The story takes place in the lively family compound of a state-owned machine-tool factory in the 1970s. After hoping and waiting for what felt like forever, the Su family finally welcomed their only daughter, Su Nianwan, after five boys. Gentle and quiet, well-read, with tender features and impeccable manners, she is a refined young lady with a scholarly air, and the beloved little treasure whom her entire family dotes on with all their hearts.
Su Nianwan has five older brothers: a steady, dependable eldest brother, a lively and funny second brother, a kindhearted, strong third brother, and twin brothers her own age. Every one of them is fiercely protective of their little sister, making spoiling her part of daily life: the best food goes to her first, the nicest things are saved for her, and all five escort her to and from school. Anyone who dares bully her will find the brothers instantly joining forces to stand up for her. The Su parents are open-minded and gentle, and their home is harmonious and loving. They dote on their daughter to the extreme: the five boys can raise themselves, but their precious girl must be cherished. The whole family compound is full of lighthearted, heartwarming antics.
Lu Shiyan, a cool and quiet boy from the military compound, is a top student. He seems aloof and hard to approach, yet he pays special attention to the gentle, refined Su Nianwan: silently setting out a stool for her, quietly reminding her about reading checks, and discreetly keeping her safe. His youthful feelings are hidden in the little things, tender yet restrained.
Su Nianwan’s growth is at the heart of the story, which depicts the simple, warm life of a family compound in the 1970s. It combines funny, affectionate sibling moments with the sweet, innocent stirrings of young love. There are no melodramatic conflicts or troublesome relatives, just a steady stream of sweetness and comfort. Modern humor blends naturally into the period setting, giving the story both a distinctive sense of its era and a contemporary reading experience.
This is a story with a plain and gentle tone. The central male and female protagonists are Su Nianwan, an engineering student, and Shi Yan, who comes from a scholarly family. The two of them were studying in the same university town, and there was no passionate and straightforward confession. Their good feelings were hidden in daily things such as studying together, traveling together, and supporting each other in their studies. They were quiet and restrained, walking in both directions. In the sub-plot, Su Jianlin and Zhou Qing stay with each other through letters and supervise each other's studies; the Su family members go about their lives of studying, scientific research, and military camps, and rely on letters to care about each other. I did not design intense conflicts, but only wrote about ordinary people's daily life. In the future, I will continue to use plain writing to record the warm daily life of the male and female protagonists getting along in summer and family reunion. I hope everyone can understand the tenderness of accompanying each other and growing together from ordinary daily life.