Once upon a time, there were two friends, the Black Snake and the White Snake, and one day the White Snake fell in love with a man. The man turned out to be weak and betrayed her, and the Black Snake saved her.
Thus goes the legend, but in reality, the two friends, Jiali and Wu Fang, had vowed in childhood to choose their own path. Jiali is a renowned poetess and healer, and Wu Fang is destined to be a surgeon, the first woman in China. Both were fortunate to be raised by truly free people, living against the rules imposed on women by Chinese society in the early 20th century. However, Jiali gets married, and all their plans and dreams are threatened.
Recently widowed Charles arrives in China from England, hoping to start a new life. He is put off by the arrogance of his countrymen and befriends Chinese colleague Yanbu, his young wife Jiali, and her friend Wu Fang. Together, these four work and learn from each other — cultures and traditions blend, shatter, and transform.
But the day comes when Charles must choose between his homeland and his friends...
Lu Hong, a deep connoisseur of Chinese history, has written a novel about true friendship, self-sacrifice, quiet rebellion, and overcoming boundaries. Here, Chinese legends intertwine with "A Tale of Two Cities," and the Black Snake saves the White Snake time and again, although at what cost — this question remains open.
