Y read his wife's text messages and found out about her affair with Chung, her old classmate. He began to search for ways to win back her affections, all the while reflecting on their past with all the hardships and struggles involved with their survival during the Vietnam War, the aftermath, and the open door policy.
Y resorted to many different methods in his attempts to win her back, even magic. But his wife Loan, having felt mistreated and humiliated by a thoughtless and aggressive husband, was determined to get a divorce. Chung decided to stop his affair with Loan when his wife had learned about it.
Loan, again feeling humiliated by Chung, vowed to revenge herself on Y and his friends who had helped him with his effort.
Y and Loan eventually got reunited but their life is as it had always been, in dire poverty, got into more bad debts while trying to get out of them.
Life goes on and Y strengthens his faith in God.