Li Xiaogong

Set in the 1950s, the PLA exterminates residual bandits in the Yunwushan Mountain.

After school, Xinhua Primary School was quiet until Principal Lin Zheng heard arguing between fifth-graders Hua Xiaochuan and Fang Mingzhu. Fang was supervising Hua, who was late, as he did chores. Hua’s friend Zhang Chen wanted to help, but Fang refused, causing an argument. Principal Lin believed labour as punishment was ineffective and should be replaced with work-study programs, as instructed by the municipal party committee. He assigned Hong Dawei to lead the program, but Teacher Jiang opposed it, emphasising classroom education. Despite initial resistance, students participated in tire-moving labour, training teachers, parents, and students. Three students took sick leave, fueling Teacher Jiang’s objections. Principal Lin and the academic director found some parents were overly indulgent. Secretary Liu commended their efforts and encouraged them to continue.

A steel giant

It tells the story of the winter of 1948, when the final battle to liberate Northeast China began. Thousands of farmers in the northeastern liberated areas voluntarily joined the migrant workers' brigade and headed forward in heavy snow. Tian Yongtai, who was in his fifties, rushed to the front line to lift the wounded, but the village chief could not stop him. Before setting off, he was worried about paying public food, so he asked his youngest son to drive the sledge to pick up his second daughter-in-law. The eldest daughter-in-law had a lovely son. She rushed to deliver public food and asked the second daughter-in-law to hold the child at home. The two sisters-in-law had an argument and asked their father-in-law to write a letter to Tian Erhu who was on the front line.

Xu Tianfang is a retired widow, and his son and daughter are away for work.