Seafood

Zhang Xiaomei Jin Zi is a prostitute living in Beijing When relationship problems with her boyfriend erupt she flees to the resort city of Beidaihe and takes a room in a small hotel where she contemplates committing suicide There she meets a young poet The next morning she wakes and learns that the poet has slit his wrists When the police arrive she meets Deng Jianguo Cheng Taisheng a middleaged officer who questions her over the poets death Their relationship soon grows increasingly complicated as Deng learns of Xiaomeis plans to commit suicide Over the course of several days he takes her to eat seafood dinners extolling the virtues and health benefits of the diet including a claim that it makes him a more potent lover When Xiaomei tries to commit suicide in a nearby town she is thwarted by Deng who brings her back to Beidaihe and proceeds to rape her Xiaomei eventually leaves the seaside town for Beijing again