麻豆社

In order to survive, laid-off single mum Xiao Hui, has set up a small embroidery business employing casual workers. She feels women are disadvantaged because they also have to cope with domestic chores and have little experience of the outside world. Luckily, she and other new entrepreneurs can join government-sponsored training schemes, where they can update themselves on management skills, government policy and new business initiatives. Xie Maoshu, principal of the college that she attends, has been a good friend and mentor. In his opinion, the major obstacle for these laid-off workers is coming to terms with their situation and understanding how they can suddenly be made redundant in a planned economy which was supposed to provide them with an "iron rice bowl". Wu also seeks guidance from Principal Xie when he discovers that he now has to relocate his business.