The Willow Song

By the river bend lies Hewan Village, where for generations the villagers have woven baskets and hampers from riverside willow branches. Among the old willow-weaving artisans, Aunt Liu Er is the finest. Her granddaughter Liu Ya works as a designer in the city, but she quits her job and returns to the village, determined to turn willow weaving into a brand. A shady export dealer, Boss Qian, wants to buy willow goods cheap and resell them for a quick profit. After tricking the village into filling a huge order, he runs off. Undaunted, Liu Ya leads the aunts in building their own online shop, livestreaming their weaving, and creating original designs, restoring the reputation of Hewan willow weaving. A pair of hands and a bundle of willow branches weave together a livelihood—and the very lifeblood of a craft.