By the time Liang Hui and the other merchants and gentlemen hurried back to Chinatown, the massive fire had already spread throughout the entire area, leaving many places burned to the ground, with no sign of the sanitation department's bulldozers or the firefighters.
An old man beside Liang Hui, with white hair and beard and wearing a melon rind hat, caught sight of the sky-high flames, uttered a short, strangled cry, and fainted, his eyes rolling back. Liang Hui quickly supported him and called out to his subordinates, "Take several of the chairmen to rest, quick!"
The other merchants were either beating their chests and wailing or cursing loudly, completely losing their composure. But the fire was merciless, and each was escorted away by their own people.
Liang Hui wore a grim expression as he ordered his men not to conflict with the foreigners, to evacuate the residents, and to minimize casualties.
