The Chen, Lin, and Pan families reside in the Beijing hutongs. Spanning four decades of China's reform and opening-up period, their lives have undergone tremendous change. The Chen family is an ordinary household where the son, Chen Huan, rises to become a renowned economist, while their daughter Chen Qing faces the challenges of re-employment after losing her job. The youngest daughter, Chen Xiao Ou, represents the new generation of women. The Lin family, a high-ranking cadre household, sees their son Lin Yi Da transition from a rural life to working in government and business, and their daughter Lin Ping Ping achieving her dreams of studying abroad. The Pan family's son Liang Zi is unemployed. His mother Pan Tao Hao has pinner her hopes on him and is disappointed by his lack of ambition.