Since the founding of New China, many young people have answered the call to support national construction. He Changshang, accompanied by his wife Liu Meixin, left their hometown in Yangzhou’s Jiangdu, resettling in Huainan, Anhui, where they finally set down roots by the Huai River. After the three years of hardship ended, the He family finally had the chance to reunite, with Mrs. He Wen bringing her eldest granddaughter, He Jiali, by boat to join them.
In 1962 at Tianjia’an Wharf, passengers disembarked one after another, creating a bustling scene. Amidst the crowd of travelers and onlookers, He Changshang was nowhere to be seen. He was supposed to pick them up, but Liu Meixin unexpectedly went into labor, so a neighbor’s little girl, Zhang Qiufang, led the grandmother and granddaughter to the clinic.
During this reunion, He Jiali met her father, who seemed both familiar and strange, and her completely unknown younger sister, He Jiawen. He Changshang harbored some patriarchal views, believing that boys would carry on the family line, especially after his coworker Zhu Deqi predicted that Liu Meixin would give birth to a boy. When it turned out to be another girl, he was disappointed.
The always at odds with He Changshang, Old Man Tang, firmly believed He Changshang was fated never to have a son and took this opportunity to complain to Zhu Dage, who had lost his wife and had no children of his own. Zhu Dage, with his broader perspective, advised He Changshang to accept his fate and not add to his troubles.
He Wen, the mother-in-law, being very reasonable, comforted Liu Meixin with some red sugar water. Late at night, He Changshang returned home quietly and reconciled with his wife, agreeing not to rush into having a son and to focus on education for the children.
Old Man Tang was quite pleased with He Changshang’s third daughter, and mocked him at the factory. Meanwhile, He Jiali, during her first day at the new school, demonstrated martial arts, catching the attention of Tang Weimin. After school, Tang Weimin and his gang tried to bully her, but He Jiali quickly subdued Tang Weimin, dispersing the rest.
In those times, food was scarce, and meat was a luxury. He Wen prepared some pork scraps to nourish Liu Meixin post-birth, but He Jiali secretly ate them. Despite her parents’ scolding, He Wen’s gentle guidance helped ease He Jiali’s troubled heart.
Soon after, Mrs. Tang came to the He’s house causing a scene because her son was pushed by He Jiali. He Jiali tried to defend herself, but her father wanted to keep the peace, leading to He Jiali having to apologize and the family giving away precious lard, exacerbating their financial strain.
The next day, He Wen and He Jiali went foraging for wild vegetables, mixing them with flour to make cakes for a meager meal. He Changshang, understanding the ongoing issue, took his leather coat to Zhu Dage to exchange for meat coupons, who gave him his last pound of coupons.
The task of exchanging for meat fell to He Jiali while her parents worked. However, meat was rationed, and Mrs. Tang cut in line, leaving no meat for He Jiali to exchange until much later. Cleverly, He Jiali managed to get a pig’s tail instead, but her father’s offhand comment about sons being better than daughters deeply hurt her, prompting her to confront Mrs. Tang again without success.
This led He Jiali to cut her hair as a sign of her determination to protect her family, proving she was just as capable as any boy. Moved by her resolve, He Changshang took her to Zhu Dage’s boat for some snacks, and they returned home happily. He Wen was touched by He Jiali’s actions.
Fast forward to early 1965, He Jiali went fishing early one morning to provide for her family, and encountered Tang Weimin. They caught two turtles, sharing one each. However, Tang Weimin’s younger brother got bitten, bringing Mrs. Tang to accuse the He family of bourgeois behavior to the market management.
