Chang Chien-chiang and Li Hsueh-liang, childhood friends and neighbors in government housing estates, are on good terms with each other. But sharing the same toilet, the two families - Chiang's mother and Hsueh-liang's father Li Sheng - often quarrel over minor affairs.

Li Sheng, a widower and a fisherman, has brought up his son and daughter. He cherishes the traditional concept that a son may bring credit to the family, and is biased against his daughter. When Hsueh-liang becomes matriculated, he is overcome with pride and spreads the news of it.

Chien-chiang discontinues his studies to become a mechanic in a garage. His mother feels that a manual worker is a dead-end job and pins her hope on her younger son who's studying in a university. On the other hand, his father Chang Piao takes a more pragmatic approach.… ...