The story of a village amidst the winds of change, with Aunt Guo a female member of the Communist Party as the center. This multi-level display of Chinese farmers of different thinking style and perplexing relationships, reflects some of the major changes in China's rural areas from land reform to the people's commune being established in this historical stage.
Hunan boy Zhu escapes from local tyrants chase, joins the Hunan troop and gets promoted soon. The superior recommends Zhu to the military school where he meets undercover CCP Cheng Kang. Zhu participates in the Northern Expedition after graduation and joins CCP later.