The alley was deep and the streetlights were a dim yellow. Heavily made-up women stood in the shadows, and the air reeked of alcohol. Every so often, a staggering man would pull a woman into a side alley.
Deeper inside were barbershops and stalls for shoe repair and locksmithing. Further still was a teahouse, packed with people drinking tea and watching television.
Past the teahouse, they saw a sign above a door: a black wooden board with the two words "Blind Massage" painted on it, the paint now peeling and mottled.
The four of them stepped onto the stoop and knocked on the door a few times. They could faintly hear movement inside, but no one answered.
Li Xiangyang called out, "Sister Hong! Sister Hong, are you in there?"
"Who is it?" a woman's voice called from inside the house.
Li Xiangyang announced loudly, "It's me, Little Li, Sister Hong! Open up, we need your help with something!"
