Master puppeteer Li Tien-lu recalls his life in Japanese-occupied Taiwan during the first half of the 20th century.
A substitute teacher from Taipei arrives in a country village to teach a class of mischievous students. He soon falls in love with nature, country life and a fellow teacher at the school.
Financial woes causes a young woman to turn to the oldest profession for work. Her sacrificial deeds to raise her siblings are left unappreciated by her younger sister.
