Married couple Fugui and Jiazhen endure tumultuous events in mid-20th century mainland China as their personal fortunes move from wealthy landownership to peasantry.

A detective investigating a bizarre murder case begins to fall in love with a surgeon he has met while trying to solve the crime.

Dasheng is one of millions of Chinese who are from the countryside and making lives in the big city. He is quite satisfied with what he has made for himself: a job as a window-cleaner, a girlfriend (Yu Qin) he adores, and foster parents he respects. He never tells them that he is married in his hometown: his wife (Zi Yun) and mother are looking forward to his homecoming some day. Obviously, Dasheng doesn't want to go back to the rural life anymore. But the urban life he enjoys is so fragile. Dasheng suddenly has nothing. He is strolling on the street in the city...

The stories of four couples reflect Chinese views on love and marriage.