Ancient City New Moon

Author: Wang Dulu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-04-01
Features: The story takes place in Beijing in the 1930s. The wealthy young man Bai Junqing comes to Beijing to stay with his uncle's family after resisting an arranged marriage from the south. He sees his uncle's family living a life of luxury and extravagance and firmly rejects the love of his cousin Qi Lixue. Junqing drops out of school and makes a living independently in Beijing, where he accidentally meets the impoverished and down-and-out writer Liu Zuosheng. Liu introduces Junqing to teach at a primary school for the poor. The primary school student Bai Yuemei is mistreated by her stepmother at home. Driven by a sense of justice, Junqing finds a way to rescue her. Yuemei has a strong-willed personality and resists multiple times, eventually, with the help of Junqing and others, she embarks on a path of self-reliance. In the end, Junqing cannot find a satisfactory path and becomes extremely frustrated, eventually returning home. The author revolves around the core conflict of "man and object," showcasing the psychological struggles of the male and female protagonists in love, and revealing the aesthetic value embedded within.