A Collection of 6 Short Novels

By Zhang Ziping

The book collects 6 short stories with themes from love to life, which demonstrates people's struggle against the life, society and other pressures. Through this book, you can grasp a basic understanding of Chinese people's lives, their challenges and tenacity.

Chapter one tells a love story between a girl and a married man. Chapter two tells a sad love story in the Republic of China era. Chapter three tells the difficult situation of underprivileged Chinese student in Japan. Chapter four tells the story of a poor farmer in China. Chapter five describes the conflict between an intellectual husband and his peasant wife, and their eventual mutual understanding. Chapter six tells the story of a university professor Mr. J and his family.

However, not all stories have beautiful endings. Sometimes, tragedy is more common. How do Chinese lives look like in previous years? If you have such a question, this book is your best option.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Great Wall Publishing
• Release date: Jul 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9783757569891

Zhang Ziping

Born in Mei County, Guangdong Province (now Meijiang District, Meizhou) in 1893, Zhang Ziping graduated from the Department of Geology, College of Science, Tokyo Imperial University in April 1922. He began writing in 1913 and published his novel The Water of the Yuetan River in January 1920. In 1921, he participated in the organization of the Creation Society. Therefore, his works were shed on the spirit of the May 4th in this period, which disclosed the hypocrisy of religion or described the lives of the lower classes of the Japanese people. His representative work is the novel Alluvial Fossils. In 1934, he became chief editor of National Literature, a nationalistic literary publication where he created a large number of romantic novels, with an anti-feudal tendency, which simply the triangular or polygonal relationship between men and women.

Book preview

Translators information

Chapter 1 and 2 are translated by Snow Han who is a freelancer and has a passion for literature and is a dedicated translator of fiction and novels from Chinese to English. Her works include The Heiress which was written by Lotus Light in Chinese and has been published by GWP, the project supported by MOONTRANS; a book for children In the Weishan Lake written by the Chinese writer Qiu Xun; and a number of Chinese manga stories published on Manga Toon, such as In or Out (Boys’ Love), To Have You Once Again (Boys’ Love), Mr. Mcdreamy in the Romance Instance (Boys’ Love), Bow to Your Queen (Strong Female Lead), Tonight Befalls Lady Vengeance (Strong Female Lead), My Master is an Immortal (Strong Male Lead), and Supreme Doctor Bodyguard (Strong Male Lead).

Chapter 3 is translated by Zhang Xu, born in 1999, Han nationality, graduated from Jiangnan University in 2021, majoring in English, and now is studying in Tianjin University, majoring in Translation.

Chapter 4 is translated by Naomi Han who is studying for the master's degree in translation and interpretation at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Focusing on the transcultural communication, Naomi, with the mission of promoting Chinese novels overseas, hones her skills in literature related translation. She has published a paper on Chinese culture going out with the core of the Grand Canal.

Chapter 5 is translated by Liu Huijie, 24 years old, Han nationality, Master of Translation, School of Foreign Languages, Tianjin University.

Chapter 6 is translated by Lunan Zhu, born in 1997.12.07, was now studying in Tianjin University in Tianjin. Majoring in English Translation.

Chapter 1 After My Love Burns

[1]

Author: Lu Yin

3September

I met Mirage in the office this morning and I called his name softly and sweetly. My low voice could not be heard by him or by the others in the greetings.

He was writing a report at a desk in a silver-grey coat and with much spirit, and he said hello to me when he saw me enter. I, however, swooned over his tender eyes full of mysteries, affections, and vigour after he glanced at me, and I had to lean on a chair to support myself as a result of a burst of intense feelings upon me.

I put on a light green cheongsam and walked out of my room at dusk. I came across a man whose shadow resembled Mirage’s, so I quickened my pace; but after I found that he was just a stranger, I was so embarrassed that I got on a bus at once.

Guess, Ruleen, I said.

She was my good friend and I knew that she would grow peevish if I prattled. Just say it, and I’ll tell you something more important, I said softly.

I live in a small storeroom of a two-storey building and I can see a high one in front of my room and feel the wind from the west whenever I stand at the window facing north, which makes me sorrowful. I’ve been so gloomy for a whole day that I flung myself onto the bed as soon as I came back, and I wished that Mirage could come to me in my dream and that I would end up with a happy death if I could sleep in his arms.

Everybody was so busy in the office this morning that I, holding a newspaper, failed to have a talk with Mirage. He went out after he received a call. I walked him to the gate and tried to say something to him, but the pounding of my heart made me speechless. The ceaseless time was so cruel that he got on the bus at once, and I lamented my bad luck and had to return sadly.

Mirage was not in Ruleen’s guesses. She asked me to give her some tips but I stifled my eagerness. He is a man of great charm and integrity. I’m utterly infatuated with him although he has a happy marriage, I said shyly.

After I had supper at Ruleen’s house, she asked me sincerely, Who has been enthralling you?

How could I tell her that he was Mirage? I nodded smilingly but said nothing.

After I was roused by the caw at dusk, I saw a letter on the table from Ruleen. She invited me to her house tonight.

Is he Mirage? she asked smilingly.

Oh, now I know that you have fallen in love with a caring, brave man, she added, patting me on the shoulder.

Go on with your guess, I replied shyly. She laughed and I did not believe that she could give me the right answer. Tell me his name, I continued.

It may be difficult, she said with a pout. I told her that I had been loving Mirage feverishly. He may not know this, she replied.

My infatuation for him keeps burning in spite of his unawareness of that. I am a young girl and I am encouraged by my youth to love the man who captivates me, and I do hope that he can have such strong feelings for me as I do.

7 SEPTEMBER

I can meet the hardworking, talented, captivating Mirage every day but seldom talk to him.

After I woke up early in the morning, I put a piece of violet letter paper, which I bought last night, on the desk and would write to him anyway. With a pen in my hand I did not know where to start, and it would not be good enough whether I should call him Sir or Mr. Mirage. After long moments of hesitation I decided to write anything I wanted. But, alas, I tore up the letter as soon as I wrote down some words, and I might lack the artistic aptitude for expressing my passion. The futile attempts drove me so crazy that I would rush to find him at once and embrace him desperately and give him fiery kisses on the neck, cheeks and lips. How could I stop my pining for him? I put down my pen and paper and ran outside with eagerness.

Oh, bad luck again! He had been out when I got to the office. I waited for him for three hours but he did not show up, and I had to go home disappointedly. I was itching to write an ode to him but only one line came to my mind: I love you so much so that I will kneel devoutly and give my soul to you!

I recorded those words in a piece of pink letter paper and put it together with the newspaper which had been sent to Mirage by someone, and I would give the letter to him the next morning. It was getting dark and I threw myself onto the bed. I did not turn on the light but closed my eyes and started to indulge in my dream: I could see that he was standing in front of me, and I got up at once and grasped his hand. Ah, my dear Mirage! I yelled, rushing into his arms. I felt a twinge in my arms and I woke up from my dream. It was totally dark in my room. Had he hidden himself in the shadows? I turned on the light immediately and the glare disillusioned me. I, a young girl thirsting for love, was surrounded by broken furniture in a shabby place and was depressed.

8 SEPTEMBER

I was eager to get a reply from Mirage after I had given the letter to him, and I stayed indoors for a whole day so that I could receive his message, but my waiting turned out to be futile. At dusk I put on my coat anxiously and would go to see him, but I heard a knock at my door before I was about to leave.

Please come in, I replied, opening the door. The comer was Yoyu, a middle-aged team member. I let him be seated and thought that he would talk about the work that we had been doing. Is something bothering you, Vainhope? he asked, with a cigarette in his hand.

I told him about my distress and he was astonished by that. He gazed at me for a long moment and then said grimly, Human beings are emotional and sometimes have to be swayed by emotions, but they can also be rational. I suggest that you should subdue your feelings because you are a sensible lady.

I saw Mirage today. He said that he was indebted to you for your affections for him. But he has married and has been loving his wife. What’s more, he is the head of our team and he dislikes keeping a mistress as the other men do, and he would not like to hurt his wife or you. So he hopes that you will marry a congenial man, he added, smoking.

His words made me shudder. OK, I choked out in a low voice.

He was the good friend of Mirage and I wondered if he had known my secret. I felt uneasy with a faster heartbeat when I was looking at him.

I know this may be an ill-fated infatuation but I still love Mirage with all my heart and soul, and I will not have him divorce his wife to marry me. Please understand me, Yoyu. I have been a fervent admirer of him and have been emotionally entangled with him since I met him, and I would not free myself from my affections unless I said goodbye to the world, I explained.

Is there anything else you want to tell me about? I continued.

Yes. I come here because I understand you, and I’d like to have a frank talk with you and suggest that you should give the matter further thought, he replied.

I failed to argue with him on his high-sounding remarks, but I, leaning on the bed, burst into tears after he left. I should get myself out of my agony from now on.

15 SEPTEMBER

I have become a laughing stock and I seem to have been pushed from a precipice into an abyss without companions, hope, or life. What is the meaning of my physical body?

I did not know