A Meeting in a Foreign Land is a story steeped in the spirit of its era and the warmth of ordinary people. Set in the flourishing city of Dongguan, it follows Xin Yong, who comes from the lush green mountains of Guangxi, and Liu Mei, who travels from the vast plains of Henan. Both are drawn by the opportunities offered by this thriving industrial city and join the millions of migrant workers who come seeking a better life.
In a faded work uniform, Xin Yong moves between the shelves of an old warehouse, carefully counting stock. Liu Mei, her hair tied in a ponytail, works busily on a noisy production line filled with a pungent smell. A question about materials brings them together in a warehouse on a spring afternoon, and the wheels of fate begin to turn. Their shy conversation over lunch, the help they give each other at work, and the heartfelt confidences they share on a park bench after work all allow their love to take root and grow like a seedling breaking through the earth.
But Liu Mei's parents oppose the relationship because of the distance, casting a shadow over their love. Xin Yong refuses to give up. Taking responsibility as his guide and hard work as his ink, he strives for excellence at work and studies management, while writing heartfelt letters to Liu Mei's parents to tell them how he truly feels. Liu Mei, too, stays steadfastly by his side through the hardships.
They spend long nights in a cramped, stuffy rented room and comfort each other through the exhaustion of factory overtime, working together to improve their family's finances and earn a place for themselves in the city. As the years pass, their story becomes more than a love story between two people. It is also a vivid reflection of a generation of migrant workers striving in the city and holding fast to their dreams. Every footprint they leave in the streets and alleys of Dongguan is etched with their love of life and their unwavering pursuit of their dreams.
