The main street was desolate and quiet. A gust of wind swept dry, fallen leaves dancing through the air, and the dust grew increasingly fierce. Zhao Yan had to squint his eyes just to walk, thankful that there were few people around, or he surely would have collided with someone. He began to feel glad he had worn a mask, which at least protected his mouth and nose. Free from the interference of foul odors and dust, Zhao Yan felt refreshed.
Though the weather was stiflingly hot, Zhao Yan felt a sudden chill as he walked the streets. The atmosphere here was nothing short of oppressive, a stifling aura of death pressing in from all directions. The few passersby he saw had gaunt, hollow faces like walking corpses, and Zhao Yan could not bear to look at them for long.
Very few shops on the street were open. Beyond the official government mandates, the main reason was that even if a shop opened, there would be no business. Aside from grain shops and pharmacies, which still had customers, the other stores wouldn't see a single visitor even if they stayed open all day. Under such bleak operating conditions, it was better to keep the shutters closed. Sitting blankly in an empty shop all day waiting for nonexistent business was a terrible drain on one's enthusiasm.
Chapter 396