The Sun dignitary, Fan Tian-zhang, invited the nobles — Han Qi, Lu Yi-jian and Liu-yanei, to his council. In Chenzhou, famine is due to the drought. The sovereign ordered to open warehouses and sell rice to the people at an affordable price. To do this, send two honest officials. Liu offers his son Liu De-chung and son-in-law Yang Jin-u. Han does not like these fellows, but Liu vouches for them, and then he himself teaches them how to cash in on the assigned business.

Upon arrival, Liu and Yang call the storekeepers and are told to double the price of rice, use the wrong measures and weights. Those are happy to try. The hungry people grumble, but are forced to endure robbery. Appear old Zhang Bi-gu with his son. The old man boldly enters into a dispute with deceivers. An enraged Liu hits him on the head with a golden hammer - a sign of his power. The dying Zhang, continuing to shower curses on villains, tells his son to go to the capital and complain to the righteous judge Bao Zheng.

Fan is once again gathering advice - he heard rumors about the atrocities happening in Chenzhou. Heading to Fan, Liu-yaney is confronted by complainant Zhang Jr. Liu impersonates Bao Zheng, but the deception fails. Zhang tells Bao about his misfortune. At the council, Liu denies the guilt of his son and son-in-law.Bao, who initially asked for retirement, is volunteered to go to Chenzhou and find out the truth.

Approaching Chenzhou, Bao Zheng disguises herself as a peasant and meets a walking girl Wang, whom Liu, Jr. and Yang often visit, giving her a golden rod. Bao gets to their feast under the guise of a maid's servant. Angry at his disrespect, the villains are ordered to hang the old man; Bao saves the appearance of a servant with the news of the approach of a formidable judge.

Local officials are getting ready for Bao's arrival. The trial begins. Bao quickly proves the guilt of both villains and condemns them to death. Racing to the sovereign amnesty, Liu-yaney was late - now only Zhang, who avenged his father, needed it.