After fifty years as a cornerstone of the nation, a major industrial achievement has become nothing more than an "appetizer" in a feast of power and money.
As corrupt parasites hollow out the factory's backbone and a pack of fools trample the dignity of its craftsmen, veteran factory director Zhou Guodong stands guard over the last spark with his very life.
This is a heartrending tale that will leave millions of workers in anguish: an industry giant falls amid dark dealings, while its rivals celebrate in the ruins. The core technologies once cherished as the lifeblood of the enterprise ultimately become "bloody lessons" on the desks of those who come after.
