The drama tells the story of He Yuzhu, a chef in the steel mill canteen known as Silly Zhu. Qin Huairu, a steel mill worker, lives in the same courtyard with her son and two daughters. Her husband died in a work accident, leaving the family struggling to make ends meet. Three respected old workers also live in the courtyard, known as the "Three Elders." Whenever a dispute breaks out among the neighbors, the three elders step in to resolve it. Silly Zhu may seem unreliable, but he has a kind heart. As he gets along with his neighbors, he gradually matures and learns to shoulder the responsibilities of a man. With the winds of reform and opening up at his back, Silly Zhu opens a restaurant and converts the courtyard house into a retirement home, where he lives happily and harmoniously with all his "neighborly family."
