Synopsis

Hu Zhiqing lived in Shanghai as a dutiful employee of a company, and was married to a gentle and virtuous wife named You Lan. Together, they had a sweet seven-year-old daughter and relished a simple, yet blissful life. But their world was suddenly shaken when Hu's mother and other family members moved in with them. The already confined living space coupled with Hu's meagre income put them in dire straits despite You Lan's diligent budgeting. With no other recourse, Hu resorted to asking his manager for an advance on his salary, only to be denied. Matters escalated when tensions between his mother and wife reached a boiling point, leading to a heated argument and You Lan's departure in a fit of anger. Amidst this turmoil, Hu stumbled upon a wallet and was falsely accused of theft and violently beaten. He was left confused and disoriented and had to be hospitalized. While searching for Hu, the family reunited and the two women reconciled. Simple and unpretentious, the film vividly portrays real-life struggles.

Alternative Keywords: Wan jia deng huo