Set in 1930s, Shanghai. Yan Dahai, a coward little guy of Qing Gang, is diagnosed with incurable disease while he joins the police by chance. He plans to make himself a death in line of duty to get enough pension, so he could buy back freedom of his dream girl, a dance hostess of a club. But everything goes in the opposite direction. Yan does not die in dangerous missions, becomes a hero and is promoted again and again.