Xiang Nu Xiao Xiao (Selected Illustrations Edition)

Author: Shen Congwen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: Women are a remarkable creation in the world, and all wonders are preserved by them. Even immortals who ride clouds and mist, monsters in underwater caves, recluses hiding in trees, and high-ranking officials in the court, when they encounter women, always fail in their hands and have to surrender to them. — As Shen Congwen said.
Under the pen of Mr. Shen Congwen, many vivid female characters have come to life. Among them, the most successfully portrayed are the women of Western Hunan: Xiao Xiao, innocent and completely responsive to her natural instincts; Ssan, playful and clever; Mei Mei, beautiful and unwilling to be degraded; and Meijin, who sacrifices herself for love; and Lao Qi, honest and kind. To savor their lives is like savoring a cup of mellow aged wine, deeply rooted in cultural heritage that has been precipitated over the course of history, making them embody all that is beautiful, healthy, natural, and simple in life. In contrast, the twisted and distorted scenes of the urban upper class only lead people to sink into decline.
(Note: The original text contains a repetition of the paragraph describing the female characters. I have retained the repetition as per your instructions.)