Told through the lens of local food traditions, this story traces how the people of Sanlian Village went from the 1970s to the twenty-first century, gradually attaining a comfortable life amid the tide of reform and opening up. The protagonist, Xiao Wen, is followed from childhood through adolescence and young adulthood into middle age. Her complicated love triangle with Juanzi and Jiacheng eventually leads to the uncovering of an old case involving “swapping the dragon for the phoenix.” As an adult, Xiao Wen offers ideas for developing her hometown and helps the villagers grow prosperous. The emotional entanglements among Xiao Wen, Jiacheng, Juanzi, and the village chief Dahai are full of twists and turns. The story makes rich use of idioms and introduces local delicacies and snacks, while also weaving in products of the era, such as “ten-thousand-yuan households,” pagers, and brick phones. Every era has its own distinctive character. The story evokes a strong sense of its times and is full of warmth.
