Wu Ling's warning left me worried for days. I was afraid something unexpected might happen to me. I checked the map of People's Celebration City again and again, making sure there wasn't a place called "Guangyuan," or even anywhere with a similar name. Only then did I close the map app.
But nothing happened for several days. Even the demolition work was merely busy, not troublesome. The property owners stopped acting unreasonable and became, if anything, a little too eager. Those still living in Workers and Peasants Sixth Village wanted to get relocated as soon as possible and move into resettlement housing. Those who hadn't secured a unit yet took the temporary relocation allowance and hurried away. As for those who no longer lived in Workers and Peasants Sixth Village, they all wanted to get rid of their properties as quickly as possible and sever all ties with the village for good.
After hesitating for a while, Director Mao finally told us the truth.
"...That young man from last time—the one who only recently rented a place here... And that female reporter, they asked about that, didn't they? The matter with Building Six." Director Mao lowered her voice. "A lot of the elderly are panicking. They're anxious, they're scared. They all say, well, they say there's something wrong with that place. Anyway, they all want to move out as soon as possible. The story's been passed around so much it's changed, and some people have even asked me if this place used to be a mass grave or something."
Director Mao gave a bitter smile.
At least she could still smile. I couldn't.
Greenleaf had once been shunned by everyone at the city's Third Steelworks—or, for that matter, everyone at the Qingzhou Manufacturing Bureau. The rumors about him had been