Tales from the Old Alley

The old alley is alive with the bustle of daily life, and kindness warms the world. Chen Yao is slick-tongued and full of wisecracks. Though he seems to laze around all day, he gets by running a little snack shop in the old neighborhood. He spends his days mooching food, joking around, and trading banter, making him the most unreliable “loafer” in the eyes of the neighbors. There’s Sister Liu, the fiery yet softhearted snack shop owner; Brother Qiang, a construction foreman who stands up for his friends; Aunt Wang, a warmhearted busybody; Zhou Chi, a quiet, easygoing illustrator; Su Lie, a reserved, aloof tenant; and Lin Bei, a college student struggling to find a job. All sorts of people meet and keep one another company in this old alley. There’s no shortage of daily squabbles and petty troubles, but whenever a neighbor runs into difficulty, Chen Yao complains about the hassle while quietly stepping in to help every time. There are no earth-shattering plot twists, only the everyday grind of meals and bills, a neighborly warmth that arguments can’t drive away, and the joys and sorrows, kindness and tenderness of ordinary people. One heartwarming, humorous neighborhood farce follows another; one plain, realistic slice of everyday life follows the next. Together, they capture the lively spirit of the old alley and reveal the most moving warmth found in ordinary days.