Wu Gang was imprisoned for 8 months due to his mother-in-law framing him for theft. After his release, he learned his house was demolished and his mother was forced to live in a greenhouse. He discovered that his mother-in-law and wife Fanfan conspired to embezzle the relocation compensation, chronically abused his mother, withheld medication, secretly sold grain, and extorted money. Wu Gang went to the city to work, befriended fellow inmate Lao Chen, and received help finding a job. Returning home, he found his mother-in-law sending his mother away and colluding with his cousin Huangmao to secretly sell the family's stored grain. After a confrontation, he became completely disillusioned, decided to take his mother to live in the city, broke with Fanfan and her mother, and his marriage was on the verge of collapse.