In 1998, it was a cold winter in the old industrial base of Northeast China. The fate of three young people at the Red Star Machine Tool Factory changed completely due to the "laid-off list".
Technician Chen Yuanhang had to make a difficult choice between survival and emotion. A silent betrayal left him burdened with guilt for half his life. The talent and pride of young worker Li Bin were crushed by the tide of the times, leading to an unexpected destination. Factory beauty Su Xiaowen becomes a mirror that reflects the souls of two men.
From the northeastern belt to the southern cities, from the panic at the end of the century to the great changes in the new millennium, this is the spiritual journey of a generation. When moral rust spreads in the depths of their souls, they spend the rest of their lives answering: How should we protect the light within us in the torrent of the times.
Purpose: When the traditional moral order (collectivism, rural ethics, work unit favors) that maintains society and people's hearts suddenly disintegrates under the impact of market economy and individualism, and individuals are thrown into a modern wilderness where "all solid things disappear", what will we use as an anchor to place our souls?