The novel tells the story of the hardships experienced by two brothers, Li Guangtou and Song Gang, in a reconstituted family in a small town in the 1960s and 1970s and the early days of reform and opening up. The author reproduces history in an absurd way to express his criticism of the power in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as his concern for the lack of spiritual life of the people in the early days of reform and opening up, and a little human care.

该小说讲述了小镇重组家庭中的两兄弟李光头和宋钢在二十世纪六七十年代和改革开放初期所经历的种种磨难。作者以荒诞手法再现历史，是为表现对六七十年代强权的批判，以及对改革开放初期民众精神生活匮乏的担忧和些许的人性关怀。