Nanking Store — by Macario Tiu

 



The “Nanking Store” is a short story written by Macario Tiu in 1999. The story goes deep into the complicated relationship between Peter and Linda, especially their struggles to have a child, specifically a son, to carry on the family name. Despite starting happily, their marriage gets worse due to societal and family pressures because they can't have kids. Linda faces mistreatment and isolation, even violence from her mother-in-law, making her a target in the community. Peter cheats with a Bisaya woman, leading to the birth of two sons. This causes trouble but restores Peter's reputation. After Peter dies, Linda stands up to her mother-in-law and stays in Nanking Store, going against expectations. She unexpectedly becomes pregnant, possibly by the family driver, challenging social norms. She leaves abruptly, leaving the closed store as a symbol of family issues and speculation about her child's gender.

 

The story's serious mood highlights the difficulties in the Chinese community, especially in Peter and Linda's troubled marriage, creating a sad atmosphere filled with societal pressures. It brings out a sense of sadness and emotional weight, emphasizing how challenging societal expectations can be for everyone involved. The mood makes you feel for Linda, showing the emotional toll of facing mistreatment and societal norms. The author shows the hardships in the marriage due to societal scrutiny. The narrative also aims to depict the impact of cultural norms, illustrating tough decisions and challenges in traditional communities. The author makes us think about the consequences of societal judgments, highlighting the resilience people show during tough times. Overall, the story wants to explore the complex dynamics of societal pressures and individual strength in the face of cultural expectations, encouraging us to think about the human experience in demanding environments.

 

I wouldn't suggest sharing this story with a Seventh-day Adventist school because it talks about serious and grown-up issues that might not be right for the age and feelings of the students. The story goes into details about problems in marriages, pressures from society, mistreatment, and cheating, which could be seen as too difficult and grown-up for a school. It deals with sensitive subjects like what society expects, conflicts in families, and mistreatment in traditional communities, which might not be good for a younger audience. The sad and deep feelings in the story could make students feel uneasy or confused, rather than having a positive learning experience. Also, the way adult relationships and how society works are shown in the story might not match what schools usually teach for certain ages. Because of the grown-up themes and deep emotions, this story might not be the best choice for a school that focuses on younger readers.


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