On a freezing night near the end of shier yue, a young teen is sent from his adoptive family's home to sell bundles of fire sticks on the streets. The family, whose fortunes have dwindled and whose father is a useless opium addict, is ruled by a cruel mother, and he fears returning and being beaten by her since she has openly detested him since he was taken in. The blizzard outside is relentless, and he finds himself in a life-or-death situation, with nobody to help him.