A story spanning 40 years that follows the struggles of three generations of farmers and rural cadres.
Before the reform, the people of Fengyuan village suffered from starvation in spite of the countless honors that they had received. A higher-up has been sent to conduct inspections in the village, so preparations have been made to supply each household with food and rations that will have to be returned once the inspector leaves. Young farmer Qin Xue'an is appalled at the harsh reality. He makes a trip to Anhui by chance and discovers that they have abundant harvest due to land reform. Upon his return, he immediately tries to implement the same but is detained on charges of obstructing peace and order. Fortunately, the government had soon mandated the need for reform which led to Qin Xue'an's release. In the next forty years, Fengyuan Village will undergo many groundbreaking developments.
