Introduced as an old man coaxing a similarly aged ox in a field, Fugui's life story forms the core of the narrative. He spends his youth as the spoiled, gluttonous son of a wealthy rural landlord, frequently visiting brothels and gambling parlors. After losing his family's estate to debts, he is forced to work the land as a peasant farmer. His journey requires him to find meaning in manual labor and simple survival.

The daughter of a wealthy rice store owner who marries into the prominent Xu family. She is deeply loyal and submissive to her husband, even when he publicly embarrasses and mistreats her. When the family loses their fortune, she seamlessly transitions from a life of privilege to one of grueling manual labor in the fields.

Fugui and Jiazhen's beautiful daughter, who grows up witnessing her family's drastic fall from wealth. A severe illness leaves her deaf and mute, limiting her social prospects in the rural village. Despite this, she becomes a remarkably fast learner and a consistent laborer on the family farm.

Fugui and Jiazhen's energetic only son, born after the family loses its wealth. He is the sole family member to attend school in town, though he frequently frustrates his father by neglecting his studies. He prefers running back and forth to feed the family's livestock, treating the animals with immense care.

A sixteen-year-old boy who meets Fugui when both are forced into the Nationalist Army. He quickly learns to navigate the brutal conditions of the civil war, scavenging for resources and huddling in abandoned tunnels to survive the freezing weather.

A young man from the city who spends his youth wandering through rural communities to collect popular folk songs. He encounters an old farmer and becomes entirely captivated by the man's willingness to share his extensive life story.

A skilled patron at The House of Qing who routinely cheats at gambling. He systematically drains Fugui's wealth through rigged card games, eventually taking ownership of the historic Xu family estate.

A wealthy, self-made landlord who is intensely proud of how his ancestors built their fortune from a single chicken. He strictly adheres to traditional values and is deeply disgusted by his son's reckless behavior, famously insisting on paying off debts with heavy copper coins to teach a lesson.

A gentle woman who attempts to maintain peace on the Xu estate. She privately comforts her son after physical altercations with his father, holding a philosophical view that honest work brings happiness regardless of financial status.

An experienced veteran in the Nationalist Army who has drifted through multiple military units. He prevents younger conscripts from deserting by warning them of the deadly consequences, acting as a gritty guide on the battlefield.

A relatively wealthy porter from the city who seeks a rural bride. He has a physical condition that forces his head into a crooked position, requiring him to turn his shoulders to look around, but he possesses a generous demeanor.

The local authority figure in Fugui's village who transitions from village head to organizing the newly established people's communes. He manages the communal dining hall, assigns daily work points, and attempts to balance state directives with the survival of his neighbors.

A lifelong hired laborer for the wealthy Xu family. He frequently humors young Fugui by letting the boy ride on his back, but his security is destroyed when the family loses their property.

An elder gambler at The House of Qing. He works in tandem with others to rig card games, using sleight of hand to empty the pockets of wealthy but naive patrons.

A prominent rice store owner from town. He views his son-in-law with intense disdain and actively attempts to separate his daughter from the disgraced Xu family after their financial collapse.

The young son of Erxi and Fengxia, whose name means "bitter root." Raised partially in the city and partially in the countryside, he becomes the singular focus of his grandfather's devotion.