Chronicle of a Blood Merchant

In Yu Hua’s portrait of life under Chairman Mao, Xu Sanguan, a cart-pusher, augments his meager salary by frequently selling his blood. As he struggles to provide for his family during the Cultural Revolution, his visits to the blood chief become lethally frequent. When he discovers his favorite son was born of his wife’s liaison, he faces public scorn and personal indignity, yet ultimately finds strength in his family's bonds despite the regime's betrayals.