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.
Ge You
Gong Li
Niu Ben
Guo Tao
Jiang Wu
Ni Dahong
Liu Tianchi
Zhang Lu
Dong Fei
Huang Zongluo
Liu Yanjin
Li Lianyi
Su Yan
Zhao Yu-Xiu
Xiao Jie
Zhang Kang