Altar City Mantra/坛城诀

<p>The novel traces the protagonist's rise within a newspaper office alongside subplots involving colleagues classmates and townspeople-nearly seventy characters in total. Despite depicting ordinary office routines the author reveals complex social conflicts through two years of workplace changes criticizing toxic celebrity worship in the internet age. Though fictional the stories stem from common real-life experiences. Through one promotion one convention and nine dinners the narrative strings these events together in plain language. While showcasing local and bureaucratic culture it prompts readers to reflect on life humanity and morality with a touch of humor.</p><p>作品以主人公在一家报社的上升经历为主线，以同事、同窗、同乡人的发展为副线，共写了近七十个人物。报社日常工作虽无多大起伏和波澜，但作者通过两年中的人事与工作的变化，戏剧性地表现了错综复杂的社会矛盾，抨击了网络时代社会上的不良追星现象。虽然人物都是虚构，但其中的故事却是来源于生活，是司空见惯的平常事。小说通过一次晋升、一个会展活动、九次饭局，用朴素的语言把这些平常事串联在一起，在表现本土文化、官本位文化的同时，让人们在微笑中思索人生，思考人性，思辨是非。</p>