Aye Altay, a Turkic Muslim woman living in Far West China, has a problem. She is single and pregnant; and the father of her child wants only to destroy her and her people. Set in China in the year 2028, Ayes challenge of Chinese colonialist authority at her university ends in her detention and reeducation. Through this ordeal, she meets and falls in love with a young Chinese Communist Party member. Aye becomes pregnant. Her lover is transferred to Beijing to deal with civil unrest that is sweeping the country at the time. She sets out to journey across the vast country to reunite with her lover to form a family. However, the trip is one in which she discovers the betrayal and newfound loyalties that change the future of her people and all of China.