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Deep into the night, only the orange streetlights on both sides of the road were lit, with few houses around still showing any sign of life. The streets were virtually empty of pedestrians, and the roads, typically a bit crowded during the day, now had sparse traffic.
Inside the grocery store, Huang, the owner, took a cigarette from his pack and put it in his mouth. He pulled out a lighter, ready to light it, when there was a knock at the door.
Huang lived in a room behind the grocery store, and the door that had been knocked was the back door of the shop.
Putting aside the lighting of his cigarette, Huang shuffled over to the door in his slippers, cigarette still in his mouth.
Standing at the door was a man Huang did not recognize.
Just as Liu Ba was about to say something, Huang spit the cigarette from his mouth. It hit Liu Ba, fell down, but was quickly caught by Huang.