If you want to write good short stories, Lao She once observed, you have to give it everything you've got. The world will allow the existence of a very imperfect novel, but it won't be that polite with a short story. Art, after all, is not like a pig--the fatter the better.

Lao She's stories proved to be very good indeed, moving and delighting readers for many years and establishing him as a master of classic modern fiction. Thankfully we now have access to a rich collection of his short stories in superb English translations. These stories showcase the varied facets of Lao She's...