二十年目睹之怪現狀

A historical novel written in the late 19th century. Set in Shanghai, the narrative paints a vivid portrait of the city's bustling and often morally questionable atmosphere, highlighting the lives of its inhabitants, including a central character referred to as ''死裡逃生'' (meaning 'barely escaping death'). He grapples with his disillusionment after years of reckless living amidst the decadence and deceit that has overtaken what was once a pure and simple way of life. The opening of the story introduces us to the lively and chaotic backdrop of Shanghai, bustling with merchants, shady dealings, and a rise in corruption. We meet the protagonist, a young man who has lived in Shanghai for over a decade, originally partaking in the city's extravagant lifestyle but ultimately realizing the dangers and emptiness of such a life. After a series of near-death experiences due to treachery and betrayal, he decides to withdraw from this life and seek a sincere existence elsewhere. He encounters a man selling a peculiar manuscript titled ''二十年目睹之怪現狀'' and feels an unexpected kinship with the material, prompting him to undertake a journey of revival and redemption through the shared stories of others, which he hopes to publish and disseminate.