The Chinese Groove follows 18-year-old Shelley, who is a member of the reviled Zheng family, which resides in the Yunnan Province in China. He is a big dreamer, but doesn’t have many opportunities to pursue in his homeland. Eventually, he decides to immigrate from his native China and go to San Francisco so that he could pursue a better and more fulfilling life. Growing up, his family imbued in him the tremendous power that the so-called “Chinese groove,” or a sense of brotherhood that exists among countrymen that transcends borders, could have on his life.
However, upon arrival, Shelley's expectations of what the United States is like are shattered. Quickly, Shelley discovers that his uncle who he had thought was wealthy is really an unemployed second cousin. That same “uncle” offered to give Shelley accommodations for the foreseeable future. But Shelley quickly discovers that those accommodations are far from luxurious. In fact, he is living on a sofa. To make matters worse, his uncle and his family are torn apart by a recent tragedy which has transformed their world, leaving Shelley feeling unwelcome and alone.
Despite the setbacks that he faces, Shelley remains undaunted and comes up with a plan to win over his family and bring them back together. He also hatches a plan to gain success in America. To do so, Shelley wants to prove his worth to them by demonstrating how powerful the “Chinese Groove” is and what positive effects it can have on a person’s life. And because of his determination and perseverance, Shelly is able to make the American dream a reality for him and his new family. Ultimately, Shelley succeeds in creating a solid life for himself and his family. Through sheer perseverance, hard work, and the aforementioned “Chinese groove,” Shelley is able to create a life which anyone, especially an immigrant who didn't come from much, would be proud of.
