A free and wild young woman has to come back from the big city to her village in the mountains.

Pretty Ciao Ciao is back from Canton to visit her parents in their mountain village. She plans to return to the city as soon as possible, but her parents expect her to help out. Ciao Ciao is trapped between her duty and the desire to lead a life of her own.—Anonymous

Ciao Ciao has just lost her job in Canton. Before setting up her own business in this huge city with her friend Li Li, the young woman goes to visit her parents in her home village, way out in the Yunnan mountains. There, she finds them on the verge of a breakdown. Her mother barely makes ends meet with her little grocery store, and then only thanks to the alcohol sold to her by the corrupt bootlegger Mr. Li. Her father meanwhile, impotent from a work accident he had years ago, wastes the household money on games and aphrodisiacs. Ciao Ciao also has to face the rumors about her in the village. Her very sexy outfits don't help with the local gossip saying she made her living in Canton as a whore. She wants to get back to the city as soon as possible. But her parents ask her to stay to help them. Also, she has caught the eye of Da Chuan, the attractive local hairdresser from Canton, and even more so Li Wei, the bootlegger's son. When Li Wei proposes, she accepts to marry him. She knows he tries his best to make her happy, and she is aware the marriage could provide much-needed financial help for her mother, who, Ciao Ciao has realized, is entangled in an affair with Mr. Li. But the newlyweds rapidly grow apart and Ciao Ciao seeks comfort with Da Chuan. They become lovers and she hopes to leave with him for Canton. But Li Wei becomes increasingly suspicious...