Teahouse can be watched online for free.

The corrupt Qing Dynasty was on the verge of collapse, yet Beijing's Yutai Teahouse, under the meticulous management of its young and astute owner, Wang Lifa, presented a scene of prosperity. However, behind this apparent flourishing lay various suffocating dark aspects, foreshadowing the inevitable fate of the fall of the Qing Empire. Eventually, with the arrival of the Republic of China after Yuan Shikai's death, warlords divided the nation, leading to incessant civil wars and widespread suffering among the people. Despite his efforts to improve the teahouse and reopen it, Mr. Wang remained deeply concerned about the turbulent society, which made running the teahouse increasingly difficult. Over the years, despite enduring the hardships of Japanese occupation in Beijing, the teahouse continued to operate under the struggling support of the aging Wang Lifa. Yet, the oppression of the Nationalist Party and American imperialism kept the people in dire straits. Wang Lifa felt utterly desperate and powerless. Before he prepared to leave the world, he encountered Chang Siyi, who had been arrested by the Qing government decades ago, and Qin Erzi, who had failed in his industrial endeavors. The three elderly men jointly reviewed their experiences over nearly half a century, their desolate voices lingering long in the air. Finally, Wang Lifa, alone, gazed upward at the roof, searching for a place to hang himself.