Rural Heroes – Six Masters of Chinese Classic Rural Fiction (Six Masters of Chinese Classic Rural Fiction)

Author: He Shen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: The Rural Hero is a biographical account of Zhao Deyin, a prominent figure in the political life of the countryside during the Cultural Revolution. Due to specific historical circumstances, the elderly farmer Zhao Deyin, who invented the high-temperature fermentation method for manure, was once elevated to the position of Standing Committee Member of the County Revolutionary Committee and a representative at the "Ninth Congress." This led to a series of stories that were commonplace in that era but now appear absurd—tales of a man whose fate, belonging to a time of negation and scorn, was largely relegated to the dust of history with a touch of tragic irony. However, He Shen’s portrayal of him goes beyond mockery; it delves deeply into the social environment and prevailing trends of the time, revealing how such a figure came to be shaped by the era’s conditions. Through this, we see how an ordinary, rough, and hardworking rural talent, despite his limitations, ended up playing the role of a political decoration—engaging in comical and laughable acts, such as convincing villagers to hide from atomic bombs or insisting that Lin Biao’s escape aircraft, the "Three Bad Rooster," was hit by a missile, causing a large hole before crashing. At the same time, He Shen also presents a more profound and powerful depiction of how the realities of rural life and the inherent traditional wisdom of farmers allowed this old farmer, despite his comical political facade, to ultimately reveal his upright and righteous heroism, marked by foresight, amidst the social conflicts of the time.