Scenes featuring protagonists in five stand-alone stories of the film, one played by Huang Bo. [Photo provided to China Daily]

In the first tale, Ning's directorial effort recounts the story of a Beijing parking lot cashier's "scheme" to help his poor uncle pay off expensive hospital bills through his own medical insurance by having his sick relative masquerade as him.

While Chen's segment sparks thought about the proper way to boost rural tourism through the "mystery" of a supposed unidentified flying object sighted in Guizhou province, Xu's latest outing reflects the economic development in rural Zhejiang province through a tear-jerking tale about a former village teacher.

Peng and Yan's story－set in northeastern China－highlights primary-level officials' devotion, through a slapstick romp about a husband's good-hearted lie. Actor-director Deng, alongside his longtime collaborator, scriptwriter-turned-filmmaker Yu, helms a road movie that highlights efforts to combat desertification in northern China's Maowusu Desert.