The film tells the tragic story of two recent college graduates, Tao Jianping ("Tao" is a homophone for peach), and Li Lilian ("Li" is a homophone for plum). Married, the two hope to change society for the better, but are continuously challenged by the corruption and injustice of Chinese society.

A novelist uses all his money to buy gifts for the woman he loves who in turn is also seeing a business man, using him for expensive presents. As a consequence the writer is unable to pay the rent, whilst the womans family goes hungry as her fathers business suffers. A joyful comedy that expresses the dangers of consumerism for the careless spender.

1930's China. The village of a poor family is taken over by the occupying Japanese army. One son, Zhongliang, leaves his wife and young son to join a medic group for the Chinese Army. The other son, Zhangmin goes into hiding to protect his family. The focus shifts back and forth from the brothers' parents and Zhongliang's wife and son to Zhongliang's newfound life of luxury in a town not too far away. The plight of Zhongliang's mother, his wife, Sufan and her son, Kongeson is contrasted with Zhongliang's rise in a flourishing company.

The life-story of Wu Xun, a beggar in the Qing dynasty who set up free schools for poor children.

Twelve-year-old Hai Wa sends a secret letter containing Japanese military information to the Eight Route Army during the anti-Japanese war.

The sailors on a Kuomintang warship revolt, arrest their officers and defect to the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

On orders from the command, the wife of the commander of the 4th Army, Hua Xiaofeng, infiltrates enemy lines to establish contact with an underground organization and rally the masses to take up arms against the Kuomintang. Under difficult conditions, risking her life, the young woman carries out her combat mission. The red seeds she sows among the people sprout—the peasants help the 4th Army defeat the Kuomintang.