This novel mainly tells the story of ten students: Li Jie, Zhao Yan, Wang Li, Yang Xue, Gao Caiyun, Liu Yujun, Sun Xinlan, Zhang Yuting, Jing Jiali, and Cao Yaqi. They leave the mountains behind through the national college entrance examination, go on to study at Peking University, Tsinghua University, and the University of Science and Technology of China, start successful businesses, take the national civil service exam, and enter the workforce. They eventually step onto the social and political stage, rising through the ranks one step at a time until they join the national leadership and become senior officials. Through reading this novel, readers will understand that being an official is no easy task, and it is hard work; the world of officialdom is held together by an invisible web of connections, and without one, it is difficult to get far; rising through the ranks comes at a price, and reaching the top requires a hundredfold effort; officialdom can run in the family, as a heroic father begets a worthy son; and holding office can become addictive, with work that never ends.
