The Zhu Family Shop

This work is rooted in the folds of northwestern China in the early years of the Republic of China. I want to write not only about the rise and fall of a family, but also about the torch of the spirit held aloft by a group of northwestern men in the depths of hardship. The story of the Zhu brothers is my tribute to the resilient souls of that land: the tree bark they chewed on the road while fleeing famine, the palms worn raw as they built their business, the eyes wide with defiance as they faced down the forces of evil. Every detail is steeped in the struggle and indomitable spirit of ordinary people in that era.

I deliberately placed them in the heart of several conflicts at once. Natural and man-made disasters force them to leave their home, and the instinct to survive gives rise to their flight from famine. After settling down, they start from nothing and build the foundations of the Zhu family shop with their sweat. This is a simple longing for a stable life, as well as the grit to refuse defeat on the road to entrepreneurship. And when the shop becomes a lifeline for their neighbors, they have no choice but to face the extortion of corrupt officials, the covetousness of bandits, and the schemes of unscrupulous merchants. The very idea of putting down roots becomes a series of head-on clashes. Every step of this trilogy is paved with blood and sweat, and every step showcases the stubborn resilience of people from the northwest: sticking to their principles, holding the line, protecting their family, and loving their homeland.

The Zhu brothers aren't perfect heroes. They've been cowardly, argued with one another, and even given in to reality for a moment. But it is precisely these imperfections that make their courage feel real. Faced with the oppression of corrupt officials, they dare to band together and resist the taxes. Faced with bandits' guns and knives, they're willing to stake everything to protect the peace of their community. Faced with the schemes of unscrupulous merchants, they hold fast to their integrity. This fight isn't reckless aggression, but an unyielding spirit rooted deep in their bones.