Want to know how the local economy is really doing,

Don't just count the tall buildings, those can be empty, and don't only look at factory chimneys—they might have stopped smoking long ago.

Just go check out its business KTV. See how many private rooms are lit up at night, observe if the people inside are drinking and singing with enthusiasm, and notice if their hands tremble when paying the bill.

This is more real than any news; it can give you a clear view at a glance of how the entrepreneurs in this city are really doing.

Who comes to the business KTV to spend money? It's mainly the "middle" group of brothers. The ones truly holding it down inside are the small bosses and company leaders whose businesses are just starting or are on the rise.

They are better off than the bottom but not quite at the top; they have some cash on hand but haven't reached the point of doing whatever they want.

They come here not just to play but more to pave the way, discuss matters, and maintain relationships.

Therefore, if a city's venues are packed every day and the service is good, it basically indicates that this place has many of these middle brothers, with plenty of cash, and they are willing and confident to invest in the future.

The state of these people is the underlying tone of a local economy.