1942 , Henan Province in successive years of famine , refugees large-scale Hao Yulan flee from famine to Shaanxi, was ten his father into the migratory army , came to a foot in the small East Gate of the ancient city of Xi'an . Magnolia forced life , married her 18-year-old , and already have a white fourth eldest of two children , and then jointly gave birth to five children . Magnolia and her seven children , as well as the East Gate of Henan villagers to each other, to live through decades of ups and downs . No matter how hard life , Magnolia is full of hope alive , and her promise of three wishes : amiable kind grandmother enjoy their twilight years ; open a Henan flavor restaurant , " Wu" useful father ; healthy growth of the child-rearing , all of them a better life ...... Central Plains region of the shooting background in the 1940s coincided with the war famine , a large number of people in Henan moved rooted in Shaanxi , ......