This film draws from a the life experience of a newly released young prisoner in a small north town in China. It tells a story of a small character's isolation from the times of commodity economy, as well as people's advocacy and ideals of money, and the loss of morality. The film questions harshly about the society and human nature. The film uses Chinese lunar winter four solar terms of the Chinese lunar calendar as four chapters, exhibiting a vision with strong Chinese cultural symbols.