In the middle of the 17th century, the Manchus conquered China and founded the Ching dynasty. Due to widespread uprisings against the new rulers, the study and practice of traditional martial arts is forbidden and punishable by death. The unscrupulous leader of a troop of mercenaries takes advantage of this situation to make a fortune with the bounty on his head.

Li Zhongming was originally an elementary school teacher, but lost his job due to the war and was displaced to Shanghai. With no money and no home to return to, he is persuaded by Zhu Laowu, a tricycle driver, to ride a tricycle, and his practicality attracts the attention of Sun Jin'e, the owner of a car dealership, who falls in love with him. By chance, Li Zhongming met a young female teacher named Zhao Shuqiu, and a sympathetic relationship soon developed between the two, which made Sun Jin'e very sad. However, because of the huge difference in social status between Li Zhongming and Zhao Shuqiu, the romance soon caused a lot of gossip. Eventually, Zhao Shuqiu loses her job and her home, and the kind-hearted Li Zhongming agrees to let Zhao Shuqiu live in his house, but the two remain innocent of each other.