This film describes the life of some ordinary people in a small town in southern China. Among them, there is a guy just graduated from a college, a businessman, a government office worker, etc.. Although it is said that the country advances triumphantly and the economy develops rapidly, these ordinary people are in a miserable state. Because it is a time of money, they are dreaming of getting it as much as they can to change their poor fate, which seems impossible for them forever.

2003年SARS疫病前后，在湖南一座叫耀扬的小城里生存着这样一些人。宏伟和妻子经营着一家非法的麻将馆为生，却是麻烦不断。麻将馆隔壁非法同居着一对青年男女，牛振宇和王蓉，是打胎还是结婚，金钱与感情纷杂交织。阿紫下岗后几经起伏，最后开了一家按摩院，却要倚仗地痞小丘勉强维持。全城风行六合彩赌博，阿龙赌得很凶，输得一塌糊涂，但他认为没有其它出路。

这是一个纷乱无稽的底层世界，生存的悖论主宰着人们的生活，真实却荒谬。非典袭来，宏伟一家最终关了麻将馆到乡下送瘟神；王蓉无奈地打掉孩子，独自躲在黑暗的街角哭泣；阿紫和小丘在生意惨淡的焦虑中打闹，却演变成一场暴力；只有买六合彩的人们依旧狂热，但发财的梦想一个接着一个破灭。

一群年轻人在酒桌上谈论着过去、未来、生命、金钱、机会、江湖和命运；十六岁的按摩女在昏暗中力不从心地挤捏着，两具肉体在床上扭打、撕咬……