Beset with foreign threats and internal turmoil, China's concoction of woes compels its citizens to leave for Nanyang in search of a better life. When Shi Tou, manages to save enough money after years of working at a tin mine, he returns to marry his childhood sweetheart, Ya Zi. On the return trip, they cross paths with two penniless brothers, Zhang Tian Peng and Zhang Tian Ying with the former becoming Shi Tou's sworn brother out of gratitude. Framed for robbery and murder, Shi Tou is thrown behind bars while Ya Zi desperately seeks help. Feeling sympathetic towards them, Hui Niang and her stepbrother, Zhang Dong'en proves Shi Tou's innocence. When he returns back to the mine, Shi Tou is lured into a destructive spiral of gambling by his scheming boss and runs up a huge debt, while his supervisor, Hei Long lusts after Ya Zi's beauty and plots to ruin him.

　　中国面临外忧内患的混乱局面，人民被迫逃离海外。他们来到了南洋，希望能有更好的生活。石头在锡矿打工多年。他存够了钱，于是回乡迎娶青梅竹马的鸭子 。路途中，他遇上了贫穷的张天鹏 和张天鹰两兄弟。为了报恩，天鹏成了石头的结拜兄弟。

　　不久，石头被诬赖为劫匪和杀人凶手。他被关进了监牢，鸭子为了救他四处求助。出于同情，蕙娘和继兄弟张东恩证明石头的清白。石头回到矿场工作后，行为不正的老板带他步入了赌博的歪途。就这样，石头负上了一身的赌债，而他的上司黑龙垂涎鸭子的美色，于是布局陷害石头。

　　张天鹰当一名年老的草药医师的学徒，学习重要的草药学问。最后，他和兄弟创办了非常成功的医药生意。东恩的叔叔张广达为了家族生意，下毒企图谋杀东恩和他的母亲。。。。