superstition-and-omen

Hock Seng, a Chinese factory manager, is under pressure from both his employer Mr. Lake and the looming threat of the Dung Lord. When Mai, a young factory worker, brings news that two men responsible for feeding algae tanks are ill, Hock Seng must decide how to handle the potential outbreak without alerting the authorities, fearing factory closure and personal ruin. The chapter explores Hock Seng's paranoia, the precariousness of his position, and the dangers of disease in a fragile industrial environment.