The Spring River Flows East

1930s China The village of a poor family is taken over by the occupying Japanese army One son Zhongliang leaves his wife and young son to join a medic group for the Chinese Army The other son Zhangmin goes into hiding to protect his family The focus shifts back and forth from the brothers parents and Zhongliangs wife and son to Zhongliangs newfound life of luxury in a town not too far away The plight of Zhongliangs mother his wife Sufan and her son Kongeson is contrasted with Zhongliangs rise in a flourishing company