They lost track of time as they chattered endlessly about household trifles and this and that. Outside, the sun slipped below the horizon, and the room slowly grew dark without them even noticing.
After dinner, perhaps because their daily routines had changed recently, neither of them was in the habit of staying home as soon as night fell. They both agreed to go out for a stroll.
Back then, the hutongs weren't like they would be in later years, with a streetlamp installed every ten meters or so. Instead, the only places with constant light were the entrance to the alley and the area near the public toilet.
Of course, power outages were a common occurrence. Tonight, however, a dim light shone at the hutong entrance, and a dense swarm of tiny insects danced beneath it.
