Petite but determined Yu Hing is working as a museum research assistant when a Japanese man, Tao, inquires about a piece of Chinese calligraphy entitled "The Cold Food Observance". Yu Ching sees an opportunity here both for romance and for the healing of her friendship with an emotionally repressed pal, Dong Heng, as the artwork is the center point of a book Dong is writing. However, Dong reacts with jealousy.
Taipei in the 1970's was a very intolerant place for homosexuals. This story is about a young man named A Qing whose family cut him off because of his sexual orientation.
Chicken Feet assists in running an honorable gambling den owned by the crippled Uncle Fan and his son Kit. Having previously tried to shut down the gambling den and take over by paralyzing Fan and framing Kit for another man's murder, ruthless local Triad boss, James goes a step further by murdering Fan. Driven only by money and the pursuit of two valuable 'Jade stones', James kidnaps Kit's daughter so he will surrender gambling in order for James to win the upcoming Championship. Despite Kit's wish to live a life of peace, Chicken Feet finds the Jade Stones and along with his partner, Lin plots his own revenge against James.