The novel, Rickshaw Boy, also known as Camel Xiangzi/Luotuo Xiangzi (¿¿¿¿), is a contemporary literary masterpiece written by the Chinese novelist, Lao She/Shu Qingchun (¿¿/¿¿¿, 1899-1966). The novel describes the tragic fate and exploitation of rickshaw pullers during the period of social unrest and turmoil in the 1920s (before the revolution of 1949). Specifically, "Camel Xiangzi" tells the life experience of a young, strong and enthusiastic rickshaw driver, Xiangzi (¿¿), in China's Peiping City (name of Beijing 1928-1949, ¿¿¿¿¿). In fact, Xiangzi is a representative of the working masses of the old Chinese society. Xiangzi, coming from the countryside, is a bankrupt young farmer. He is hardworking, simple, kind and always eager to buy his own rickshaw with honest labor. To be an independent rickshaw puller is Xiangzi's wish, hope, and even religion. With hard work and perseverance, he spent three years saving money, and finally realized his goal and became a self-supporting rickshaw puller. However, just six months after pulling, the rickshaw was destroyed. Xiangzi was not discouraged, and again started stubbornly from the beginning, and started to save money. However, all his savings were blackmailed and looted by selfish people he trusted the most.
The book has 10 chapters in the following order:Chapter 1: Three years of hard work, Xiangzi buys a rickshaw (¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿)Chapter 2: The rickshaw was taken away (¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿)Chapter 3: Xiangzi flees and sells camels (¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿ )Chapter 4: Xiangzi desperately earns money (¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿)Chapter 5: Xiangzi was lured by Hu Niu (¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿)Chapter 6: The rickshaw was broken (¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿)Chapter 7: Hu Niu fakes pregnancy (¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿ )Chapter 8: Xiangzi's money was blackmailed by Detective Sun (¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿)Chapter 9: Xiangzi and Hu Niu get married (¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿ ¿¿¿¿¿¿)Chapter 10: Xiaofuzi commits suicide, Xiangzi becomes depraved (¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿ ¿¿¿¿¿) The current book volume, China's Great Contemporary Literature 2, is a Level 5 Chinese reading practice book. It would introduce you to the famous Chinese novel Luotuo Xiangzi (¿¿¿¿). The new volume in China's Great Contemporary Literature (¿¿¿¿¿¿, ¿¿¿, simplified edition) includes both the Chinese text (simplified characters) and pinyin Romanization. With over 1000 unique Chinese characters, the volume would be suitable for the beginners, lower intermediate and advanced level Chinese language learners (HSK 1-6). Overall, the reading series offers you a variety of elementary level books (Level 1/2/3/4/5/6) to understand China as well as practice Chinese reading fast.