Zimo Tian’s Reviews > Sounds of the River: A Young Man's University Days in Beijing – A Poetic Coming-of-Age Memoir of China's Cultural Revolution > Status Update

(continue) For the remainder of the book, I believe the dean will not treat Chen well, so his journey to America will be based on other chances. I predict that his students will help him go to America since he treated them nicely.

In a traditional way of thinking, Chen was not appropriate for a teacher, because he was too nice and had other bad habits like drinking and smoking, but he became friends with the students. In my 7th-grade teachers in China, they tried to scare and threaten students to make us disciplined in every aspect, and the deans liked this type of teacher because strict teachers bring them less responsibility. (next post)

(continue)However, if there is a foreign family in a community, the entire building will have enough and extra food for free, while people are starving and don’t even have enough food to eat every day.

When foreigners come to China, they will be treated well by the government regardless of having Chinese citizens starving. On the other hand, the government claims that foreigners are not their business. These NBA players reminded me of the current Shanghai lockdown situation. As Shanghai is closed as a city, citizens have to fight for every piece of food at a high price. (next post)

Later on, when Chen was suffering from his disease, the relationship he had helped him, and it not only proves that Chen has changed greatly by Bo, but I also feel like this was a meaningful way to mark an end for Bo, Chen’s best friend.

I didn’t expect Bo’s death had a longer impact on Chen, but it also demonstrates that Bo helped Chen transfer from country life to city life the most, and Chen learned the importance of having relationships with others in the city. Thus Chen would rely on Bo in various ways though not so obvious. (next post)

This part of the book exposes China in the most traditional way. The marriage was decided by the middleman and the corruption in temples, these were problems that existed in the Chinese system for centuries. On the other hand, the death of Bo shocked me because I thought he could survive even longer, but his death will serve as a turning point for Chen that he will become more disappointed with his university life.

After Chen returned to his hometown, he found out that everyone has changed, which corresponds to the fact that China was going through rapid growth in all areas. However, I was introduced to a brand new concept, a shop that is only for foreigners, and the fact that Phoenix could be sold to the Chinese at such a high price. I am confused by the two-sidedness of the Chinese government’s attitude towards foreigners.

Chen’s adaptation to the foreign community was a lot easier than I previously thought. With the opportunities that can be brought by his high grades, it can also be foreshadowing his future that he will make a smooth transition to the U.S. society as well as his future life in America. I can see Bo becoming more and more lost in his way that I think the suicidal roommate indicated on the back cover might be him.

The difference in the background is reflected more in this part of the book. Everything could be essential in order to succeed in China, money, grades and even the city that one’s from. The following plot is predictable. Chen will succeed because he is looked down upon by others, and he has worked hard. Chen and Bo became closer friends, but I think Bo will be overwhelmed soon that their relationship will be ruined.