There was something more urgent for him to do.

He started moving toward the southern exit of the New World, where he noted a number of new restaurants, one of which showed a large ‘organic’ sign in the front with a smaller line underneath saying ‘private room for two’. He took a picture of the sign, like a card-carrying gourmet.

Once out of the New World, Chen started looking for a public phone booth, but the area was too new, too luxurious for the existence of an outdated phone booth. It was not until after making a couple of turns that he spotted one in a small street. Glancing over his shoulder, he stepped in, closed the door and dialed the number of Melong, a ‘retired’ hacker.

‘Hi Melong, it’s me, another unfilial son under the sun.’

‘Oh, another unfilial son …’ Melong sounded instantly alert, recognizing Chen’s voice in the context known to them alone. ‘But I’m the truly unfilial son, not you. Anyway, what’s up?’

‘I’ve just walked past an organic restaurant in the New World, and I’m thinking of you as a pro on organic food. How about we have a delicious but healthy meal today? The restaurant is near the southern entrance of the New World. I can send you a picture of it with the address. It’s long time no see for the two of us.’

‘Long time no see indeed. But don’t be sucked in by those expensive restaurants in the New World. They simply rip off in the name of organic. I happen to know a restaurant that is definitely organic. Let’s go there. It’s on Tongchuan Road. Called Small River. You won’t miss it. My treat. Six thirty.’

‘Tongchuan Road?’

Chen had been to one of the restaurants there, which were known because of a live fish market on the same street, with stalls aligned in front of the restaurants. Customers could choose their favorite sea or river food in the market, which the chef would then have prepared and cooked in whatever way they liked. Fresher, cheaper, and also tastier.

But organic? Chen had never heard anything about it in connection to those restaurants.

‘Yes, it will be a yummy surprise for you. That much I can guarantee you, but I’ll say no more for now.’

‘See you then, Melong.’

The subway train to Tongchuan Road was so crowded, Chen had a hard time standing still, holding on to the railing overhead. More than half of the passengers there were young, wearing large masks which made their breathing even harder in the cramped space. Still, they were busy talking or typing or reading on their cellphones, as if unperturbed.

People, like some passengers in the train, were simply getting used to the ‘new norm’, as it was called in the media. Officially, however, it was in reference to the beginning of the slowed-down economy.

He took out his phone, seeing on the screen a chart indicating the air pollution level for the day as dangerously high – with the AQI index even worse than when one stands right behind a diesel engine exhaust.