Winner of the 2022 Sri Lanka's National Literature Award (Sinhala edition)
Old Man Xinjiang was Hailed by The Guardian as One of the Five Finest Contemporary Chinese Short Stories
Selected Stories by Xuemo is a collection of short tales set against the ancient Silk Road, exploring themes of love, hope, faith and more. It includes "Old Man Xinjiang," "Beauty," "The Women, the Camels and the Dholes," and "The Sound of Broad Beans Late at Night"-excerpts from The Sound of Broad Beans Late at Night, White Tiger Pass and Curses of the Kingdom of Xixia.
These stories vividly reflect the resilience and spirit of farmers in western China as they endure poverty and hardship. Through Xuemo's words, we witness Old Man Xinjiang's unwavering devotion to his first love, Ying'er and Lanlan's struggle for survival in the desert, Yue'er finding pure love despite battling syphilis, and Xueyu'er narrowly escaping death after kindly delivering wolf meat to her uncle. With profound insight into human nature, Xuemo invites readers to ponder the essence and meaning of life.
