Three generations of the Shen family lived under one roof, making them the envy of everyone for miles around.
The father, Yingfa, was a fine, strapping man with a spine as straight as a mountain, never losing his nerve when trouble arose. The mother, Kelan, was meticulous and kept the whole family close-knit.
Their two sons, Yingping and Yinghao, were devoted brothers. Whenever one household fell on hard times, the other was always the first to step in.
After the elder brother's wife, Liaoniang, joined the family, she and the younger sister, Jiao'er, never once quarreled. They were closer than sisters, able to huddle together to warm their feet or shoulder the family's troubles side by side.
Aunt Jiao'er was easy on the eyes, gentle in nature but strong-willed, and the apple of the whole family's eye.
Then the town's tyrannical landlord set his sights on Jiao'er, determined to claim her and tear their happy family apart.
Faced with his power, Yingfa slammed the table and stood up. Kelan protected her daughter, eyes red. Yingping and Yinghao gritted their teeth and stood in the way. Liaoniang embroidered shoes through the night to raise money, while standing shoulder to shoulder with Jiao'er, refusing to back down.
And Zhang Heng, the boy next door who had grown up with Jiao'er, had finally outgrown his boyish awkwardness.
He wasn't a man of many words, but he had an irresistible dependability, like a lamp in the dark, standing firm in front of Jiao'er to protect her.
"Don't be afraid, Jiao'er. If the sky falls, I'll hold it up."
This is the story of ordinary people who fought to protect their family and dignity, carving out a path to survival through the mud.
