In this sprawling， award-winning novel， celebrated Chinese writer Liu Xinwu cordially invites you to an epic， riotous， and moving neighborhood feast。

On a December morning in 1982， the courtyard of a Beijing siheyuan—a lively quadrangle of homes—begins to stir。 Auntie Xue’s son Jiyue is getting married today， and she is determined to make the day a triumph。 Despite Jiyue’s woeful ignorance in matters of the heart—and the body。 Despite a chef in training tasked with the onerous responsibility of preparing the banquet。 With a cross-generational multitude of guests， from anxious family members to a fretful bridal party—not to mention exasperating friends， interfering neighbors， and wedding crashers—what will the day ahead bring？

Set at a pivotal point after the turmoil of the Chinese Cultural Revolution， Liu Xinwu’s tale weaves together a rich tapestry of characters， intertwined lives， and stories within stories。 The Wedding Party is a touching， hilarious portrait of life in this singular city， all packed into a Beijing courtyard on a single day that manages to be both perfectly normal and utterly extraordinary at the same time。