During the early War of Resistance Against Japan in Baiyangdian, Hebei, the Yanling Squad, led by Communist Party member Hei Lao Cai, conducted effective guerrilla warfare. Yang Xiaomei, fleeing abuse from her husband Zhang Jinlong, joined the squad and developed feelings for farmer Niu Dashi. Zhang Jinlong, unable to change, defected to the Japanese. As Japanese sweep operations intensified, Xiaomei, Dashi, and Zhang Jinlong faced different paths in the conflict.

Two famous comedians from pre-Revolution days perform a series of sketches in a theatre for a group of Party cadres. The stage performances blend over into absurdist, self-contained fantasy episodes where the two comics allegorically parody Party propaganda and ideological orthodoxy.

Occurring at the time of the Chinese Civil War, following the victory over Japan, Nationalist agents fail in trying to destroy the student movement in Beijing.

A film about the expulsion of the Kuomintang from the coastal islands of the People's Republic of China. In the early 1950s, with the aim of liberating Woyushang Island, the naval base headquarters sent the Third Artillery Squadron, commanded by Longjiang Li, to reconnoiter the enemy's firepower deployment. With the help of local fishermen, they defeated two enemy reconnaissance groups, demoralizing the enemy. The enemy transport ship left Chinese territorial waters. The political instructor led the artillery squadron to intercept the enemy ship to prevent it from bringing in reinforcements. As a result, the navy and air force launched a coordinated operation and liberated Voyushang Island.