The story of Wu Yi and Ding Zandong's growth. Following the fortunes of the Wu brothers, it unfolds as a sweeping portrait of life. The fervor of the sent-down youth, workers drenched in sweat, the work culture of government offices, the helplessness and confusion of layoffs, and the hardships and pain of finding work and laboring away from home. The struggle of building a business from the ground up, forming cliques, and officials who end up taking one another's lives. The death of humanity and the collapse of morality. Family bonds, friendship, love, and family life: tradition and reality intertwine in a portrait of a century of upheaval.
