Lin Jin, a solider of the New Fourth Army, stayed in Liubao village with his Army. During Lin Jin's stay, he fell in love with a local girl, Ermeizi. However, he had to leave Liubao with his troops for several years. Lin Jin and Ermeizi lost contact during the war after Lin Jin had left Liubao. Years later, Jin returns to Liubao where he finds Ermeizi again.

强巴（旺堆 饰）出生在颈带枷锁的西藏农奴社会。父亲因顶撞农奴主被活活打死。母亲（强巴饰）还不起世代欠下的阎王债，也被热萨旺杰（穷达 饰）折磨而死。奶奶（拾雀卓玛 饰）含辛茹苦把强巴带到十多岁。一天，饥饿的强巴因吃了寺庙里的贡果，被土登活佛（次仁多吉 饰）罚为哑巴。从此，强巴被旺杰收为家奴，过着非人的生活，倔强的强巴为表示反抗，从此不再说话。一天，强巴的好友铁匠格桑（小多吉 饰）的妹妹兰朵（白玛央杰 饰）告诉他，专为人民做好事的“菩萨兵”解放军来了。西藏上层反动分子假装和谈，派旺杰的儿子热萨郎杰（穷达 饰）会见解放军，强巴在途中既要当上马的堑脚石，又要背郎杰过河。长期的屈辱生活使他怒火满腔，他把郎杰从背上摔了下来。幸亏解放军及时赶到，强巴才免受惩罚。解放军治好了他的伤，还用马送他回去。但凶狠的郎杰命管家把强巴拖在马后想致他于死地......

1938年，北平城胡同里有一户张姓人家，在张老先生故世以后，张老太太带着四个儿子和三个女儿过着安乐幸福的日子。但好日子没过多久，“泸沟桥”事变爆发，日本鬼子进了城，一家人被逼之下只得各奔东西，过着各自的日子。抗战胜利后，儿女们陆续地从各地赶回家乡，并述说着他们各自的遭遇，一家人总算团圆了。可社会却越来越乱，日子越过越穷。张老太太不得不咬牙卖掉房子。儿女们又各自追求自己的理想去了，张家不知何时才能团圆……