Stories Beneath the Old Pagoda Tree

In the 1970s, in a poor mountain village, six young friends lived through a story drawn from real life. They struggled to get by, and the different fortunes of their families shaped their personalities and sent them down different paths in life...

At the center is Liu Maomao, born into a poor family, with Ruru, Gaogao, Sansheng, Liangliang, and his younger sister in supporting roles. This is their story of growing up in that era. Liu Maomao is a bright child, but with both parents disabled, he goes hungry. Gradually, he takes to stealing food, yet tries desperately to break the habit and studies hard, hoping knowledge will change his fate. But things do not go as he hopes: his father's left leg grows worse, putting his life at risk. Unable to afford treatment, Liu Maomao turns to stealing again and loses the chance to continue his studies... Sansheng has been a musical genius since childhood, but his mind seems to have forgotten mathematics. When his teacher discovers this, he throws himself into helping Sansheng recover his memory. In the backward countryside, the teacher's efforts are seen as madness, and some even accuse him of trying to swindle money. The matter is reported to the commune and the education authorities, and the teacher ends up disciplined. Gaogao's family is relatively well-off, and through hard work he gets into university. Ruru loses faith in school after her parents divorce and their family falls apart, and she drifts into life on the streets...