The story is set in the Shen family courtyard in Qingxi Town. It tells the story of Lei Zhentian, Liu Ruyan, and the sisters Shen Jinghong and Shen Caiwei who lived in seclusion in the town for three years, pretending to be ordinary refugee farmers. The male protagonist works odd jobs in repair work, often drinks on credit, has a bold personality and a loud voice. After drinking, he always reminisces about his past glory in the military. He claims to be an invincible general in the northern battlefield, but he is often interrupted at key points by his wife Liu Ruyan, who hides secrets from the past that he does not want to mention. Liu Ruyan is a gentle housekeeper and good at sewing and cooking. She looks like an ordinary farmhouse woman, but in fact she is thoughtful and always hidden vigilance.
The eldest daughter, Shen Jinghong, is calm and precocious, with a clear mind and an observation ability far beyond her peers. She practices martial arts with her father and is keenly aware of the strange and evil people lurking in the town, her parents' late-night whispers, and the past topics they deliberately avoid. She has a vague sense that the family is not ordinary refugees, and that their secluded life hides unknown crises and secrets. The youngest daughter Shen Caiwei is innocent and lively, eager to go to the bustling market. She is naive and ignorant. She is full of curiosity about the reason for moving and the past hometown. She is carefree and relies on her family.
