At the end of the Ming Dynasty and the Change of Dynasty, the Qing army broke into the south of the Yangtze River, and the river in Qingxi Town was sealed off. A hair-cutting order shattered the centuries-old balance among the three tribes.
The scholarly Su family clings to their integrity, the Shen family speculates on water transportation to survive, and the local brave Gu family is in dire straits.
There is conflict within and outside the clan, father and son turn against each other, brothers and sisters become enemies, and lovers become alienated.
Some people died for the sake of their family name, some people had their hands stained with blood for the sake of wealth, and some people endured humiliation and lived an ignoble life for the sake of their clan.
Under the iron hooves of the Qing army, all intrigues were in vain, and love and hatred turned into ashes.
When the world is finally settled, the clear stream is still flowing eastward, the three tribes are scattered, and no one has a good death.
