On June 18, 1997, Sichuan and Chongqing officially went their separate ways, and the Chen siblings’ family split in two as well. Their younger sister went with their mother to live in Chengdu, while their older brother stayed in Chongqing with their father.
The young siblings didn’t understand why Sichuan and Chongqing had split, let alone why their parents had divorced. They only knew that they would always love and annoy each other in equal measure, and that they would forever be old Sichuanese.
From then on, Chen Yujiang climbed Chongqing’s hills and ate hotpot from a nine-grid pot, while Chen Yuting enjoyed Chengdu’s flat streets and swished ingredients in a split pot. The two siblings began lives that were alike yet different in the bustling neighborhoods of Sichuan and Chongqing.
They ate skewers, dabbled in penny stocks, and played a little mahjong... A vivid portrait of everyday life in Sichuan and Chongqing unfolded, reflecting not only the siblings’ growth but also the changes of an era.
In the blink of an eye, twenty years passed. The Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle began to take shape, and Sichuan and Chongqing moved from competition to cooperation, opening their doors, tearing down walls, and pursuing development together. Riding this wave of opportunity, the Chen siblings, proud old Sichuanese, found love and success, and continued to live life to the fullest, just like the region’s fiery hotpot.
This is a very good book. It tells the story of the division and reunification of Sichuan and Chongqing from the perspective of a small family. The writing is concise and has a strong regional flavor. Some parts make you laugh and cry at the same time, and it is sad but not tragic. It is a rare short story and is worth recommending.
It's a good story about a family's everyday life as times change.
As a native of Sichuan, I'm thrilled to finally find a book that chronicles the changing times and everyday life of people in Sichuan and Chongqing. It feels very relatable and immersive. Personally, I think to broaden the readership, parenthetical Mandarin annotations should be added to sentences that Sichuan and Chongqing natives can easily understand.
Finally, I've found a book that depicts Sichuan and Chongqing! It's very down-to-earth, capturing the characteristics of us Sichuan and Chongqing people, and it's a great read.
The author writes very well; this book is rich in local flavor and is very enjoyable.
The author's writing is excellent, and the reader is highly immersed in the story.
The language is vivid and humorous!
It's a novel worth reading!
Well written! Both the language and the emotions are beautifully portrayed, capturing the love between siblings, the bond between mother and daughter, and the everyday life hidden deep within the alleyways!