In the 1980s, Lin Xuemei, an employee at a state-run supply and marketing cooperative, is exploited by her family, who favor sons over daughters. Her mother and older brother, Lin Jianguo, take most of her wages. To afford a bride for himself, her brother even plans to marry her off to Liu Laowu, a local thug, in exchange for a bride price. Unwilling to let others control her fate, Xuemei seizes an opportunity to pursue further studies and escapes her hometown. Through hard work and ability, she earns a promotion. Meanwhile, trouble continues at home: Liu Laowu pressures Lin Jianguo's girlfriend, Li Xiufen, to marry him and extorts the Lin family through usurious loans. After returning home with her studies completed, Xuemei pushes forward with reforms at the cooperative while fighting back against her colleague Sun Dazhu, who spreads rumors and frames her. She gathers evidence and brings Liu Laowu to justice. After enduring numerous hardships, her mother finally comes to her senses, and her brother genuinely reforms, builds a family, and establishes a successful life.