Creating hand-drawn notes is a unique habit of Liang En. On one hand, much of his knowledge of archaeology comes from the past, so it naturally follows. On the other hand, after acquiring a series of skills through cards, Liang En found that engaging in literary creation aids his memory and supports secondary commercial development.
For example, his notes on searching for turquoise mines in the Sinai Peninsula have been compiled and published. Though the sales are not as high as novels and fairy tales, they still bring in a steady income.
More importantly, these archaeological notes, endorsed by the Egyptian authorities, are recognized for their accuracy and moral integrity, thus being distributed widely to schools. Even if these books are priced low, resulting in minimal profit, the sheer volume makes it a significant sum.
Interestingly, this kind of promotion is irreplaceable by other methods. At least, Liang En can see from the data that the sales of these books have boosted the sales of his other works.
Since that public release, Liang En has naturally had the idea of turning these materials into a series. So after each archaeological work concludes, he immediately writes and draws to accumulate materials.
Of course, considering the protection of cultural relics, he always communicates with the responsible departments before publishing to avoid issues like leaking secrets.
Although such issues rarely occur, they can be major problems when they do. Several infamous archaeological thefts in history were caused by someone intentionally or unintentionally revealing excavation sites, attracting criminals.
Drawing and note-taking require a lot of time, especially when aiming for precision. Hence, Liang En went to bed late that night and didn't wake up until after nine the next morning.
Fortunately, his excavation permit had just expired and wasn't renewed, so there was no worry about being late and affecting others. After making a phone call, he discussed the next steps with Joan of Arc over breakfast.
"Where are we going today?" Joan of Arc asked, scooping up a wonton with a spoon, "I think we've seen most of the city. Are we going to the suburbs?"
"No, we don't have much time left. Instead of rushing around, we should leave some good impressions and come back later when we have more time," Liang En shook his head slightly. "Today, let's check out the commercial district."
"The commercial district?" Joan of Arc was surprised, her hand holding the spoon paused in mid-air, "I thought you weren't interested in modern places."
"Most of the time, I don't feel much, but you know, sometimes people want to be in crowded places, especially after staying in sparsely populated areas for a long time," Liang En smiled.
Wanting to go to a crowded place, the commercial district was the best choice. After checking on his phone, they took a taxi to Chunxi Road.
Due to time constraints, they had to choose between Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li, two bustling commercial districts in Shu City.
Both are the most prosperous commercial districts in Shu City, but each has its own characteristics. Chunxi Road is mainly composed of classic high-rise buildings, divided into different floor areas that seem ordinary but are actually diverse.
The lower floors are crowded with snacks, food, and restaurants. The middle floors are like a bustling market with numerous daily necessities shops, including some Taobao stores. The upper floors are trendy spots for internet celebrities, with the giant panda as the typical attraction.
Taikoo Li, on the other hand, is unique with its crisscrossing alleys, open squares, and metropolitan trends. It features top international luxury brands and renowned Michelin restaurants, making it a high-end destination.
Taikoo Li caters to middle and high-income groups, fulfilling city-level consumption needs and aiming for higher positioning through spending levels. It pursues fashion, with young people dominating the scene, engaged in street photography, street dancing, skateboarding, and videos.
Chunxi Road also has a youthful crowd and is rich in trendy culture, but it also includes many middle-aged and older people enjoying the historical commercial street's charm.
When representatives of the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s gather, this place vividly showcases the city's unique style.
From the responses of his excavation colleagues, Liang En learned that 80% of Chunxi Road's consumers are local residents.
Thus, Taikoo Li is full of top-tier brands and luxury goods, the epitome of high-end consumption, while Chunxi Road is closer to ordinary people, with a stronger local flavor.
That's why Liang En decided to take Joan of Arc to Chunxi Road today. High-end luxury consumption places are not lacking in Europe, whether in London, Paris, or Moscow.
However, a commercial street full of Chinese characteristics like Chunxi Road is impossible to find in Europe. Even the closest Chinatown can't compare to the authentic feel of a true Chinese commercial street.
After deciding on their destination, they took a ride-hailing car to an entrance of Chunxi Road. Although called a road, this commercial area covers a vast range.
"This is clearly a local market," Joan of Arc said, nodding in satisfaction as she looked at the 90s-style building facades.
Compared to high-end luxury zones, Joan of Arc preferred local markets, feeling they better reflected the true state of a place.
Soon, they were walking hand in hand along the street. There wasn't anything particularly attention-grabbing for them, but the feeling of strolling together on a bustling street was very pleasant.
Due to the many snack stalls on both sides of the road, within minutes, their hands were full of various snacks, and the casual eating and walking helped them blend into the surroundings smoothly.
"Look, isn't that your jewelry brand?" Joan of Arc suddenly pointed at a canvas advertising lightbox at the entrance of a large mall.
"What?" Following her direction, Liang En looked up and indeed saw the advertisement for his fast-fashion luxury jewelry brand, co-founded with an Indian jeweler.
"Let me check." Liang En, surprised, pulled out his phone and searched. A few minutes later, he found the store's information.
"Yes, this is my store." Liang En said, lifting his head with a hint of excitement. "This store opened less than a month ago. Let's go check it out."
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