小说从一个长大后成了作家的“小脏孩子”的童年回忆展开叙述,展现了二姐艰苦又充实的人生。二姐自小失去双亲，并且耳聋，随外婆住在乡下，过着非常艰苦的生活。在大饥荒年代，善良的二姐把省下的粮食送给了城里的我们。长大后，二姐嫁入更加落后穷困的邻村，她一生都只知道勤劳苦做,但她耳聋心不聋,人穷志不穷,言寡情不寡，坚忍而独立。他就是中原大地上千千万万普通农妇的缩影。(Thenovelstartswiththechildhoodrecallingofawriter,whogrewupfromalittledirtyboy,whichrevealsthedifficultbutsubstantiallifeofSecondElderSister.TheSecondElderSisterlostherparentsandhearingabilityasachild.Livinginthecountrysidewithgrandma,shehadadifficultearlylife.Butintheyearsoffoodshortage,shesavedfoodtogiveittous,wholivedinthecity.Aftergrowingup,shewasmarriedintoapoorerfamilyintheneighboringvillage.Inherentirelife,shekeepsworkinghard.Thoughdeaf,sheknowsmanythings.Thoughpoor,sheisindependent.Thoughspeechless,sheispassionate.SherepresentsthemillionsofordinaryruralwomenlivinginChina.)