The Classic Works Collection of Eileen Chang

Author: Eileen Chang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-10-01
Features: At the beginning of the story, Gwei Long, an extremely ordinary Shanghai girl, stands on the corridor of a large residence in the semi-mountain area, gazing far into the garden. Gwei Long has been in Hong Kong for two years, but she is still quite unfamiliar with the luxurious residential areas on the hills of Hong Kong. This is the first time she comes to her aunt's house. The garden at her aunt's house is just a rectangular lawn surrounded by low white stone railings. Beyond the railings lies a stretch of mountainous terrain. The garden seems to be a golden lacquer tray that has been magically placed in the midst of the mountains. There is also a row of neatly trimmed evergreen trees, with a few flower beds sparsely planted with vibrant British roses. Everything is meticulously arranged, orderly and precise, like faint ink and color illustrations on a lacquer tray. At the corner of the lawn, there is a small azalea tree in full bloom, its flowers a bright shrimp-red, tinged with yellow. The spring in the temple is merely a superficial gesture, yet who knew that a spark could set the whole mountain ablaze? The spring in the temple spreads to the outside walls, and the entire mountain erupts with wild azaleas in blazing red, a color so intense that it could wither and burn down the slopes. Beyond the azaleas lies the deep blue sea, dotted with white ships sailing on it. The strong contrast in colors here gives the viewer a dizzying sense of unreality—everywhere is a contrast, with various discordant settings, time periods, and atmospheres all forcefully blended together, creating a fantastical realm.