 1930 s China. The village of a poor family is taken over by the occupying Japanese army. One son, Zhongliang, leaves his wife and young son to join a medic group for the Chinese Army. The other son, Zhangmin goes into hiding to protect his family. The focus shifts back and forth from the brothers  parents and Zhongliang s wife and son to Zhongliang s newfound life of luxury in a town not too far away. The plight of Zhongliang s mother, his wife, Sufan and her son, Kongeson is contrasted with Zhongliang s rise in a flourishing company.