The Banquet

Abstract

Lu Min has a sharp mind, a sensitive soul, and a big heart. In “The Banquet,” she leverages this unique combination of qualities to give us, as if by magic, a story that is satirical, sentimental, hilarious, empathetic, whip-smart, biting, and soothing, all at the same time. The banquet of the title—spoiler alert—fizzles out, but the story is a delicious brew bubbling with effervescent life. Yang Zao, a humble bus driver, gets it in his head to invite a gang leader to dinner. He and his friends are convinced that the godfather-like Brother Rong can solve all their problems, whether related to money, health, or love, if only they can get on his good side. The banquet turns to a fiasco, and the emptiness and neediness at the core of these ambitions are laid bare, but with gentle humor; the story spares sympathy for these big dreamers, showing that Lu Min has a warm heart to match her cutting intellect. Lu Min’s tales of the countryside, often set in the village of Dongba, made a name for her in China and are loved by many. Her recent work, like “The Banquet” (2016), shows a new dimension of her talent, focusing on the lives of everyday people and the experiences of women in urbanizing China. “The Banquet” can be read as comedy and/or social commentary, suggesting questions like, do the saviors we believe in truly have the powers we think they do? Are dreams of modern urban wealth really desirable or within reach? Though the satire cuts, it has a warm, soft touch that could only be Lu Min’s, as if she clasps her readers’ hands beneath the table. This magical, heart-to-heart approach is one few other authors could pull off. From Issue 2 of Chinese Arts and Literature, published by Xanadu Press, 2016; reprinted with revisions by permission of Chinese Arts and Literature.