This is a novel about a Chinese mother, Li-yan, from the Akha hill tribe, and her daughter, Haley, who is adopted by an American family. The story follows their parallel lives, connected by the cultivation and trade of Pu'er tea, as Li-yan navigates tradition and modernity, and Haley grows up in California, both searching for their origins and a sense of belonging. The book explores themes of family, culture, and the impact of the modern world on a remote community, using tea as a central thread.