In the 1970s, Ji Shuangquan's aunt learned that local government regulations required both men and women to be at least twenty-five before they could marry. Ji Shuangquan's parents, who were eager to get him a wife as soon as possible, panicked when they heard the news. With the cooperation of both sets of parents and his aunt, they eventually arranged for Ji Shuangquan and Zhang Qiaofeng to register their marriage through improper means. With his parents pulling all the strings, Ji Shuangquan found this life deeply loathsome, yet could do nothing about it. Yulan, who had grown up alongside Ji Shuangquan, had always loved him deeply, but parental pressure kept the two lovers apart. Ding Peipei, an educated youth sent to the countryside, also quietly buried her feelings for Ji Shuangquan. Not long after the wedding, Ji Shuangquan received a university admission letter. On the day he left for school, he ran into Fang Qingli, a former middle school classmate, and sparks of love gradually began to fly between them.
Theme: Centered on Ji Shuangquan's marriage, this book tells of the harm caused by arranged marriages and reveals both the good and evil in human nature. It portrays the distinctive way Eastern women pursue love with unflagging determination, while also chronicling an elementary school teacher's devotion to the Party's educational cause. The story is full of positive energy and, through a variety of perspectives, explores such virtues as filial piety, responsibility, and the value of life, elevating the beauty of human nature.
