A Peach-Hued Dusty Land

The countryside has never been a pristine land of simple folk. It is a miniature world of power, self-interest, personal ties, and prejudice. The weak do not fight back in a moment of impulsive tantrums. Their counterattack is a desperate reversal forged through half a lifetime of forbearance. So-called "sex scandals" are never mere romantic farces. They are tragic tales of survival, as ordinary people at the bottom are oppressed, smeared, and manipulated, as well as the silent resistance of common folk against the tyranny of grassroots power and the crushing weight of class.

Through a rural farce, this book reflects four pressing realities: grassroots power, women's plight, a society governed by personal ties, and the chaos of public opinion. It carries profound real-world significance...