The novel revolves around the protagonist, Fang Hongjian, who returns to China after failing to complete his studies in Europe. He fakes a doctoral degree to secure a teaching position and navigates through a series of comedic yet poignant social and romantic entanglements. Set against the backdrop of the tumultuous 1930s China, the story uses sharp wit and satire to explore the absurdities and complexities of traditional and modern Chinese society, as well as the human condition, through the lens of marriage, education, and familial expectations. The title metaphorically compares life and marriage to a fortress that is simultaneously under siege and difficult to escape from.

The 8730th greatest book of all time