A silent film based on the legend of Hua Mulan, released by Tianyi Film Company and directed by Li Pingqian. This silent film holds the distinction of being the first ever full-length feature film about Hua Mulan. Mulan is betrothed to a young man when war arrives and their wedding ceremony has to be put on hold. As her fiancé enlists in the army, so too does the filial Mulan, disguised as a man in place of her ailing father. These new plot twists lead to comedic moments when Mulan encounters her fiancé during training and he does not recognize her.

一群刚从大学里毕业的年青人踏进了社会，他们在人生的海洋里浮沉着。自命风流的沈梦飞竭力追求同学刘汉云（刘琼饰）的妹妹刘青云（李红饰）。两人实行同居后，沈梦飞又另有新欢，将青云抛弃。青云想投江自杀，被哥哥汉云劝阻。诚朴的王时英（王竹友饰），原先也有意于青云，后来看到青云被抛弃，遂重拾旧好。遇事悲观的裴万里，因生活的压迫和失业的苦闷，更感到前途的渺茫，顿生厌世之念，跳楼自杀。刘汉云一向对人生抱着虚无主义，感到“人生有如一阵烟”，经历了许多现实的教训之后，终于改变了他的悲观哲学。最后，汉云、时英和青云安葬了万里之后，领悟到“非竭力奋斗，则无以求生”，于是共同走向新生活。
影片根据苏联作家阿志跋绥夫的小说《沙宁》改编。

Tang Bohu is smitten by the stunning beauty of Qiuxiang, the maid of Grand Tutor Hua, during his visit to a monastery in Suzhou. Stalking the maid, Tang's affections are finally reciprocated with three charming smiles. To approach the fair maid, Tang seeks work in the Grand Tutor residence as a study companion, and his talents win Hua's attention. As a frustrated suitor, he turns to his resourceful friend Zhu Zhishan for help.