In late April, while waiting to interview a subject at the Tuanjie Community Service Center in Yaojie Subdistrict, Honggu District, a reporter overheard two staff members reviewing a list on their computer. "Wang Xiulan (pseudonym)." "Gone, passed away last year." "Li Guifang (pseudonym)?" "Also gone, the year before." The question-and-answer, mixed with the sound of rain, carried a somber weight. After listening for a while, the reporter noted that for most names read out, the response from staff member Jin Yuxia was similar—"no longer with us." Tuanjie Community is an old mining area community with a permanent population of 1,283, nearly half of whom are elderly. Among its five main residential compounds, Cheng Tou Shang Yuan and Tong He Tai Jing are relatively new developments managed by property companies. The other two are old brick-concrete buildings from the 1970s and 1980s, lacking property management. With rusty pipes unreplaced and dirty stairwells unswept, the community shoulders full responsibility. Additionally, a three-story building originally housing 12 households now has only one tenant, a businessperson who returns only to sleep at night, leaving the building almost entirely vacant.

Community head Xue Wanping, a member of the post-90s generation, is exploring governance solutions for these aging buildings. Although he has only been in his role for 20 days, he is already demonstrating strong drive and dedication. "For issues like unclogging drains, you have to bring people together," he remarked. Shortly after the interview began, Xue's phone rang. A community staff member was assisting an elderly resident with arrangements for a nursing home. "Secretary Xue, the nursing home's assessment is complete. They classify the individual as severely disabled. The monthly cost would be 3,900 yuan." "What is the retiree's pension?" "3,900 yuan." "That works. The government also provides 800 yuan in elderly care vouchers monthly, reducing the out-of-pocket cost to 3,100 yuan." After hanging up, he explained to the reporter, "The elderly person's children aren't nearby. If the community doesn't handle this, who will?"

Xue previously worked at the subdistrict office. In his first 20 days here, he has been focused on two initiatives: improving property management services and establishing property management committees for the older, unmanaged buildings. Glancing at the rain outside, he added, "On days like this, our staff worry about residents calling with clogged drains." This concern is well-founded. The drainpipes in the old buildings are narrow and aged, prone to frequent blockages. During last year's rainy season, a ground-floor apartment in the Siheyuan compound experienced a complete blockage, causing sewage to back up into the kitchen. The resident was frantic. Grid member Jin Yuxia reported it to the community immediately. Unclogging requires payment, and with many retired residents in the building, discussions about contributing money require careful handling. Jin, familiar with the households, went door-to-door: "If we don't fix the pipe downstairs, it could clog your unit next, and you'd still have to pay." She used practical, everyday reasoning. Some residents were initially reluctant, but she chatted with them familiarly at their doorsteps, her considerate words eventually winning their agreement. In these unmanaged buildings, this practice of negotiated cost-sharing has become standard—fees for unclogging are split equally among unit residents, and once explained clearly, everyone generally accepts. "In such matters, the community can't just act as a referee from the office," Xue said. "We have to go down, bring people together, and discuss."

After discussing the drainage issue, the reporter accompanied Xue to the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China staff residential building, one of the two unmanaged old buildings in Tuanjie Community. The stairwell was dim, walls were stained with watermarks, and baseboards were crumbling. The heating fees for this building had long been a burden for its 24 households. The heating company charged based on office building standards, a fixed rate per household for 53 square meters, while most residents' actual living areas were around 40 square meters, costing each household hundreds of yuan extra annually. Although new, Xue had already familiarized himself with the situation. He consulted the Heating Management Regulations, collected floor plans from each household, and made several trips to the power plant with the documents, laying out the regulations, area data, and resident circumstances until the other party relented. The resolution saves each of the 24 households 325 yuan per year. Grid member Zhang Lingyun noted, "Many in our community are low-income or struggling elderly who rely on limited funds. 325 yuan can buy several bags of rice and cooking oil, lasting quite a while. More importantly, getting the calculation fair settles everyone's mind."

Another persistent issue in old buildings is clutter in stairwells. Zhang Lingyun pointed to unfinished removal of old furniture in a stairwell, mentioning a recent community cleanup campaign. Some residents had stored decades-old wooden boxes in corridors for years. "Just posting notices isn't enough," Xue said. "When the deadline comes, community staff pitch in to move things." During that cleanup, Jin Yuxia swept floor by floor, approaching residents who hadn't cleared their items: "Uncle Zhang, if someone trips over this, what then? Let me help you clear it." Her familial tone made residents less inclined to delay. After two days, 2.3 tons of waste were removed from over 50 clutter spots.

"The concept of 'unity' needs substance to support it," Xue reflected. The five compounds in Tuanjie Community vary widely. For those with property management, the community oversees operations. For those without, the community leads in forming property management committees, bringing together community officials, resident representatives, and relevant personnel. Daily cleaning and waste removal are handled by building managers and volunteers. The "Friday Cleanup" is a genuine effort, not just a formality. Jin Yuxia has a knack for translating policies into relatable terms. Recently, while promoting property management improvements, she explained complex documents to elderly neighbors at the compound entrance: "Think of it this way—before, we managed on our own. Now, someone sweeps the stairs and fixes lights. Isn't that better? We just need to lend a hand when work is being done." Her neighbors nodded in agreement. For the unmanaged compounds, she is more direct: "In yards without property management, the community is your property manager. Just bring any issues to us."

Xue is already involved in plans for renovating the old residential areas. "The District Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau is leading the effort, addressing specific shortcomings. The upcoming phase will focus on improving building exteriors and landscaping." As he walked, he added, "I've been thinking about the word 'unity' since I arrived. In an old mining area with old buildings and long-term residents, if everyone only minds their own business, many problems can't be solved. The community's role is to bring everyone together—to unclog drains collectively, address heating issues jointly, and clean stairwells as a group. Working together on tasks gradually brings hearts closer."

After the rain, the air in Yaojie carried a moist, earthy scent. Outside the Siheyuan compound, several elderly residents sat on small stools chatting. Flowers planted by residents near the wall, watered by the rain, had leaves gleaming bright green. As Jin Yuxia passed by, an elderly man waved her over: "Xiao Jin, the light in the stairwell isn't working." "Alright, I'll report it right away," she replied, making a note on her phone.