In the 1960s, Xiao Xiao, a young educated urbanite, traveled thousands of miles from the south to the far north in response to the state’s call, heading to the Hamatang Educated Youth Station in the rural northern frontier. Together with six other young people, she waged a grueling struggle against local criminal forces. Even through years of extreme hardship, they helped the villagers transform their low-yield fields and reap a bumper harvest. They also joined the fight against once-in-a-century floods, losing several of their fellow educated youths. Alongside Zhao Gang, a fellow male educated youth, Xiao Xiao helped the farmers build fish ponds and grow prosperous. After enduring countless trials and narrowly escaping death time and again, they finally saw the dawn of the college entrance exam. With the villagers bidding them farewell, they went to the city to take the exam, ready to face the next great test of their lives…
