Lao Quan
Fugui and Jiazhen endure tumultuous events in China as their personal fortunes move from wealthy landownership to peasantry. Addicted to gambling, Fugui loses everything. In the years that follow he is pressed into both the nationalist and communist armies, while Jiazhen is forced into menial work.
Father Ge
Ge Lan, a second-year student of Ningjiang Middle School, has a such a good voice that her music teacher Ye Xiulian thinks she will have a promising future. Ge Lan's parents however, are not interested teacher Ye's suggestion to let their daughter to study music. Teacher Ye does not give up, but uses every mean she can to make Ge Lan interested in music.
