Lin Kong

Lin Kong is a doctor in the Chinese Army who escaped the traditional country village where he was born through his education as a doctor. By the time he graduates from college, China's Cultural Revolution is on its way, with the greatest opportunity for advancement offered within the military.

Lin's life as a doctor in a city military hospital takes him far from his home and its more traditional ways. He is not eager to return, especially after his arranged marriage to a countrywoman he is unable to love or accept. He centers his life on his career and intellectual pursuits. Lin is a kind, calm but cautious, and dispassionate man who secretly longs for more personal fulfillment but seems unable to handle the risks and emotional toll of committing to his desires. Living within a framework of political and social belief that demands sacrifice of the...