Stories of Beijing Western Suburbs is the latest collection of short stories by Xu Zechen, who was the first winner of the Mao Dun Literature Prize that was born in the 1970s. The book includes nine short stories, including On the Roof, Wheels Are Round, Six-eared Macaque, Coming of Age, Invisible City, Dog Barking for a Day, Prince of Morocco, If Heavy Snow Blocks up the Door, and Brothers. The threads of the stories are concentrated, outlining the living conditions of a group of young people, namely Xingjian, Miluo, Muyu, and Bolai, who came to Beijing from Huajie. These young people rushed into Beijing with a common dream: pursuing a better life and true love in the metropolis. Although they are struggling to survive in the western suburbs of Beijing, they remain enthusiastic. Facing the unknown future, although they are confused and bewildered, they never succumb to reality. This is a song for idealism, for ordinary people who leave their hometowns for distant cities.