One winter, Zhao Weidong's father breaks his leg in an accident at work, leaving the family short of both money and food. After a terrifying nightmare reveals a future in which his family falls into poverty and falls apart, Zhao Weidong awakens determined to change their fate against all odds. He stands up to his eldest uncle to reclaim the family's grain and discovers his father's long-forgotten ancient beekeeping manual. Spending their last fifty cents, he buys a box of barely surviving bees. With traditional beekeeping techniques and the help of He Qingmiao, a village health worker, he overcomes one obstacle after another. Following the blooming flowers and harvesting honey, he travels south and finally finds his mother, who disappeared six years earlier while away learning a craft. Together, the family establishes a candied-fruit workshop and brings their neighbors together to form a beekeeping cooperative. Through their honey products, they open up new markets and completely transform the Zhao family's poverty-stricken destiny.