Little Town Annals (Part 1, 2, and 3)

Author: Gao Yunlan (original), Lu Chun, Lu Yao (adapted), Chen Yunhua, Zhao Longyi (illustrated)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-07-01
Features:
Content Summary of the First Part of A Small Town Chronicle: A Small Town Chronicle tells the story of the revolutionary struggles led by the underground Communist Party in the Nationalist Party-controlled area during the 1930s and the nationwide Xiamen prison break. This part depicts the anti-Japanese wave sweeping across Xiamen, where He Jianping, a teacher at a fisherman's school, forms connections with Wu Qi, a local woman, and Wu Jian and Li Yue, Communist Party members, through progressive publicity activities and the fight against Japanese goods. Soon after, Wu Jian leaves for Western Fujian. The Party instructs Li Yue and Quan Ping to set up an underground printing press, run night schools, and expose the schemes of the reactionary forces. In the publicity work, Jianping falls deeply in love with Ding Xiubei, a student at a girls' school, but due to persecution by the reactionary forces, he must leave Xiamen quietly. Next, the Party sends Chen Simin from the Eastern Fujian guerrilla zone to assist Li Yue in his work, organizing the Xiamen Mutual Aid Society and carrying out various anti-Japanese activities. Two years later, Jianping returns to Xiamen, filled with joy at the rapid growth of the revolutionary forces, yet troubled by Xiubei falling in love with Simin. However, Simin and others handle their romantic relationship correctly, demonstrating the fine qualities of revolutionary comrades. The anti-Japanese play Fury Tide was a great success and caused a sensation in the city. The reactionary forces grew even more panicked and launched a frenzied crackdown on patriotic individuals and Communist Party members. At this time, the Party decided to retreat Simin, Jianping, and a portion of the comrades. Unexpectedly, Simin was arrested suddenly on the eve of the retreat. The story of Simin after his arrest can be found in the middle and final parts of A Small Town Chronicle.
Content Summary of the Middle Part of A Small Town Chronicle:
How was Simin arrested? It turns out that after Simin was transferred to Xiamen, the 19th Route Army wasing a counter-Jiang government coup in Fujian, establishing a new government. During this time, he met Zhou Sen, a political prisoner who had been released. After the new government failed, comrades whose names were on the black list were ordered to leave Xiamen, but Zhou Sen secretly stayed behind and was eventually arrested, betraying the Party and guiding the secret police to identify others. Simin, Jianping, Li Yue, Zhong Qian, and Wu Jian were all arrested one after another. This part depicts the struggles of the arrested comrades against their enemies, with a focus on Jianping's courageous spirit, showing the growth of a Communist fighter. The plot is full of twists and turns, gripping and moving at every turn.