Early this morning, word went around Mingyang Apartments that passport checks were coming. WeChat and Telegram groups were buzzing non-stop, and landlords went door-to-door reminding everyone to get their documents ready and track down any passports not currently on them.
The foreign residents inside immediately went on edge. Normally everyone breezes in and out without a second thought, but when it comes to sudden checks like this, those blue and white booklets at the bottom of the drawer suddenly become your lifeline. Anyone without their passport handy was stressing out, trying to figure out how to lay low or call a friend for a quick fix.
Surprise checks like this happen every now and then around here, so most people are used to it by now. Down in the alley, motorbikes revved their engines while the local minimart owner wiped down a table, saying this kind of fuss blows over in a few days—though today, it’s still best to keep your ID right in your pocket just to be safe.
