Rui Ping

Author: Wang Anyi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Fuping tells the story of the period before the Cultural Revolution—1964 and 1965. At that time, Shanghai had a highly organized social structure. The author, drawn to a particularly interesting topic—immigration—describes how people from Shanghai came to the city to gather. In the novel, Fuping grows up without parents and is raised by relatives. She comes to Shanghai due to an arranged marriage with the grandson of her "grandmother." Fuping appears dull on the outside but is actually very intelligent. She seems docile but is stubborn at her core, having her own opinions on everything. She exudes the aura of youth and carries a vibrant, rustic charm. Her life in Shanghai is simple, almost closed off, and seems completely unrelated to the city's complexity. As a result, she retains her personality in its entirety.