During the Japanese era in 1917, Taiwan experienced famine and drought, which resulted in Chianan Plain residents enduring dire living conditions and struggling to obtain water. Despite civil engineer Yoichi Hatta proposing a major irrigation system overhaul, locals accused him of dishonesty. But Xu Yingzhe, the son of a farmer, refused to dismiss the plan, instead viewing it as a chance to transform the arduous lives of Taiwanese citizens, even though it appeared unlikely to succeed.