The newcomer (Vietnam)

“I hope this hasn’t got anything to do with what happened at Kodenmacho,” blurted out her father.

“What do you mean?” Naho asked.

“Haven’t you seen the papers?” Fumitaka frowned. “A good barber should always read the papers.”

From The Newcomer, by Keigo Hagashino

When I am a newcomer in a neighborhood, I find the local barber. They have the best local intel.

The walls here are not to keep us out. They let us hide in the shade with our little companion, they can help us look smart and they are the city’s way of saying that it is happy.