A-Mao spends his days exploring with his little sister and his buddy A-Bao. When they are hungry, there are sweet potatoes and snails to eat, and sometimes they can eat some of the pork belly that his mother gets as a gift. His father cannot find work and is depressed, often drinking. Apart from washing people's clothes, A-Mao's mother prostitutes herself in exchange for pork to feed her family. A-Mao hears his parents quarrelling and he understands where the pork belly comes from. He starts to detest his mother and refuses to eat the pork belly that he once liked so much.
Feng runs away from her rural home to pursue singing in Taipei but is trafficked to Japan as a prostitute. Years later, she returns to Taiwan, burdened by guilt and avoiding her family while secretly sending money home. Her brother Ming, now a police officer, searches for her, unaware of the life she now leads. Their paths cross under difficult circumstances, forcing both siblings to confront their past and present.
Chang Yun-kuang, a driver supporting his family, runs a claw machine business on the side to make ends meet. When his estranged father reappears, Yun-kuang avoids confrontation, instead finding solace in observing the lively interactions of players and machine owners. As he learns from their stories, his life starts to transform, pushing him to finally reach for what truly matters and reclaim the "prize" he has been missing all along.
Joy, a fishing village girl who dreams of becoming a captain, and her friends Smelly and Beans always fantasize about the vast sea beyond the breakwaters. They secretly plan to build a small boat together during winter vacation, aiming for an adventurous voyage before Smelly leaves the village.
This is a story of reminiscence, remembering my long-deceased Grandpa. To remember is to transcend, therefore it’s a story of time and space, overlapped and intertwined. It’s also a quest of love and work, a spiritual and emotional journey; and through which values are re-examined and life reaffirmed.