The story follows Liu Yuntian after he leaves the military and takes up a civilian post. While serving, he arrested drug traffickers Duan Mingjin and Duan Mingyin, along with their sons Duan Yu and Duan Qing, planting seeds of hatred that lead them to seek revenge against him twenty years later. At the same time, in his new post, Liu Yuntian helps his father-in-law find Hao Changqing, the man who murdered his mother-in-law. Woven through these stories are the romances of Yang Yao, Yang Yang, Dong Xi, Teng Mengmeng, and others. The novel portrays their love, hate, joys, and sorrows, as well as their pursuit of a better life. It celebrates patriotic soldiers who serve the people and remain true to their ideals even after leaving the military, as embodied by Liu Yuntian, Feng Huayi, Ouyang Kun, Liu Ye, and others.
