Youtie Ma sits on his haunches in the yard in the snow, feeding the donkey. Guiying, visiting the toilet in the yard, sees how he cares for the animal, thinking it has a better life than hers. Their families plan to marry them off and this is their introduction. Beaten as a girl, she’s incontinent and can’t have children. He’s the youngest of four brothers and – still living at home – is in the way of the next generation.
His act of kindness is the seed of mutual commitment between two mistreated and exploited people. After they’re pushed into marriage, they labour together to sustain a smallholding. They grow together and in self-esteem and confidence, though their lives are far from idyllic. This is the new capitalist China – of brusque money-making middle-rankers, new highways and cities, oversized BMW cars – bulldozing the old China of observant peasants, donkeys and scythes.
