The Landlord's Courtyard

This work tells the story of Niu Shishi, a landlord from Niuzhuang Village, from the late Qing to the early Republican era. It follows his rise from birth to the height of his power and, ultimately, his downfall, as well as his eventual repentance and efforts to atone for the sins he committed. The story focuses on how landlords lorded it over the countryside from the late Qing through the Republican era, especially the terrible suffering of the working masses under their brutal exploitation and oppression. It also follows the landlord’s remorse after the people overthrow him, and his efforts to change himself and win back their acceptance.