Evening of September 21, light rain. The rain still hasn’t stopped. This memorial archway stands at the center of Beixinwu Village, neglected and tightly locked behind iron gates. But next door in the village hall, a grand celebration is underway for a child’s 13th birthday—his parents must be prominent figures in the village, and they clearly adore their son. The hall buzzes with chatter and the aroma of food, while children laugh and play, revealing the vitality of this place—a lively village, not a city, a rare sight in today’s China. The kids spot the drone amidst the clamor, pointing and shouting excitedly.