In 1970s China, twenty-one-year-old Wang Er is assigned to a remote mountain commune. While herding oxen, his focus shifts from mundane duties to pursuing doctor Cheng Qinyang. Their resulting illicit affair unfolds against the backdrop of the strict Communist regime, leading Wang through a series of misadventures, from coerced confessions to a later career as a biology lecturer in Beijing.

Why You Should Read?

• Experience a darkly humorous and subversive satire of life under China's Communist regime.
• Explore themes of individual freedom, desire, and the absurdity of state control through an unforgettable protagonist.
• Discover a celebrated work of modern Chinese literature, known for its wit and unique perspective.