Welcome to Litsy!

In this collection set in various locations in contemporary China, the characters are mostly unfortunate, some downright creepy. We see a lot of the underbelly of life. I‘m usually less interested in stories that focus on romantic relationships but the vivid sense of place & the cultural information—bridal customs; worker-boss dynamics; food—really held my attention. Misunderstandings are often central to the plot. #CanLit #ShadowGiller2022

Her older sisters left for the big cities on the coast to look for jobs, husbands & money. The family needed money to send Jade‘s little brother to school, so it was a burden on the daughters, who dropped out & went to work at factories or massage parlours, sending most of their pay back home.
Jade stayed at home to care for her parents & little brother. The parents wished her to marry while she was young & could get a good bride price, which ⬇️