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.

A guerrilla group led by Li Xiangyang are ambushed by the Japanese invasion army during the War of Resistance.

The film tells the story of the Communist Labour College that opened in the 1960s. Long Guozheng, an emissary from the Communist government and Li Jinfeng, a female peasant student, must fight against the school's more conservative elements. In the film's climax, Li is put on trial and is about to be expelled from the school when she is saved by a pronouncement from Chairman Mao himself.

Adapted from a novel of the same title, this film depicts a young woman’s transformation from housewife to loyal Communist. This process is presented as “natural” – possessed of inherent logic rather than merely “incidental”. Hence, the film is really about Communist revolution that won over the hearts and minds of Chinese youth.