21 Building

Author: Zhou Daixin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: Who Will Save the Prisoners of the City? Zhou Daixin borrows the eyes of a security guard to observe and question how human nature is twisted! 21 Building is the latest long by the renowned novelist Zhou Daixin. This novel has a touch of allegory, at least it is a microcosm. The "21 Building" in the novel is grand, exquisite, and modern, yet it appears unreliable and unstable, filled with an unpredictable and mysterious aura. As a symbol of human existence, "21 Building" the turbulent and awkward urban life that is becoming increasingly commercialized, as well as the tragic transformation and reshaping of people in the pursuit of money, wealth, or social status. The "story" about "21 Building" gradually unfolds through the eyes of a young security guard, the "I" in the novel, including his experiences, perceptions, and emotions. Although the "story" in the novel differs slightly from common understanding, it feels very smooth. I think the reason lies in the fact that the "I" in the novel is not only a perspective (or narrative angle) for conveying the myriad characters of "21 Building" but also a living, breathing person in the work. The "I" is a rural youth who served as a scout in the army, seen the world a bit, longs for freedom, and is unwilling to accept his original state of existence. However, the "I" is also a kind, upright, and helpful person, leaving a relatively pure and bright space in his heart. As a security guard, the "I" first works in the restaurant on the 4th floor, which can be considered a "prelude." Later, for outstanding performance in a critical situation, he is "promoted" to the top floor of "21 Building," the 58th floor—a high-end residential area with only four households. Then, due to a robbery, he is "demoted" to the basement level 2, which is a parking lot. But on the basement level 2, the "I" experiences his happiest or least oppressed times as a security guard—the parking lot is close to his original life, a true "lower-class life." Later, for his bravery in fighting a car thief, he is "promoted" to the 32nd floor, which has three companies. After that, he is transferred to the 43rd floor in a pre-set trap, but not as a regular floor security guard, but as a personal bodyguard for a "female manager" whom he considers very despicable and shameless—this "female manager" is Mei Yuan, whom he first met when working as a security guard in the 4th-floor restaurant. Mei Yuan was hurt when she first entered society, and the "I" sympathized with and helped her, but her actions in "21 Building" have deeply disappointed him, filling him with disdain and hatred. Yet, can the "I" ultimately resist her temptation? In theory, the characters in the novel (the so-called white-collar workers), whether living in the high-end residential area of the 58th floor or the ordinary residential area of the 43rd floor, are considered successful or lucky, though some have reached their goals through illegal or unethical means. Yet, wealth and a rich life have not brought them spiritual or emotional joy. Instead, they are filled with suffering and boredom, especially those living in the high-end residential area, who struggle in a hollow and pale spiritual state, bound by the fear of survival due to their wealth. In fact, even Mei Yuan, who has transformed into a "female manager," though currently safe, lives uneasily—she always tries to bribe and seduce the "I," but reveals her true colors the moment she succeeds. Money does not equal spirit, and people must have some spirit. Compared to the characters living in the high floors of "21 Building," the few working in the parking lot on the basement level 2, though with low income and status, each face their own hardships, bitterness, or troubles, but they are mentally and emotionally grounded, able to see the light, and even noble and pure. Compared to this, who is rich, who is poor, or who truly embodies the essence of being human becomes a question worth savoring. 21 Building, a peculiar building. It soars into the sky, overlooking the city, functionally divided into many spaces such as companies, commercial residences, restaurants, and high-end residential areas. Thus, all kinds of people gather here: big spenders, nouveau riche with mistresses, silver collars who made a fortune overnight but never found emotional fulfillment, ultimately losing their sense of purpose, and women who are cunning, selling their souls and bodies to achieve revenge and power. A building like a small society, concentrates, twists, and reflects the myriad complex human attitudes in the face of beauty, ugliness, good, and evil, towards people living at the turn of the century, asking a soul-searching question: How do you live? This work has a captivating story, full of suspense, unique artistic conception, a sharp and incisive perspective, vivid and humorous language, demonstrating the author's exceptional artistic talent, as well as his sense of concern for human fate and a great love for humanity. Who will save the prisoners of the city? Zhou Daixin borrows the eyes of a security guard to observe and question how human nature is twisted! 21 Building is the latest long by the renowned novelist Zhou Daixin. This novel has a touch of allegory, at least it is a microcosm. The "21 Building" in the novel is grand, exquisite, and modern, yet it appears unreliable and unstable, filled with an unpredictable and mysterious aura. As a symbol of human existence, "21 Building" the turbulent and awkward urban life that is becoming increasingly commercialized, as well as the tragic transformation and reshaping of people in the pursuit of money, wealth, or social status. The "story" about "21 Building" gradually unfolds through the eyes of a young security guard, the "I" in the novel, including his experiences, perceptions, and emotions. Although the "story" in the novel differs slightly from common understanding, it feels very smooth. I think the reason lies in the fact that the "I" in the novel is not only a perspective (or narrative angle) for conveying the myriad characters of "21 Building" but also a living, breathing person in the work. The "I" is a rural youth who served as a scout in the army, seen the world a bit, longs for freedom, and is unwilling to accept his original state of existence. However, the "I" is also a kind, upright, and helpful person, leaving a relatively pure and bright space in his heart. As a security guard, the "I" first works in the restaurant on the 4th floor, which can be considered a "prelude." Later, for outstanding performance in a critical situation, he is "promoted" to the top floor of "21 Building," the 58th floor—a high-end residential area with only four households. Then, due to a robbery, he is "demoted" to the basement level 2, which is a parking lot. But on the basement level 2, the "I" experiences his happiest or least oppressed times as a security guard—the parking lot is close to his original life, a true "lower-class life." Later, for his bravery in fighting a car thief, he is "promoted" to the 32nd floor, which has three companies. After that, he is transferred to the 43rd floor in a pre-set trap, but not as a regular floor security guard, but as a personal bodyguard for a "female manager" whom he considers very despicable and shameless—this "female manager" is Mei Yuan, whom he first met when working as a security guard in the 4th-floor restaurant. Mei Yuan was hurt when she first entered society, and the "I" sympathized with and helped her, but her actions in "21 Building" have deeply disappointed him, filling him with disdain and hatred. Yet, can the "I" ultimately resist her temptation? In theory, the characters in the novel (the so-called white-collar workers), whether living in the high-end residential area of the 58th floor or the ordinary residential area of the 43rd floor, are considered successful or lucky, though some have reached their goals through illegal or unethical means. Yet, wealth and a rich life have not brought them spiritual or emotional joy. Instead, they are filled with suffering and boredom, especially those living in the high-end residential area, who struggle in a hollow and pale spiritual state, bound by the fear of survival due to their wealth. In fact, even Mei Yuan, who has transformed into a "female manager," though currently safe, lives uneasily—she always tries to bribe and seduce the "I," but reveals her true colors the moment she succeeds. Money does not equal spirit, and people must have some spirit. Compared to the characters living in the high floors of "21 Building," the few working in the parking lot on the basement level 2, though with low income and status, each face their own hardships, bitterness, or troubles, but they are mentally and emotionally grounded, able to see the light, and even noble and pure. Compared to this, who is rich, who is poor, or who truly embodies the essence of being human becomes a question worth savoring.