Sad and Happy Middle Age

Shanghai in the 1920s or 1930s. Chen Shaochang (Shi Hui), who founded a primary school for many years and served as his own principal, lost his wife in his early years and raised two sons, Jianzhong and Jianping, and a daughter, Jianying, by himself. The eldest sister who lived with him persuaded him to renew their relationship. Although he also had intentions, he gave up the idea after witnessing the abuse of his best friend's beloved daughter Liu Minhua by her stepmother. Not long after, his best friend passed away. Manhua said goodbye to him and then moved to another place with his mother. They were separated for ten years. When the two meet again, Minhua (Zhu Jiachen) has grown into a new woman who is independent and self-reliant yet virtuous. Because she no longer wants to be manipulated by her stepmother, she asks Shao Chang to introduce a job. Later, she became Shaochang's colleague. As an adult, Jianzhong (Han Fei) got his wish and became an employee of a bank. Because of the manager's appreciation, he met his daughter Feng Lijun (Li Huanqing), and soon became his son-in-law, and his social status increased day by day. The Jianzhong couple believed that Shaochang's humble status as the principal of a primary school had disgraced them, and persuaded him to retire and become an old man at home. Although Shaochang was reluctant, he obeyed obediently. Man Wah takes over his job. It's just that life at home is not easy, and time every day seems as still as his broken old pocket watch. When he told his boredom to his family members, they might blame him for not enjoying his blessings, or being too busy with his own affairs to take care of him. He felt more and more disappointed day by day, and with Jianzhong