At the end of the year, a dark horse drama has taken the entire year by storm. Despite my initial indifference, the astonishing behind-the-scenes lineup made me sit up and take notice. Take their previous work, "Dying to Survive," for example. It was directed by Han Xiaohan, produced by acclaimed director Wen Muye, and starred Xu Zheng. However, this new drama took a whole five years to see the light of day. So, what was the reason behind the delay? The plot was too shocking, and the visuals were grand in scale, with every scene igniting a passionate response.

This drama tells the story of five young men in the 1980s who, by chance, come together and embark on a journey through the world. The images, sourced from the internet, depict a scene where they go to great lengths to persuade elderly residents to give up their homes in order to obtain startup capital for their so-called "river and lake" dreams.

However, when they unwittingly break the law, the same elderly people they once hurt come to their defense. In that moment, they have a sudden awakening and decisively change their course, helping the elderly residents protect their homes. As brothers, they are willing to sacrifice everything for one another. Whenever one of them is in trouble, the others always arrive in the nick of time. Even during a confrontation between Xu Wei Biao, played by Han Dong Jun, the leader of the group, and a formidable adversary, they are willing to make a selfless sacrifice to ensure the safety of their brothers.

What captivates me the most about this drama is how it reveals the true nature of the so-called "river and lake" world of that era. When these naive dreamers collide with the harsh reality of the underworld, they discover that it is not all about fighting and killing, nor is it about social niceties. Instead, it exposes the greed and selfishness of human nature, as well as the cruelty of a world where everyone is driven by personal gain. The images, taken from the internet, serve as a visual representation of this insight.

This drama vividly depicts the Jianghu (underworld) stories of the 1980s from a unique perspective and with vibrant details. In this seemingly violent and profit-driven world, these five young individuals shine a light on the human spirit with their courage and resilience. Through their story, we witness true loyalty and the courage to face reality.

This drama is not just a tale of the Jianghu; it is a human drama that reveals the essence of human nature, courage, and friendship. Thus, Her Qing embarks on his journey of retaliation, dedicating himself to serve a real estate developer and prepare to confront those young newcomers to the underworld. They experience the brutal reality of the Jianghu for the first time, like a piercing cold wind.

Although the leader doesn't suffer significant harm, he ultimately ends up in prison. However, the wealthy second-generation member of the group experiences a tragic fate as his entire family is annihilated, with his sister perishing in a fire due to humiliation, and he sacrifices his own life in the final battle. Her Qing's mother faces a misfortune as well, being pushed down the stairs by someone. Though she narrowly escapes death, she has to go into hiding and seek a new life in the north.

The images, sourced from the internet, provide a glimpse of the drama's intense plot and its ambitious creative team. I can also understand why this drama remained buried for five years. I highly recommend everyone to dive into this drama quickly. I am Lao Li, a man who won't disappoint you. Feel free to follow me, no problem at all!