Sky high and earth deep

Author: Guan Huashan
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2002-10-01
Features: Bats are often seen in the West as ominous creatures associated with the devil and darkness. However, on the North China Plain, when five bats gather together, they often symbolize the arrival of five blessings from heaven: longevity, wealth, health, kindness, and good fortune. The author, the son of a farmer, uses a pen to seek the life value of farmers, expressing his passionate yet gentle, depicting a real rural world, a mystical local culture, a turbulent human river, and an endless song of his hometown. This is a monumental work that presents a panoramic view of China's rural historical changes over the past three decades, a colorful tapestry showcasing the fate of contemporary Chinese farmers. Bat Village in the Yidong Plain is named after the abundance of bats. This land, which should have been blessed, suffered famine when the entire village fled in the early 1970s. Young farmer Rong Hanjun was sentenced to eight years in prison for growing "black land." The Reform and Opening Up campaign allowed him to be released early, and he became the first person to set up a township enterprise, serving as the village head for twenty years. However, he fell into trouble due to issues like producing counterfeit goods and corruption. Every step of the rural transformation stirred the joys and sorrows of the villagers. The loves, hates, and struggles of three families and three farmers unfolded amidst the tide of reform. Here, there is unforgettable love, as well as corruption driven by power. There is a passionate devotion to the land, and a relentless pursuit to change one's fate. Suffering and resistance, joy and tears, desolation and grandeur all coalesce to form the true portrayal of contemporary Chinese farmers. We hear their calls. This book records these tragic moments in history with words.