Nineteen-year-old rural girl Sun Yulan is forced by her father to marry Ma Changfu, a man fifteen years older than her who already has two children, in exchange for an 800-yuan bride price. The money is intended to build a house and arrange a marriage for her older brother. On the eve of her wedding, she discovers that her younger sister, Sun Yumei, will eventually face the same fate. Determined to protect her sister, Yulan pries open a window and escapes with her, carrying just over forty yuan to the provincial capital. Later, Yumei returns to school while Yulan works odd jobs, learns sewing, and makes a living selling her handiwork. Along the way, she meets Chen Haisheng, a man who genuinely cares for her. In a strange city, the sisters rely on each other, work hard to build a better life, and strive to claim a future of their own.