Chen Yonggui, an elderly and seriously ill father, and his intellectually disabled son, Xiaobao, depend on each other for survival. Through countless cycles of rekindled hope and crushing disappointment, their story reveals the resilience and dignity of humanity amid extreme material deprivation. At its heart lies the fierce conflict between the desperate struggle for material survival and the indestructible power of spiritual love. The father is a working-class laborer, swept along by the tides of his era and exploited until the very last of his strength is drained. The son, with his pure, blank-slate innocence, poses the sharpest questions to an indifferent reality. Their actions stem from the most instinctive filial love, yet repeatedly collide with the cold walls of reality. The story does not lead to absolute despair. Xiaobao finds a new beginning at a sheltered workshop.