A Youth, a Dream

The novel A Youth, a Dream uses humorous language to paint a somber picture as it tells an inspirational coming-of-age story. It also reflects the confusion about the future and emotional uncertainty felt by the first generation of college graduates after the turn of the twenty-first century, for whom graduating meant being unemployed.

Han Feng is neither a good student nor a bad one; he doesn't even know what kind he is. He's optimistic and kind, but has a roguish streak. He's devoted and loyal, yet often misunderstood. In college, he acts rashly and impulsively for the sake of friendship and love, and ends up dropping out. His life takes a completely different course from then on. He shuts himself away and cuts himself off from everyone. Watching his college classmates graduate only to find themselves unemployed, he seems to come to a sudden realization, escapes his "cage," and starts a new life.

To make ends meet, he sets up a stall selling cold skin noodles. His dedication to his craft wins over many customers, and his business does astonishingly well. He also meets Li Yijiao, a benefactor who uses her media connections to make him a local celebrity and invests in three "520 Cold Skin Noodles" chain restaurants for him. To grow his restaurant business, Han Feng brings in his three closest college friends. He also learns that his breakup with his college girlfriend, Song Xiaoyu, was all one big misunderstanding.

Just as Han Feng's business is taking off, Li Yijiao suddenly sells all the restaurants. Only later does he discover that his supposed success was merely a pawn in the plan Li Yijiao had been orchestrating from the very beginning.

Through his efforts, Han Feng eventually gets back together with his college girlfriend, Song Xiaoyu, and decides to leave the city. But then Li Yijiao tells him a secret, throwing his life into turmoil once again.