The story of a poor silk farming family in Zhejiang and their hardships.
In a tiny Chinese fishing village, two rival fishermen compete for a young woman's love. She does love one of them, but as she is obligated to the other, she cannot marry him. Tragedy is averted when the one she is obliged to falls in love with another. Happiness briefly ensues as the men, with their respective mates, resume their friendship. Unfortunately, they set out to sea and disappear.
A primary school teacher rallies the citizens of a small town to resist the corruption of the local government and unite to build reinforcements against an oncoming flood.
