In 1998, inspired by the tide of reform and opening up, young farmers Kong Yu'ai, Cheng Yueshan, and others left the poor mountain villages where their families had lived for generations and headed to the capital, Beijing, to seek their fortunes, escape poverty, and change their destinies. Companies such as Huaxing Investment welcomed them. They conducted themselves with the simple, kind-hearted gratitude of people eager to repay those who had helped them. Mr. Liu, the owner of Huaxing, and his wife welcomed and supported them, educating them through the finest of Chinese thought and culture. The virtues of the countryside and the civilization of the city met, blended, and were elevated, becoming an inexhaustible source of wisdom and strength. Kong Yu'ai, Cheng Yueshan, and the others overcame one obstacle after another and found their place in the city. Huaxing's business grew and prospered, while its schemes were thwarted by unscrupulous figures in the industry. The emotional entanglements orchestrated by Guo Xiaolan, general manager of Huaxing Investment, put Kong Yu'ai and Cheng Yueshan through the ultimate test. After Guo Xiaolan was left in a vegetative state by a car accident, Kong Yu'ai healed her through an inspiring, unwavering devotion, giving up his precious life in the process. His story was a moving song for a new era. In the end, the Liu and Cheng families became one, composing a deeply moving tale.
The many vivid characters and their stories in this book depict the grand historical canvas of China's reform and opening up, as millions of farmers moved to the cities and urban and rural areas developed together. They praise the revolutionary spirit of the Chinese people, whose diligence, kindness, and perseverance enabled them to build great things, and reveal the bright prospects of national rejuvenation.
The characters are vivid and the plot is fascinating. It is a rare good book among realistic novels.