Yellow Earth

The events take place during the Second Sino-Japanese War era, with the Eighth Route Army operating in CCP-controlled areas of Shaanxi. Gu Qing travels from Yan'an into the northern region to collect peasants' songs for propaganda. The spring season marks a transitional period as propaganda efforts intensify while rural families face drought and hardship.

The story unfolds in a rural corridor of Shaanxi province, moving from the CCP base in Yan'an to a peasant village in the northern region known as Shanbei. Gu Qing stays with a poor, illiterate family, recording local folk songs as part of a political mission. The setting highlights harsh rural life, seasonal struggle, and the community and songs that fuel the propagandistic effort.

💔 Love & Duty

Personal feelings clash with political obligations. Cui Qiao faces an arranged marriage that clashes with her own future, while Gu is torn between his mission and his connection to the family. Their bond develops amid the tension between private desires and collective duties. The narrative probes whether allegiance to a cause can coexist with intimate relationships.

🎶 Propaganda & Song

The central premise revolves around collecting folk songs and rewriting them with communist lyrics to boost morale. Gu Qing's recordings illustrate how culture can be harnessed as a tool of political messaging in wartime. Cui Qiao's story shows how songs travel through households, shaping resilience and hope. The finale underscores music as a unifying force for a social movement.

🌾 Rural Hardship

Peasant life is depicted as harsh and resource-scarce, with drought and poverty shaping daily existence. The family endures debt, a forced dowry, and the looming threat of famine, revealing the fragility of rural communities under war-time strain. The village serves as a microcosm of broader suffering, resilience, and the pursuit of survival. The climax with rain prayers reinforces the endurance of ordinary people.