We are neighboring cities. Red Light City, Hémén and Ǒushuǐ are to our south. Although we are Green Light City, we are actually already flashing Yellow Light! Whether we turn red or stay green depends on everyone present, not letting a single infected person enter the city... We must make the impossible possible... This is a fight with one's back to the river. All refugees from the two cities will face the greatest disaster. Yúshān Tunnel is the front line of this war. We must clear out the buildings around the tunnel, arrange for refugees to enter, and block the refugee and Corpse Fungus problem outside the tunnel. By any means necessary, we must prevent refugees from entering Sān Shān Shì. Sacrificing a small portion to protect the majority... This principle is not hard to understand. It's not too late yet. Refugees have already entered Sanshan, and before we could perfect our isolation measures, we dispatched Clover Squad members and police to pursue them. We have spread the word about how bad and terrifying refugees are, urging citizens to report any sightings to the police. Fortunately, up to now, despite a few getting through, we are still Green Light City. Our number of infected is still zero."
Someone in the audience still raised their hand resolutely.
Gu Mayor stopped his emotional speech. He paused his remarks and politely gestured, inviting the person to speak.
"I object to the policy of blocking Yúshān Tunnel. I object to prohibiting people from the outside from entering. I hope the Mayor and the Xuelingshan base can reconsider carefully. If blocked, there will not just be hundreds or thousands of people gathered at the tunnel entrance, but tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands will rush into the tunnel. How can we stop them? Mayor, and leaders present, if among these refugees are your closest loved ones, how would you treat them? Would you want them blocked outside? Throughout history, any epidemic stopped by blocking roads and villages has basically failed. Modern society is an open society, and such a blockade will not succeed."
Mayor Gu looked at the excited elderly man speaking. His temples were graying. He was District Chief Xie from Hongshan District in Sanshan. He stood up, stubbornly and passionately stating his objection.
Mayor Gu was momentarily lost in thought. This District Chief Xie had called several times recently. He recalled what he had asked for. His wife and daughter had gone to stay with her family in Hémén for a while, and it was precisely during that time that the epidemic in Hémén spiraled out of control...
"District Chief Xie, blocking the main arteries of city entry and exit is part of the Gate-Closing Operation. This cannot be refuted. I will strictly follow the instructions from Xuelingshan. And as the district chief of this city, you should strictly enforce it."
The old man trembled with emotion. He did not sit down but looked at Mayor Gu.
"Mayor Gu!!! Even if your own relatives are blocked outside, you won't let them in!" the old man roared. "Among the members present, do none of you have any special privileges or any means to protect your own relatives? If we are incapable of protecting our own relatives, how can we protect our people? Today, the Gate-Closing Plan has been announced. I believe you knew the general content of the meeting more than anyone present. Before the tunnel is blocked, before the plan is issued, is there no room for negotiation?"
"District Chief Xie, please do not bring personal matters into this venue. I treat everyone equally, and that includes myself," Mayor Gu replied.
The old man gave a thumbs up. "Fine... you've got guts..."
He sat down unceremoniously, his lips trembling, clearly furious but suppressing his inner anger and disappointment.
"Please listen to me. Your privilege is that recently, I will report to Xuelingshan to arrange for your direct relatives to be sent Northbound or to a special zone. I will start making arrangements immediately. This is one of the plans of the Gate-Closing Operation. But I regret to inform you, this does not apply to Red Light City. If your relatives are unfortunately in the Red Light City area or the border blockade zones, according to regulations, they cannot enter Green Light City. However... I will place them in a relatively safe intermediate zone. If they have already arrived at our border and registered, that's all I can do..."
District Chief Xie shook his head, his eyes moist.
Mayor Gu's gaze no longer fell on him. He continued to speak:
"From now on, all members present, together with me, will implement the Gate-Closing Plan. Our only path to survival is to exhaust all efforts to keep Sanshan's green light on forever. This is also our only way to protect the citizens of Sanshan, by any means necessary."
...
"Mayor Gu, what if... we become a Red Light City?"
Mayor Gu looked coldly at the Commissioner of Taxes who asked the question.
"Wasn't what I said clear enough just now?" Mayor Gu retorted sharply.
"If you are here to mourn, then this city is beyond saving. You should go back and burn incense and pray to the Goddess of Liuli Temple for safety. Who are you all!!!" Mayor Gu contained his emotions that had long been wanting to erupt. "You are the controllers of this city's resources. Xuelingshan has entrusted resources and power to you. Now you must hold your heads high! Whether this city becomes Green Light or Red Light is in the hands of the 300 members present. You hold a button, you hold an invisible button. It depends on what you press... Are you going to cause chaos before the enemy even invades?"
After Mayor Gu finished speaking, his suppressed emotions finally relaxed for a moment. He leaned on the podium with one hand, trembling slightly. He slowly, slowly walked off the stage. Under the despairing and suppressed gazes of everyone, he bowed deeply to the 300 members present.
"All the responsibility and blame, I will bear alone. I will certainly be a sinner for eternity... You are only executing my orders... just executing my orders... Everyone. I entrust Sanshan to you."
Mayor Gu fully understood that a large part of the so-called Gate-Closing Plan was simply to delay.
Because the construction of the special zone required time.
(End of this chapter)
(3) Having Other Intentions
Gu Manli sat on the windowsill, a pack of nearly finished cigarettes lying beside her. She pulled one out, lit it, and casually placed it between her lips. She pushed aside a heavy curtain, letting the morning sunlight slant in. She gently opened a crack in the window, allowing wisps of smoke to drift out. Her gaze fell upon the city below, shrouded in a morning mist.
She made herself a cup of coffee and then checked her phone. There were over twenty missed calls. She opened WeChat messages and dismissed them one by one. She only cared about one or two messages. When she reached one particular message, she stopped and examined its contents carefully. The message was from Director Lin at the radio station.
"Manli, I've inquired about what you asked me to look into the other day. Unfortunately, after talking yesterday, all on-site assignments at our station now require reporting. However, you can contact him. He's not from our area. Here's his number. Tell him Director Lin gave it to you; he has a way. Also, your mother called asking about you. You're not going home, are you? You didn't answer my calls. Your mother asked me to tell you to temporarily suspend your frontline work and arrange for you to be in an internal position. Sorry, but I've already agreed..."
Gu Manli sighed softly. After quickly scanning the message, she tapped the attached phone number and dialed. A few seconds later, the call was answered.
"Hello, Director Lin from Sanshan Television Station gave me your number, asking me to contact you..."
The other party hung up the phone almost before she finished speaking.
Gu Manli took a drag from her cigarette, which had burned down almost to the filter, and then stubbed it out firmly in the ashtray on the windowsill. She dialed again.
"Hello, please don't hang up. I am Gu Manli, a reporter from Sanshan Radio..."
The other party seemed not to have heard her name clearly and asked her to repeat it.
"My name is Gu Manli..." she slowed down her speech.
It seemed the person on the other end accepted the name. He didn't hang up, so Gu Manli continued, "They told me you can handle it. You have a way, right? Okay, let's meet today at noon. The location is... Okay, you're only free at noon, right? I understand. I'll be there at your time and place. Thank you, thank you. I will keep all of this confidential..."
Gu Manli glanced at her phone. It was 10:03 AM. She quickly tidied her hair, put on her coat, and opened the door, ready to leave. At the doorway, she saw Gu Manlong about to knock. He stood there in a suit, tie, and black leather shoes.
"Why aren't you answering the phone?" Gu Manlong asked. "Do you know how worried Father and Mother are? They've called your cell phone a hundred times, and you don't answer. You don't even reply to text messages!" Gu Manlong blocked the doorway, preventing Gu Manli from leaving.
"Brother, I need to go out," Gu Manli said, looking up at him. "When I lived alone before, my parents never looked for me. Don't worry, I'm not a child anymore."
"Have you forgotten Father's instruction for us to stay in the municipal government's housing without leaving? The whole family has moved inside, not staying outside." Gu Manlong suppressed his emotions, looking at her attitude. "If this were normal times, we wouldn't care. You're a reporter; you know the situation outside better than I do. Do you know how critical it is and how dangerous your job is?"
"Oh, how could I possibly understand the current situation clearly?" Gu Manli retorted. "I don't know what Father said when he met the Director, but the Director thinks I should know. You think I understand the current situation? Brother, I'm a mess right now."
"I don't want to argue with you about this. Father will make his own judgment about his affairs. If the higher-ups require confidentiality, he should fulfill that obligation."
"Fine, I won't argue either. I understand the responsibility and pressure Father bears. But Mother called the Director last night asking me to give up my frontline work. Do you think I can accept that? The thing I hate most is them having power and not using it, but instead using these privileges on me!"
"Mother said it's a special period, and she wouldn't do it unless absolutely necessary. She's doing it for your own good," Gu Manlong said, unsurprised by the matter.
"For my own good?" Gu Manli shook her head. She tried to leave, but Gu Manlong's arm firmly blocked her.
"Are you living here?" Gu Manlong peeked into the room.
"Can you please move? I need to go out," Gu Manli said impatiently.
Gu Manlong peered into the room. "Mother said you have a place to stay outside since you're not home. You'd rather rent a place outside than go back. It seems she was right. This room doesn't look big... It's on a high floor, and the rent for this area can't be cheap. All the shops downstairs are closed; what will you eat?"
His eyes swept over the room for a moment. He released his grip, pushed the door open, and was about to enter. Gu Manli stepped forward, blocking him with her body.
"Brother, you can't come in without my permission," Gu Manli said.
"Fine." Gu Manlong scanned the room with his eyes, then stepped back to the doorway. "Where are you going?"
"To the mall," Gu Manli said casually. "You just mentioned that the shops downstairs are closed, which reminded me. Besides, I was planning to go anyway."
"I'll go with you," Gu Manlong said. "I don't have anything to do this morning either. It's rare for me to get out for some fresh air."
Gu Manli looked up at her tall, blond elder brother. Despite having straight hair, he had permed it into curls, like a foreigner's, and he had secretly sprayed the perfume she kept in the municipal government building's restroom.
She glanced dismissively at her meticulously dressed elder brother, estimating he would shamelessly latch onto her again.
Gu Manli's eyes flickered: "Deal!"
She answered cheerfully.
Gu Manlong stared in surprise. He hadn't expected her to agree so readily, thinking his sister would argue with him for a bit longer.
He stood frozen, contemplating his next move.
"Let's go!" Gu Manli stared at him. He let go of the doorframe and stepped aside. Gu Manli closed the door, shook her hair, and pressed the elevator button.
A black car was parked downstairs. In the driver's seat, before starting the engine, Gu Manlong took out his phone. He glanced at Gu Manli, who was buckling her seatbelt, and then called his mother. "Mom, Manli is with me... She's fine. I'm with her. She's going to the mall... Okay... Okay."
Gu Manlong put down his phone, started the engine, and smiled as he looked at Gu Manli, who was looking down and texting.
"Mom wants you to come home with me after the mall, no matter what. You can't go anywhere else from now on."
"Why?"
"Because Father issued a strict family order yesterday. He's worried the situation will worsen. For our safety, we are to stay in the municipal government building and be ready to evacuate at any time."
"Is that so?" Gu Manli replied indifferently.
"Didn't you keep saying the situation is serious? Don't you understand how to judge it?"
Gu Manli put down her phone and tapped her forehead lightly, lost in thought. She stopped arguing with Gu Manlong about the situation, knowing that if they continued, they would never stop. So she said,
"Oh, right, Brother... how did you know where I was living?"
Gu Manlong let out a soft cold laugh. "I really don't know where your reporter's keen sense of smell is. Do you think our father, the Mayor, is a figurehead? You paid the rent, you paid the utilities, the packages were addressed to you; any casual check would have found out."
Seeing Gu Manli look down unhappily, Gu Manlong said lightly, "Alright, tell me, where are we going?"
"The mall under Pingshan Building," Manli said, her fingers constantly swiping on the phone screen.
"Then I'll need navigation..." Gu Manlong said, slowing down the car and activating the navigation system, turning the voice volume to the lowest setting.
"I come back once a year, staying for a month. This city changes too fast. Every time I come back, I don't recognize it. Before, I always felt this city was dreary, but now I don't feel that way anymore. There's been a lot of foggy weather recently. I've been back for so long, and it hasn't rained once..."
He glanced at Gu Manli, who was staring intently at the screen, lost in thought.
Gu Manlong let out a soft laugh.
"What are you laughing at..." Gu Manli asked.
"Nothing," Gu Manlong said, looking gently at Gu Manli. "It's just that without realizing it, I see my sister has grown up."
"What do you mean? Just ask whatever you want to ask directly," Gu Manli said, closing her phone and turning to look out the window at the empty street covered in white mist. The December cold wind swirled fallen leaves and garbage on the ground, spinning them en masse in the mist.
"Who is it that makes you and Mom and Dad look so worried, someone who makes you not want to come home even though you have a home?" Gu Manlong asked directly.
"Who?" Gu Manli asked guardedly, sitting up straighter.
"The man who lives with you in your rented room?" Gu Manlong observed her sister's expression subtly.
Her fingers rubbed the phone in her hand. She asked, "Did Dad or Mom tell you?"
Gu Manlong nodded. "You didn't answer calls or reply to any messages. Actually, Mom and Dad knew you were renting a place outside a long time ago and guessed you were living with that man. Although they're busy, they didn't want to interfere too much with your life, especially since you have a job. They were gratified by that. You used to complain a lot about your work, but this time you're showing unprecedented enthusiasm. How could Mom and Dad not guess what you're thinking? Last night, you weren't in your room, so he had Secretary Lu track your whereabouts all night, searching everywhere you might be staying."
"Are you satisfied now? You know where I live."
"Who is he? Have I met him?"
"You can ask Mom and Dad who he is... They disagreed with us dating a long time ago. You didn't know about this in America. Later, Dad found a way to transfer him out of Sanshan. Just two months ago, the reason given was a higher salary and a better position. It was indeed much better than before, but it also meant leaving Sanshan."
"Manli, my views might differ from Dad's. You know I've picked up some American traits over the past few years. When it comes to dating, I believe in freedom. If it were me, I could speak to Dad on your behalf. But... it's not just about whether your parents agree; even I, your brother, don't agree now, letting my sister rent a small room outside and even making my sister pay rent – no business sense at all..."
"Are you kidding me!" Gu Manli said angrily. "What do you mean by investment? What do you take me for? You're a returning student, and your thinking is still so closed and traditional."
"Can't be helped. Even though I'm abroad, my roots are still in China. By the way, how often does he come back?"
"How often does who come back?" Gu Manli feigned ignorance and asked.
"Didn't you say he was transferred to Hémén? So, how often does he come back to Sanshan?"
"Two weeks ago..." Gu Manli found it strange that her usually resistant elder brother was discussing her personal life with her today. Perhaps she had suppressed too much and longed for her parents' approval, desperately needing someone to talk to.
"His work is busy there. Even after being transferred to Hémén, he wants to achieve something. He wants to work hard and save money to buy a house in Sanshan. That's his plan."
"Are his parents also in Sanshan?"
"His parents divorced when he was very young. His father and mother each have their own families and stopped paying attention to him. I've never met them; I heard they are in Landaoshan."
"Then he must have asked you to go to Hémén to stay with him?"
Gu Manli shook her head. "No, I won't leave here. Besides, he's afraid I can't handle the hardship. He knows my family is here, and I've never lived away from home. He never even mentioned it. When he left that day, he only blamed Father for arranging his job in Hémén Shì. After packing his bags that day, he just told me to work hard and save money to buy a house..."
Gu Manlong nodded with relief. The car slowly and smoothly turned at the intersection.
"If you really went with him to Hémén, it would be over..." Gu Manlong said meaningfully.
(End of this chapter, please turn the page)