Gao Fang

Xiang Zi is a rickshaw boy who has always had a desire to excel and a thirst for freedom. He married Hu Niu who died of dystocia later. After her death, another girl, Xiao Fuzi, falls in love with Xiang Zi but they are separated by poverty. Xiang Zi works very hard in order to change his life, only to find that Xiao Fuzi is dead just as he begins to be hopeful for their future. Finally, Xiang Zi, an unflinching man, surrenders to that dark society.

Zhao Lihua who is 82 years old has mild depression after her husband passed away. She plans to go to the workers bathhouse for a bath, yet she has been rejected several times and has been humiliated. Her son Zhu Hongbing has tried hard to find two women who can accompany his mother to go for a bath. A seemingly simple life has become extremely difficult for this mother and son. For Zhao Lihua, “bathing”is a symbol of self-cleaning baptism, leaving with dignity is her last choice…

Rui is a top student graduated from computer science major. But he works on a non-profession-related position which is boring. He wants to make some change but feels hard to speak out. He goes to hospital for a medical check and is told for gastric cancer diagnosis. He decides to apply work transfer and acts on his own, but the leader refuses and retains him. His friend suggests him doing something bad to facilitate the work transfer and he adopts the suggestion. But the bad thing becomes good and he gets praised and promoted.

In pre-revolutionary China, two young girls, Chunhua and Yuehong Xing, rise through the ranks of Chinese opera, but with their artistic success comes a new series of personal and social challenges.