In the 1920s, the villagers of Hujiazhuang in southern Shaanxi resisted government impositions and were violently attacked, causing them to flee to Gouwa Mountain in Ziyun County, Henan. They formed a group led by Big Black Mule and a heroic female leader known as "Nai nai (Grandma)." Along the way, Grandma found a starving boy named Dogwa and adopted him. Ten years later, a drought struck Ziyun County, and local bandits targeted the villagers of Zhangjiabao. Grandma and Dogwa led their mountain group to rescue them. The son of a bandit leader, Li Dongqing, instigated an attack on Dogwa Mountain. Dogwa fought back, eliminating the security group and capturing Li Dongqing. They engaged in several battles, ultimately defeating the bandits and reclaiming Dogwa Mountain. When war broke out, Dogwa and his grandmother fought against the Japanese, thwarting their plan to attack the Eighth Route Army.