This book is set in Cangsong County under the jurisdiction of Liangzhou Prefecture in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, and tells the rise and fall of the Xue family, the richest family in the four hills and four rivers. Xue Wu Lao rose to become the richest man in the area by climbing up to the top of the prefecture and county and monopolizing the supply of military rations. He believed in Feng Shui and secretly expanded and repaired the ancestral tombs in the hope that the ancestral tombs would emit green smoke and the future generations would prosper, but he died suddenly. His son Xue Ju had no intention of studying and lost his strict father's supervision. He insisted on becoming a disciple of the opera garden. He made great progress in his studies and achieved initial success, but he became addicted to bad habits such as opium and gambling, and gradually squandered his family property. Most of the family property was taken over by his in-laws, Wei Qian, a fellow villager who worked hard and hard to start a business and was determined to become a superior person.
本书以清末民初的凉州府辖苍松县为背景，讲述四岘四水首富薛氏家族的兴衰史。薛五佬因攀上府县首要、包揽军粮供应而崛起，成为地方首富。他笃信风水学，暗许祖坟冒青烟、后世繁盛而扩修先祖坟茔，不意猝然身亡。其子薛驹本无意学业又失去严父管束，执意做梨园弟子，学艺精进，初有成就，却沉溺大烟、赌博等恶习，逐步败光家产，大部家业被其亲家——勤恳吃苦艰辛创业一心成为人上人的同村韦黔因势接管。
本书以清末民初的凉州府辖苍松县为背景，讲述四岘四水首富薛氏家族的兴衰史。薛五佬因攀上府县首要、包揽军粮供应而崛起，成为地方首富。他笃信风水学，暗许祖坟冒青烟、后世繁盛而扩修先祖坟茔，不意猝然身亡。其子薛驹本无意学业又失去严父管束，执意做梨园弟子，学艺精进，初有成就，却沉溺大烟、赌博等恶习，逐步败光家产，大部家业被其亲家——勤恳吃苦艰辛创业一心成为人上人的同村韦黔因势接管。
