Biting satire of a ridiculous regime. Peasants are crushed by greedy officials, backstabbing neighbors and family. the only way you can get ahead is by cheating others. This book is about a scheme where the gov. tried to get lots of villages to sell their blood. Along the way many unscrupulous people found a way to profit from the peasants dying of AIDS. There is a lot of dark humor and sarcasm so don't think this tale is all doom and gloom. This book is banned in China for a reason, it shows the result of the inhumane system that reigns over the villages who are just trying to live, get married, and have children.