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Based on the novel of the same name by Yu Hua. Fu Gui (Ge You) is addicted to gambling. His wife Jia Zhen (Gong Li) repeatedly tries to dissuade him, but to no avail. Eventually, she leaves him with their daughter Feng Xia. That night, Fu Gui loses all the family's wealth and his father dies of anger. He is forced to rent a dilapidated house and make a living by selling his mother's jewelry. A year later, Jia Zhen returns home with Feng Xia and their newborn son You Qing. Fu Gui reforms himself and begins to live a peaceful life by performing shadow plays. However, good fortune does not last. During the civil war, Fu Gui is conscripted by the Nationalist Party to work as a laborer. After a series of hardships, he finally returns home to reunite with his family. Unfortunately, Feng Xia becomes mute due to illness. Later, during the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, although Fu Gui experiences some small joys, adversity continues to follow him like a shadow.