Set in the backdrop of an ever-changing society, the story begins when a pig farmer's pigs begin to die. It revolves around five different people following an incident wherein thousands of dead pigs floated down the river. Among the five, Wang Zhaodi (Vivian Wu) is the 40-year-old hairdresser who manages many salons by herself. Over the years, she has always lived in the company of a dog and a flock of pigeons. She resides inside an old house passed down from her ancestors. When her house faces demolition, she stubbornly refuses relocation arrangements. Based on real life events, in 2013, 16,000 dead pigs were found floating to Shanghai.