Shaomin appears in the first segment of an anthology film. His story focuses on nostalgia for his Hunan province youth, marked by deep emotional bonds formed over shared rice-noodle bowl meals with his grandmother. These culinary experiences symbolize comfort, familial love, and cultural roots, defining his formative years.

As an adult living in an urban setting, Shaomin perceives his daily life as dull beside the vibrant joys of his childhood. The closure of his grandmother's favored local restaurant and her subsequent death deepen his sense of loss, underscoring the irretrievable nature of past comforts. His reflections highlight themes of transience and the late appreciation of cherished youthful experiences.

Shaomin's development involves reconciling these memories with his present existence. By revisiting his past, he reconnects with foundational values of simplicity and emotional warmth, using these reflections to navigate adult disillusionment. His journey emphasizes introspection and the lasting influence of early experiences on personal identity, internalizing his emotional conflict without externalizing it through dialogue or action.