What audience needs to know in order to appreciate this film is the harsh living conditions of Chinese conditions when this film was made: Teaching, especially teaching in elementary, junior high and even high schools is not a highly paid profession. In fact, in many backward area of China, teachers could not receive their salary on time. Even if urban areas, teaching is among the low-income jobs, below than average factory workers. Things did not improve until the late 1990's and it took a great dedication to be a teacher in China in the era of this film.