Camel Xiangzi

A novel written by People's Artist - Lao She (Shu Qingchun). It describes the tragic fate of rickshaw pullers during the warlord war in the 1920s. Xiangzi is a representative figure of the working people in the old society. "Camel Xiangzi" tells the story of the ups and downs of Xiangzi, a young, strong and energetic rickshaw puller in the city of Beiping, China. Xiangzi came from the countryside. He was a bankrupt young farmer who was diligent, simple and kind. He retained everything that the countryside had nurtured and taught him, but he never wanted to go back to the countryside. Xiangzi, who came to the city from the countryside, was eager to buy a car of his own with his honest labor. It was Xiangzi's wish, hope, and even religion to be an independent worker. With diligence and perseverance, he spent three years frugally, and finally realized his ideal and became a self-reliant first-class coachman. But just half a year after pulling the cart, the cart was kidnapped by deserters in the chaos of war. Xiangzi lost the cart and only brought back three camels. Xiangzi was not discouraged. He still stubbornly started from scratch and drove the cart more self-consciously to save money. However, before he could buy another car, all his savings were extorted and robbed by detectives, and his dream of buying a car came to nothing again. When Xiangzi pulled into his car again, it was at the expense of a deformed marriage with Huniu. The good times did not last long, because Huniu died in childbirth, and he had to sell the rickshaw to attend to the funeral. At this point, his life ideal was completely shattered. Coupled with the suicide of his beloved woman Xiao Fuzi, the last spark of hope in his heart was blown out. Suffering repeated blows from life, Xiangzi began to lose any aspirations and confidence in life. He could no longer muster the courage to live. He was no longer proud of pulling carts as before. He hated pulling carts and hated working. Xiangzi, who was teased by life, started playing games, eating, drinking, whoring and gambling. In order to drink, Xiangzi swindled money everywhere and became a "urban garbage". In the end, he made a living by working as a handyman for weddings and funerals. Xiangzi was reduced from a "decent, strong, dreamy, self-interested, personal, strong, and great" lower-class worker to a "degenerate, selfish, unfortunate, born in the womb of social disease, and the end of individualism."

Rating: 7.4+0.1 Attribute: Documentary Comments: I like the previous Xiangzi better. The later Xiangzi who was knocked down by life is too decadent and gloomy. Fundamentally speaking, what I prefer in my heart is all the sunny people and things. Although there are inevitable setbacks in life, don't give up hope.

Mr. Lao She's meticulous work created the classic image of Xiangzi.