Synopsis

After Reform and Opening, farmers can finally leave the poor rural areas to find jobs in cities. However, the only jobs they can find are those dirty, tiring, dangerous and low-paid jobs that the people in the city don't want to do. From 1997 to 1998, in Nanjing, I filmed migrant workers engaged in different professions for this series of short films: "Scaffolders", "House Demolition Workers", "Cleaners", "Farmer-run Factory", and so on.

Shao Feng, a farmer, comes from Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. Because of fierce competition from local enterprises, Shao Feng moved his wife, children, mother and sister to Nanjing. They borrow money to buy equipment, rent workshops, and set up hardware processing plants; here, they process small parts and spray paint on equipment.

This film tracks their family life, their desire to set up factories, and their plans for the future. As time passed, though the family had a lot of work, they were unable to collect payments and could not find regular customers; they got into financial trouble. After initially struggling, Shao Feng admitted his failure. He sold his equipment, and prepared to go home and think about how to start a new business.