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Ground Covered with Chicken Feathers - Chinese-English Bilingual
This book is one of the series of ""Legend of China"", including ""Ground covered with chicken feathers"", an excellent work of Liu Zhenyun. ""Legend of China"" is one of the projects which are funded by the presss ""Classical publishing projects of China"" in 2011, which focuses on the introduction of Chinese culture, literature and famous writers and works to overseas. ""Ground covered with chicken feathers"" reflects the daily life and survival condition of most Chinese in the 1980s. It makes a real and vivid depiction of the theme of life of most of Chinese people at that time, reflecting peoples inner and outer changes which are brought about by the reform and opening up. It scores a success with its vivid details and character images.
- GenresChinaFictionLiterature
199 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
About the author
Liu Zhenyun
56 books78 followersLiu Zhenyun (born [May], 1958), born in Yanjin, Henan Province, China, is a Chinese writer.
In 1973 Liu Zhenyun joined the PLA and spent five years in the Gobi desert. In 1978, he took the gaokao and got the highest score in Henan Province admitted into the prestigious Peking University. After graduating from university, he became a journalist at the Daily Farmers.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 19, 2022
“这时小林对老婆说，其实世界上事情也很简单，只要弄明白一个道理，按道理办事，生活就像流水，一天天过下去，也蛮舒服。舒服世界，环球同此凉热。”
a surprisingly sweet slice-of-life with the pettiest people alive :')
a surprisingly sweet slice-of-life with the pettiest people alive :')
December 9, 2022
写得太好了，真的很佩服刘震云，不愧是大师。写作风格和内容也让我想起余华。七个故事，七个不同的场景，无比生动地勾勒出中国的民情和文化。《塔铺》讲高考恢复后的一班备考生。《新兵连》讲一班新兵。《头人》讲一个村子里的数任村长。《单位》讲一个单位的同事。《官场》讲县长和省委书记。《一地鸡毛》拎出《单位》里的一个年轻职工，讲了他生活中的鸡毛蒜皮与酸甜苦辣。《口信》讲以前的人给离家在外的亲人捎口信。
《塔铺》5/5
一班备考生，全都早早就过了上大学的年纪，家家有本难念的经，孤注一掷地来捡书本知识。
“我想着自己二十六七岁年纪，还和这帮孩子厮混，实在没有意思。可想想偌大世界，两拳空空，没有别的出路，只好叹息一声，便往回走。”
王全不是读书的料，家里老婆孩子都指着他考上大学，甚至孩子都辍学了，真是心酸。磨桌半夜在厕所里偷偷吃烤幼蝉。 “我打量着他，黯淡的月光下，竟如一匹低矮低矮的小动物。” 耗子一心扑在谈恋爱上。“一片混乱中，唯独耗子乐哈哈的。他恋爱的进程，据说已快到了春耕播种的季节。”
考试忽然超纲要考世界地理，“我”的爹徒步一百八十里去找亲戚借教科书，双脚走出满满的血泡，十分感人。复习到了冲刺的阶段，“我”也和李爱莲，一个苦命的姑娘，渐渐坠入爱河。“天是黑的，星是明的。密密麻麻的星，撒在无边无际的夜空闪烁。天是那么深邃，那么遥远。我第一次发现，我们头顶的天空，是那么崇高，那么宽广，那么仁慈和那么美。”
大伙儿学地脑袋要爆炸了，学校派学生帮老师割麦子，大家反而十分高兴有个散心的机会，充分感受到劳动的幸福。高考前夕，并肩作战的伙伴们却一一倒下了，只剩下“我”还报着一线希望。文末李爱莲的境遇让人心碎。
《新兵连》3.5/5
印象最深的就是几个新兵之间的勾心斗角，互相算计，打小报告，互相争着做事，看谁能拿下为数不多的入党名额。班长的境遇让人唏嘘，他过早承诺给自己的对象自己被选上党员，却发现自己不在名单上，只因需要被“考验”，之后绝望地叛逃了。新兵连组织批斗班长，大家墙倒众人推，纷纷把小事夸大化，争着与班长划清界限。
《头人》4/5
故事讲了农村最早是怎么组织成一个村，由一个村长（“头人”）带领，组织纪律，惩罚犯罪。头人是如何判案，如果用给猪狗染色防止偷窃，如何封井惩罚男女不正风气。有了权力，就有对权力的争斗，不同势力是如何争抢头人的位置，甚至动用地头蛇土匪的暴力协助。同时有了权力，就有滥用职权和贪污，故事也写了不同头人享受了哪些小恩小惠。让我想起George Orwell的动物农场，一代推翻不良势力的新领袖，最终仍守不住诱惑，逐渐成为旧领袖的翻版。
《单位》4/5
这个故事看得我可太心累了。国内的职场文化的特色（说难听点叫诟病）在这个故事中体现得淋漓尽致。一个单位五六个人，一天天的，这么多戏。谁能升职不在于谁工作表现好，能力强，而在于谁的人缘好，谁态度好，谁在办公室多跑腿，谁更圆滑。各种小群体，看眼色，照顾面子，嚼舌头，试探，等等，太累了。
《官场》3.5/5
老朋友十年不见，成了大官。官场的人情世故，勾心斗角。
《一地鸡毛》5/5
《单位》里的小林在单位和在家的一摊破事。写得太真实了，尤其是小林和妻子之间的种种情绪，很难不猜测是刘震云的真实经历。和保姆之间的斗争；妻子为了换单位两人到处找关系；小林老家来人妻子不满，最后没能帮助病重的恩人老师；孩子生病，选幼儿园；帮老同学卖板鸭赚外快。
“两人都是大学生，谁不是没有事业心，大家都奋斗过，发愤过，挑灯夜读过，有过一番宏伟的理想，单位的处长局长，社会上的大大小小机关，都不在眼里，哪里会想到几年之后，他们也跟大家一样，很快淹没到黑鸦鸦的千篇一律千人一面的人群之中呢？”
“老家来人和别的同学朋友来还不一样，别看老家来的人焦黑，头上暴着青筋，是农村人，但农村比城里人礼还多，同学朋友招待不好人家可以原谅，这些农村人招待不好他反倒不高兴，回到老家说你。他们认为你在北京，来到北京理应你招待，全不知小林在北京也是社会的最底层，也整天清早排队买豆腐，只是客人来了，才多加两个菜。”
“看着公共汽车开远，老师还在车上微笑着向他挥手，车猛地一停一开，老头子身子前后乱晃，仍不忘向他挥手，小林的泪刷刷地涌了出来。自己小时上学，老师不就是这么笑？等公共汽车开得不见了，小林一个人往回走，这时感到身上沉重极了，想有座山在身上背着，走不了几步，随时都有被压垮的危险。”
“当然小林在单位混了这么多年，已不像刚来单位时那么天真，尽说大实话；在单位就要真真假假，真亦假来假亦真，说假话者升官发财，说真话倒霉受罚。”
“中国的事情很复杂，别看素不相识，别看不送礼，说不定事情倒能办成；有时认识，有关系，倒容易关系复杂，互相嫉妒，事情倒不大好办。”
《口信》4/5
以前通讯不发达，传个口信纯靠运气。故事中一个口信历经好几个传信者，读者仿佛跟着口信在人海沉浮，看到了传信者的人生境遇。最惨的是贩驴的，被偷了钱，从而不得不辗转多个职业，从头做起。最终遇到严白孩十分戏剧性，严白孩以为父亲去世也很搞笑。故事中母亲对儿媳的挑三拣四体现了封建社会对女性的歧视。
《塔铺》5/5
一班备考生，全都早早就过了上大学的年纪，家家有本难念的经，孤注一掷地来捡书本知识。
“我想着自己二十六七岁年纪，还和这帮孩子厮混，实在没有意思。可想想偌大世界，两拳空空，没有别的出路，只好叹息一声，便往回走。”
王全不是读书的料，家里老婆孩子都指着他考上大学，甚至孩子都辍学了，真是心酸。磨桌半夜在厕所里偷偷吃烤幼蝉。 “我打量着他，黯淡的月光下，竟如一匹低矮低矮的小动物。” 耗子一心扑在谈恋爱上。“一片混乱中，唯独耗子乐哈哈的。他恋爱的进程，据说已快到了春耕播种的季节。”
考试忽然超纲要考世界地理，“我”的爹徒步一百八十里去找亲戚借教科书，双脚走出满满的血泡，十分感人。复习到了冲刺的阶段，“我”也和李爱莲，一个苦命的姑娘，渐渐坠入爱河。“天是黑的，星是明的。密密麻麻的星，撒在无边无际的夜空闪烁。天是那么深邃，那么遥远。我第一次发现，我们头顶的天空，是那么崇高，那么宽广，那么仁慈和那么美。”
大伙儿学地脑袋要爆炸了，学校派学生帮老师割麦子，大家反而十分高兴有个散心的机会，充分感受到劳动的幸福。高考前夕，并肩作战的伙伴们却一一倒下了，只剩下“我”还报着一线希望。文末李爱莲的境遇让人心碎。
《新兵连》3.5/5
印象最深的就是几个新兵之间的勾心斗角，互相算计，打小报告，互相争着做事，看谁能拿下为数不多的入党名额。班长的境遇让人唏嘘，他过早承诺给自己的对象自己被选上党员，却发现自己不在名单上，只因需要被“考验”，之后绝望地叛逃了。新兵连组织批斗班长，大家墙倒众人推，纷纷把小事夸大化，争着与班长划清界限。
《头人》4/5
故事讲了农村最早是怎么组织成一个村，由一个村长（“头人”）带领，组织纪律，惩罚犯罪。头人是如何判案，如果用给猪狗染色防止偷窃，如何封井惩罚男女不正风气。有了权力，就有对权力的争斗，不同势力是如何争抢头人的位置，甚至动用地头蛇土匪的暴力协助。同时有了权力，就有滥用职权和贪污，故事也写了不同头人享受了哪些小恩小惠。让我想起George Orwell的动物农场，一代推翻不良势力的新领袖，最终仍守不住诱惑，逐渐成为旧领袖的翻版。
《单位》4/5
这个故事看得我可太心累了。国内的职场文化的特色（说难听点叫诟病）在这个故事中体现得淋漓尽致。一个单位五六个人，一天天的，这么多戏。谁能升职不在于谁工作表现好，能力强，而在于谁的人缘好，谁态度好，谁在办公室多跑腿，谁更圆滑。各种小群体，看眼色，照顾面子，嚼舌头，试探，等等，太累了。
《官场》3.5/5
老朋友十年不见，成了大官。官场的人情世故，勾心斗角。
《一地鸡毛》5/5
《单位》里的小林在单位和在家的一摊破事。写得太真实了，尤其是小林和妻子之间的种种情绪，很难不猜测是刘震云的真实经历。和保姆之间的斗争；妻子为了换单位两人到处找关系；小林老家来人妻子不满，最后没能帮助病重的恩人老师；孩子生病，选幼儿园；帮老同学卖板鸭赚外快。
“两人都是大学生，谁不是没有事业心，大家都奋斗过，发愤过，挑灯夜读过，有过一番宏伟的理想，单位的处长局长，社会上的大大小小机关，都不在眼里，哪里会想到几年之后，他们也跟大家一样，很快淹没到黑鸦鸦的千篇一律千人一面的人群之中呢？”
“老家来人和别的同学朋友来还不一样，别看老家来的人焦黑，头上暴着青筋，是农村人，但农村比城里人礼还多，同学朋友招待不好人家可以原谅，这些农村人招待不好他反倒不高兴，回到老家说你。他们认为你在北京，来到北京理应你招待，全不知小林在北京也是社会的最底层，也整天清早排队买豆腐，只是客人来了，才多加两个菜。”
“看着公共汽车开远，老师还在车上微笑着向他挥手，车猛地一停一开，老头子身子前后乱晃，仍不忘向他挥手，小林的泪刷刷地涌了出来。自己小时上学，老师不就是这么笑？等公共汽车开得不见了，小林一个人往回走，这时感到身上沉重极了，想有座山在身上背着，走不了几步，随时都有被压垮的危险。”
“当然小林在单位混了这么多年，已不像刚来单位时那么天真，尽说大实话；在单位就要真真假假，真亦假来假亦真，说假话者升官发财，说真话倒霉受罚。”
“中国的事情很复杂，别看素不相识，别看不送礼，说不定事情倒能办成；有时认识，有关系，倒容易关系复杂，互相嫉妒，事情倒不大好办。”
《口信》4/5
以前通讯不发达，传个口信纯靠运气。故事中一个口信历经好几个传信者，读者仿佛跟着口信在人海沉浮，看到了传信者的人生境遇。最惨的是贩驴的，被偷了钱，从而不得不辗转多个职业，从头做起。最终遇到严白孩十分戏剧性，严白孩以为父亲去世也很搞笑。故事中母亲对儿媳的挑三拣四体现了封建社会对女性的歧视。
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2022
刘震云太绝了！把中国人情社会的七窍玲珑心，弯弯绕绕肠描写得入木三分。中国人有血性么？可能已经没有了。这本书里我最喜欢“单位”这个章节。看的时候常常让我想到自己在大学学生会的经历，短暂的时光，让我对所谓“体制内的规则”大开眼界。实在是很庆幸自己选择跳出来，没有在泥潭里越陷越深。
虚伪矫饰，蝇营狗苟。一地鸡毛像一面镜子，在里面看到一个熟悉的世界，也看到一个疲惫空洞的自己。逃离了这个让人窒息的大环境，可想要去除很多有毒的思维习惯，比如过于看重结果而忽略过程，不自觉地计较得失，漠视规则，等等，这是一生的课题。
虚伪矫饰，蝇营狗苟。一地鸡毛像一面镜子，在里面看到一个熟悉的世界，也看到一个疲惫空洞的自己。逃离了这个让人窒息的大环境，可想要去除很多有毒的思维习惯，比如过于看重结果而忽略过程，不自觉地计较得失，漠视规则，等等，这是一生的课题。
February 8, 2017
This book shows that throughout the world, no matter what your circumstances, the struggles of life and doing the right thing are the same everywhere.
April 15, 2026
只读了英文版的一地鸡毛，或许中文版的会更好！直接的语言描述着老百姓的生活。。。
Quotes
Her unit is farther away than his, she has to get up earlier. So of course she should go to bed earlier. But tonight she doesn't go to bed early or wash her feet either. She just sits on the bed, deep in thought. Whenever his wife has something on her mind like this, Young Lin feels scared, not knowing what new topic she will bring up.
They were tired with all the work and Young Lin's wife gradually became garrulous. It was then that he found his wife's sleeping habits an advantage, something he could look forward to when they were at odds with each other. The internal war would stop when her head touched a pillow. Young Lin realizes that there aren't absolute merits or demerits in the world. They can transform themselves into their opposites.
"See? You should not have asked about my poems! I have seen through the way the world works. It's more comfortable to drift along with the crowds without wild fantasies, or the desire to stand out among your fellows, not to think too much about anything.
Who cares about face-saving anywhere these days? With it you look poor and affected; without it you enjoy wealth and glory.
If you say at first "can't" and "hard" but finally the job is done, people will feel indebted. If you give a ready promise but for whatever reason you fail to fulfil it, people will blame you.
In the office, he receives a letter from the son of his primary school teacher who once came to Beijing for medical treatment. It says that three months after the Beijing trip, his father passed away. Before his death, he asked his son to write to Young Lin to thank him for the hospitality he showed him. The letter makes him sad throughout the day. When he was ill he came to Young Lin's place but he did not help him find a hospital or let him wash his face, yet this teacher once took off his own padded coat to wrap him in when he fell through a hole in the ice when he was a child. At the end of a miserable day, in the shuttle bus going home, he suddenly remembers that his stack of cabbages is getting too warm. He ought to take them apart when he gets home. The thought of his teacher is thus pushed out of his mind. The dead is already dead and there is no use thinking about him; the living had better think of cabbages first. Young Lin also says to himself that he will be well-content if his wife roasts some more chicken and gives him another bottle of beer.
Quotes
Her unit is farther away than his, she has to get up earlier. So of course she should go to bed earlier. But tonight she doesn't go to bed early or wash her feet either. She just sits on the bed, deep in thought. Whenever his wife has something on her mind like this, Young Lin feels scared, not knowing what new topic she will bring up.
They were tired with all the work and Young Lin's wife gradually became garrulous. It was then that he found his wife's sleeping habits an advantage, something he could look forward to when they were at odds with each other. The internal war would stop when her head touched a pillow. Young Lin realizes that there aren't absolute merits or demerits in the world. They can transform themselves into their opposites.
"See? You should not have asked about my poems! I have seen through the way the world works. It's more comfortable to drift along with the crowds without wild fantasies, or the desire to stand out among your fellows, not to think too much about anything.
Who cares about face-saving anywhere these days? With it you look poor and affected; without it you enjoy wealth and glory.
If you say at first "can't" and "hard" but finally the job is done, people will feel indebted. If you give a ready promise but for whatever reason you fail to fulfil it, people will blame you.
In the office, he receives a letter from the son of his primary school teacher who once came to Beijing for medical treatment. It says that three months after the Beijing trip, his father passed away. Before his death, he asked his son to write to Young Lin to thank him for the hospitality he showed him. The letter makes him sad throughout the day. When he was ill he came to Young Lin's place but he did not help him find a hospital or let him wash his face, yet this teacher once took off his own padded coat to wrap him in when he fell through a hole in the ice when he was a child. At the end of a miserable day, in the shuttle bus going home, he suddenly remembers that his stack of cabbages is getting too warm. He ought to take them apart when he gets home. The thought of his teacher is thus pushed out of his mind. The dead is already dead and there is no use thinking about him; the living had better think of cabbages first. Young Lin also says to himself that he will be well-content if his wife roasts some more chicken and gives him another bottle of beer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2024
প্রাত্যহিক মধ্যবিত্ত ছোট্ট পরিবারের টানাপোড়েন, ছলচাতুরি করে টিকে থাকা আর জলের মতন সকল পাত্রে নিজেদের মানিয়ে নেয়ার গল্প। চীনা লেখকের কালিতে উঠে এসেছে চিরচেনা মধ্যবিত্তের সংগ্রাম। রাস্তার ধারের মুখরোচক খাবার দেখে মুখে পানি আসলেও ফিরে তাকাতে হয় অবশিষ্ট মাইনার দিকে। নষ্ট হয়ে যাওয়া দই নিয়েও মন কষাকষি চলে দিনকে দিন। আত্মমর্যাদার মুখোশ পড়েও চুরি করতে হয় পানির মতন সামান্য জিনিস। দিন শেষে গল্পগুলো সব একই, যতই জাতি ও জাতীয়তার পার্থক্য থাকুক। সমকালীন চীনা সাহিত্য সম্পর্কে আমি সম্পূর্ণ অজ্ঞ, তাই কালবিলম্ব না করে সেই অপূর্ণতাকে ভরাট করার প্রচেষ্টা হিসেবে এই বইটা পড়া। অচিরেই হয়তো আরো খানিকটা চেখে দেখতে পারি।
Ground Covered With Chicken Feathers
By Liu Zhenyun
Ground Covered With Chicken Feathers
By Liu Zhenyun
July 15, 2026
Reading this book in the background of guzheng music is very relaxing.The name of this book can be translated as "a complete mess"/"Chicken feathers all over the ground". The phrase itself is a set expression to describe the triviality and absurdness of daily life, with a self-pity but also kind of aloof undertone. A history period featuring poverty, corruption and collectivist ideology means many people are bearing with life without dignity and the pursuit of material fulfillment has washed away a lot of dreams of no-bodies.
May 26, 2021
I like how the book comprises of the original Chinese version and the English translation. It’s a good tactic of placing the English translation before the Chinese original, I’m not sure if I will even read the English translation if the sequence was otherwise.
作者很厉害写情景，许多场景如今还历历在目。此书也让我比较明白当时中国社会的种种，让我一窥中国八零年代的现实世界。虽然没有高潮起伏，但每晚还是拾起了这本书，译文原文都读了遍。感觉如书中的主人翁…又一天了。
作者很厉害写情景，许多场景如今还历历在目。此书也让我比较明白当时中国社会的种种，让我一窥中国八零年代的现实世界。虽然没有高潮起伏，但每晚还是拾起了这本书，译文原文都读了遍。感觉如书中的主人翁…又一天了。
November 11, 2019
A simple story of a mortal office clerk, living a mortal life, with occasional collision and bumps, as well as luck and sparks of happiness.
It's surprising how the high matters are replaced by mundane chores and smallest thoughts.
It's surprising how the high matters are replaced by mundane chores and smallest thoughts.
March 9, 2019
人物是虚构的，事情是真实的。权力让人失去自我，失去幸福，失去财产，失去生命。
December 21, 2021
人情练达即文章，我个人喜欢《头人》和同名短篇，《新兵连》和《单位》建议改名《中国恐怖故事》，据说他本人最得意的《土塬鼓点后》反而不太行，整些花里胡哨的双线技巧还不如老老实实白描。《口信》原来是《一句顶一万句》的滥觞，《一地鸡毛》竟然又能连回《单位》，好家伙，整了一出刘震云宇宙啊……
January 6, 2022
把人和官场中的各种人情冷暖，弯曲肠子都描写得淋漓尽致，很让人开眼界，也感叹人之复杂，而且这个复杂全在于关系。
July 10, 2023
虽然是小说，并且我也没经历过那个时代，但是看起来就非常写实，令人窒息
July 12, 2023
实际阅读为花城出版社的版本，内容一致，内含8个中篇
January 5, 2025
看完了刘震云的《一地鸡毛》。最近读这类小说比较多，感慨也很多。
所有琐碎的事情，都有琐碎的理由，都是生活的一部分。无论年少时有多么的春风得意马蹄疾，社会终究会打磨掉所有棱角，年轻时的梦想最后都变成了两个字：搞钱。
“生活的意义是什么？就是企盼。企盼是什么？就是理想、猜想、梦想，永远得不到的水中的肉骨头。”
另外，从书中了解到了国企或者说是公务员的日常，庆幸自己没有去走这条路，不然一辈子演戏上班真的太痛苦了。
知世故而不世故，是最善良的成熟。也许自己所有的努力，都是为了走出一地鸡毛的屋子。
所有琐碎的事情，都有琐碎的理由，都是生活的一部分。无论年少时有多么的春风得意马蹄疾，社会终究会打磨掉所有棱角，年轻时的梦想最后都变成了两个字：搞钱。
“生活的意义是什么？就是企盼。企盼是什么？就是理想、猜想、梦想，永远得不到的水中的肉骨头。”
另外，从书中了解到了国企或者说是公务员的日常，庆幸自己没有去走这条路，不然一辈子演戏上班真的太痛苦了。
知世故而不世故，是最善良的成熟。也许自己所有的努力，都是为了走出一地鸡毛的屋子。
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November 29, 2025人生在世，草木一秋，真是快啊！
February 20, 2026
I liked it, good message
June 16, 2024
过于真实，以致土到掉渣，味同嚼蜡。刘笔下的生活离不开柴米油盐，鸡毛蒜皮，钱可以解决一切矛盾。so boring。。
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