What is the main conflict in Diary of a Madman and Other Stories by Xun Lu?

This depends on the particular story. Diary of a Madman and Other Stories is a book of Xun Lu's short stories. Although some locations and characters cross over from one story to another, each story's plot is unique. What these stories do have in common is that they all take place in China in the early twentieth century and reflect Chinese culture and the norms of the day. The various plots show the relationships between various characters and how they deal with daily struggles and the politics of the day.