Childhood friends Hu Yanming, Lu Congwen, Shu Guifa, Nong Jifu, Wang Haisheng, and the others were all born in a remote mountain village. Growing up in hardship, they fought against their circumstances to change their fates. When China’s reform and opening-up took off, they seized the opportunity, studied hard, and got into colleges and vocational schools. They stood on their own two feet, paying their living expenses through work-study programs. They scrimped and saved, struggling to support their younger siblings through school. Like lamps glowing in the night, they lit the way for those who followed. As fellow villagers bound by deep homesickness, they looked after and supported one another, moving forward together. Guided by their eldest brother, they each weathered a difficult, winding road, with their own share of hardship and happiness. Though life had deceived them, though they had walked through the dark and lost their way, they were never swallowed by the shadows.
Hu Yanming was expelled for having more children than allowed. Making a life against the odds, he founded a chain of Xiaoboxue tutoring centers. Through hard work, Lu Congwen became a doctoral adviser, Shu Guifa became a bank manager, Nong Jifu became an outstanding teacher, and Wang Haisheng became a business owner.
After achieving some success, the childhood friends set out to transform their lives, shifting their focus from material pursuits to spiritual fulfillment. The older ones are all doing their best to help their siblings find their own paths to the same destination, and walk together toward a brighter place!
