About This Book
The Qiongjiang River in northern Guizhou has flowed through sixteen years of time, and through Ren Zhiyuan’s entire life. From a deputy town mayor full of ambition to an ordinary civil servant at rock bottom, from feeling lost in a rented room in the Pearl River Delta to finding peace in a mountain village, from an unexpected rush of love to a quiet life shared together, he has known triumph and despair. He has met someone who made his heart flutter, lost himself along the way, and ultimately found life’s answers in the everyday warmth of home.
This is not an inspiring tale of a dramatic comeback, just a record of an ordinary person’s life. There are no earth-shattering events, only the damp, chilly evening breeze of a small town in northern Guizhou, the rippling light along the Qiongjiang River, and the heartache, confusion, tenderness, and reconciliation tucked into everyday life. Ren Zhiyuan’s life reflects the ordinary people around us: we have all struggled through life, hesitated when faced with choices, and felt lost after a loss, yet in the end, time teaches us to make peace with ourselves and embrace life.
The river flows on, and so does life. The roads we have traveled, the people we have met, and the hardships we have endured will all become strength to carry us forward, helping us keep steady and live well through ordinary days. The most precious happiness has always been hidden in the simple words, “Come home for dinner,” and in the warmth of a family gathered together.
This is a story for everyone who has struggled and felt lost in life, yet still chosen to move forward. May you see yourself in these pages, and find your own warmth and answers in the ordinary.
