The Legend of the New Beggar Gang: The Winds of Errentai tells an extraordinary tale. The protagonist, Gou Wa, is an orphan who clawed his way up from the bottom of society. He puts together a unique troupe and, using the Errentai folk song “Begging Tune,” makes a name for himself across Hebei and Inner Mongolia, setting out on his path through the jianghu.
Each member of the troupe has a distinct personality, and as they grow, they experience their share of partings and reunions. Gou Wa and Qiu Xiang support each other and share a deep bond. Qiu Xiang stays by his side, quietly devoting herself to the troupe. But Qing Fen’s arrival disrupts their peaceful life. As she and Gou Wa spend time together, feelings begin to develop, entangling the three of them in a complicated love triangle.
Meanwhile, the troupe faces one obstacle after another as it works to preserve the art of Errentai. They struggle with a lack of funding, few performance opportunities, fierce competition, and other challenges. But they never give up. They keep innovating, blending modern elements into traditional Errentai and pressing forward through adversity.
After enduring a series of setbacks and challenges, the troupe gradually flourishes and even gets the chance to make a film, helping Errentai reach a wider audience. But fate soon brings more upheaval: Qiu Xiang dies of a serious illness, and Gou Wa and Qing Fen carry on through their grief. They lead the troupe onto the international stage, train new performers, take up charitable work, and establish a museum, allowing the art of Errentai to shine brighter than ever.
The book portrays the jianghu’s feuds and passions, the grit and determination of ordinary people, and their unwavering devotion to traditional art. Together, they compose a song of struggle filled with love and hope.
