Old Land, New Tales: Twenty Short Stories by Writers of the Shaanxi Region in China

In this captivating collection from the Shaanxi region, considered the cradle of Chinese civilization, twenty disparate and unique voices come together to show a China caught between new-world advancements and old-world traditions. From the homeland of China's first dynasty and the world-famous terra-cotta warriors, these tales show rugged rural life colliding with fast-paced city life; hollow arranged marriages juxtaposed with torrid forbidden love affairs; and the vanity of newly minted millionaires clashing with the desperation of the poor. Through the eyes of award-winning authors, we see a changing China—from the Cultural Revolution to the country's infamous one-child policy—giving us a profound look at the evolution of a land that is at once ancient and modern. Elder sister -- Lu Yao A tale of Li Shisan and the millstone -- Chen Zhongshi The country wife -- Jia Pingwa Oh, a colt! -- Zhou Zhian The walking stick -- Jing Fu A trip for love: The story of an unmarried mother -- Gao Jianqun Love's unknown variable -- Li Tianfang Rain: the story of Hiroshima -- Ye Guangqin Who would go to the scaffold -- Xiao Lei The soul of the Great Wall -- Zhao Xi The butcher's knife -- Feng Jiqi The portrait of the ancestor -- Li Kangmei One family in the desert -- Hong Ke Mountain forest lasting forever -- Mo Shen Sister Yinxiu -- Wang Peng Lei Ping'er -- Zhang Hong The bloodstained dress -- Wu Kejing At the foot of Mount Yanzhi -- Wang Guansheng Stargazing -- Li Chunguang Wife, or otherwise -- Huang Weiping.