This is a family epic that spans a century. It takes the rise and fall of the "Qin" family in the north as the main line and connects the turmoil of the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, the choices made during the Anti-Japanese War, the changes after the founding of New China, and the transformation after the reform and opening up. From the first generation of the family, Mr. Qin, who made his fortune in industry, to the second generation of brothers who were divided into "protecting the family" and "saving the country" during the war, to the third generation of children struggling in the wave of planned economy and market economy, and the fourth generation of young people looking for family roots in the new era, the fate of the four generations of the Qin family is closely intertwined with the fate of the country. The novel not only depicts the ups and downs of a family, but also reflects the changes in Chinese society over the past century and the perseverance and struggle of human nature in the torrent of the times. It ultimately interprets the deep theme of "the family is like a river, the times are like the sea, and all perseverance and wandering will eventually merge into the tide of history."
