Rascal

Author: Wang Shuo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-02-01
Features: Three friends from the 1980s—Ma Qing, Yu Guan, and Yang Chung—seriously established a "3T" company, dealing in the business of solving people's troubles, entertaining them, and enduring their hardships. For example: organizing award ceremonies for young writers who wanted to give themselves awards with their own money, acting as venting targets for wives, accompanying girlfriends for lovers who couldn’t make it on time for dates... What kind of economic benefits would such novel services bring? A company that solves troubles, entertains, and endures hardships, a group of witty, clever, and humorous young people, and a series of vivid scenes that seem teasing, chaotic, and cynical, yet actually reveal the essence of life. The public figures in the novel—Yu Guan, Ma Qing, and Yang Chung—are among the most representative character types in Wang Shuo’s works. They are all those who lack a clear sense of direction, both above and below. One is carefree and bored, making people distrustful yet relaxed, helpless yet happy. On the surface, they are "unruly" but don’t do any real harm; they seem to live heartlessly, yet they logically and convincingly form a reality. Ruanzhu (The Trouble Makers) is one of Wang Shuo’s famous works and was once regarded as one of the of "yuppie" literature. This novel fully showcases Wang Shuo’s skillful and satirical writing style.