Sad fence

Author: Pan Nianying
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-01-01
Features: Pan Nianying's novels are like sorrowful flowing water, warm sunsets, longing grass, and mountain paths. When fashions fade and money is won in every struggle, such novels will still silently travel with people. — Han Shaoqing
Pan Nianying sets the backdrop of her hometown, presenting us with a picture of the modern life of Dong villagers. Is it tinged with nostalgia? Perhaps a little. In my view, this writer more often uses heartfelt, original creativity to showcase the culture of Dong villagers, to observe the fundamental rural society, and to contemplate the preservation and inheritance of traditional customs. Pan Nianying's writing clearly has an edge, belonging to a unique literary style on the periphery of Chinese culture. This literature has its own distinctive charm and value. — (French) Annie Curian
In this novel, we observe the protagonist's emotions becoming increasingly complex and blurred. The discovery of gold ruins the balance of the original order—people multiply and become mixed, and their perspectives also change. Except for the protagonist's father, all the villagers abandon farming to pan for gold, driven by a worship of money. This obsession with commerce strains relationships between people, leading to fundamental disagreements between father and son, ultimately forcing them to separate. The gold rush also influences the children's thoughts and actions, as their education is directly impacted by this relentless pursuit. Eventually, they stop attending school altogether and join the villagers in their gold-hunting fervor.