At the beginning of 1976, Zheng Weimin, a modern-day orphan, travels back in time and becomes the unwanted son of a military officer's family. Taking his younger sister's place, he is sent to the countryside in Xu Family Village, Beiyuan. Enduring hunger and cold, he wins the trust of village Party secretary Xu Zhiquan and the warmth of the villagers by telling historical stories, growing potatoes, and promoting silage feed. Together with the knowledgeable Wang Yunfang, he repeatedly foils the schemes of the villain Chen Donglai. In the 1977 college entrance examination, he scores 317 points, ranking second in the liberal arts in the Huangyuan region, and earns admission to Peking University's History Department. Before setting off, he stays in the village for the New Year, waiting for spring to return to Beijing with his admission letter.