Super Short Summary

To Live by Yu Hua follows the struggles of Fugui and his family through four decades of modern Chinese history. Told through an unnamed narrator, who meets Fugui while collecting folk songs, the story reveals Fugui's fall from wealth due to gambling, his conscription into the National Army, and the subsequent hardships he and his family face. Despite enduring severe losses and hardships, Fugui's resilience reflects China's perseverance through societal upheavals. The story includes sensitive topics such as illness, death, and poverty.