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These four tales are based on very old stories collected and retold by Lin Yutang in Famous Chinese Short Stories, originally published in 1948. Lin wrote dozens of books in Chinese and English, and has been recognized for his witty and warm style of writing, and for bringing Chinese culture to an English-speaking audience. We have selected four of his best stories for inclusion in this book, and have retold them to appeal to modern listeners and use a limited vocabulary of just 700 different Chinese words.

These six wonderful folk tales are based on stories told by Norman Hinsdale Pitman in A Chinese Wonder Book, originally published in 1918. Pitman collected and published several collections of folk tales and other Chinese books. We have taken the liberty of retelling all six stories to be appropriate for a modern audience, and to use a limited vocabulary, most of which are in the standard 1200-word HSK4 vocabulary.

Folk tales are immensely popular in China. Passed down orally over the centuries from grandparents and parents to children, they serve as an unwritten handbook for living in society. Within every Chinese folk tale is an underlying moral message derived from one of the three major schools of spiritual thought–Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism.

Have you noticed how broken our culture of work is? For too long, leadership has been defined by the bottom line, at the outrageous expense of the humans leading and being led. Obviously, results matter. But, now more than ever, leaders need to be so much more than a boss wielding the authority of a title to produce results. The lovable leader knows that all people are capable of extraordinary things, that obstacles can empower you instead of limit you, and that your abilities combined with your choices give everyone you lead the opportunity to become a superhero.

Alliandre must win the Grand Melee, a tournament where every warrior in the realm competes for the title of Grand Champion, earning a knighthood as well, so he can marry his true love. But a rival has entered the scene, intent on ending Alliandres dream, and maybe his life. In their climactic confrontation in the Grand Melee, Alliandre must overcome his opponent and his own fiery temper.

What happens when everything falls away, when those you call on in times of need are themselves calling out for rescue? In his highly anticipated second collection, Chen Chen continues his investigation of family, both blood and chosen, examining what one inherits and what one invents, as a queer Asian American living through an era of Trump, mass shootings, and the COVID-19 pandemic.