Zhang Jinhong and Boss Zhang, uncles of Zhang Wenbiao, the person in charge of Wildfire Restaurant, happily handed the two pieces of change to Susan and sighed.

"Look! My card... is too bad~"

"Hahaha~" Brother Biao also handed some change to Susan and said with a smile.

"Uncle, you should say that Susan's luck at poker is so good!"

"Yep!"

"Come on, come on~ let's do it again!"

"Wow, wow, wow~"

Susan followed Boss Zhang's example, rubbing the mahjong tiles with her hands, turning her head and teasing David, who looked a little "forlorn" next to her.

"Hey~ I won again!"

"Ah~...!"

"As long as you are happy~"

"Hahaha~"

. . .

Two 10 minutes later.

The last round of mahjong is over~

Susan blinked her big eyes and looked at Cui Yingying sitting on her left, and asked with a smile.

"Did you lose or win?"

Cui Yingying smiled and spread out the change in her hand and said: "This is all I have left...you won them all!"

"..hehehe~"

Boss Zhang also collected his change and smiled at Susan: "Yes!"

"I have been playing mahjong for decades and it has never been like this..."

"Hehe~"

Susan happily waved the change in her hand to David who was tilting his head and pretending to watch TV.

David smiled wryly and shook his head: "Okay~"

"Boss Zhang, it's time for us to go back."

"Don't worry! I will definitely give you a chance to win back in the future!"

"Hahaha~Okay, okay!"

. . .

After a few minutes.

Susan and Cui Yingying helped Brother Biao pack up the mahjong tiles. Boss Zhang walked to David, glanced at Giovanni who was watching TV intently, and smiled.

"David, I have some investment questions that I would like to discuss with you."

"Oh?"

"Just tell me~"

David smiled unexpectedly and nodded to Boss Zhang.

"Hehe~"

Boss Zhang sat down with a smile, thought about it for a while, and said with a smile.

“The investment I’m talking about is actually that we want to buy a house nearby!”

"Should I buy it with a loan or with full payment?"

"My family and I have been hesitating about this issue for a long time and have not made up our minds."

"So, I just want to ask you, the professional..."

"Hey~"

David quickly waved his hand to Boss Zhang and said with a smile: "Don't say that!"

"I'm just an ordinary person working on Wall Street, not a professional."

"However, you are hesitant to take out a loan to buy a house. You must have heard some news, right?"

"Hahaha~" Boss Zhang heard the meaning of David's words, laughed and nodded quickly, making a gesture of invitation.

David smiled and shrugged, picked up the teapot from the table, poured a cup for Boss Zhang, and said.

"Regarding the issue of loans, if I want to explain it to you in detail, I need to explain money supply, interest rates, inflation, etc. first."

"Let's put it simply..."

"Do you have any confidence in the future housing prices in Manhattan?"

"Rates?"

Boss Zhang picked up the tea cup, took a sip, and said with a smile: "Since the oil crisis a few years ago, the prices of the shops on the streets around us have more than doubled, and the rents have also increased. More than twice as much~”

"Ok!"

"Then do you think housing prices will continue to rise?"

"I think... I don't know..."

"Hahaha~"

"Then you must think that after buying the house in full, you don't have to worry about the bank's interest rate~"

"But I can just sit back and relax and occasionally pay attention to the news and the latest housing prices... Is that good?"

"That's right!" Boss Zhang put down his cup and said with a hint of sigh + reminiscence in his expression.

"Look at my restaurant, it was Wenbiao's father and some of my brothers who pooled their money to help me open it..."

"Later, I made some money, bought this shop, and took out a loan to buy a house on this street."

"More than ten years ago, when I had saved some money and wanted to pay off the mortgage early, something happened to that guy Wenbiao again..."

"I lent the money to Wen Biao's family, bailed him out of the police station, and sent him to Xiangjiang."

"After that...hehe~"

Boss Zhang smiled bitterly, glanced at Zhang Wenbiao who was chatting with Cui Yingying and Susan, and whispered.

"After Wenbiao went to Xiangjiang, another very talented young man came out of our family and was admitted to the State University of New York."

"After graduation, he followed a group of young people to Wall Street and got exposed to stocks..."

"Then.."

David controlled the expression on his face, raised his hand calmly, interrupted Boss Zhang and asked.

"You... bought stocks?"

"Hush~huh~"

"Yes, bought it!"

"Then the price of the stock dropped?"

"..Yes!"

"You didn't sell it?"

"Sold...just sold last month!"

"..."

David silently gave a thumbs up and praised Boss Zhang's "great perseverance".

"You can really hold your breath...!"

"Hehe~"

Boss Zhang spread his hands helplessly: "What else?"

"If you sell it, you can only get back a little more than half..."

"If we don't sell it, at least there is hope that the price will rise again."

"...Okay~"

David raised his hand and patted his forehead a few times. From the corner of his eye, he saw Cui Yingying not far away and cast a concerned look.

He smiled and waved his hand to Cui Yingying, pondered for a moment, and said to Boss Zhang.

"Stocks, I advise you not to buy them randomly in the future~"

"The water here is too deep and too turbid!"

"Okay! I'll never touch it again!"

"Haha~ That's not a big deal..."

"Whether you can make money buying and selling stocks depends on your choices and timing!"

"Of course ~ Luck is also an important factor in whether you can make money buying stocks."

"As you just said... Judging from the time, not long after you decided to enter the stock market, the stock market experienced a short-term and substantial rise because of the decoupling of the rice dollar from gold~"

"Afterwards, you saw that buying stocks was indeed a good opportunity to make a lot of money, so you entered the stock market during the middle and late stages of this rise."

"The result... you should have made some money~"

"But you didn't expect that the outbreak of the first oil crisis would make the stock market enter a super bear market that made everyone feel their blood pressure soaring."

"The stocks you held were not sold in time during the last wave of stock price drops."

"So, that led to..."

Boss Zhang was very surprised and clapped his thigh and said loudly: "Yes!"

"I also thought it might just be a short-term price drop..."

David nodded with understanding and said with a smile: "Stocks are just like the prices on your menu~"

"It's easy to go down, but it's very, very difficult to go back up..."

"That's right!"

"Hehe~"

"This principle is actually completely opposite when it comes to housing prices..."

"I can help you with a brief analysis first!"

"Look, the current house price should have reached your highest psychological valuation..."

"You are worried about the uncertainty of future housing prices~"

"After you had some spare money in your hand, you quit the stock market and wanted to buy... the house that was supposed to be the least likely to lose money, but you were afraid that its price would rise to the highest level, making you once again the last one to beat the drum. Unlucky guy..."

"So, you are wondering whether you want to buy a house... or where to invest the money, or whether to deposit it directly in the bank... and you are hesitant!?"

Boss Zhang nodded vigorously, leaned forward slightly, pursed his lips and waited for David's next words. .

David leaned back and said with a confident smile on his face: "This is very simple!"

"Now you want to invest in the safest investment product with the lowest risk and the most stable return...only US Treasury bonds!"

“In addition, gold is also a good choice to preserve and increase the value of your investment!”

"It just so happens that the U.S. government opened up the sales market for individuals to buy gold a few years ago. If you are hesitant about investing, you can buy some genuine gold bars and deposit them in a bank safe~"

“Gold’s circulation ability and value-preserving ability are much stronger than that of a house.”

"As for the house..."

David picked up the teacup, drank the tea, and said with a smile: "If you don't plan to use the money in the short term, buying a house is also a very good choice~"

"However, in the short term, it is not cost-effective to buy a house with a loan~"

"In the long run, buying a house with full payment is not cost-effective!"

“I am still very confident about the housing prices in Manhattan!”

"So, whether you want to buy a house with a loan or with full payment, I can find someone to help you, and I guarantee that it will save you worry + time + money!"

"it is good!"

Boss Zhang looked at David with as much satisfaction as a "father-in-law". .

. . .

The entrance of Xincheng Restaurant.

David looked at Susan and Cui Yingying, got into the car, took Boss Zhang's right hand, and asked in a low voice.

"When was the last time you went back to Xiangjiang to visit relatives?"

"Well...it's been a few years~"

"Hehe~"

"If I go to Xiangjiang, can you be my guide?"

Boss Zhang raised his eyebrows in surprise, nodded and said with a smile: "No problem!"

"I'll go get the visa tomorrow ~ I promise to be on call!"

"Hahaha~Thank you!"

. . .

David and others are leaving~

Boss Zhang frowned and watched the car disappear at the far corner of the street. He sighed and said to Brother Biao beside him.

"Is this matter settled?"

"..if not?"

"...Hey~"

Boss Zhang laughed at himself and said nothing~

Brother Biao patted Boss Zhang's arm with a calm expression, turned around, opened the restaurant door, and said.

"Yingying's illness + her obsession + her current age..."

"Meeting David is already the best result~"

"Is there anything else you can't think about?"

Boss Zhang walked towards the restaurant and shook his head: "It's not that I can't think about it~"

"But...hey~"

"Maybe it's because I'm getting old~"

"In the past two days, I always like to think randomly..."

Biao Ge took Boss Zhang to sit down, poured him another cup of tea, and asked.

"What did you and David talk about just now?"

Boss Zhang picked up the tea cup, looked down at the tea leaves floating in the tea, looked at it for a few seconds, took a sip and said.

"Wenbiao~"

"Do you think it would be better for me to use that money to buy some gold bars instead of buying a house?"

"Forehead.."

Biao Geton was speechless for a few seconds and asked curiously.

"That's what you were talking about just now?"

"..Um!"

"Hehe~"

"If this is what David said, it should be right~"

"After all, he is one of our own, isn't he?"

"One of our own...ah!"

"That's right!"

Boss Zhang put down his tea cup, seemed to have put aside the last worries in his heart, and nodded slowly.

----

Manhattan.

42nd Street, above Wildfire Bar.

David held Susan in one hand and Cui Yingying in the other, talking and laughing as they climbed to the third floor.

Just as the three of them were about to return home on the fourth floor, the housekeeper Acklade, who was "officially on duty" today, appeared at the door of David's house and smiled at the three of them.

"good afternoon!"

"Oh~ Ackleide!"

"Your body... looks..."

David looked up and down at Aclade's elegant and fashionable clothes, and couldn't help but feel his eyes light up and smiled.

"You dress so handsomely and show up at home every day..."

"Can I still go to work with confidence...?"

"Hey~ what did you say?" Susan stared at Aclade, but gave David a hard blow with her hand. .

"Hahaha~"

Aclade smiled modestly: "Only if I am good enough can I bring out your success and taste!"

"Wow ~ great answer!"

David gave him a thumbs up sign and praised.

"Haha~Thank you!"

Aclade took half a step back, stretched out his hand to make a gesture of invitation, and said gently: "While you were out, Ms. Zina arranged for a grand piano to be delivered to her, and she left a message saying, She's bringing an old friend over tomorrow to teach you some music.

"Oh?"

"Where is the piano?"

"Upstairs, top floor!"

"The tuner has left, you can always..."

"Ok! Thanks, man~"

"...!"

Aclade, who was called "guy" for the first time, was stunned for a moment before reaching out to help David open the door and watched the three of them walk in.

"Dude!?"

"Hehe~"

Ackleide stood there with an "interesting" smile on his lips~

----

The Queen.

After 21 o'clock in the evening.

Old Malkin sat in the study on the second floor, pressed the speakerphone button and hung up the phone.

Ludy, who was sitting opposite him, glanced at the two "little brothers" Rosenlot and Alto behind him, pondered for a while, and asked the old Malkin who was deep in thought.

"I'm going to go talk to...that Lady Bumgarner?"

"Oh?"

"Do you think he sent those two black boys?"

"Yes~"

Lu Di had a "natural" look on his face, shrugged and said, "That guy promised me that the obstacles to our real estate development project would be resolved within a week."

"If it's not him, who else could it be?"

"Hehe~"

Old Malkin laughed twice in surprise, took out an empty pipe from the drawer, held it in his mouth, and asked with a smile.

"Last time, the black boy we met...who was willing to use his brain was the Frank Lucas who was imprisoned, right?"

(Frank Lucas, from the movie "Gangster", played by Denzel Washington.)

("American Gangster" is a movie with two male protagonists. The other male protagonist, Richie Roberts, appears in Chapter 146 and is played by Russell Crowe.)

. . .

"Yes~"

Ludy nodded with some emotion and sighed: "That guy really made Hamlin calm for a while~"

"If you didn't mention him... I almost forgot about that guy~"

"Hehe~"

Old Malkin smiled meaningfully: "That boy was fined and confiscated all his assets. After a few years in prison, his family was gone and his wife ran away. He should be considered a severe punishment."

"Um...I don't understand what you mean~"

"Perhaps, he may not even know it... There is a hidden history of mental illness hereditary in their family!"

"what?"

"..." Lu Di frowned in confusion. He crossed his fingers on his beer belly and turned hundreds of times in his mind. Suddenly he remembered something~

He hesitated and asked with some uncertainty.

"You mean, the Patty Hester whom Polly mentioned to us a few days ago...?"

"That's right!"

"That... mental illness, what's its name?"

"Forehead.."

Ludika stayed silent for a few seconds, then turned to look at the two "little brothers" and asked.

"Do you remember?"

"No~" Alto simply spread his hands and said with a smile.

Rosenlo had a dull look on his face, thought for a moment, nodded and said, "It should be called... Stockholm Syndrome~"

"Oh~ yes!"

"That's the name~"

Ludy smiled and winked at Rosenlow, glared hard at Alto, turned back and smiled at old Malkin.

"But Frank Lucas is in a different situation than Patty Hearst~"

"He has never been kidnapped..."

"Hehe~"

"He has never been kidnapped, but the mental stimulation he has received is no less than that of Patty Hearst, right?"

"..Understood!"

Ludy tapped his belly gently with his fingers, and said slowly under the expectant attention of old Malkin.

"It won't be too difficult to get Frank Lucas out of jail~"

"Now, no one pays attention to him anymore~"

"Furthermore, he has been in Hamlin for more than 20 years. It is much easier for him to find out some information than for us~"

"Hmm~ That's right!"

"Any more?"

"and also.."

Ludy paused for a moment and continued: "Also! Like Lady Bumgarner, he sells heroin!"

"If he can provide us with some clues to investigate Lady Bumgarner..."

"Hmm~"

Old Malkin smiled and waved the pipe in his hand and said.

"Although, the competition in the New York drug market was very fierce in the past few years~"

"But in recent years, heroin has been replaced by cocaine from South America as most mainstream drugs!"

"And this black kid, Lady Bumgarner, brought drugs to New York, which happened to be heroin."

Ludy continued: "So, do you think that after this kid disappeared from Los Angeles, he didn't go to Miami, but joined a drug trafficking group that we don't know about?"

"Haha~ maybe."

"This is just a guess~"

"No~"

Ludy felt that his thoughts were suddenly expanded a lot.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, slowly forming the prototype of a plan in his mind~

Old Malkin couldn't help but nodded and smiled when he saw him thinking "hard".

"You also heard the call from Polly just now."

"Her plan remains unchanged. On your side...just go ahead and do it according to your own ideas!"

"Ok!"

Ludy stood up and nodded confidently.

----

a new day!

Manhattan.

42nd Street, above Wildfire Bar.

In the dim bedroom, David frowned, slowly sat up from the bed in confusion, and rubbed his eyes a few times with his hands.

He is dreaming again~

But last night, among the strange dreams he had, there was a figure that was originally very blurry, and it became clear little by little~

Ruby!

That's right~

It was David's first girlfriend, Ruby, who left New York. .

. . .

David turned his head and glanced at Susan, who was still sleeping soundly. He got out of bed silently, put on his clothes, and quickly walked out of the bedroom.

in the kitchen.

David got you a glass of water. After draining it, he looked down at the glass in his hand, feeling the feeling from the last dream still lingering in his heart. .

Sour, sweet, happy, happy, laughing and singing to the wine. .

Every bit of time spent with Ruby appeared in David's dream~

This is. .Is it the obsession left in the body?

. . .

David looked at the cup blankly for a while, then simply got another glass of water, drank it up and walked out of the kitchen.

He lay back on the sofa, closed his eyes, tried to relax completely, and his head began to slowly empty out. .

Gradually, the familiar feeling in the dream appeared in David's heart again.

Ruby. .

She likes music very much, loves folk songs, and even more loves rock and roll!

She is cheerful, loves to laugh, loves flowers, Coke and hamburgers. .

She is also like Susan.

The two have different past stories, but they have the same unfortunate childhood~

And Ruby was the one who could leave such a deep memory in David's heart. .It's because David loves her very much!

She loves David too!

At least. .The old David thought Ruby loved her very much!

Emm. .

David, who was lying on the sofa, felt this in his heart. .Something similar to obsession, like a small flame~

It wasn't very bright, but it made him feel very warm. .

This strange experience made David unable to hold on~

He covered his chest with his hands, slowly sat up from the sofa, opened his eyes, tried to calm down for a while, then stood up and walked into the study.

It seemed that he had to think of a way as soon as possible to get rid of this inexplicable heat in his heart~