Karmic debt

Author: Ye Xin
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-09-01
Features: This is a collectible edition repackaged in a modern style for the new century. The story of the returnees and their children from the distant Xishuangbanna to Shanghai in search of their families moves the hearts of countless ordinary people. The complex and helpless relationships between emotion and reason, emotion and law depicted in the novel are still widely discussed today. Especially since the children of the former returnees have now reached the age of starting families, rereading The Debt undoubtedly enhances communication and understanding between two generations. The Debt is one of the influential representative works of the renowned writer Ye Xin. This touching work depicting the arduous journey of several Shanghai returnees left in Yunnan to seek their birth parents in Shanghai was first published in a prestigious literary journal in Shanghai. Later, it was adapted into a 20-episode television drama by Shanghai Television Station Qiusuo Television Production, directed by the famous director Huang Shuqin, which became a sensation and captivated the nation. However, the standalone novel of The Debt was never published in Shanghai, a matter that has long been a source of regret for the Shanghai literary and publishing circles.
Although The Debt is a work from over a decade ago, it continues to have a significant impact on readers nationwide. This is because the novel authentically reflects the lives, emotions, and aspirations of ordinary people in Shanghai. Through the unique perspective of the returnee children's long journey to Shanghai in search of their families, it connects the reluctant past of the returnees with their new lives today. The content goes beyond the rural life depicted in previous returnee literature. By deeply portraying the returnees and their families at different levels, the novel further realistically reflects the social life, human relationships, and changes in Shanghai since the reform and opening-up. Readers can feel the pulse of Shanghai's development and the vibrant energy permeating the city.
Now, publishers across the country are competing to release Shanghai-themed books, but works as vivid and authentic as The Debt, which reflect the current reality of Shanghai society and deeply move readers' hearts, are rare. Therefore, releasing the new century edition of the collectible The Debt still holds practical significance.
In spring, the new novel The Splendid Capital was published. Under the arrangement of the Century Publishing Group and the Shanghai People's Publishing House, I participated in the National Book Fair in Guilin, the Shanghai Book Expo, and held a series of lectures, reader meet-and-greets, and signing events in more than ten cities, including Xuzhou, Nanjing, Changzhou, Jiaxing, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Shaoxing, Wenzhou, Guiyang, Zunyi, and Kunming. What surprised me was that while people were eagerly purchasing the three-volume Ye Xin's New Century Collection, in almost every city and event venue, readers of all ages rushed forward to ask, "Do you have The Debt?" "Did you bring The Debt?" "I want to buy a copy of The Debt." During the speeches, many readers still raised questions about the book. Especially during discussions with university teachers and students, some expressed a stronger desire. Some said, "We've watched the TV adaptation of The Debt and have always wanted to read the original, but we couldn't find it." Others said, "We read The Debt back then, didn't keep a copy, and later watched the TV adaptation. After a few years, we really want a copy now to preserve." Some young readers said, "I've heard about the fame of The Debt but haven't read it. I'd like to read it together with your The Splendid Capital." These situations were unexpected.
I always thought that the story of The Debt belonged to the past. Even the frequently mentioned TV adaptation, when rerun, shows environments—streets, alleys, rented housing—that have become outdated, obsolete, or even completely gone. However, the feedback and demands of the readers, as well as the editors, directors, and distribution staff from the publishing houses I worked with, all heard them. Some requests were made directly to them by the readers.
In May of this year, the People's Literature Publishing House re-released my novel The Wasted Years, which I published 25 years ago. The first 10,000 copies entered the market in mid-May and sold out within a month. In July, another 10,000 copies were printed. This information seems to further confirm the demand in the book market.
Therefore, the Shanghai People's Publishing House and I discussed releasing the new century edition of the collectible The Debt. What can I say? A writer's fate is closely tied to the fate of the works they create. In a sense, the fate of a book is part of the writer's destiny. Since the TV adaptation was broadcast, I have been constantly asked, "Does The Debt have a sequel?" and many people have offered to invest in a sequel. In the blink of an eye, it has been nearly a decade, and due to various reasons, the sequel to The Debt has yet to be written. I sincerely hope that today's young friends, after reading The Debt, will share with me the stories of the returnee children around you, the emotional experiences of your peers, and the sweet and sour struggles of stepping into life. Even providing some interview leads would be greatly appreciated. You can contact me in two ways: first, by sending an email to yexin@ewen.cc; second, by writing to Ms. Chen Lili, the person in charge of this book, who will forward it to me.
Over the past dozen years, there have been more than ten different editions and versions of the novel The Debt. Yet, walking through bookstores across the country—state-run, private, or various other markets—you'll find it's indeed difficult to locate the original The Debt. I sincerely hope that the new century edition of the collectible The Debt will still be well-received by readers.