Writer Gao moves into a new apartment neighboring rude Zhang and his wife. The Zhangs have already forced four neighbor families to leave for different disputes. Now they are clashing with cadre Liu because of a dog issue.
Wang Shuangli is Deputy Director of the local Cultural Centre, and hopes to be appointed Director. However Old Ma is brought in from the country and installed as Director. This starts a long train of events with Wang's cronies using the bureaucracy to try to oust the new director.
Journalist Gou Yujia (played by Niu Zhenhua), laid-off female worker Cheng Fen (played by Ding Jiali), individual business owner Lv Dou (played by Wang Jinsong), and wealthy man Lao Cha (played by Ju Hao) are members of Class 1025 at the driving school, practicing under the guidance of Coach Hou, a retired soldier. As time passes, they gradually understand each other's habits. This period of time at the driving school is filled with twists and turns, but all challenges are overcome, and the covert and overt struggles among the five end with the smooth passage of the exams. The experiences at the driving school bring out the joys and sorrows of these five individuals, and besides learning the rules of driving, it seems they have also learned the rules of survival.
