In the blink of an eye

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Publish Date: 2002-05-01
Features: Like Painting of China and Story of Mei Ci, Wang Yuewen's new full-length novel still wields the big stick of realism, exposing the countless vices in the officialdom in its raw form, utterly disregarding previous criticisms that he "overemphasized the dark side and corrupt people." However, what surprised readers is the ending of the book—how the upright yet persistently sidelined protagonist manages to win the mayoral election through a legislative assembly vote, breaking the provincial committee's personnel deployment. This is somewhat romantic! Perhaps this is the author's only hope and effort to push history forward. It is one of Wang Yuewen's works with the richest artistic charm as an officialdom novel. The story revolves around the rise and fall of the protagonist, Guan Yindu. Guan Yindu was originally the secretary of the diectorate secretary Tao Fan, but his career prospered after marrying Tao Fan's only daughter. However, after his father-in-law retired, his career declined, showing that his rise and fall did not depend on his personal ability. It can be said that he succeeded because of Tao Fan and failed because of Tao Fan. Wang Yuewen presents a unique creative perspective to show the subtle psychological states among officials, revealing the cunning of the officialdom through a calm narrative, allowing readers to see a panorama of official life through the vivid characters on paper.