COLLECTION · Series · 1998

悲欢岁月

Original title

Model worker Li Zhengyue always believed that her husband, Liu Yi, had died before Liberation, and she single-handedly raised their daughter, Manqing, to become a nurse over more than a decade. Zhao Lin, a factory technician who bears a striking resemblance to Liu Yi, brings about Zhengyue's second marriage and a son, Xiaojun, but also brings her another round of suffering. Zhao Lin is devious and has been stringing along three women—Zhu Liying, Wang Ye, and Zhengyue. After marrying Zhengyue, he subjects her to every kind of abuse and plans to marry his old flame, Zhu Liying. Jinsheng, the son of Zhengyue and Liu Yi, was lost before Liberation. He was later taken in by the kind rural couple Song Changyou and Ding Guilan, and his name was changed to Song Guifu (played by Li Zonghan). The Songs doted on Guifu, always saving the best things for him, which made their two biological sons deeply jealous. Gradually, Guifu grew up. He was exceptionally filial to his adoptive parents. The Song family had always made a living by working in the coal mines. During summer vacation, Guifu wanted to dig coal and earn money alongside his father and older brothers. But Ding Guilan was firmly against it, afraid he would get hurt. Yet after Guifu kept insisting, he still went down into the mine. Before many days had passed, however, an accident occurred in the mine, and Guifu's second brother broke a leg while saving him. Guifu felt terribly guilty and swore that he would honor and care for his parents and brothers. After graduating from high school, Guifu was successfully admitted to university. The whole village felt immensely proud. By then, Guifu's eldest brother had reached the age to marry, but Song Changyou insisted that the eldest brother hand over the money to support his younger brother's schooling. Guifu's eldest brother was very unhappy, but reluctantly agreed. When Guifu learned of this, he said he would rather give up university than have his brother delay marriage. Ding Guilan was furious and would not agree to Guifu abandoning university. In the end, Guifu's eldest brother was willing to postpone his marriage for two years so that his younger brother could attend university. With the whole family urging him, Guifu finally agreed to go. After graduating from university, Guifu was assigned to work in the provincial capital, where he unexpectedly met Manqing. In the end, he finally learned that Manqing was his own sister. After obtaining his adoptive parents' consent, he was finally reunited with Li Zhengyue. Zhao Lin, having done every kind of evil, finally received the retribution he deserved. With everyone's help, Liu Yi returned from Hong Kong and found Zhengyue and their two children. Together they went to Guifu's adoptive parents' home to thank them for thirty years of raising Guifu.