Xiao He plot
Xiao He is a free-spirited teacher who works in a village in northern China. In her view, learning is only possible if one experiences the pleasure of discovering something new, and the same old rules do not always apply. Her students run away with her, but her colleagues aren't exactly charmed by her rebellious attitude. When they discover that her lover is a married man, she is forced to resign. She decides to go to Beijing, where she thinks she can use her creativity in journalism.