1958 the end of the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in a certain county old cold Ridge , director of the Institute of Posts and Telecommunications , Li Zhihao , who died in the messenger on his way , leaving a pregnant wife in July , Kim Jung- sook . Old relatives Jinren Jun , and Cui Shunzi see his second daughter by this catastrophe , the daughter of the eldest daughter Pushun Yu taken from affluent Highland River region to the mountains, to help Lijia to tide over their difficulties . Li Zhihao 's father , Li Changshan elderly, have a strong hero emotions often encourage children and grandchildren " to be like the mountain alive only taste " . His friction with relatives Jinren Jun personality , a stubborn and forthright , a calm and prudent , the two often diametrically opposed , competing with each other , but are not far behind Korean man , created in the mountains and valleys ku cum laude . Kim Jung- sook typical female Korean tradition of excellence , filial piety , tough and willing to sacrifice , she took on the burden of the family , the dependency of the elderly , training children , poverty industrious dedication .