The book tells the story of Chia family, and the traditional ceremonies that accompany marriage, death, and birth. The family's peaceful life is up-ended with the Japanese invasion and the family flees to the countryside. As the country falls into turmoil, the household head, Chia Hao-tz’u is kidnapped. The family’s burdens fall on the shoulders of his wife, Tu Hua. After the long war ends, civil war breaks out. The Communists take over the mainland and confiscate the family’s property. Tu Hua makes her way south to her youngest daughter Chia Chen's home. Together, they fly to Taiwan. Tu Hua lives on the island for several decades. She returns to the mainland to her older daughter Chia Wei's home. This title is author's second story and it took author more than ten years to finish, and is loosely based on author family’s experiences during the Chinese civil war and World War II.