Before the粉碎 of the "Gang of Four", in the winter of 1975, Shuai Zi, a 1968-educated youth sent to the countryside, got into trouble: due to the cultural poverty and thirst of that era, Shuai Zi secretly read Stendhal's "The Red and The Black" and gave speeches everywhere. He was caught as a typical case by the commune, and the newly arrived team leader Niu Xianhua was responsible for his education. Niu Xianhua was honest and simple, known throughout the county as an "iron girl". In the process of educating Shuai Zi, this world-famous novel brought the two closer together. Shuai Zi's versatility and mischievous straightforwardness left a deep impression on Niu Xianhua. Their yearning for culture opened their closed hearts...
Niu Xianhua made every effort to protect Shuai Zi carefully. Although she liked him very much, for his future, so that he could smoothly return to the city and reunite with his parents, she buried her feelings deep in her heart. Until Shuai Zi was seriously injured while rescuing collective property, and because Shuai Zi's parents had problems and couldn't take care of their son, Niu Xianhua resolutely took Shuai Zi home and took good care of him until he recovered. Only then did Niu Xianhua tell Shuai Zi everything. Shuai Zi also felt her simple and noble qualities during this serious illness, and decided to marry Niu Xianhua.
After the complete smashing of the "Gang of Four", the college entrance examination was restored. Encouraged by Niu Xianhua, Shuai Zi, who already had two daughters, successfully entered a key university with excellent results. Shuai Zi once again felt Niu Xianhua's sincere affection. For the sake of this family, for Niu Xianhua, he decided not to go to university and to face life's difficulties together with Niu Xianhua.
Shuai Zi returned to the city with Niu Xianhua and their two daughters, back to his parents' side. The spring breeze of reform and opening up spread across the land. Shuai Zi resigned and went into business, experiencing many ups and downs. Finally, he went south to Guangzhou and disappeared without a trace. Niu Xianhua lost her husband and had to raise her two daughters and her sick father-in-law and mother-in-law. She waited for Shuai Zi all the time and bore the heavy burden of life. Despite such hardships, Niu Xianhua wiped away her tears and faced life with a smile: she ran street stalls, did small businesses in Northeast China, sold sunflower seeds and cigarettes in teahouses, and even told jokes... Eventually, Niu Xianhua succeeded and opened a company of considerable scale.
In a long emotional wait, Niu Xianhua wanted to wait for a result: whether Shuai Zi was alive or dead? If alive, he must give her a reason. Finally, she knew that Shuai Zi had returned to this city. Niu Xianhua was angry and searched everywhere for Shuai Zi, wanting to take revenge on this ungrateful man! Finally, she found Shuai Zi's company, but Shuai Zi would never show up. Niu Xianhua secretly competed with Shuai Zi, determined to completely destroy Shuai Zi's company. All three thrilling competitions ended with Niu Xianhua's victory, and she finally let off some steam.
Niu Xianhua pursued Shuai Zi while she was dizzy, ignoring Shuai Zi's advice on the phone, and got involved in a lawsuit with Shuai Zi's company, but she held out stubbornly. When Niu Xianhua was about to lose and be completely ruined, Shuai Zi's company mysteriously withdrew the lawsuit. Niu Xianhua then realized that it was all done by Shuai Zi. And the three previous victories against Shuai Zi's company were due to Shuai Zi's deliberate concession. Shuai Zi wanted to use this way to atone for his sins...
Shuai Zi disappeared. Niu Xianhua felt inexplicable loss. It turned out that Shuai Zi had been suffering from a terminal illness and had lost his eyesight. Niu Xianhua couldn't find Shuai Zi, but received huge sums of money sent to her. It turned out that Shuai Zi had sold all his assets and came alone to a seaside cabin to spend his last days...
After great hardship, Niu Xianhua found Shuai Zi, who was suffering from a terminal illness and had lost his eyesight, in a seaside cabin. Niu Xianhua didn't disturb him, she pretended to be a mute nanny to take care of Shuai Zi while raising funds for his treatment, keeping him in this world... One was blind, one couldn't speak, the scene was deeply moving, making people cry. Niu Xianhua sold all her assets to prolong Shuai Zi's life, and Shuai Zi quietly developed a strong desire for life...
Finally, Shuai Zi realized that the mute nanny in front of him was his abandoned wife. Ashamed to face her, he quietly left her again. When Shuai Zi sat in a wheelchair and walked into a quiet forest, he suddenly heard the familiar melody of "The North Wind Blows". That was the secret signal when they were in love in the mountain village years ago! Shuai Zi couldn't hold back his tears. He felt a warm body embrace him, and heard a stern order: Go home...