Set against the backdrop of the formation of National Southwest Associated University (commonly known as ‘Lianda’), the story follows intellectuals in Beiping and the choices and sacrifices made by two generations to keep the flames of civilization alive.
Beiping fell to Japanese forces in 1937. Several northern universities decided to move south to Changsha, however, war soon broke out. Meng Hai Tang a lecturer at the National Peking University School of Medicine,
