The Road

The ticket controller Li is a little ray of sunshine to the passengers of the rural bus line, for with every ticket she also sells a smile, which outshines some mishaps and shortcomings. Everybody loves her including the much older bus driver Master Cui in his own silent, reserved way. When it almost seems that her whole life will continue like this – a bus ride without ups and downs – she meets the love of her life: Liu, a doctor from Shanghai. One look and all of a sudden Li's life is ruled by passion and sexual desire. When she gives in to temptation, the prudish Chinese society of the 70’s punishes her for this brief sexual encounter. Also, she will never be able to see Dr. Liu again. Master Cui offers to marry her to save her honour but this relationship is ill-fated as well.