Mending the Crack in Heaven

Name: Mending the Crack in Heaven
ISBN: 9787559491473

庞瑞垠Jiangsu Phoenix Literature and Art Publishing House · ChinaJul 2026

3.7

Word count: 304K words
Chapters: 42
ISBN: 9787559491473

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Summary

This realist novel is set against the anti-Japanese struggle in Nanjing and its surrounding areas during the War of Resistance. Centered on the lives of two young people, Shu Chen and Du Mei—from childhood sweethearts to weathering hardships and giving their lives for the country—it creates a series of portraits of Nanjing citizens who either step forward or operate behind enemy lines, braving danger and risking death to join the national salvation movement. With vivid and lively strokes, the work depicts the heroism of the broadest masses of the Chinese people—defying violence and fighting to the end—and their indomitable, tenacious belief in ultimate victory when the nation was broken and homes lost, profoundly embodying the theme that "justice will prevail, peace will prevail, and the people will prevail." The novel features rich characters and a complete, fluent story; it is both educational and readable, with an uplifting and inspiring theme.

Editor's review

Set in Nanjing and its surrounding areas during the War of Resistance, *Patched Sky* is a realist novel that follows two young people, Shu Chen and Du Mei, from childhood sweethearts to fighters in the national salvation movement. Their life trajectories connect a collective portrait of Nanjing citizens who step forward or operate behind enemy lines, and the novel explores ordinary people's choices and responsibilities against the backdrop of a broken nation and lost homes. The novel's readability rests on complete character relationships and a fluent plot: the growth of Shu Chen and Du Mei anchors grand themes in concrete fates, drawing readers into those stormy years. With vivid strokes, the author presents heroism that defies violence and fights to the end, as well as an indomitable belief in ultimate victory. The uplifting theme makes the book both educational and emotionally engaging. It suits commemorative reading, thematic displays of historical fiction, and youth patriotic reading programs, as well as readers interested in Nanjing's urban memory and War of Resistance narratives. Note that the work emphasizes spiritual inspiration and collective portraiture; readers expecting pure military history or archival reconstruction should adjust their expectations.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers who enjoy realist novels about the War of Resistance
Readers interested in Nanjing's urban memory and citizen portraits
Teachers and students seeking patriotic-themed reading materials
Readers who want to experience ordinary people's responsibility and faith through story

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting rigorous military history or archival reconstruction
Readers who prefer light comedy, romance, or strong fantasy settings
Sensitive readers who avoid war suffering and sacrifice

Reading tips

Read along the main storyline of Shu Chen and Du Mei first, then revisit the supporting threads of the citizen portraits to see the relationships more clearly.
After each stage, jot down one or two sentences about how the characters' circumstances change, to track the novel's spiritual progression.
For classroom use, select chapters featuring the collective portraits for read-aloud segments, then discuss ordinary people's choices.
After finishing, do some supplementary reading on the history of the War of Resistance in Nanjing to better understand the story's geographical and historical setting.

About the publisher

Jiangsu Phoenix Literature and Art Publishing House China · Founded in 1958

Jiangsu Phoenix Literature and Art Publishing House focuses on literary publishing while also covering the humanities, social sciences, and books on art and daily life. Its approximately 1,535 titles in the database span social novels, world history, design, science fiction, classic works, and film and television: they include modern Chinese literary classics by Lu Xun such as A Madman's Diary: The Complete Short Stories of Lu Xun, Call to Arms, Four Generations Under One Roof, and Teahouse, as well as foreign literary memoirs like Stefan Zweig's The World of Yesterday. In science fiction it offers Asimov's Galactic Empire series, while in architecture and art it publishes Liu Dunzhen's Classical Gardens of Suzhou and design titles from Phoenix Space. Its authors are concentrated among classic writers such as Lu Xun, Zweig, and Asimov, with translators including Liang Xijiang, Zhong Haonan, and Ye Lihua. Its overall character is built on classic works while embracing genre fiction and visual culture. Public information is limited, and this introduction is based on the titles in the database.

版权信息
内容提要
人物表
第一章最忆是门西
第二章少年时光
第三章萤社的缤纷岁月
第四章南京之殇
第五章北上，北上
第六章辗转天涯觅归宿
第七章悲与喜
第八章逍遥镇不逍遥
第九章路在何方
第十章投笔赴戎机
第十一章扬帆远行领航人
第十二章赤山脚下的人生洗礼
第十三章史书一页释兵权
第十四章俳句作戈试身手
第十五章棘手的使命
第十六章幽兰，凋谢在淮北的原野上
第十七章父爱无疆
第十八章短波电台
第十九章卸命南下返故土
第二十章弹雨中的人性之光
第二十一章我心如铁补天裂
第二十二章血洒青龙山
第二十三章母兮鞠我恩似海
第二十四章雇员
第二十五章沧浪池的秘密
第二十六章秦淮河房锄奸记
第二十七章陶庐奇遇
第二十八章禁毒在民间
第二十九章望眼欲穿的邂逅
第三十章火烧五台山日本神社
第三十一章福昌之夜
第三十二章洪公祠外遭厄运
第三十三章仰天一笑从兹去
第三十四章大使馆内的枪声
第三十五章经济胁迫又奈何
第三十六章天地可鉴终昭雪
第三十七章迁坟安葬寄哀思
第三十八章人鬼情未了
后记

FAQ

What is this novel mainly about?

Set against the anti-Japanese struggle in Nanjing and its surrounding areas during the War of Resistance, the novel follows two young people, Shu Chen and Du Mei, from childhood sweethearts to giving their lives for the country. It creates a portrait of Nanjing citizens who step forward or operate behind enemy lines to join the national salvation movement, depicting ordinary people's heroism and belief in victory when the nation was broken and homes lost.

Can I understand it without a background in War of Resistance history?

Yes. The work is driven mainly by character fates and plot, with historical background serving the story and characters rather than relying on specialized historical knowledge. Readers can enter the story by following Shu Chen and Du Mei's experiences; for deeper understanding, basic background materials on the War of Resistance in Nanjing can be added afterward.

Is it suitable for middle school students?

It is generally suitable for middle school students with some reading ability. The theme is uplifting, the character growth arc is clear, and it is both educational and readable. However, the work involves war suffering and sacrifice; younger readers are advised to read with teacher or parent guidance and to discuss the characters' choices.

Where should I focus my reading?

Focus on two threads: first, the life changes of Shu Chen and Du Mei from childhood sweethearts to weathering hardships; second, the different choices of the Nanjing citizen portraits in crisis. The former provides emotional drive, the latter opens up the breadth of the era; only by combining both can readers appreciate the theme that justice will prevail, peace will prevail, and the people will prevail.

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About the author

庞瑞垠 Author

Pang Ruiyin is a Chinese author about whom little public information is available. The only confirmed work is the novel Butian Lie (Mending the Crack in Heaven). In the library's classification, the book is placed under social fiction, suggesting that its subject matter leans toward observing real life and social relations rather than fantasy or purely entertainment-driven storytelling. On the basis of the available information, Pang Ruiyin's nationality, dates of birth and death, education, and writing career cannot be confirmed, nor are there reliable records of awards, official positions, or sales figures, so it would be inappropriate to speculate extensively about the author's life. The title Butian Lie carries connotations of repairing what is flawed and taking on heavy responsibilities, echoing the kind of realistic concern often found in social fiction. Readers who wish to understand the author's style and outlook will need to return to the work itself for a close reading. Overall, Pang Ruiyin's creative profile can currently be glimpsed only through this single work, and more information awaits further public documentation.