Tales of Jianmen's Past

Set in the Jianmenguan region of northern Sichuan, this novel depicts the unusual local customs and way of life that shape protagonist Yang Fulai's childhood and rural upbringing. Later, Yang Fulai teaches at a school, where his life unfolds through a series of twists and turns. He then enters politics, enduring several rises and falls as he struggles and strives in the world of law before steadily climbing the ranks. The novel features many characters and portrays the broad social life of ordinary people through Yang Fulai and those around him. Drawing on real life, it proudly upholds the banner of critical realism, using literature's subtle, gradual influence to spread positive values. In its characterization, the work strives to create vivid, multifaceted figures. It offers many distinctive descriptions of people's appearances and plenty of authentic details, while pursuing an engaging plot. One red thread runs through it all, linking one pearl to the next. A worthwhile read.