Against the backdrop of China's Cultural Revolution, sisters Lianlian (nine) and Shanshan (eight) leave the familiar comforts of home for a lodge in a Beijing suburb. Their mother must focus on their ailing father in a nearby hospital. That leaves the sisters to navigate the intricacies of daily life alone. Within the lodge's transient community, they learn self-care, the careful management of money, and the delicate art of human connection. They also witness the vulnerabilities and strengths of their fellow residents, all while diligently pursuing their education. This unexpected six-month period becomes a profound and accelerated journey into independence and self-discovery, shaping their understanding of the world and their place within it. 

This novella is based on a cut chapter from a forthcoming historical novel, The Daughter of Blue City, which follows Mother of Red Mountains and is to be released in Fall 2025.

This story happened nine (9) years after the ending of Mother of Red Mountains.