Jingmei, an educated youth from the provincial capital who jumped into the queue in Dalishu Village, northern Shaanxi, became pregnant unmarried. When she jumped into the river and killed herself, she was rescued by Mancang. The child’s father Qiu Jianming was missing. When he was about to collapse, Man Cang came forward and married Jingmei, taking the responsibility of taking care of Jingmei's mother and son. In order to realize Jingmei's wish to go to university, Mancang lives in the country with his unrelated children.

在陕北大梨树村插队的省城女知青景梅未婚先孕，跳河自尽时遇满仓舍身相救，孩子的父亲邱建明不知所踪，景梅被知青排长葛红等人审问得几近崩溃的时候，满仓挺身而出，与景梅成亲，担下了照顾景梅母子的责任。为了实现景梅上大学的心愿，满仓带着没有血缘关系的孩子满河在乡下生活。满河的一次任性意外救了父亲满仓的命，父子俩许下承诺，永不分离，满河正式融进了满仓的生命。满仓娘去世后，为了家人团聚，满仓带着孩子进城开始全新的生活。丈母娘的百般刁难没有打垮满仓，妻子的情感变化虽让满仓伤心但他却并无怨恨。为了妻子景梅和儿子满河，这个朴实的小伙子用自己勤劳的双手、善良的内心和积极向上的心态让生活出现了转机。最终挽回了妻子，得到了丈母娘的认可，一家人过上了幸福的生活 。

Jingmei, uma jovem instruída da capital provincial que entrou na fila na vila de Dalishu, no norte de Shaanxi, engravidou solteira. Quando ela pulou no rio e se matou, foi resgatada por Mancang. O pai da criança, Qiu Jianming, estava desaparecido. Quando estava prestes a desmaiar, Man Cang se apresentou e se casou com Jingmei, assumindo a responsabilidade de cuidar da mãe e do filho de Jingmei. Para realizar o desejo de Jingmei de ir para a universidade, Mancang mora no campo com seus filhos não aparentados.