Tashi loves following her mother, aunt, and other women from her village to the tea plantation every day, where the older women load young green tea leaves into large baskets for the cruel, demanding plantation overseer. One day, however, Tashi's mother falls ill, and Tashi knows she must find a way to pay for a doctor. She tries to harvest tea herself, but the plants are taller than she is, and she is unable to reach the young leaves the overseer requires. Tashi retreats sadly to her favorite hideout, a rocky enclave full of friendly monkeys. When confides her troubles to the monkeys, they come up with a spectacular way to help her. Thanks to the monkeys, Tashi is able to support herself and her mother for the rest of their lives.