The story takes place on the eve of the War of Resistance Against Japan. Hai Mao, a young man who makes a living telling fortunes and begging, has a tragic past. His parents came from the Wu and Zhao clans of Hutou Bay, but the two families had been feuding for generations over their competing yangge dances and refused to intermarry. Any child born of an illicit affair was supposed to be drowned at sea. His parents sacrificed themselves to save him, and by a twist of fate, Hai Mao survived. While making his way through the world, he returns to Hutou Bay, stirring up a long-dormant conflict and forging a deep bond with two young women, Wu Ruoyun and Zhao Xiangyue. Swept along by the tides of the times, Hai Mao joins the revolutionary ranks after being introduced by Wang Tiankai, a Communist Party member. This man at the forefront of his era ultimately brings the Wu and Zhao families around and swears brotherhood with the pirate Black Shark, joining forces to fight the Japanese invaders.
This is the legendary struggle of an unyielding nation.
