Taking the culture of Shanxi grand courtyards as its background and the story of Shanxi merchants as its theme, the drama Autumn Begins destroys the stereotype of movies and TV plays that sing the praises of Shanxi merchants and their arduous career building. It reviews and interprets history from the perspective of the present generation. The drama applauds the traditional spirit of Shanxi merchants, meanwhile giving thorough contemplation and positive criticism to the historical reasons behind their wax and wane. Moreover, the masterpiece, enjoying the highest level of investment and production from the Shanxi Modern Drama Theatre, has a little-known and moving story behind the curtain. On April 18, 2004, at a key moment when the drama had just finished studio rehearsal and entered the stage rehearsal phase, 75-year-old director Chen Yong suddenly passed away in the rehearsal room, shocking the drama world. Her student, famous director Zha Mingzhe, took up the mission at this critical moment and completed the stage rehearsal within nine days, which ensured the scheduled performance. This is a story on everybody's lips in the drama world. Autumn Begins embodies the sweat and tears of two generations of artists. It is a heart-to-heart communication between artists and audience, conducted by the former during a rest note of life. Now it will be staged again at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, offering inspiration and provoking thought for even more audiences.

Synopsis
During the early years of the Republic of China, the nation was suffering from political turbulence, with a downward twist emerging in national development. Merchants from Shanxi Province, who had enjoyed their status as China's wealthiest for centuries, were facing an extremely critical point in their survival. Even the renowned and successfully operated Fengde Exchange Shop found no escape from what seemed its inevitable doom.

Customers were rushing to exchange their money, the Tianjin Branch was set on fire, and loads of domestic and foreign loans expected no return... Confronted with all the above difficulties, general manager Ma Honghan stuck to the founder's instructions, observed to the rules and shouldered the responsibility in the perilous situation by himself, swearing to preserve Fengde's position and reputation.

Deputy general manager Xu Lingxiang insisted on following the trend and seizing present opportunities, proposing the integration of the Fengde Exchange Shop into the modern banking sector. What course should Fengde follow?

A dispute between the "banker" and the "traditional exchange dealer" ignited among these close friends…

Feng Ming, who had been in love with Xu Lingxiang, was married to Ma Honghan by mistake, in accordance with the proposition of Feng Ming's grandmother.

The miserable couple, Chang Ren and Yao Qin fell victim to the business interests-based marriage between the Xu's and the Ma's.

After six years of desperation in the pavilion, Yao Qin waited only to find Chang Ren come back from his overseas studies with a new lover.

Obsessed with theaters, Ma Jiangtao, son of Ma Honghan, chose art as his career after business. Though the two were within close physical reach, there existed a wide gap between father and son..

How to find a way out for the cornered Ma's, advocating "even a penny must be returned and its honesty that counts"?

The once-prosperous Fengde Exchange Shop slipped into depression, before it eventually vanished in the rustling autumn wind and faded fallen leaves.

I ask heaven and earth;
I ask past and present...
I ask myself:
What exactly is the reason for my loss?