He often thinks of the vast fields of his hometown. Although Wenzhou is along the coast, there is no sea in sight. There is only the filthy Oujiang River, surrounded by rolling hills. Wenzhou is a besieged city, and we are besieged within it. He would often stare at the sunlight filtering through the cracks in the building in a daze. Facing this noisy siege, one day he will throw himself into the dirty Ou River. He knew that the dirty river would drown people but not the soul.
This novel tells a story of lovelorn and separation. A story that takes place in Wenzhou, a man and three women, one is from the past, one is reality, and one is fantasy. As a foreigner, the protagonist longs to integrate into this city but has been alienated from this beloved city! The narrative style of the whole story is romantic, focusing on the description of details and the inner portrayal of the characters! Finally, there is a typical O. Henry ending - unexpected but reasonable!