There was a severe drought in Shanxi Province at the end of the Qing Dynasty. Zhang Manliang, a medicine farmer in Yedi Village, lost his beloved wife. He also witnessed the collusion between the gentry and the government to embezzle and resell relief grains, and the people were struggling to the death. He teamed up with the compassionate missionary Miller and took the risk to steal official grain to help the hungry. However, he was framed by the Wang clan and was accused by Xiao Li Shuanzhu who was forced to testify under perjury of family ties. Manliang shouldered the blame alone to protect everyone, but he still shouted in front of the owl that he wished the people could live with dignity.
Feeling guilty, Li Shuanzhu buried Manliang and dispersed his grain and money to escape. Three years later, he woke up in a wheat field and secretly united the people to resist oppression with forbearance, fulfilled Manliang's wish, and taught his spirit to his son Li Nianliang. When Nian Liang grew up, he went south to join the Xingzhong Society, passing on the fire and continuing to find a way for the people. In the West Mountain Col of Yedi Village, the tomb of Man Liang was erected in a temple by the people and worshiped as the "Lord of Grain". Although it was nameless, it was remembered for generations. The mercy of the cross is intertwined with Gu Sui's obsession for survival. In the dark and chaotic world, some people fight with death, while others persist with their lives. The glimmer of humanity has never been extinguished.
