This was a very detailed memoir that spans generations. In 1921, Kwong Shuin Ji, the eldest son was ordered by his father to leave their ancestral home in semi-feudal China for the West to save the family from starvation in the civil wars that erupted following the fall of the Last Emperor of China. He was only 22 at the time.

Kwong arrived in Liverpool and that's when his hardship began. Although he is able to find work with his uncle, he is still an illegal immigrant. He is constantly living in fear and hides whenever the authorities came. Shortly after, he fled Liverpool and moved into a small town to begin starting his laundry business with all his hard-earned money. His family in China urged him to get married and even set up a marriage for him. Bounded by his family duties, he ignored his true feelings and married a girl his mother had chosen. Was there love between the two?

On top of that, Kwong felt burdened by his duty and obligation to his family in China as he is struggling to feed his ever growing family. Even then, he never shrugged away from his family duties and tried to send money back to his family in China while he makes end meet here. As Kwong grew older, he learned what it is like to be a father and husband. he taught his children the same way his father had taught him but that doesn't always end up well as times are changing.

This story is narrated by his eldest son, Francis, who struggled the most in understanding his father and vice versa. Kwong was also very strict with him as Francis is burdened with the role of being the eldest son. Kwong wanted him to understand the importance duty and obligations to the family and pass down what he had learned. Alas, things doesn't always work out the way he wanted. As Francis uncovered a secret his father had buried with him, he looked back on his father's life and began to understand all that his father had endured and sacrificed.

This was a very eye-opening read for me filled with hardship and sacrifices. Thank you Netgalley and The Book Guild for the arc.