Tales of the Ao Family

The story unfolds like a folk painting of Northeast China, capturing both the everyday life of a small town swept up in the tides of history and hints of how the four Ao siblings will grow amid the turmoil.

From the changing seasons in Acheng and the five tiled-roof rooms of the Guo family to the pride stirred by the “Ao Residence” nameplate and the second child’s clever attempt to smooth things over for their father, every detail feels full of life. The names are especially intriguing: eldest sister Bai Qing, third sister Bai Min, and youngest sister Bai Ying. Only the second child’s name remains undecided, like a gentle hook for the story to come.

The plague storyline in the ninth year of the Republic of China is also deftly planted. As father and son sell grain to seek medical help, Harbin’s Russian influences intertwine with the turbulent times, leaving you wondering: Will the eldest girl recover? What name will the second child end up with? And what paths will these children carve out in that “unpredictable” era?