桂美獨自來臺，不僅要精打細算，還得面對嗜賭如命的丈夫和畏懼她的繼子們。為補貼家用，她曾遠赴日本當傭人，並在餐館工作。返臺後，桂美開設餐廳，盼望過上安穩生活，卻接連遭遇丈夫外遇、大女兒未婚懷孕等挑戰。即使罹癌，她仍默默承擔，而餐廳卻成了子女們爭奪的財產。本片深刻描繪女性在家庭中的掙扎，反映臺北過去 25 年的社會變遷。

Kuei-mei escapes the Chinese Civil War in the 1950s, arriving in Taiwan alone. She marries a wastrel, works as a waitress, and endures relentless hardships, from a ruthless boss to unruly children. Her life reflects the struggles of many migrants and Taiwan's transformation into an 'Asian tiger economy.' The 1960s saw rapid industrialisation, with its complex impacts on society. This social realist epic spans three decades, illustrating the personal and societal challenges faced during a time of significant change.