The book collects 6 short stories with themes from love to life, which demonstrates people's struggle against the life, society and other pressures. Through this book, you can grasp a basic understanding of Chinese people's lives, their challenges and tenacity.
This first short story happens in the era of the Republic of China. A girl named Vainhope falls in love with a married man named Mirage. Her affections for him are deep and strong even at the expense of losing her reputation. The passion, however, can't last long and it is sublimated into the devotion to the Revolution.
The second story happens in two college girls' friendship blossoms into love but the socially unacceptable relationship has to break up. Affections end up with agony. Reching's parents convince her to marry a man, leaving Lish with a broken heart.
Other stories tell the difficult situation of underprivileged Chinese student in Japan or describe the conflict between an intellectual husband and his peasant wife, and their eventual mutual understanding.
However, not all stories have beautiful endings. Sometimes, tragedy is more common. How do Chinese lives look like in previous years? If you have such a question, this book is your best option.