March 1949, on the eve of liberation. Bandits were running amok in Nanxi County, burning, killing, and looting everywhere.
One night, bandits broke into Li Xi's home and ransacked the little property his family had.
When Li Xi's mother tried to take back a tiger-skin mattress, the bandits killed her. His father struggled on for several years before following his wife in death.
Still a child, Li Xi saw his grandfather, his mother, and then his father off.
After one farewell after another, the young master of a grand household became a penniless drifter, taking odd jobs wherever he could.
It was only after meeting his wife, Zhang Yunhua, that he finally found stability. He married, found work, and had children, living a life that was extraordinary, hard-earned, and happy.
