Ning Guo, a college student who returned from Shanghai, returned to his hometown of South China City to seek employment and was recruited to the Municipal Media Center. He went to work in the company full of ideals and beautiful longings, but he did not expect that the difference in political treatment and salary remuneration between employees inside and outside the public institution system was as high as heaven and earth - the golden rice bowl within the system was as superior as heavenly beings, while the muddy rice bowl outside the system was like a floating cloud. Ning Guo, who is outside the system, feels like walking on thin ice and facing an abyss every day. Because of his status outside the system, his beloved girl Su Xiaotong has always been aloof from him, unwilling to clarify her relationship with him. Ning Guo was in pain under the double oppression. "Love and a golden job within the system" became his elusive life dream.
The author expresses his thoughts on the value of life and the institutional issues of national institutions with deep and thoughtful thoughts. The author's seemingly calm narrative contains emotional turmoil; the seemingly calm description is heartbreaking to read.