The sky was turning dark, and the lights along Qinghua Street in Zifeng City were now ablaze.
After a round of patrol by the security team had ended, a quick-witted little boy emerged from behind a street trash can.
He carried a small box on his back, which held his shoe-shining tools. In his arms was a little stool for his customers to sit on.
His lips were cracked; he had been here all day without a sip of water.
The little boy looked towards the corner store and heaved a melancholic sigh.
In the past, he could still sneak a few sips from the tap outside that corner store. Even for lunch, he could find some decent meat and vegetables from the leftovers.
But now, the corner store had changed hands. The new owner cordoned off the tap inside the premises, and all the leftovers were dumped directly into the swill bucket, which was securely tucked away inside the kitchen. He no longer had access even to drinking water, let alone spare food.
