In a remote Chinese village where tradition rules and fate is believed to lie beneath the earth, Liu Ziyan, a timid yet skilled Feng Shui master, makes his living by selecting auspicious burial sites—graves said to bring fortune to the families of the dead. Yet the irony of life is sharp: while he helps others, fate plays a cruel joke when his own chosen resting place fails to bring luck to his descendants.

Through dark humor, poignant irony, and deeply human storytelling, this short novel explores not only ancient beliefs but also the raw complexities of human nature—desire, longing, betrayal, and hope.

At the heart of the tale lies Ziyan's entanglement with the beautiful yet broken Fourth Lady, trapped in a loveless marriage to the impotent Lord Yao. From forbidden desire to shared suffering, their bond grows amid violence, humiliation, and dreams of a better life. But fate is relentless: the son they long for does not become the official they hoped for—but an actor, famed only for portraying officials on stage.