Good vs. Evil

While one may assume "Sour Sweet" by Timothy Mo had gotten its title from the Chinese food that comes up repeatedly throughout the book, but I believe it to be deeper than that and I'm going to take the "path less taken" in exploring the true meaning behind Mo's choice. After all, is literary works nothing ever means what it actually says. When is a novel ever straightforward? There's always a deeper meaning. On that "English-teacher" note, onward we go…

 By choosing this title, I believe that Mo is comparing the Triad and the Chen family to each other. While both are Chinese immigrants who relocated to England and started their own family business, the Triad goes about their new life selling drugs and acting aggressively towards competitors. The Chen family is peaceful and runs a successful restaurant business where they serve their "sweet and sour" Chinese food. While their competitors may frustrate them, they don't attempt to solve their problems with them through confrontational actions. I deduce that Mo is saying that the Triad is the Chinese immigrant gone sour and down the wrong path, while the Chen family is the thriving, sweet immigrant family.