This book tells two stories in a polyphonic form: one is set in the late 1980s, when Li Ming, the cousin, was eighteen or nineteen years old. He introduced coal mining technology to Taiyangshan, bringing electricity and deep mines to the village. The village rented a coal washing plant and made its first fortune after the reform and opening up. The other story is about a group of young people, represented by Zhao Xiaoping, who both idolize and despise their cousin Li Ming. The "Zhao Xiaopings" aspire to leave their small town for big cities, pursuing a more ideal life. They admire their cousin's success but yearn to surpass it. Both generations share common ideals, but each generation is ultimately different. The novel tells the story of Zhao Xiaoping and his contemporaries from their perspective, and also from Li Ming's perspective, recounting the relationship between Li Ming and Zhao Xiaoping.
本书用复调的形式讲述两个故事: 一个是20世纪80年代末, 表哥李明十八九岁的时候, 将煤矿技术引进到太阳山, 太阳山有了电, 有了深井, 村里租下洗煤厂, 掘到改革开放后的第一桶金。另一个故事是以赵小平为代表的一群既将表哥李明视为偶像, 又将他当做“憎恶”对象的年轻一辈人。“赵小平”们希望走出小地方, 到大城市发展, 追求更加理想的生活。他们羡慕表哥的成功, 但希望超越这样的生活。两代人有共同的理想, 但一代和一代的毕竟不一样。小说用赵小平们的视觉讲述自己和李明们的故事, 也用李明的视觉讲述李明和赵小平
本书用复调的形式讲述两个故事: 一个是20世纪80年代末, 表哥李明十八九岁的时候, 将煤矿技术引进到太阳山, 太阳山有了电, 有了深井, 村里租下洗煤厂, 掘到改革开放后的第一桶金。另一个故事是以赵小平为代表的一群既将表哥李明视为偶像, 又将他当做“憎恶”对象的年轻一辈人。“赵小平”们希望走出小地方, 到大城市发展, 追求更加理想的生活。他们羡慕表哥的成功, 但希望超越这样的生活。两代人有共同的理想, 但一代和一代的毕竟不一样。小说用赵小平们的视觉讲述自己和李明们的故事, 也用李明的视觉讲述李明和赵小平
