A Lifetime of Protection

Du Yuqing is born into an old, patriarchal family that favors sons. Under the protection of her adoptive father, Third Uncle, and her older neighbor Huo Zhen, she grows up safe and healthy. Her transformation from a sheltered girl in a traditional household into an independent woman reflects the arduous struggle of modern Chinese women to break free from the constraints of the “Three Obediences and Four Virtues.” Her love with Huo Zhen transcends the conventions of their time, showing that true compatibility lies in a meeting of souls and shared ideals. Their story is about more than protecting each other: it is also about safeguarding their homeland and everyone who calls it home...