Westerners Andy Dutton and Danny Cole teach English in China. Despite being unqualified, and because of the passports they carry, they have high salaries and special social statuses. These undue privileges have corrupted both of them. They act superior, drink excessively and visit brothels.

The school where they work has a reputation for being a fake. The principal, Peter Li, wants to transform the school into one with an elite global reputation. His plan involves getting the school accredited by the International Diploma Organization. To meet accreditation requirements, he begins the process of replacing the likes of Andy and Danny with real professional teachers, like Glenn Whitman.

Glenn, however, turns out to be troublesome. He draws attention to academic malpractices at the school and demands reform, or else threatens to jeopardize the school’s accreditation by the IDO.