In a remote county town in Qing Province, a middle-aged man in a faded old military uniform pushed a bicycle into a narrow alley. He stopped before the gate of an ordinary courtyard, took out a key, unlocked it, and went inside, quickly shutting the gate behind him.
The courtyard wasn't large and was rather cluttered, piled high with old odds and ends. A row of three main rooms stood with their doors open. The man parked his bicycle and went inside. From the easternmost room, a young man's voice called out, "Is that you, Uncle Qin?"
"Yes, it's me. Xiao Fan, are you hungry? Lunch should be ready at my place. I'll go bring it over."
"There's no rush. You should rest for a bit first, Uncle Qin. Is there any news today?"
"Yes! I've got it. Look at this."
The middle-aged man took a green money order from his pocket and handed it to the young man lying on the large kang bed by the window.
