Qin Ziheng, known in his childhood as Bao Wa'er, is the illegitimate son of Qin Ming, a man who abandoned him after discovering his wife's infidelity. Raised by his impoverished grandfather in Wande Village, Qin Ziheng endured a lonely and difficult childhood, relying on his own determination to excel academically. He skipped grades, topped provincial exams, and eventually built a lucrative career in Beijing, becoming a wealthy executive. Despite his success, he maintains a strict emotional distance from his biological parents, who only reappear when they seek financial gain. His only genuine familial bond is with his uncle Qin Liang and cousin Qin Ziwen, to whom he provides significant financial support, including funding a new house and helping resolve a workplace injury lawsuit for his uncle.
The narrative begins on Qingming Festival, with villagers gathering to witness Qin Ziheng's return from Beijing. He arrives in an expensive luxury car, dressed in a tailored suit, contrasting sharply with the rural setting. He greets his uncle and cousin warmly but ignores his father Qin Ming and stepmother Lu Meiyan, who attempt to ingratiate themselves with him. Qin Ziheng's primary motivation for returning is to sweep his grandfather's grave, a ritual he has performed every year since the old man's death. The story reveals that his grandfather died under tragic circumstances, wandering into the mountains during a rainstorm while suffering from dementia, having forgotten everything except his duty to provide for his grandson's education.
Qin Ziheng's visit is marked by acts of gratitude and remembrance. He helps clean an elderly neighbor, Grandma Liang, who is incontinent, showing no disgust despite her condition. He also gives his cousin Qin Ziwen a new smartphone and advises him on university majors. However, the underlying tension of his fractured family is evident. His father and stepmother's resentment and greed are palpable, particularly regarding the money Qin Ziheng sent to his uncle instead of them. Qin Ziheng harbors deep resentment toward his stepmother for forcing his grandfather to sell the ox he had raised for years to pay for Qin Ziheng's tuition, a act of cruelty that left his grandfather in tears.
The story takes a dramatic turn when Qin Ziheng is driving back from the grave site. While answering a phone call from an old friend, a figure suddenly darts out onto the road, causing him to swerve violently. The car rolls down a slope and crashes. As he lies injured, Qin Ziheng experiences a hallucination or vision of his grandfather carrying him on his back along their old dirt road, a poignant memory of their close bond. The narrative then abruptly shifts to a completely different setting and protagonist, introducing Mao Xiaoshu, a young man in a primitive tribe. Mao Xiaoshu is hungry and struggling to survive, highlighting his弱势 status within the tribe after coming of age. This sudden transition suggests a parallel narrative or a shift in perspective, contrasting the modern, wealthy, yet emotionally isolated Qin Ziheng with the primal, survival-driven existence of Mao Xiaoshu. The text ends with Mao Xiaoshu observing others sharing food, emphasizing his isolation and hunger.
