Land God

Author: He Xiangyong
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-10-20
Features: People are aware of the "Three Rural Issues" and understand their importance, but they are not entirely clear about the actual situation there, nor do they have much interest in understanding it. The villages are shrouded in mist, appearing obscure and distant. He Xiangyong is different. Like a tree growing from the mountains, he is a writer who has grown up in the countryside and among farmers. He was once an authentic farmer and still maintains a close connection with them. He is deeply familiar with rural life and farmers. He knows not only the farmers who are servile in the presence of officials and in formal meetings, but also those who weep behind their backs, curse, complain, make petty moves, and tell vulgar jokes. Therefore, when it comes to rural people and events, he effortlessly brings them to life, using humor and satire to reveal profound truths. Some may mock the ignorance and backwardness of farmers, indulging in the superiority of city dwellers—He never considered that he and some people around him, certain city dwellers and officials, were not acting according to these very theories and principles. Of course, none of them would admit it. Earth Deity should be said to closely align with the essence of Mi's "New Art" in narrative, possessing an aesthetic power that blends complexity with simplicity. Occasionally, the narrative's (spear) pierces through the experiential shell of the story, directly and ironically cutting into the heart of rural matters, speaking only what a novel can express about the current state of rural existence. The protagonist, Niu Er, is both unblemished and heroic, embodying the complexity and ambiguity of China's modern rural experience. Broadly speaking, such complexity and ambiguity are also part of the Chinese experience in historical practice. The weak expression mechanism of interests, or the inability of marginalized groups to voice their demands, allows pre-modern traditions and anti-modern forces to infiltrate and find space for survival and expression. Therefore, Niu Er's survival dilemma is also our own. He Xiangyong is a writer who toils tirelessly in the fertile fields year-round. This new novel, with its delicate brushwork, uses the embodiment of the Earth Deity for millennia as a lens, portraying the intricate contradictions and conflicts of rural life through the characters of grassroots cadres, reflecting the realities of the current countryside. The author's penetrating portrayal delves deep into the human psyche, with a sharp and seasoned touch. The novel fully displays Niu Er's "wholehearted dedication to the public," while also meticulously detailing his "malevolent nature." Niu Er, first a village group leader and later a village head, uses promises of promotions to keep mistresses and profit from his position. However, when the village primary school collapses, he disregards everything to rush into the debris to rescue a student with a bleeding head. He also employs almost shameless tactics to force the county magistrate to fulfill a promise he had no intention of keeping, securing 150,000 yuan in emergency construction funds for the school. He even risks angering the township party secretary to (secure) an additional 100,000 yuan from land sales, protecting the villagers' interests. What evaluation should be given to this multifaceted character, Niu Er? Where will he go? The author has reflected on these questions, but he leaves more room for thought to the readers.