Sister from an Outsider

In the early days of the reform and opening up in mainland China, the Guangdong region, prioritized for development, was seen as a paradise by many young people from inland provinces and cities. In a small mountain village in a certain northern province named Zhaojiakou, Zhao Xiaoyun (played by Chen Xiaoyi) and five other young men and women, including Zhiqiang, came to Guangdong with dreams, hoping to change their destiny through work. At that time, industries such as textiles and toy manufacturing were the pillars of Guangdong's development. Diligent and nimble working girls were much more sought after than clumsy working boys, so Zhao Xiaoyun and a few of her girlfriends quickly became 'migrant girls' in a factory, while Zhiqiang and a few other boys were turned away. The outside world was exciting yet frustrating. The long road of work led these girls, who were like sisters, to make different life choices: some couldn't withstand the temptation of money and took the wrong path; some married locals and stayed in Guangdong; and some lamented that no golden nest or silver nest could compare to their own dog house, returning to Zhaojiakou. Among these stories, the most fascinating belonged to Zhao Xiaoyun: her career was full of twists and turns, achieving great success that left people in awe, and her emotional entanglements with her Hong Kong boss (played by Tang Zhenzong) were equally gripping.