Peasant Zhang Meili has big feet and an even bigger heart. Founding a school for young rural children, she teaches there alone until helped by Xia Yu, a young volunteer teacher from Beijing who brings in new ideas.

After the death of her husband and young son, peasant Zhang Meili founds a school in the dry desert landscape of northwest China. When cultured and chipper Xia Yu arrives from Beijing to help her out, the two women bond and learn from each other how to best serve the children. Various subplots include the arrival of Xia's husband, who tries in vain to persuade her to return to the city, Xia's quick abortion, and the comically clandestine relationship between Zhang and a local projectionist.—Anonymous