Lottery

Author: Xingzhu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: "Lottery," depicting the corruption of human nature and family bonds by money in the context of a commercial society. Most of Xingzhu's short and medium-length stories are set in rural areas. I can sense his fondness for farmers and his focus on their living conditions, experiencing their joys and sorrows,ing his hopes and empathy in them. Xingzhu writes about farmers from a low perspective, never looking down upon them, nor looking up at them or viewing them with indifference, but rather adopting a slightly elevated angle, allowing him to remain grounded yet see things clearly. He treats farmers with a kind of cunning, a cunning born from understanding, narrating their stories as if simply recounting facts, yet subtly interspersing a few "hehe" laughs, a so-called "secret joy," stemming from his deep familiarity with farmers. I myself have had similar experiences—when spending time with someone, over time, one gradually finds them quite amusing and endearing. I believe Xingzhu truly feels a connection to farmers.