The Sojourn Teashop by Jia Pingwa

Morning brings new and old faces to Hai Ruo?_Ts teashop. The premium leaves she sells to Xijing?_Ts high society keep the doors open, however it?_Ts her Sisterhood ?_" a dozen glamorous confidants who visit daily to share tales of love, loss and professional success ?_" that really keeps the shop running. From a returning Russian expat to a hotpot tycoon, they epitomise the new possibilities of this ancient metropolis. The group's rise in business and society is sometimes helped by Yi Guang, a noted writer with his own artistic demons. But with every deal struck and official bribed, a debt accumulates, jeopardising a hard-won but brittle autonomy. The gates of Hai?_Ts establishment help keep the choking smog of the city at bay, and inside she provides a sanctuary for the friends to express their true selves. If only the tea leaves held all the answers. Instead, it?_Ts up to the sisters to discover how far their bonds will really hold.
Binding: Hardback