Dongfang Dazhuang

Biodata

Background and History

Dongfang Dazhuang was returning home when he met Hu Yang, Bai Yao, and Kong Wu on the train. Unlike them, he was not an educated youth being sent to the countryside. His family had several sons; villagers later said it had incurred debts marrying off his older brothers 14 34.

Bai Yao recognized Dongfang Dazhuang and Hu Yang as the two leads of another period novel. His knowledge of that story also led him to expect the two men to develop feelings for each other 14 45.

Appearance

Dongfang Dazhuang has a large build; Bai Yao groups him with Kong Wu when suggesting that the train’s hard seats are too cramped for them 16.

Personality

Dazhuang is sociable and considerate. He chats readily with Hu Yang, offers to fetch meals for his companions, and makes practical arrangements for their journey. After accepting a dumpling from Bai Yao, he resolves to repay the food once he returns to the village 15 19 20.

He is also pragmatic about the village’s interests. He favors educated youths willing to pay for work-point shortfalls over those who would leave the village to cover their grain. The prospect of an extra share of year-end pork motivates him when he presents his plan to Zhao Jianguo 14 21.

Skills

Physical strength

• Carried Hu Yang when the newcomers grew exhausted on the road to Unity Village 23.
• Carried Hu Yang home after he sprained his ankle 38.

Practical skills

• Drove the ox cart on the journey to Unity Village 22.
• Offered to teach Hu Yang and the other newcomers to cook 33.

Relationships

• Hu Yang — A fellow traveler and one of the educated youths Dazhuang brings to Unity Village. Dazhuang carries him after his injury and helps care for him 14 38 39.
• Bai Yao — A fellow traveler who shares a dumpling with him and helps settle the dispute over Hu Yang’s injury 15 39.
• Kong Wu — A fellow traveler who helps Dazhuang fetch hot water on the train and later brings witnesses to the dispute over Hu Yang’s injury 15 38.
• Zhao Jianguo — Unity Village’s chief, whom Dazhuang addresses as uncle. Dazhuang persuades him to accept the five newcomers 21.
• Zhou Lan — A woman from the neighboring village who went on a blind date with Dazhuang. He appeared haggard afterward and called the result a long story 33 34.

Story Role

Train journey and arrival

• Invitation to Unity Village: Dazhuang describes the village’s fair leaders and flexible work arrangements to Bai Yao, Hu Yang, and Kong Wu, then invites them to settle there 14.
• Enemy agents: After the group subdues four agents, Bai Yao tells Dazhuang and Gu Yang to pick up the attackers’ daggers so they can share the credit. Dazhuang receives an equal share of the recovered money and grain tickets, along with the group’s other rewards 17.
• Travel arrangements: He advises the group to fill their water bottles, arranges guesthouse lodging, and saves bus seats for them 19 20.
• Village assignment: He persuades Zhao Jianguo to take Bai Yao, Hu Yang, Kong Wu, Gu Yang, and Jiang Rou by emphasizing their ability to pay for work-point shortfalls and their role in catching the agents 21.
• Journey home: He drives the ox cart to the post office and later carries an exhausted Hu Yang toward the village 22 23.

Life in Unity Village

• Blind date: Dazhuang goes on a blind date with Zhou Lan. The next day, she approaches the group and greets Bai Yao instead; Dazhuang follows the others away to avoid gossip 33 34.
• Hu Yang’s injury: Dazhuang carries Hu Yang home after his sprain, argues against women volunteering to care for him because of the risk of rumors, and helps explain the incident to Zhao Jianguo. The chief approves a work-point deduction for Tang Yuanyuan, whose actions led to the injury 38 39.

Trivia

• The author of the period novel Bai Yao remembers had originally considered naming Dongfang Dazhuang “Dongfang Dapao” 14.
• Dazhuang tells Bai Yao that Unity Village is a little over an hour’s walk away. The group’s journey takes nearly two and a half hours; Bai Yao suspects Dazhuang estimated the time using his own stamina 14 23.