Joy

1. Start by following Liu Gaoxing's perspective, noting how his relationships with his companions change, then look back at each person's trajectory.
2. When you reach a bitter passage, pause and think about the logic of the characters' choices, rather than simplifying underclass experience into sympathy.
3. Read in comparison with other rural-themed works by Jia Pingwa to appreciate the continuity and shift in his concerns.
4. After finishing, pick one or two characters and write a few notes to sort out how the author uses everyday details to present their inner worlds.

Zhejiang Literature and Art Publishing House is a Chinese publisher specializing in literary publishing. Judging from the 808 titles in the database, its publishing areas cover world classics, foreign literature, social novels, folk literature and classic works, as well as modern and contemporary literature and prose. Representative titles include foreign literary translations such as Anna Karenina, The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, In Praise of Shadows and The Complete Tragedies and Comedies of Shakespeare, alongside classic works by Lao She and Lu Xun such as Camel Xiangzi, Teahouse and Wandering. Its authors and translators include Leo Tolstoy, Cao Ying, Lao She, Yukio Mishima, Jun'ichirō Tanizaki and Zhu Shenghao. The press emphasizes the translation and introduction of classic texts and the compilation of native literary works, giving equal weight to Chinese and foreign literature. Owing to limited public information, its specific series and editorial policies are not elaborated here.