The Wisecracker at the Jianbing Stall

In the wave of layoffs in 1995, Tianjin native Ding Wenyuan was hit with the worst luck imaginable: he lost his job, his wife left him, and he was left holding their three-year-old child. He was so broke he couldn’t scrape two coins together, but he had a gift for wisecracks and somehow turned his hard life into a one-man comedy show.

He set up a jianbing stall, only to have his archenemy sabotage him. He took care of his child, and people mocked him for being a single dad. Then, just when he finally met a gentle, beautiful financial analyst, why would she ever fall for him?

But people in Tianjin know how to find the humor in things. The harder life gets, the more you have to laugh and soldier on. A griddle serves up the warmth of everyday life, and a crispy cracker wraps up all its flavors. See how this kindhearted, quick-witted single father uses his sharp tongue, sincere heart, and a ladle of batter to turn his fortunes around and cook up a better life for himself, all amid laughter.

This is a slice-of-life comedy packed with Tianjin flavor. It’s a story about ordinary people that carries a bigger message: no matter how hard life gets, it’s no match for someone who’s willing to laugh.