《白鹿原》是传说中的白鹿庇护的地方，这里世代都住着家族白和鹿两个姓氏的子孙。在民国初期的时候，白嘉轩是白鹿原的现任族长，一身都秉持着仁义守己。鹿子霖是白鹿原的乡约但是却一身追逐名利想要顶替白嘉轩的位置，鹿三是白家的长工，虽然是一个铁骨铮铮的男子汉但是也认命当一辈子白家工人。他们的孩子白孝文、鹿兆鹏和黑娃从小长大情同手足。长大后，黑娃遇到了一个女人田小娥，被丈夫虐待的田小娥看上了黑娃，两人私通败露后带着她回到了白鹿原，但是田小娥因为之前的经历被白嘉轩拒绝在祠堂之外，黑娃只能带着田小娥到窑洞度日。鹿兆鹏出去闯荡后加入了共产党革命，后来黑娃也成为了中坚力量。鹿子霖不仅趁着黑娃不在家霸占田小娥，并且利用她陷害族长白孝文引起轩然大波

"White Deer Plain" is the place where the legendary white deer shelters, where the descendants of the two surnames Bai and Lu live here for generations. In the early days of the Republic of China, Bai Jiaxuan was the current patriarch of Bailuyuan, and he always upheld benevolence, righteousness and self-defense. Lu Zilin is Bai Luyuan's township appointment but he pursues fame and fortune all his life and wants to take Bai Jiaxuan's place. Lu San is a long-term worker of the Bai family. Their children Bai Xiaowen, Lu Zhaopeng and Hei Wa grew up as brothers and sisters. After growing up, Hei Wa met a woman named Tian Xiao'e. Tian Xiao'e, who was abused by her husband, fell in love with Hei Wa. After their affair was exposed, they took her back to Bailuyuan. However, Tian Xiao'e was rejected by Bai Jiaxuan because of her previous experience. Hei Wa can only take Tian Xiao'e to live in the cave dwelling. Lu Zhaopeng joined the Communist revolution after going out for a living, and later Heiwa also became the backbone. Lu Zilin not only took advantage of Heiwa's absence to occupy Tian Xiao'e, but also used her to frame the patriarch Bai Xiaowen, causing an uproar.