The industrial cities in northern China in the mid-to-late 1980s focus specifically on the period from 1986 to 1989, the early stage of reform and opening up, when new and old ideas collided fiercely. This is an era of "coexistence of passion and hardship": the ice of the planned economic system is slowly melting, but the old order such as "iron rice bowl", "unit allocation of housing", and "grain and oil vouchers" still dominate the lives of ordinary citizens. The core contradiction of society is that the spring breeze of reform has brought with it the legend of "households worth ten thousand yuan" and the temptation of "going to work". However, the vast majority of workers in state-owned factories still hold on to meager but stable wages and wait and see in the collective mentality of "waiting, relying, and wanting", filled with anxiety about the future and fear of change. The 'dual-track' price system has given rise to 'traitors', and knowledge has begun to be respected again. However, the phenomenon of 'those who make missiles are not as good as those who sell tea eggs' is confusing.
