The film tells the story of the romance between a boy named Tiedan who falls in love with his neighbor Meijie, a married woman. But Meijie leaves the place where they used to live as the Cultural Revolution hits them. Ten years later, Tiedan grows into a man and Meijie comes back to their hometown with three daughters. It is apparent that Tiedan was unable to forget Meijie and he falls in love with her eldest daughter; however, he ultimately ends up with nothing. Tiedan is forced into marrying Meijie's second oldest daughter instead. He decides to lead a vagrant life with a drama troupe, accompanied by Meijie's third daughter.