A vivid illustration of contemporary Chinese society. The frst realist novel from renowned Chinese writer Liu Xinwu. A novel of reality. A novel of allegory.  Pang Qi swears he’ll kill someone if he gets back onto the streets, but no one knows his target or his motive. Filled with suspense, Bay Window begins with this dramatic announcement, before slipping back into the seemingly mundane lives of a cast of characters drawn from all ranks of Chinese society: the mysterious and cunning Maye, whose wealth and power are kept secret; the robust and loyal bodyguard Pang Qi, whose transformation drives the development of the narrative; the retired engineer Xue Quji, a representative of contemporary China's intelligentsia.  Through the intimate portrayal of more than thirty characters,their struggles and the choices, they face on a daily basisthe author exposes a darkness hidden by economic development and social transformation, constructing a panoramic picture of contemporary China. Peeking through the Bay Window, we as readers are both spectators and participants of this picture.