In 1927, Shanghai was shrouded in white terror. On the day Communist Party member Jian Hua was killed by the enemy, his son was born. The leader of the underground party transferred his wife Min Wen to the Soviet District, and entrusted his son to the worker Gu Argen for adoption, naming him Xiaoliang. After several twists and turns, Xiao Liang was adopted by an official family. At the age of 10, Xiao Liang learned of his own background and fled to Shanghai to find his mother. Min Wen also happened to go to North Jiangsu to pick up Xiao Liang, but Xiao Liang was no longer there. Xiao Liang was found wandering on the street by Gu Argen, and he led him to Wuhan with refugees. He was blown up halfway through the journey. With the help of a wounded soldier, Xiao Liang arrived in Wuhan and became a Xiaobalu.

An army officer has a chance encounter with a young soldier, the son of an old comrade in arms. The soldier tells the officer he has a sister who is also in the army. When the young soldier is killed in action, the officer visits her to pay his respects, and recognizes her as his own child, given up for adoption 18 years earlier. This presents him with a dilemma, wanting to reconnect with the only child he ever had, yet reluctant to tell her the truth about her parentage ...

A steel giant