The description of the goblins as “cockroaches” and their reproductive habits—yikes. That’s some dark fantasy stuff that sets a grim tone. The author doesn’t shy away from showing how messed up the world is, and that makes the stakes feel real. I’m not reading a cozy fairy tale here.
1 The English translation (or original English?) has a certain "translation" feel to it. Phrases like "Old friend, want a cigarette?" and "You've eaten gunpowder" are direct translations from Chinese slang, and it's charming. It gives the story a unique flavor. It’s not smooth, literary English, it’s more like someone telling you a story directly. It’s rough around the edges, but that’s part of its charm.
The moment when Madam Dongyang says, "It's easier to be a good person now? It's become a crime to be a good person," she recites a Buddhist prayer. That line carries the weight of the family's philosophy: stay humble, survive the purges. The Marquis family has outlasted others by being low-key. This mindset obviously influenced Jingyun's decisions, including his marriage.