Excerpt from The Eye of Jade by Diane Wei Liang, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

"I hope the weekend won't­ be as hot," Gupin said as they walked out of the building. His military bag bounced over his shoulder. "Are you doing anything special?"

"A picnic in the Old Summer Palace."

"Going so far for a picnic?"

"It's my university class reunion."

Outside, the sunshine was hazy and the air thick as syrup. The two of them said goodbye and parted, Gupin heading to a young aspen tree to which he had chained his Flying Pigeon bicycle and Mei to her two-­door Mitsubishi, parked under an ancient oak tree.

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