The human comedy

Penniless and desperate for money, a married couple and a fuerdai cook up a fake kidnap for ransom scheme among themselves. Married couple Pu Tong and Mi La are as ordinary as can be. When their employers default on their compensation, they are unable to pay rent. Yang Xiao Wei is a fuerdai "second-generation rich" who is unloved by his own father. Xiao Wei owes Ba Ye a substantial sum of money that he has no way of paying off.