This book tells that on the eve of the Republic of China, the northeastern region of China became the battlefield of the Russo-Japanese War. The Japanese used poison gas against the Russians. The poison gas not only severely damaged the Russian soldiers, but also caused serious harm to the Chinese people. Yao Jiaming was one of the victims.
In order to repay Yao Jiaming's life-saving grace, the protagonist Mu Yunhe traveled all the way from Shandong to Northeast China to take over the Yao family's business. Before leaving, because he could not refuse the kindness of the old lady of the Mi family, a family friend, he accidentally arranged a baby marriage for his two sons and the two daughters of the Mi family.
Mu Yunhe's family has lived in the Northeast for twenty years. During this period, Mu Yunhe developed a sincere relationship with the dignified, talented Mrs. Yao, while the eldest son Zhiqing also developed a pure love with Yao Jiaming's daughter Wenxiu, their childhood sweethearts. But the love between father and son cannot be smooth sailing.
Many years later, the family returned to Shandong, which was a Japanese colony at the time. Many anti-Japanese comrades rose up in this land. Mu Yunhe and his two sons actively participated in the anti-Japanese struggle under the leadership of Mr. Leng, an early Communist Party member.
Over the span of fifty years, the love, hatred, and resentment of two generations of three families, and in the face of the changes of the times, everyone in the book makes their own different choices about love, faith, and pursuit.