In Liuhua Town, almost all the men thought that Lihua was the most beautiful woman in town. At twenty years old, Lihua had bright eyes, white teeth, and skin as smooth as congealed fat. Older men who saw Lihua said she was as beautiful as her mother before she passed away; young men who saw her said she was as beautiful as a movie star.
Liuhua Town is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with closed-off transportation. Modern vehicles cannot be seen on the roads. On the unpaved cobblestone streets, farmers walk alongside their plow cattle. The people have never seen a train or an airplane—big cities are very far away from them.
The busiest place in Liuhua Town is its main street, where almost all commercial activities take place.
Lihua's father, Zhang Dahai, runs a teahouse at the street entrance. In the summer when it gets hot, many people come to drink tea. Many of them actually come to see Lihua; drinking tea is just an excuse.
As they drink tea, they ask Zhang Dahai about Lihua’s marriage prospects. A girl of twenty has reached the age for marriage talk. Lihua, standing nearby, blushes like a red lotus at this talk. Marriage hasn't crossed her mind yet. She harbors other fantasies, inspired by an old photograph she found among her mother’s belongings. It showed a handsome man with an air of cultured refinement. Could this be the man her mother loved? Marrying such a man must surely bring happiness, Lihua can't help but daydream. Lihua has inherited all aspects of her mother’s character.