By describing the lives of ordinary people, the novel vividly shows a series of ordinary people's stories from 1894 to 190 1, that is, from the first Sino-Japanese War in the Sino-Japanese War to the conclusion of the Sino-Japanese Treaty. Taking Tianhui Town and Chengdu, a small town outside Chengdu, as the background, the content shows readers the people from all walks of life and the prosperous industry and commerce in Chengdu at that time. Write down the agitation, growth and decline of the two social forces at that time and the decay of society. In this stagnant society, the changes in the international situation and the enlightenment brought by imperialist aggression have made this stagnant pool a little embarrassed. This novel has strong local characteristics and old-time flavor. This book, together with Before the Storm and Big Waves for Sand, is called "Trilogy of River Novels".