This story is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental. Born during the Cultural Revolution, the protagonist grows up through the era of communal canteens and the policies of reform and opening up. His life takes him from youthful ignorance to a maturity softened by experience. An ordinary man experiences extraordinary events, and hope runs through the entire story. Volume One, 1970–1990: A history of the protagonist Zhao Hongfei and his friends as they grow up, from newborns and children to primary and middle school, then into the working world. 1991–2021: The workplace and society, marriage and family, love and hate.
