This scene depicts a real-life village in East China circa 1930 - 1940. A woman is seeing her husband off to join the army to fight the Japanese Imperialists who have invaded China. The sign of death is shown in the foreground, wrapped in white gauze. This painting reflects on patriotism, it's conflict with life and death, and the ordinary people who must exercise judgement over their own fate and perils either imaginary or real.