The Long Road Through the Mortal World

In 1932, eight-year-old orphan Zhang Yaqing begged and wandered from place to place. Ten years later, hoping to thank the benefactor who had once helped her, she set out from the county town for the Zhao family in Yushutuo. On the way, masked men suddenly tried to rob her, but two young men came to her rescue. Later, when she was once again in dire straits, Zhang Yaqing made it to the Zhao family. The lady of the house warmly took her in, and Zhang discovered that the two young men who had saved her on the road were the woman's sons. As time passed, Zhang Yaqing and the elder son, Zhao Shaohai, fell in love and married.

Before long, Zhang Yaqing recognized the village bully Lou Guangkao as the masked man who had robbed her on the road, identifying him by his voice and build. Enamored with Zhang Yaqing's beauty, Lou Guangkao broke into her home and tried to assault her, but Zhao Shaohai broke his leg. Later, Lou Guangkao's third son, Lou Wang, was stolen. Cruel and narrow-minded, Lou Guangkao accused Zhang Yaqing and Zhao Shaohai of taking the boy without a shred of evidence, then launched a vicious campaign of revenge against their family. Zhao Shaohai died with deep resentment; Zhang Yaqing was nearly killed by Lou Guangkao's second son, Lou Fu; her third daughter died by suicide; and her youngest daughter went missing.

Zhang Yaqing faced it all with courage, matching wits with Lou Guangkao through hardship, bitterness, and endless grief. When the truth finally came out, Lou Guangkao was consumed by remorse. After entrusting Zhang Yaqing with the son of Lou Fu, who had fled to another region, and Zhao Yuwei, Zhang Yaqing's lost youngest daughter, he leapt from a high-rise to his death.