Bold and loyal Tian Zao, played by Zhao Lusi, helps the military administration committee and the working committee catch spies. She joins the Party as an exemplary activist and takes on the duties and responsibilities of the first neighborhood committee director. She and her childhood friend Tiedan, played by Hou Minghao, support each other at work and make progress side by side.
As China enters the early years of reform and opening up, Tian Zao passes the baton of neighborhood committee director to her daughter Xiaomin, played by Cai Wenjing. Xiaomin encourages young people in the hutong to become self-employed and bravely start their own businesses, and uses her intelligence to help them solve their problems. Lin Weidong, played by Liu Huan, was among the earliest people to get rich in the early days of reform and opening up. But after his business hits a rough patch, Xiaomin inspires him to regain his confidence in life.
After the turn of the century, Tian Zao’s granddaughter Lin Yue, played by Guan Xiaotong, becomes the third neighborhood committee director. With the help of modern technology, she takes neighborhood management to a new level. Together with Ouyang Hui, played by Lin Yi, another promising young grassroots worker, she devotes herself to the renewal of the old city and gives back to the city where they grew up.
