This is a series of 12 short stories by Ha Jin, about a China in transition. This captures the change in power, status within the context of the opening up reforms bought in by Deng Xiauping in the 1970's.

The stories centre around a small city called Muji in China. Its also useful to bear in mind that China has just experienced the 'great leap forward' and the 'cultural revolution' which has led to the death of millions of Chinese people within the past few decades. This is a time where attitudes are shifting, the country is beginning to open up to capitalism, and the one child policy is still in existence.

The stories which stayed with me:
- Saboteur; how those who hold the power, controls the narrative.

- A Tiger Fighter is hard to find; when face becomes the priority to save.

- An Entrepreneurs story;how money changes those around you, and what you can get away with.

- Flame; how ex-partners can hold grudges and recreate a warp sense of the past.

- The Woman from New York; women can never win.

- After cowboy chicken came to town; how New capitalist values come head to head with transitional socialist cultures.