Growing Up

The novel authentically recreates the local spiritual and personal characteristics through the life and work experiences of its protagonist, "e;I"e; - Rui Zhaodong, in both rural and urban settings. Rui Zhaodong was born in a village called Ruiyuan by the Yellow River. During elementary school, he developed a love for painting under his mother's influence; however, by junior high, he realized that painting supplies were expensive and, influenced by his teachers and classmates, decided to become a writer instead. In high school, he intended to write his own novel but never found the material he envisioned. After graduating from a business school, he went to work in the county town of Miyuan. At the County Coal Construction Company, through a series of events including elections, yard disputes, fights, and employee signatures, he realized that city dwellers, like rural residents, were also self-centered and only looked out for themselves. Furthermore, he came to the awareness that deep down, we haven't changed from before. How could people not change? He searched for information online and called Chen Qin, determined to figure it all out. The novel reveals our long-standing personality dilemma: we haven't spiritually matured into adults.