After the completion of the first phase of Gotham's renovation, the second phase began without delay, and the majority of the houses in phase two were built by the time the temperature started to drop.
However, the houses weren't initially meant to be delivered this fast. But the condition of the buildings in the residential area included in the second phase was deteriorating. Therefore, before the arrival of the typhoon, all residents were informed to move.
"You and some of the younger children don't really understand the situation in East Gotham," Tire, sitting next to Jason, sighed. "The area where my mother and I used to live was where the earliest fishers who came to Gotham lived."
"It was a very long time ago. Many of the fishers lived on their boats, and when they came ashore, it was only to sell fish. They'd live in temporary shacks."
"Back then, it was a wasteland. The houses they built were not well planned, lacking even a decent foundation. As long as it provided shelter from the wind and rain, it was enough. That's why our street was called 'Old Fish Basket.' It was rickety and drafty, just like an old fish basket."
"Later, as Gotham's population exploded, the original residents began adding extra stories onto their houses to rent out to newcomers. But the buildings were already subpar, and the additional storeys made them even less stable."
"The building that my mother and I lived in was considered one of the better ones. A few families combined their efforts to improve the structure, making it barely inhabitable. The buildings to our west were on the verge of collapse."
Jason asked in confusion, "Your mother is so capable. She can singlehandedly hold down a gas station. Why would she live in such a place?"
Tire laughed, "Because it was close to work."
"Moreover, my mother specifically moved to a neighborhood inhabited mainly by locals. In Gotham, both the Mob and neighbors are all part of one's network. The reason why we had such good conditions is that my mother didn't only work at the gas station. She also took side jobs such as laundry, mending clothes and fixing shoes."
"When I got a little older, one of my neighbors who worked as a chef for a rich family in South District used to take me to assist him, and I earned quite a bit of money. The locals knew the area well, and anyone who grew up here would certainly be able to find their way around in Gotham."
Jason suddenly understood and said, "No wonder, no wonder Cobblepot thinks so highly of you, always asking your opinion on everything..."
Tire smiled bashfully and scratched his head, "To be honest, I'm not any better than you. I'm not a smart person. I just represent the local people of Gotham, and I know better than anyone what they are thinking. These locals spread across every corner of the city and hold many important positions."
"It's like a spider web, we are the web itself. If anyone wants to enter the spider hole, they can understand what's happening inside just by feeling the vibrations in the web."
"I've noticed you've changed quite a lot," Jason said, pulling a blanket from the cupboard nearby. Tire took it, wrapped it around himself and joined Jason sitting by the window, watching the rain. Jason added, "You never used to use such metaphors."
"Indeed, it sounds a bit… excessive, in terms we used to use. However, it seems fitting now, considering that I had hot milk before coming here and I'm even starting to sweat."
Looking at the violent wind and rain outside the window, Tire said, "In the past, I would probably be hammering windows shut with nails and my mother would be pouring the rainwater that leaked into the house into a bucket…"
"Perhaps, a neighbor would ask for our help because the wall of their backyard collapsed again, flooding the foundation…"
Jason chuckled, "And we, the children of the Tail Gang, would probably be forming a relay line to scoop out the water that had seeped into the cellar. By the middle of the night, we'd be so exhausted that we would have to sleep on the damp ground, praying that we wouldn't catch a cold in the morning."
Tire was about to say something when he seemed to be reminded of something. He frowned and said, "But the typhoon came a bit earlier than we expected. Because my mother's gas station was our own, she had flexibility in her job, so she started packing a week in advance."
"Even so, we couldn't have finished moving today without the help of you and the Tail Gang children. And our neighbors…" Tire shook his head, "They were already busy with their work. Even their children have to work and earn money. Many of them just started packing their things this morning, not knowing the typhoon would hit tonight."
"If they can't finish moving, they will have to make do for the night. My mother invited them to stay in our new place until the rain stops, but they preferred to stay and guard their stuff in case it gets flooded."
Jason frowned and said in a disapproving tone, "I wanted to say this when we were moving today: there's really no need to bring all their possessions, we have everything here. Didn't they see it when they came for the visit?"
"I can understand bringing some old things. After all, they were bought with hard-earned money and can't be wasted. But why do they insist on bringing things that are completely unusable? Like pots with leaks, bowls with cracks, and clothes that look no different from rags, why bring them?"