Tán Zhú—Yán Sāo

Author: Tan Zhu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Salt is a novel created based on a small town in Wuxi, Chongqing Three Gorges. The novel portrays a series of vivid characters and tells their legendary stories. The owner of the Great Salt Kiln, Yan Guang, declines after suffering flood damage, while the local woman Bo Qinglian, who was forcibly married to him, sets fire to the mansion after being framed for using birth control pills, dealing him a heavy blow. The boatman Chang Fusheng earns a living by pulling oars, loves to sing boatman's songs, and struggles to support his wife and children, yet remains optimistic. Later, he is swallowed by the river while passing through dangerous rapids. The salt merchant Shen Yulin is a charming and unrestrained man who wins the daughter of the Great Salt Kiln owner Zhao Yuanqing through a playful three-strike bet, causing Zhao Yuanqing and another salt kiln owner, Zhang Tianlu, to fall into conflict. The story also intertwines Shen Yulin's romantic entanglement with the courtesan Yin Hong. While narrating the fates of the characters, the novel weaves in myths and legends, showcasing the mysterious Ba culture; describes the beautiful natural scenery of the Three Gorges; ands the work and life scenes of the salt workers and boatmen, as well as their loves and rivalries, their struggles against natural disasters and fate, reflecting the beautiful qualities of the Ba people—hardworking, brave, and resilient.