They clean but keep their ears close to the ground

My friend Xiao Yan has found two cleaners for her new apartment. They are efficient, finishing the cleaning of the 300-sq-m apartment in just three hours. As the cleaners get their payment and leave happily, my friend sniffs the crisp and clean smell of her home and revels in her luxurious lifestyle.

As the cleaners come regularly, they begin a conversation with Xiao Yan that often provides surprising information about the neighborhood.

"The man who often shows up in comic crosstalk skits also lives in your community," says one of the cleaners, adding that the actor has bought a whole building, and his friend's building stands nearby.