Setting Beijing of 1920s as the background, the novel describes a story among three girls from different classes, whose names are Ye Jingzhi, Waner and Lu Aiyi. The novel draws an outline of the panorama of history and customs of ancient Beijing. Ye Jingzhi grows up in the southern China and follows her father who works in the Ministry of Foreign Affair to Beijing, and they rent a house in Aunt Guan's courtyard. Jingzhi's mother is constantly ill and her two younger brothers are too naughty and stubborn, so her life doesn’t go well at all. However, Jingzhi gradually adapts herself to the Beijing life, and forms a deep relationship with poor Waner and Lu Aiyi whose parents are officers with high rank.