Ba Jin’s novel Family (家) is set in the large Gao household in Chengdu. Grandfather Gao is the authority of the whole family. His eldest grandson, Juexin, has absorbed new ideas but still obeys tradition.
As a young man, Juexin loves his cousin Mei. He marries Ruijue instead, because his parents have arranged it. He comes to love his wife, but he never forgets Mei.