The stories in this book appeared over a period of time in the magazine Hsien-tai wen hsueh (Modern Literature), which the author and other young writers founded, edited and wrote for in Taiwan. Published in book form in 1971 under the title Taipei jen (Taipei People), the stories in this book quickly established Pai Hsien-yung as a writer with a rare combination of artistic sensibilities, technical equipment, and a deeply moral purpose.