Encounter of kindness during a time of brutality

The use of a blanket plays the centerpiece in sharing a touching tale that takes place during a war, Zhang Kun reports.

The Shanghai Ballet's new production of Lily will premiere at the Shanghai Grand Theatre on July 18. Lily, adapted from a short story of the same title by veteran writer Ru Zhijuan (1925-98), depicts a young military nurse's brief encounter with a soldier and a rural woman during a mission to borrow blankets from villagers during the War of Liberation (1946-49).

This year marks the centennial celebration of Ru's birth, and the ballet production will serve as "an important gift to my mother", says Wang Anyi, Ru's daughter and also a revered writer.

Wang adapted the story into a ballet at the request of Xin Lili, the artistic director of the Shanghai Ballet.