Two young women from Beijing, Wang Lan and Li Yan, arrived in the UK in the early 1990s. Wang Lan, a strong and independent woman who had recently experienced heartbreak, possessed a family-inherited skill in acupuncture. However, at that time, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine had not yet gained widespread acceptance among the British public. Could she find work treating patients and survive in this society? When faced with the romantic advances of a dashing English doctor who initially looked down on her and dismissed acupuncture, as well as a Chinese man she once had a love-hate relationship with, who should she choose? Could she find her true love?

Li Yan, in contrast, was not an independent woman. Her sole aim was to marry a wealthy man and enjoy a life of comfort and leisure. Would she be able to achieve her goal?

The experiences of these young women and their romantic partners prompt readers to consider how men and women should choose the path to happiness.