This book is composed of multiple short stories that highlight China’s peculiar relationship with the American dollar with regard to sex, family and awkward, unspoken social expectations. For example, the title story involves a young man’s quest to use his paltry life savings to pay for a prostitute for his father, with whom he is not especially close.

Typical imagery often used to underscore Chinese writing could not be used (e.g., images of Mao). We had to strike a particular balance between China, money and a little perversity.

The use of type and visual imagery reflects the content and juxtaposition of the two cultures.