该剧讲述了在民国时期，本是兽医的王老五（赵本山 上）意外成为伏虎县县长，上任后状况不断一路披荆斩棘的荒诞诙谐故事。剧中以小人物为主角，向观众展现了在民国时期小人物铸就的大时代。

This drama tells the story of Ximen Changhai, head of the Magpie Saber Sect, who is determined to eradicate the wokou pirates and joins a secret plan to do so. To prevent his plans from leaking out, Ximen Changhai brought his brother, Ximen Changzai, a cook, to the Magpie Saber Sect to become the acting sect head, and as affairs within the Sect changed, an amusing martial arts story started within the sect.