Accompanying Listening: From the Short Story Collection by Wei Xi

Author: Cong Wei Xi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Listen portrays a retired general with a legendary past through the perspective of a female graduate student. When the graduate student meets him, he has become a grumpy old man. He lives eternally in the memories of his past, in the era of gunfire and chaos. Time cannot change his steadfast belief, but when faced with the materialistic society of today, he is helpless. He cannot understand his children, nor can he be understood by them. The old man finally dies in solitude. Wild Floating Duckweed tells the story of a Volunteer Army soldier who was captured during the Korean War. From that point on, the humiliation of a prisoner of war has shadowed his life, bringing him countless misfortunes. Eventually, he ended up in a labor camp. He struggled tirelessly against his fate, but to no avail. Decades later, he transformed into a famous fortune-teller, becoming a wealthy man with great wealth. At this moment, he still did not forget the comrades who shared his fate with him.
This collection includes eight short stories written by the renowned author Cong Wei Xi. In all these works, a common theme is evident: a focus on the times and on people. The author repeatedly depicts the hardships of the Cultural Revolution era and the barriers between those who experienced these hardships and later generations. This is to remind readers not to forget the past, not to forget the past—only by understanding history can we face the future. Listen portrays a retired general with a legendary past through the perspective of a female graduate student. When the graduate student meets him, he has become a grumpy old man. He lives eternally in the memories of his past, in the era of gunfire and chaos. Time cannot change his steadfast belief, but when faced with the materialistic society of today, he is helpless. He cannot understand his children, nor can he be understood by them. The old man finally dies in solitude. Wild Floating Duckweed tells the story of a Volunteer Army soldier who was captured during the Korean War. From that point on, the humiliation of a prisoner of war has shadowed his life, bringing him countless misfortunes. Eventually, he ended up in a labor camp. He struggled tirelessly against his fate, but to no avail. Decades later, he transformed into a famous fortune-teller, becoming a wealthy man with great wealth. At this moment, he still did not forget the comrades who shared his fate with him.