In the autumn of 1937, the mist and rain in the Jiangnan water town had not faded away from the warmth, but the artillery fire of the Japanese invaders had shattered the tranquility. Su Wanying, a rural female teacher, originally guarded a podium and spent her years peacefully in the fragrance of books and children's laughter. However, she suffered the devastating disaster of her home being destroyed and her relatives separated overnight. She grabbed the remaining lesson plan and embarked on a wandering escape with five terrified students.
Along the way, the flames of war engulfed the land and tortured human nature. She has seen thugs who took advantage of the chaos to plunder, and also met strangers who offered help. She has personally experienced the betrayal and sacrifice of her comrades, and has also witnessed complete strangers standing up to protect their compatriots. From a weak woman who just wanted to survive at first, to taking the initiative to take over the liaison task at the underground transportation station, using her knowledge to decipher information and her courage to rescue the wounded, Su Wanying gradually lost her cowardice and developed a tough armor in the tempering of blood and fire.
She dealt with the tight manhunt by the Japanese army and the insidious temptations of the puppet army. She also struggled with three completely different fetters - the protection of her childhood sweetheart, the entanglement of the Kuomintang officers, and the guidance of the underground party members. Every emotion was subjected to a cruel test in the face of the righteousness of the family and the country. There are no earth-shattering feats, only perseverance day after day: teaching children in the ruins, conveying hope in the dark night, and guarding conscience in desperate situations. This is a history of the growth of ordinary women during the Anti-Japanese War. It is like a tenacious flickering light among thorns, illuminating the resilience and undying hope of the Chinese people in the darkest years.
