On the edge of the Gobi desert in Northwest China, Lang returns to his hometown after being released from jail. While working for the local dog patrol team to clear the town of stray dogs before the Olympic Games, he strikes up an unlikely connection with a black dog. These two lonely souls embark on a journey together.

Returning to his hometown as a village cadre, Lu Baotian is tasked with promoting land reform in Gangshang Village during the 40th anniversary of China’s Reform and Opening-Up. He faces strong resistance - not just from villagers, but from his own father, a respected elder who once led the village’s original land reform. As the community struggles between preserving tradition and embracing modernization, Baotian must find a new path forward through conflict, family ties, and shifting rural values.