Chapter 1 - 1 001 Above the Altar

Chapter 1: 001: Above the Altar Chapter 1: 001: Above the Altar April in the capital city, where the Chinese scholar trees bloom profusely and the loquat trees are bent with the weight of their fruit.

The temperature had dropped a bit these past few days, transitioning from warm to cold again.

“Changling.”

It was Sister Tao, the owner of the fruit shop, standing at the doorstep, waving at Wen Changling.

“Come and have some loquats.”

It was loquat season, and Sister Tao had picked a basketful that morning.

Wen Changling crossed the street and entered the fruit shop.

She worked in a hospice ward and usually kept irregular hours, often out early and returning late, her days and nights reversed. She wasn’t fond of socializing either. Having moved to Lotus Pond Street just over half a year ago, she was only a little familiar with Sister Tao from the fruit shop, and that was because last month Sister Tao’s son had a high fever. Wen Changling just happened to be on duty at the hospital and had lent a helping hand; that’s how they became acquainted. Sister Tao was a kind-hearted woman grateful for Wen Changling’s help and would always call her over to share any tasty treat she had.

Lotus Pond Street was an old street pending demolition, very narrow, with outdated facilities. Government officials had come by several times, each time saying it would be demolished, but each time nothing came of it. According to the neighbors, Lotus Pond Street was filled with old courtyards and alleys inhabited mostly by locals. There were many traditional houses with multiple courtyards, which were usually too expensive for most people to demolish.

the hair by her left ear, revealing a segment of a transparent hearing aid, a behind-the-ear model,

are you looking at?” asked

head up, looking at the newly opened

a rich family’s hobby, not really run like a proper shop. It’s been open so long and we’ve yet

a pawnshop

the owner was that the business wasn’t doing well and

bridge and swept back her bangs to cover half

the loquats, she stood up and

the landlord was an elderly lady who lived alone. The landlady’s surname was Zhu, and her husband had passed away earlier that year. She had only one

the right of the shop, a small door opened, through which Wen Changling lived in the back. The door led straight through a corridor to the backyard. Granny Zhu, being elderly and not good with her legs and incapable

property was

cash to purchase the neighboring property. Sister Tao from the fruit shop guessed correctly: the owner was

and Hooked Cymbidium had another

its entirety, especially the young leaves,

****

under oncology.

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