Where should I go? I felt a little lost.
I was unfamiliar with the place and had no clear goal.
I picked a direction and wandered aimlessly.
There were hardly any storefronts on the street. The occasional pedestrian passed by, but there wasn't a single vehicle.
It seemed there really was no transportation here. The only one I had seen was that ox cart.
After walking for about the time it took to smoke two cigarettes, I stopped, because I actually saw a shop.
There was actually a shop in a place like this. I wondered what it sold.
I was curious what currency they used for trade here, or whether they bartered instead.
I glanced at the signboard and saw the three words "Heavenly Secrets Hall." It sounded mysterious, and I had no idea what kind of business it was.
When I entered, I saw only a row of simple old-fashioned counters, like the counters in supply-and-marketing cooperatives from the seventies and eighties in our world. Yet instead of ordinary goods, the counters held countless envelopes that seemed to contain something.
There were no other customers in the shop, only a woman sitting behind the counter, smiling at me. My eyes widened. "Sister Lin?"
It really was Sister Lin. I hadn't expected to see her here, much less that she was the owner of this place.
"We meet again," she said with a smile.
I gave an awkward smile. "I didn't expect it either."
Trying to ease my embarrassment, I pointed at the envelopes in the counter and asked, "What are you selling here?"
"Heavenly Secrets Hall naturally sells heavenly secrets. What else would we sell?"
"Heavenly secrets? What are those?" I was genuinely curious.
Sister Lin beckoned to me, signaling for me to come behind the counter. I