In the twelfth lunar month of 1979, Song Xinhuo, a discharged soldier with no prospects, returned to his hometown of Zhaosong Village, where people said, “A daughter is worth a fortune, but a daughter who marries a man from the Zhao or Song families is worth even more.” Unexpectedly, the old village party secretary took a shine to him. Braving the risk of being accused of speculation, Song Xinhuo took the lead in implementing the household responsibility system, and from then on became part of the grand historical panorama of the early years of reform and opening-up across China.
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In 1978, the college entrance examination was reinstated and China reopened to the world. The people of talent who had been building up for decades poured out all at once! Song Xinhuo, Ning Fan, Zhou Buqun, Li Haoran... soldiers returning to civilian life, university students from politically disfavored backgrounds, streetwise peddlers, highly educated people from official families... Countless people of different origins, professions, and perspectives each left their own indelible mark on this land of China, through every punch and step, every tear and smile!
In the twelfth lunar month of 1979, the young discharged soldier Song Xinhuo had already made up his mind: “We’re going to show this world our strength!”
