This is a true account by a man who spent three years in a pyramid scheme. It is a novel written after a painful, painstaking look back at those years.
Set against the backdrop of rapid social change, booming economic growth, and the rising worship of money around 2006, A Sacrifice to the Pyramid Scheme follows the joys and sorrows of an ordinary family in Macheng, Hubei. The eldest, Zhou Che, travels a thousand miles in pursuit of wealth and struggles to find a way to redeem himself. The second, Zhou Lan, travels a thousand miles to find her husband and struggles to have a child. The third, Zhou You, journeys far and wide, struggling to grow up. The youngest, Zhou Yi, travels a thousand miles to find her relatives and struggles to be accepted by them. Their mother, Wang Nianci, dies young, leaving their father, Zhou Jianwen, behind in the countryside to wait and watch through hardship.
Zhou Che and Zhou You are ensnared by a pyramid scheme. The novel lays bare the harm the scheme inflicts on the Zhou brothers. With no way back, Zhou Che eventually jumps to his death. Through the eyes of the protagonist, Zhou You, the novel depicts the bizarre twists and turns of life inside and outside the scheme. It also brings to life his girlfriend, Zhu Zihe, his childhood friend Zhou Jinxin, and scheme members Wang Jiamin, Yu Yongliang, Yu Fenfen, and others. Through their fates, it exposes the true nature of this mysterious organization: deception.
Some people ask: What exactly is a pyramid scheme?
A pyramid scheme is a black hole: mysterious, alluring, and unfathomable.
A pyramid scheme is a drug: addictive, psychologically crippling, and destructive to body and mind.
A pyramid scheme is a dream factory, churning out all manner of bizarre and fantastical dreams.
A pyramid scheme is a casino where people gamble with their youth, their humanity, and their lives.
With its hard truths written in blood and tears, A Sacrifice to the Pyramid Scheme warns people to stay on the right path, keep their hearts true, turn away from delusions, and steer clear of pyramid schemes!
The plot of the novel is intertwined with twists and turns, the characters have distinct personalities, and it is a profound urban emotional story that requires careful reading and appreciation. Worth recalling and worth recommending.