The young son of the Chinese traders' association head, who dealt with foreign merchants in the port of Guangzhou, is suddenly burdened with the responsibility of his powerful family. A latter-day Baoyu, but with far stronger sexual impulses, this son must learn to tame his libido while conducting himself prudently in Guangzhou society. This little-known novel, titled Shenlou zhi, is translated here for the first time. Published in 1804, it is the earliest novel to deal with the opium trade and is closely connected to events that occurred in Guangzhou and Huizhou just before its...