The narrator introduces us to a young man named Xiaoshu, who has been living in the big city of Shanghai for a month. He has decided to return to his hometown and become a farmer. He tells us that before he leaves, he wants to see his cousin, who he has lost contact with for many years. When he sees the man he recognizes as his colleague, he realizes that the man looks just like him. He asks why the man is acting like he's not his cousin. The man explains that his cousin has always been cheerful and positive, and that he is going to conquer the city. The young man declares that he will visit his family in the coolest possible way. He says that he has never been able to visit them before, because they were too naive to believe that he would achieve great things in life. He wants to go home now, he says, even though his cousin is not able to live up to his own expectations.