City of Love

Author: Eileen Chang / Fu Guangming, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: A game of petty squabbles between the male and female protagonists, where the man views love as a hollow and tedious seasoning; the woman seeks refuge in "love" due to the pressing need for material life and the fleeting nature of youth. The true or false hide-and-seek between them; beneath the allure and provocation lies the protagonists' impoverished and opportunistic hearts. There is no trace of the romantic and grand love found in the works of other authors, but rather the hypocritical and worldly love life of ordinary people. The clever dialogues between the genders described in the text are captivating. Translator Fu Xie summarizes the story of Love in a Fallen City as follows: A divorced daughter of a "declining family" is driven out of her home by the scornful taunts of her poor and stingy siblings and falls in love with an experienced, cunning, and shrewd old overseas student. Just as she is about to sink into the mire, a sudden, melodious event that shakes the world rescues her, granting her an ordinary fate.
The impression Love in a Fallen City gives is like a finely carved jade pagoda. Bai Liusu, a divorced woman living with her mother-in-law, encounters Fan Liuyuan, a man who was originally introduced to her sister. Liuyuan has some affection for Liusu, but this love is not enough for him to take on the responsibilities of marriage. Liusu, however, only desires a marriage certificate. As a divorced woman, she knows that love is fleeting, while marriage can provide everything needed for survival. She simply wants to survive, to survive better. Amidst the sweet and syrupy atmosphere created by endless tender words, a silent war unfolds. Each sets intricate traps, hoping to capture the other, but neither succeeds as planned.
Liusu returns to Shanghai, playing the game of retreat to advance, hoping that Liuyuan will compromise with "better peace terms." However, in the autumn, she has aged two years—she cannot afford to grow old, so Liuyuan sends her back to Hong Kong with a telegram, filled with a sense of failure. Liusu has resigned herself to the role of mistress, but war has fulfilled her, granting her the status of Fan. And "Liuyuan no longer plays with her. He saves his witty remarks to tell other women. That is a fortunate sign, indicating that he treats her as his own family member—in a legitimate marriage," a very natural outcome.