This is an uplifting novel. Since reform and opening up, China’s economy has grown rapidly. This is especially true in the less-developed western regions, where people have embraced the idea of the whole nation working as one. Through the efforts of generation after generation, these regions are gradually rising, striving to realize the Chinese Dream. The protagonist, Jiang Ning, grew up in this great era. He feels as familiar as a brother, has tasted life’s bitterness and sweetness, and experienced the joys and sorrows of the world, yet has never forgotten his original aspirations. With his heart devoted to his country and family, he embodies the spirit of the post-1970s generation. He might be a younger generation, he might be you or me, or he might be an elder. We can all see a reflection of Jiang Ning in the people around us. He is no fantasy hero or immortal cultivator who saves the world, nor is he a political novel’s character who rises effortlessly through the ranks. He is simply a real person from the post-1970s generation, and his story offers food for thought.
