Set amidst China's Cultural Revolution of the 1970s, this tragedy centers on the experiences of Rabbit, a sickly young boy who is sent to live on the banks of the Yangtze river with his beautiful Aunt Lotus and great-uncle after his father is sent to a work camp. Rabbit's mother is an actress in a traveling troupe and cannot bring him along. The boy is dreamy and distant and walks in his sleep at night. While there, he becomes tentative friends with Shiu Chuan, a sleazy boatman who often says cruel things about the boy's father. Though very quiet and dazed seeming, Rabbit keenly observes that Shiu Chuan is sexually attracted to Lotus. One day Rabbit is rude to Shiu Chuan and ends up beaten-up and humiliated. Much later, Shiu Chuan, unable to contain his lust, tries to rape Lotus who faints from shock. The boatman, believing he killed her, quickly tries to bury her. When Chen shows up looking for her, Shiu Chuan panics and kills him. It is Lotus' pet water buffalo who finds her half buried and saves her life while Rabbit looks on. The great creature then heads off to get revenge upon Shiu Chuan.