在文革末期,一艘江轮从重庆前往武汉, aboard this vessel, a diverse group of individuals with their own personal struggles coexist: a poet named Qiu Shi (Li Zhi Xing), who served six years in prison on trumped-up charges, is secretly escorted by agent Liu Wenying (Zang Yu) and Li Yan (Geng Ming); the matriarch of the household, Da Jie (Ou Yang Zuo Qiu), mourns the loss of her only son in a martial dispute; a village girl named Xiang Hua is forced into servitude, tears streaming down her face as she ponders lost love... Liu Wenying and Li Yan, respectively portraying a typical revolutionary soldier and cunning strategist, win the respect, if not the trust, of others. Adding to this mix is a young girl who sneaked aboard unnoticed.
Xiang Hua's tragic circumstances ignite widespread indignation, yet everyone seems powerless to help. Da Jie's resilience fails to reach Xiang Hua, and later, she prepares to end her life by jumping into the river. Qiu Shi rescues her, and in an unexpected twist, his life takes on a new meaning: Officer Wang (Zhong Xing Huo) gains the trust of the young girl, who had stowed away to find her father. Through her clues, Officer Wang deduces that she is Qiu Shi's daughter. As concerns grow for Qiu Shi's safety, Liu Wenying, who has been interrogated about his conscience, decides to risk everything to extend a helping hand to Qiu Shi and his family.