When Ji Yang arrived, he saw a bonfire lit in the center, with Guan Heshan and several other elderly gathered there, sitting on pine needles, while some women were roasting something nearby.
"Cadre Ji, come and sit here." Guan Heshan called out to Ji Yang.
Ji Yang naturally got introduced to the elders by Guan Heshan; they were respected figures in the village.
Looking at the gathered people, Ji Yang said, "I remember there being over two hundred people, now there are only a few dozen, right?"
"They've all left, only those of us who can't move have stayed behind." An old man sighed.
Seeing the worried faces of the others, Ji Yang also felt a sense of melancholy. It was clear to everyone that there was no future here, which prompted many to leave. For those who remained, doing anything seemed terribly difficult, no wonder everyone believed there was no potential for development here.
