PFC Chapter 73 Observations in the Eastern District
Chapter 73 Observations in the Eastern District
The bus rolled over the potholes in the asphalt road, making a creaking sound like bones being dislocated.
Exhaust fumes, carrying the stench of rust and garbage, seeped in through the poorly sealed car windows.
The smell lingered; Li Wei felt as if it were stuck to his collar.
He sat by the window, his fingertips touching the cold glass, looking at the scene outside.
The low, old buildings are crammed together, their walls covered in graffiti.
Some were gang symbols, some were blurred protest slogans, and some were just black burn marks, like festering wounds.
The mottled neon tubes began to light up, but most of them were incomplete.
Multicolored light shone through the hazy air and onto the faces of hurried pedestrians.
Bathed in light, everyone carried an inexplicable weariness and vigilance.
Although the bus was crowded, it was unusually quiet, with only the roar of the engine and the occasional cough from a passenger.
Thanks to the seat Li Wei chose when he boarded the bus, he was able to see the expressions on everyone's faces.
The children who had just boarded the bus gathered at the back door, glancing nervously at the crowd every now and then.
A man in a leather jacket was sitting in the front row. His waist was bulging, and Li Wei knew that he must be hiding a pistol inside.
As for whether it was a Glock or Beretta series, Levi didn't know since he didn't show it.
His fingers unconsciously rubbed the edge of his pocket, his eyes scanning each person getting on the bus, as if he were looking for prey.
In the back row, a boy wearing a hotel uniform shirt huddled in a corner, clutching a black jacket.
He carefully surveyed his surroundings, as if he would immediately jump out of the window and run out if anything seemed amiss.
The bus came to a stop at a temporary station, and an old woman carrying an old cloth bag got on.
The edges of the cloth were worn white, and it was unclear what was wrapped inside.
She staggered along, gripping the handrail, trying to find an empty seat on the bus, anything that would let her sit down.
Just as the old woman reached the middle of the aisle, Li Wei was about to get up and offer her his seat.
She saw a tall, thin man suddenly rush out from the back door, snatch her bag, and shove her out of the car.
The old woman cried out in surprise and staggered after the car, but tripped on the steps and fell to the ground as she got off.
Fortunately, she managed to grab a corner of the cloth bag, preventing the man from snatching it away.
The tall, thin man loosened his grip, and the cloth bag fell to the ground, rolling out several dark coins and half a piece of dry, hard bread.
Everyone on the bus watched silently, and no one reacted.
Li Wei subconsciously got up, wanting to go after them to see what was happening, but was pulled back by a man wearing a baseball cap next to him.
"Mind your own business, kid."
The man's voice was low and full of warning, "Those are members of the 'Bone-Shattering Gang.' If you chase after them, you'll either get a beating or lose your life."
The tall, thin man pulled Li Wei away, and he had no choice but to sit down again.
The driver in the cab glanced at the old woman to make sure she got out of the car, then closed the door, stepped on the gas, and continued driving forward.
Li Wei glanced back through the window at the old woman and saw her lying on the ground, trembling as she picked up the coins.
Muddy tears mixed with the ash on his face fell down, and he mumbled something under his breath.
The people around her were in a hurry, but no one stepped forward to help her.
Li Wei clenched his fists, a sense of powerlessness creeping up his spine, making him feel a rush of blood to his head.
This is Gotham's East Side, a place of chaos and disorder where kindness is the rarest luxury.
The bus went two more stops, passing through an abandoned factory area.
The factory's exterior walls were covered in vines, and the broken glass windows looked like dark, gaping eyes.
Suddenly, a gunshot rang out from outside the car, the crisp sound breaking the tense atmosphere.
The passengers tensed up instantly; some quickly lowered their heads, while others pressed their faces against the windows to look out.
Li Wei saw two men in black hoodies run out of the factory, followed by several burly men carrying pistols.
These burly men were shouting something as they chased and fired shots.
The two hooded men being chased would occasionally turn around and fire a couple of shots in return.
The few pedestrians who were just standing on both sides of the street have all disappeared.
In the East District, the best way to survive is to be able to hide yourself at the right time.
"It's like this every week, either gang fights or robberies and thefts."
The man in the baseball cap next to him sighed, pulled off his cap, scratched his head, and revealed a shallow scar on his forehead.
"My son was grazed by a stray bullet in this area last year. I was too afraid to go to the hospital, let alone a small clinic, so I had to scrape together money to go to a hospital in another district."
The clinics here are either controlled by gangs or so rudimentary that they don't even have disinfectant.
Ultimately, because it took too much time to raise the money, his hand had to be amputated.
As the man spoke, he pulled a crumpled photograph from his pocket. The photograph showed a smiling little boy.
"You're not from the East District, are you? You're dressed neatly and your eyes are full of curiosity. You seem out of place here."
In the East District, being too conspicuous is not a good thing.
"Thanks for reminding me, your son is adorable."
Li Wei first thanked the man, then glanced at the photo in his hand and praised the man's son.
However, what happened today made him lose interest in continuing the conversation, and he turned his gaze back to the window.
Seeing that he didn't speak, the man put away the photo and remained silent.
In the East District, excessive enthusiasm can easily arouse suspicion in others.
Perhaps it's not just in the East Side, but throughout Gotham.
The bus slowly drove across a dilapidated stone bridge, the river water below murky and muddy.
Colorful plastic bags and other trash floated on the dark river. Several crows perched on the railing, cawing shrilly and mournful.
The tall buildings in the distance are faintly visible; that's the bustling area of Gotham.
The brightly lit West District stands in stark contrast to the dilapidated East District, like two completely different worlds.
Li Wei originally wanted to experience the environment of the East District, but at this moment he suddenly lost all interest.
In the East District, he saw almost no warmth, only the struggles and helplessness of the lower class in their fight for survival, and the exploitation and persecution of ordinary people by gangsters.
The old woman's tears, the pain in the man's eyes as he wore the baseball cap, and the children huddled in the corner.
They were all caught up in this chaotic environment, either being swallowed up or learning to adapt to swallowing others.
The bus slowly moved forward and finally arrived at the terminal station.
The passengers on the bus got up and got off, and Li Wei followed them off as well.
His feet had barely touched the ground when he was enveloped by a gust of cold wind.
The wind carried the intermittent sound of sirens from afar, like futile groans.
"Kid, there will be a bus going to the West District at 8 pm."
He glanced back at the dilapidated bus; the driver was grinning at him with his big yellow teeth. "If you want to get back, this is your last chance tonight."
The driver's suggestion startled Li Wei, who then smiled and thanked him.
"Thank you, I will be back before 8 o'clock."
Li Wei turned and walked towards the street, feeling much better; he still harbored good intentions in the East District...