Books & Beyond

Special Release: The tale of Ne Zha in "The Chinese Fairy Book"

28 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ne Zha, as told in "The Chinese Fairy Book" compiled in 1921, ultimately ascended to his place among the gods, alongside his father, Li Dsing, and his...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 50: The sing song woman 2

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ah Oi dressed as the bride to attend the wedding and helped Mag-gee to run off. But the plot unfolded with unexpected results.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 49: The sing song woman 1

09 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ah Oi, a low-ranking actress living in Chinatown in an American city, came up with a trick to help her friend Mag-gee to escape an unwanted betrothal.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 48: Tian Shan's kindred spirit 2

06 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tian Shan was caught after having a fight with Fin Fan's admirer, and was ordered to be sent back to China by local authorities. Fin Fan was determine...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 47: Tian Shan’s kindred spirit 1

02 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tian Shan was a brilliant Chinese man who took pleasure in crossing the border between the United States and Canada without customs approval. He was l...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 46: Lin John

29 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Lin John, a hard laborer in America, would never understand why his sister valued a wealthy life above her own freedom.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 45: The prize China baby

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Fin Fan took her six-month-old daughter to take part in a baby show to compete for a prize, which she hoped would make her husband proud and quit the ...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 44: The Three Souls of Ah So Nan 4

25 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Under “guidance” from his dead mother, Fou Wang realized that moving on with one’s life won’t get in the way of honoring the deceased.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 43: The Three Souls of Ah So Nan 3

22 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“Will love conquer superstition?” The question emerged when O’Yam came across Fou Wang at a temple in Chinatown in San Francisco.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 42: The Three Souls of Ah So Nan 2

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Fou Wang had been mourning his late mother for six months, during which O’Yam was pressured by her father to marry another man.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 41: The Three Souls of Ah So Nan 1

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Following the death of Ah So Nan, Fou Wang, a young fisherman living in San Francisco, decided to dedicate three years to mourning his mother and isol...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 40: The God of Restoration 2

15 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Koan-lo the Second was unwilling to give up his lover Sie and claimed that he was the man she was to marry. His lie hurt both his elderly brother and ...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 39: The God of Restoration 1

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Koan-lo the Second, a poor Chinese young man, came to pick up the wife-to-be of his elder brother who was a wealthy businessman in San Francisco. Yet ...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 38: The smuggling of Tie Co

11 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jack Fabian, a smuggler, was puzzled why a China “man” who had built a life in Canada would choose to leave everything behind and ask for his assi...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 37: The Chinese Lily

08 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Following the death of her parents, Mermei had no one to talk to but her brother in Chinatown in San Francisco, until the arrival of another Chinese g...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 36: In the land of the free 4

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The couple finally received the paper to claim their son back. Yet after a 10-month separation, the baby could no longer recognize his own parents.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 35: In the land of the free 3

04 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Five months after the baby boy was taken away from his Chinese parents, an American lawyer offered to travel to Washington to help the poor couple tak...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 34: In the land of the free 2

01 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It became a long and torturing day for Lae Choo during which she waited for her baby boy to be returned to her.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 33: In the land of the free 1

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hom Hing, a Chinese merchant based in San Francisco, could do nothing while witnessing his two-year-old son being taken away by an American customs of...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 32: The Americanizing of Pau Tsu 4

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Wan Lin Fo expected Pau Tsu to become an Americanized woman within a few months. Such an unreasonable request came from his unconscious admiration for...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 31: The Americanizing of Pau Tsu 3

25 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The feeling of being torn apart between two cultures reached a peak for Pau Tsu after she received treatment from a male American doctor upon her husb...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 30: The Americanizing of Pau Tsu 2

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Pau Tsu willed herself into adapting to the way of living in America for the sake of her fiancé.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 29: The Americanizing of Pau Tsu 1

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Wan Lin Fo, a young successful Chinese merchant based in Seattle, looked forward to reuniting with his fiancée, who he hoped would embrace the Americ...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 28: Her Chinese husband

18 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Minnie lived a blessed and joyful life with her Chinese husband Liu Kanghi. Yet it all came to an end when Liu Kanghi was shot in the head, becoming a...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 27: The story of a white woman who married a Chinese 2

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After divorcing her husband, Minnie went through a tough time living with poverty, sickness, and pressure from her friends. Exhausted both physically ...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 26: The story of one white woman who married a Chinese 1

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Minnie enjoyed the life of taking care of her husband and baby at home. But, her husband who claimed to be concerned about women’s rights and social...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 25: The gift of Little Me 4

11 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Little Me’s baby brother was later found at Miss McLeod’s house, which almost led to a misunderstanding that the white teacher had deliberately st...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 24: The gift of Little Me 3

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Miss McLeod, the American teacher, joined the search of the younger brother of Little Me.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 23: The gift of Little Me 2

04 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On the second day of the Chinese New Year, the younger brother of Little Me went missing.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 22: The gift of Little Me 1

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Little Me, the son of a Chinese workman in Chinatown, was depressed for not being able to offer valuable gifts to his teacher before the Chinese New Y...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 21: “Its wavering image” 4

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In confronting Pan, Mark Carson tried to justify his article by claiming that the way of living in Chinatown was superstitious and worthless. And Pan,...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 20: “Its wavering image” 3

23 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The reporter took advantage of his relationship with Pan, exposing the private lives and secrets of the residents in Chinatown.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 19: “Its wavering image” 2

20 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Carson was welcomed in Chinatown because of his friendship with Pan, the half-Chinese girl who was born and raised there. During their time toget...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 18: “Its wavering image” 1

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Carson, the young American reporter, ventured into Chinatown to look for some anecdotes. There he met Pan, a half white, half Chinese girl.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 17: The wisdom of the new 7

16 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

No one quite knew how hard Pau Lin was trying to shield her son from the Americanized way of living, until the little boy’s life was taken by his ow...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 16: The wisdom of the new 6

13 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In talking with Wou Sankwei, Adah Charlton realized the cause of the marital crisis between the couple: Wou Sankwei had embraced the Americanized way ...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 15: The wisdom of the new 5

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On her trip to Chinatown for the Mid-Autumn Festival, Adah Charlton figured out why Pau Lin’s husband Wou Sankwei had a special feeling for her.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 14: The wisdom of the new 4

09 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Pau Lin, the wife of Wou Sankwei, could sense the different attitude her husband held towards one young America lady whom he had known for 7 years. It...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 13: The wisdom of the new 3

06 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Though living in America, Wou Sankwei’s wife lived with traditional Chinese values that were expected from a “decent” woman in the 20th century.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 12: The wisdom of the new 2

04 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After 7 years of hard work, Wou Sankwei finally built his life in San Francisco, and became known as a successful businessman. He considered it time t...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance Episode 11: The wisdom of the new 1

02 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Wou Sankwei, the son of a late Chinese official, decided to travel to America to pursue his own dreams.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance EP10: The inferior woman 6

30 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mary Carman showed up at Alice Winthrop’s doorstep, expressing her willingness to take Alice as her daughter-in-law.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance EP9: The inferior woman 5

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After learning about the life of Alice Winthrop, Mary Carman dropped her prejudice against the lady her son hearted and was convinced that though havi...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance EP8: The inferior woman 4

26 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The argument between Miss Evebrook and her mother revealed the history of Alice Winthrop, the lady Will Carman hearted.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance EP7: The inferior woman 3

23 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Though commercially successful, Mr. Spring Fragrance can’t help but feel underappreciated and inferior now and then, for lack of academic achievemen...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance EP6: The inferior woman 2

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Will Carman proposed to his girlfriend, but his proposal was not received with pleasure. “I cannot marry you while your mother sees me as beneath yo...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance EP5: The inferior woman 1

19 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Will Carman was debating whether to introduce his girlfriend to his mother, who preferred another lady to be her future daughter-in-law.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance EP4: Mrs. Spring Fragrance 4

16 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The young man that Mr. Spring Fragrance had mistaken as his wife’s potential affair turned out to be Laura’s former fiancé. Mr. Spring Fragrance ...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance EP3: Mrs. Spring Fragrance 3

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Upon receiving a letter from his wife, Mr. Spring Fragrance was henceforth bothered by the thought that his wife might have fallen for another man.

Mrs. Spring Fragrance EP2: Mrs. Spring Fragrance 2

12 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

During her visit to San Francisco, Mrs. Spring Fragrance wrote two letters, one to her husband asking for an extension of her stay in the city, and th...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance EP1: Mrs. Spring Fragrance 1

09 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After moving to America with her husband five years ago, Mrs. Spring Fragrance, the wife of a Chinese merchant, mastered English and the way of thinki...

Mrs. Spring Fragrance: A note from our narrator

09 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Let's hear how Manling, the narrator of this audiobook, introduces Mrs. Spring Fragrance!

Mrs. Spring Fragrance: Trailer

02 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Follow the journey of Mrs. Spring Fragrance and witness the struggles and fights of those living on a rapidly changing exotic land, while holding on t...

Tales of Chinese Children EP28: The crocodile pagoda

02 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Little Choy was envious of her elder sister's present, and started a hunger strike to vent her anger. To talk some sense into the little girl, Choy's ...

Tales of Chinese Children EP27: Pat and Pan 3

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After Pat, the little white boy, turned eight, he was taken away from his foster family, and sent to an American couple, so that he could be raised as...

Tales of Chinese Children EP26: Pat and Pan 2

29 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With the request of Anna Harrison, the white lady, Pat, the white boy joined the school with his sister Pan, who was a Chinese. They were quite close ...

Tales of Chinese Children EP25: Pat and Pan 1

26 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On the street of a Chinatown in America, a white lady came across a little white boy, who was raised by a Chinese family, and spoke only Chinese.

Tales of Chinese Children EP24: A Chinese boy-girl 2

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Out of guilt, the young teacher Miss Mason wanted to stop the order from being carried out. So she went to have a conversation with Ku Yum's father ab...

Tales of Chinese Children EP23: A Chinese boy-girl 1

22 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In a Los Angeles Chinatown school, a young American teacher felt the obligation to interfere in the life of a smart yet undisciplined Chinese girl Ku ...

Tales of Chinese Children EP22: The Little Fat One

19 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Lee Chu and Lee Yen had run to the beach on their way to school. But at the end of the day, they were not punished for they had brought home some fine...

Tales of Chinese Children EP21: Misunderstood

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ku Yum wanted to amuse her new-born brother, by feeding him some snacks and soaking his feet in mud water. It all went well, until Ku Yum's parents ca...

Tales of Chinese Children EP20: The merry blind-man

15 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ah Yen felt bad for his scalded finger. Despite the lovely weather and chirping birds, Ah Yen was sad and sour, until a blind man with a bright spirit...

Tales of Chinese Children EP19: The inferior man

12 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Three-year-old Ku Yum followed her father into the classroom, and hid under the teacher's desk. She carried candies with a strong smell, which later l...

Tales of Chinese Children EP18: The candy that is not sweet

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Enticed by the street vendor's candy, Yen took some money without telling his napping grandfather. But the treats did not turn out to be so sweet and ...

Tales of Chinese Children EP17: The heart's desire

08 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nothing can cheer up Li Chung O'Yam, not luxurious dresses, lavish meals, nor sweet lullabies, not even her parents or brother. The little girl was pi...

Tales of Chinese Children EP16: The deceptive mat

05 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tsin Yen consented to a man's request of spreading a mat in his father's yard without giving it a second thought. To Yen's surprise, the mat was enorm...

Tales of Chinese Children EP15: Glad Yen

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Yen was cheerful seeing the blue sky, the lively bugs, and the blooming flowers. Yen cherished these bright and beautiful things that some might not e...

Tales of Chinese Children EP14: The dreams that failed

01 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Two farm boys were dreaming about their future glories, one becoming a great general and the other a poet. They were on their way to the market where ...

Tales of Chinese Children EP13: The garments of the fairies

28 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A lovely story that a mother told her children, explaining why fairies were invisible to humans' eyes.

Tales of Chinese Children EP12: The wild man and the gentle boy

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

"I would like to eat you." A boy said calmly to a man, which scared the man into a piece of petrified statue.

Tales of Chinese Children EP11: What about the cat?

24 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The little princess had meant to play tricks on her servants by inquiring the whereabouts of her pet cat, all the while keeping the little animal up h...

Tales of Chinese Children EP10: The story of a little Chinese seabird

21 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What kind of future awaits a seabird with a broken wing? And how will she be able to keep up with her family?

Tales of Chinese Children EP9: The banishment of Ming and Mai 2

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The animals bid farewell to the children after the charge against Ming and Mai's relative was dropped, and they were later brought home by their uncle...

Tales of Chinese Children EP8: The banishment of Ming and Mai 1

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Two children Ming and Mai were exiled to a wild forest after one of their relatives had been claimed to have broken the law. All by themselves, Ming a...

Tales of Chinese Children EP7: Children of peace 5

14 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The prayers of Liu Venti and Pau Tsu were answered. They received a letter of forgiveness from their parents.

Tales of Chinese Children EP6: Children of peace 4

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The twins went missing. To find the boys, the two grandfathers took an adventure in a haunted forest. On the search, the two men were moved by the aff...

Tales of Chinese Children EP5: Children of peace 3

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The twin sons Little Waking Eyes and Little Sleepy Eyes were taken very good care of by their grandparents in China. Still, they started to miss their...

Tales of Chinese Children EP4: Children of peace 2

07 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After three years of marriage, Liu Venti and Pau Tsu welcomed their twin sons, both naughty and heart meltingly adorable. The boys revived the couple'...

Tales of Chinese Children EP3: Children of peace 1

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Lovebirds Liu Venti and Pau Tsu decided to continue their relationship despite the disapproval from their parents. Though born and raised in tradition...

Tales of Chinese Children EP2: The peacock lantern

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A little boy Ah Wing laid his eye on a delicate peacock lantern sold at a street stall. He wanted to buy it, but to his surprise, the lantern maker tu...

Tales of Chinese Children EP1: The silver leaves

01 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A little girl named Ah Leen collected some sparkling green leaves in the wild as a gift for her baby brother, who was about to have his hair shaved fo...

Tales of Chinese Children: Trailer

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Will innocent children be left feeling sad? How will they navigate the complexities of being misunderstood? And will love ever triumph hate?This Child...

The Mother EP82: Finale - A newborn hope

18 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

While the mother is still weeping, her elder son runs to her with the news that his son, the grandson the mother has always dreamed of having, has arr...

The Mother EP81: Weep for her life

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

They arrive back home after the execution later that morning, and the mother asks her elder son to take her out behind the hamlet to the old grave to ...

The Mother EP80: The Execution 2

11 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When the young prisoners are brought out, the mother spots her younger son in the crowd and rushes toward him. But he is tied to another bold young wo...

The Mother EP79: The Execution 1

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The mother decides to go to town and witness for herself her younger son's execution. Her elder son and the cousin's son are with her and they wait to...

The Mother EP78: He who must die 2

04 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In desperation, the mother talks about trading their land for more money to save the younger son, still thinking that money is the issue and the jail ...

The Mother EP77: He who must die 1

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The elder son and his cousin relate to the mother all that they saw and heard in town earlier that day.

The Mother EP76: “My son has never committed any crime!”

28 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The elder son finally returns at sunset. Even with all the money he offered to the jail keeper, he fails to bring his little brother out or even see h...

The Mother EP75: Waiting in agony

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The mother sends her elder son to town with all the money they have to bail the younger son out of jail. As the mother wallows in sorrow, her cousin a...

The Mother EP74: What happened to my son?

21 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The mother's quiet morning is shattered when her cousin's son arrives to tell them that he saw her younger son in town this morning, captured and marc...

The Mother EP73: Two sorrows to bear

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The mother's day is brightened by the news that her elder son's wife is now expecting a child. However, she can't help but feel a new level of anxiety...

The Mother EP72: “Mother, you will have a grandson.”

14 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The younger son does not return until a month later and the mother could do nothing but wait in silence with the bag hidden under her bed. This day, h...

The Mother EP71: “In three days, mother!”

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

One night when the moonlight is faint, the younger son returns home again, but with two young men dressed in black clothes like him and were all quiet...

The Mother EP70: The mother's small store of love

07 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

But the mother sees no fault in her younger son at all, only comfort and solace, despite his harsh words against his elder brother. Each of his visits...

The Mother EP69: "Oh, I will be back again."

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

From time to time, the younger son comes to visit and brings both hope and disappointment to the mother. His carefree nature has changed, and his fier...

The Mother EP68: “There are so many things worse than death”

31 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the aftermath of her daughter's passing, the mother faces the ebb and flow of her own struggles. The compassionate support of her neighbors and cou...

The Mother EP67: Aftermath of the loss

28 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Distraught with her weariness, the mother and her younger son come back to their home. The villagers of the hamlet gather to comfort her, but nothing ...

The Mother EP66: Alas! She has just died today

24 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The mother and her son finally arrive at the blind daughter's new home in the harsh mountains, only to be met with her dead body. Her husband’s fami...

The Mother EP65: We will take her home

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As the mother and her younger son travel closer to her blind daughter’s new home, she notices the once lovely view of hills changing into stony and ...