The first person to make Qiulian think about marriage and starting a family was A-Yi,
and that was twelve years ago. Back then, she was no good at managing her daily life
or at finances or house hunting, and understood building a family to be more than just
two people in love. Love alone can never sustain a home. Twelve years on, she has a
simple, straightforward husband and a daughter, Xiao-Min. For practical reasons, they
temporarily live with her in-laws. Her only worry now is – When will they finally have
enough money saved to buy a place of their own?
In shrewd yet tender words, Xia Xia recounts the unforgettable events of that summer
and sets the stage for suspense with the opening of a long-awaited email. Scattered
throughout the narrative are fleeting yet piercing observations: the unease of living in a
house devoid of familiar things; the quiet dissonance of living a life you once dreamed
of; the gains that can be made only by parting; the losses that can be suffered only in
possession… All strike chords with those sharing similar, hidden concerns.