Perhaps due to the rarity of carriages traversing this area, the deeper they ventured, the more curious onlookers gathered. Many children trailed behind them, their laughter and screams filling the air.
After navigating through a labyrinthine small alley, Ah-Ye guided the carriage past two sizable puddles, ultimately halting in front of a large, run-down courtyard.
Two robust locust trees stood outside the courtyard, their trunks resembling a tight embrace. The red bricks, half the height of a person, formed a dilapidated wall. Moss clung to the base, and the outer surface exhibited mottled patterns, revealing a grayish-white decay.
Wind and rain had eroded the original courtyard doors, now reduced to shambles. Though patched up, the wooden boards looked even more weathered, emphasizing the overall dilapidation.