Jing, a naive city schoolgirl, is sent to a remote village for "re-education" during the Cultural Revolution. Her father is jailed for being a "rightist" and her mother struggles to feed their three children. Jing's future and family depend on her good behavior, as a small mistake could ruin their lives. However, her life is disrupted when she falls in love with Sun, the charming son of an elite military member, despite the social gap between them. Their secret love is pure, passionate, and undeniable, but it puts their lives at risk. When Sun disappears and then returns, Jing is forced to reevaluate her ideas about love, honor, and loyalty.

Under the Hawthorn Tree
Forbidden love blossoms between a young woman and man from different socio-economic backgrounds in 1960s and 1970s China, set against the backdrop of the Cultural Revolution's chaotic era.