This collection of short stories by Lu Xun, commonly considered one of the greatest writers in 20th-century China and often referred to as the father of modern Chinese literature, includes the celebrated short story, "A Madman's Diary". This short story is considered to be one of the first and most influential modern works written in vernacular Chinese. "A Madman's Diary" is an attempt by Lu Xun to describe the effects of feudal values upon the Chinese people. He uses an analogy of cannibalism to describe the way such outdated values eat away at the individual.

In addition to "A Madman's Diary", the collection also includes the following:
Remembrances of the past
Kong yiji
Medicine
Tomorrow
An unimportant affair
The story of hair
A passing storm
Hometown
Ah Q: the real story
Dragonboat festival
The white light
Some rabbits and a cat
A comedy of ducks
Village opera
New Year's sacrifice
Upstairs in a wineshop
A happy family
Soap
The eternal lamp
A warning to the people
The venerable schoolmaster Gao
The loner
Mourning the dead
Brothers
Divorce