The Setup
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Summary
The shrewd play along and even, now and then, use others as tools.
The clear-eyed know what game they are in and whose pawn they have become.
The unawakened are left to be used by others—and saddest of all, they remain in the dark, never learning the truth even to the end.
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in the operating logic of contemporary Chinese business society and interpersonal relations
- Lovers of realistic fiction with complex plots and intertwined fates
- Reflective readers seeking to observe the complexities of human nature and moral dilemmas through story
- Readers hoping to encounter a narrative of Chinese business beyond a nonfiction perspective
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking pure entertainment and averse to heavy realistic themes
- Readers with no interest in business subjects who prefer other genres
Reading tips
- Slow your reading pace and savor the subtleties of dialogue and psychological description; these are often the key to understanding the "game."
- Reading alongside some background knowledge of China's social changes in recent decades may deepen your appreciation.
- After finishing, discuss the choices of the main characters with others; this can help clarify the moral and survival questions the story raises.
About the publisher
Yunnan People's Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher with foreign literature and philosophical works as important publishing directions. Its representative books include Les Misérables (3 volumes), The Republic, Timaeus, Gitanjali, A Ship at Sea, a Horse in the Mountains: Poems of Lorca, On the Motion of the Heart and Blood, The Harmony of the World, and Xinmin Shuo, covering categories such as foreign literature, Western philosophy, literature, popular science, and history. Its author resources include Victor Hugo, Li Yumin, Plato, He Xiangdi, Song Jijie, Tagore, Xiao Xingzheng, and Federico García Lorca, among Chinese and foreign writers and translators. The press is adept at combining classic works with quality translations, balancing academic value and readability; public information on its fuller publishing features and plans is limited.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 楔子
- 一
- 二
- 三
- 四
- 五
- 六
- 七
- 八
- 九
- 十
- 十一
- 十二
- 十三
- 十四
- 十五
- 十六
- 十七
- 十八
- 十九
- 二十
- 二十一
- 二十二
- 二十三
- 二十四
- 二十五
- 二十六
- 二十七
- 二十八
- 二十九
- 三十
- 三十一
- 三十二
- 三十三
- 三十四
- 三十五
- 三十六
- 三十七
- 三十八
- 三十九
- 四十
- 四十一
- 四十二
- 四十三
- 四十四
- 四十五
- 四十六
- 四十七
- 四十八
- 四十九
- 五十
- 五十一
- 五十二
- 五十三
- 五十四
- 五十五
- 五十六
- 五十七
- 五十八
- 五十九
- 六十
- 六十一
- 六十二
- 六十三
- 六十四
- 六十五
- 六十六
- 六十七
- 六十八
- 六十九
- 七十
- 七十一
- 七十二
- 七十三
- 七十四
- 七十五
- 七十六
- 七十七
- 七十八
- 七十九
- 八十
FAQ
Is this book based on real business-war cases?
Is the novel's tone dark and oppressive, or hopeful?
Does author Cheng Xiaocheng have a business background?
Comments
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About the author
Cheng Xiaocheng is a Chinese author known mainly for social fiction. Publicly available information about the author is limited, and details such as nationality, dates of birth and death, and educational background have not been clearly recorded. Five of the author's works are included in the collection: the Zhouyi Master series (Zhouyi Master, Zhouyi Master 2, Zhouyi Master 3, and the three-volume collection) and Setting Up a Trap. These works suggest that Cheng Xiaocheng's writing centers on social reality and everyday human relations, often drawing on traditional cultural elements and complex interpersonal struggles to build narratives. The plots emphasize suspense and pace, reflecting the realistic concerns and readability typical of social fiction. The multi-volume Zhouyi Master series indicates that this subject occupies a significant place in the author's work, while Setting Up a Trap continues the focus on social ties and human conflict. Overall, Cheng Xiaocheng's works combine popular appeal with social observation, making them suitable for readers interested in socially oriented fiction.
