The Current Relationship Between Huang Tang and Ke Xiao

Huang Tang squatted in the corner of the alley where the fireworks were the brightest, guarding his square-inch second-hand grocery stall. At the age of twenty-seven, whether one is young or old is the most embarrassing watershed for urbanites. The peers around me either take root in the city, buy a house, a car, a wife and have children, or they save enough experience to change jobs and get promoted, and their lives are steadily improving. He was the only one stuck in place, living like a weed that no one cares about. The legs of his trousers were stained with mud from the day's rush, and the white washed black T-shirt hung loosely on his body. In his hand, he held a half-drunk bottle of iced black tea. The bottle was filled with fine water droplets, soaking his fingers. He raised his eyes and stared aimlessly at the people coming and going. His eyes were blank, as if he was looking at people, but also as if he was not looking at anything.