It describes that textile workers were brutally oppressed and exploited by capitalists and Kuomintang reactionaries in the old society. After liberation, they raised their class consciousness, showed their labor enthusiasm in labor competition, and created wealth for the country. At the same time criticize conservative and backward thinking and bureaucracy.

书生刘生（吕玉堃 饰）喜欢上了清纯可人的少女阿秀（周璇 饰），情投意合的两人在仙女像前私定终身。哪知道这段感情被刘生的舅舅给发现了，舅舅觉得阿秀出生低贱，和刘生门不当户不对，遂反对这门亲事。为了拆散刘生和阿秀，舅舅谎称刘生的母亲病重，将刘生召回了乡下老家。 当刘生发现自己被骗，愤愤返回城里时，却得到了阿秀已经嫁为人妻的噩耗。伤心欲绝的刘生在两人曾经许下誓言的仙女像前痛哭流涕，精疲力尽之后沉沉的睡去，做了一个奇怪的梦。梦中，刘生见到了一个和阿秀长得一模一样的女子，但她并非阿秀，而是仙女仙灵了。