Cailing Wang teaches music at the local school and frequently reminds those around her that she will one day leave for Beijing. She meets a painter named Huang Sibao, who seems to take interests in her, but perhaps more so for her possible connections in Beijing. The couple plans to move to Beijing together, but the painter lets Ms. Wang know that he only thinks of her as a friend. Ms. Wang feels devastated by this admission and eventually jumps off a building in despair. She manages to survive the fall with only a broken arm.
Ms. Wang then makes friend with ballet instructor Mr. Hu. She feels a kindred spirit with the man, even though he is ostracized by the whole town because of his profession and homosexual disposition. Regardless of this, Ms. Wang befriends him. Mr. Hu then takes the initiative to ask Ms. Wang to marry him, but just for the sake of being married. Ms. Wang refuses and Mr. Hu feels even more despondent. He then takes more drastic action that gets him taken away.