Five Golden Flowers

Ah Peng is on his way to the opening day of Dali's March Fair when a wagon carrying a group of girls breaks down. He stops to fix it, risking delay but showing his skill and courtesy. Jin Hua notices his kindness as she carefully stores his tools in her handcrafted pouch.

Despite being late, Ah Peng pushes hard and overtakes his rivals to win the horse race. The crowd roars with support, and Jin Hua and her friends cheer for him from the stands. The victory marks the moment his admiration for Jin Hua begins to blossom.

After the race, Jin Hua finds Ah Peng and returns his pouch, signaling the start of something more. He is struck by her kindness and the distinctive embroidery she wears, which deepens his attraction. The moment seeds the memory that will grow into love.

At Butterfly Spring, Ah Peng and Jin Hua express their love through a Bai duet. He offers his steel knife as a pledge of faithfulness, and she promises to meet him again at the same place the next March Fair. She also reveals her name, Jin Hua, sealing their connection in song.

A year passes and Jin Hua does not appear at Butterfly Spring as promised. Gripped by longing, Ah Peng sets out to find her along the Cang Mountain, clinging to the belief that their bond endures. He begins a determined search that will span the region.

To follow the thread of Jin Hua, Ah Peng offers to work as a coachman for two cultural workers collecting songs and painting scenery. He travels with them toward the mountains, keeping hope alive that he will locate Jin Hua. His commitment shows his readiness to change his life for love.

During the journey, they meet the first Jin Hua—a manure collector who is not the one Ah Peng seeks. He helps her by lifting a sickle from the lake, demonstrating his steadfastness even when the intended reunion remains elusive. This encounter reinforces his belief that Jin Hua's name is common in the region.

Next, they encounter a second Jin Hua, a stockyard worker who is busy with cattle. Ah Peng tries to win her over by singing their shared song outside her window, but she misreads his intentions and throws a bucket of water at him. Undeterred, he continues his search for the true Jin Hua.

They reach the foot of the Cang Mountain and join a rescue of female foundry workers from a bear attack on a hillside. The third Jin Hua appears among them, showing Ah Peng a piece of ore. He uses his foundry experience to estimate the ore contains up to 60% iron.

The group arrives at a commune tractor station where a wedding is underway and the bride, also named Jin Hua, is a tractor driver. Ah Peng mistakes the bride for his Jin Hua, suffers heartbreak, and resolves to return to the Butterfly Spring to remember the day they met.

Ah Peng leaves the wedding and runs into the Jin Hua he rescued from the bear attack, who is entangled in a quarrel with her husband over iron production. He learns that the beloved Jin Hua he seeks is the commune's vice-president, linking his personal longing to community leadership. The revelation reframes his search and intentions.

With Jin Hua from the foundry backing him, Ah Peng dedicates himself to work in the foundry. His expertise helps increase iron production, and Jin Hua praises his skill and loyalty. She also supports him emotionally as he heals from past heartbreak and moves toward a new future.

Yang, the foundry director, grows jealous, but Jin Hua's influence as vice-president helps calm tensions and protect Ah Peng. Their collaboration restores trust within the community and strengthens their bond. The duo's united front marks a turning point toward reconciliation.

Ah Peng and Jin Hua finally reunite at Butterfly Spring, where other Jin Hua pairs and their lovers gather for a final chorus. The hillside reverberates with celebration as their love is confirmed in the presence of the community. The film closes on a hopeful note of belonging and shared future.