news (from somebody); letter; contact; (somebody's) whereabouts; (somebody's) movements
gas station; petrol station
golden age; prime; heyday; season (for fruit, vegetables, etc.); best time
one's later years; final years (in life)
townscape; street (of stores and houses); (look of) stores and houses on street
hamburger shop; hamburger restaurant; hamburger joint
walking off with someone's bag; luggage theft; luggage thief
reception; acceptance; enjoyment; being given
adversary; opposition; hostile forces
clean sweep; purging; doing away with; eradication
to engage in prostitution
secret accounts; unauthorized accounting; under-the-counter accounting
self-interest; personal profit
storekeeper; shopkeeper; proprietor of a shop
portrait; likeness; picture
charm against evil spirits; talisman; amulet
trick that may deceive a child; transparent ploy; mere child's play; kid stuff; puerile trick
in one's lifetime; (while) in life
kernel; core; nucleus; center; centre
to pass down (a story) from generation to generation; to hand down
advocate; proponent; supporter
to plan; to form a plan; to scheme; to envision; to intend to do
to resonate emotionally (with one); to strike a chord in one's heart
ironically enough; as irony would have it; in a nice little twist
boldly; bravely; resolutely; determinedly
informer; informant; betrayer; snitch
to set up shop; to open a store
closing up shop (for the day); stopping business; going out of business
prosperity; bustle; activity; crowd; turnout
checking answers (e.g. to homework problems); verifying one's answers
enmity; antagonism; hostility
estrangement; alienation; disaffection
dagger; stiletto; confidant; right-hand man
peerless; matchless; unparalleled; unrivalled; unequalled; incomparable
moderate faction; moderates
to meet; to assemble; to congregate
rivalry of local warlords; a number of powerful (talented, influential) persons standing by themselves in a given field