A relay communication method, includes: a relay node receives data from a second network node; the relay node performs first-part processing and second-part processing on the data; and the relay node sends to a third network node, data obtained after the first-part processing and the second-part processing. In one non-limiting example, thy first-part processing includes at least one of: physical layer function processing, media access control layer function processing, and adaptation function processing. In another non-limiting example, the second-part processing includes at least one of simplified radio link control layer function processing, adaptation function processing, media access control layer function processing, and physical layer function processing.