Chia-wen and Hsiao-fen are childhood friends. Chia-wen is the son of a rich landlord and Hsiao-fen is the daughter of a poor couple who works on the rich lanlord's land. Even as children Chia-wen and Hsiao-fen love each other deeply. Chia-wen is sent to school in the city. After graduation Chia-wen returns to the countryside and plans to make his childhood friend Hsiao-fen his wife. Chia-wen's father disapproves of the marriage between Chia-wen and Hsiao-fen and disowns Chia-wen. With the disapproval of their marriage, Chia-wen takes Hsiao-fen and they run away together. Unmarried, Chia-wen and Hsiao-fen live together and struggle to make a living.