This work closely follows Jiangsu Province's regional cultural initiative, "Passing Down the Cultural Legacy, Celebrating the Splendor of Jiangsu," and the Three-Year Action Plan for Revitalizing Drama (2026–2028). Rooted in the cultural heritage of the Jianghuai water towns of Yancheng, Huai'an, Taizhou, and Yangzhou, it draws on Huai Opera's distinctive history, from its origins in northern Jiangsu to its heyday in Shanghai. Centered on the shifting fortunes, artistic dedication, and innovations of three generations of the Chen family, all Huai Opera performers, the novel uses realistic online-fiction prose to tell the full story of the opera's century-long evolution: from its explosive popularity in Shanghai and fame across the nation, through changing times and an industry-wide winter, to the revival of its cultural heritage and its renewed growth today. It is a vivid account of how Jiangsu's local intangible cultural heritage is kept alive and renewed in a new era. The title, You Xi, carries a double meaning: the water towns have Huai Opera, cultural heritage is passed down, and there is hope for its revival.
