Old Film, New Fire

"The street is old, sure," she said. "But old streets have warmth. If you really knock this place down, people can go somewhere else for sweets, and the taste won't be the same." When she finished, she gave Xu Zhixia, hidden behind the camera, a quick wink, as if warning her: if you're going to film this, film it properly. Teacher Shen came next. She carried a stack of yellowed newspapers and a paper envelope packed with clippings, looking like someone who had stepped out of an archive to testify. She spread the materials on the cinema counter and pointed to one fire report from more than ten years ago. "Don't rush to yell about demolition first. Read this."