At first glance, the Li family looks quite ordinary- one tyrannical grandfather, two overworked parents, four siblings, and one small house for them all to live in. Yet, with a journalist in the mix, its members can hardly hide their countless misfortunes.

Xiaohan, the youngest daughter, shares her family’s unconventional history and exposes the depth of what it means to live in contemporary China today. Through the intertwined stories of each member of the Li clan, she shows how those close to her are forced to find new ways to survive.