Zheng Gong-bi, ruler of Luoyang, escorts Yuan-he’s son to Chang'an exams. He is full of ambitious hopes.
In Chang'an, rich Zhao, nicknamed the Bull Muscles, and Liu Tao-hua, the little girl, gather for a picnic at Quijiangchi Lake. They are inviting Li Ya-hsian with them. During a feast on Li, a passing youth Yuan-hee is seen. He is invited to the table. He announces his intention to get closer to Lee. She warns that her "mother" will require a lot of money from him, but this does not stop the young man.
Two years have passed. A servant reports to old Zheng that, having forgotten about the exams, his son got married with the little girl, went broke, now lives in the shelter and sings at the funeral, that is, he is engaged in the most despicable craft. Zheng travels to the capital. Meanwhile, Li is loudly indignant at the cruelty of his mistress, who ruined and drove Yuan-he. Just at that time, a Yuan-hee funeral procession passes by. He is met by his father and beaten to a loss of consciousness. Abandoned like a corpse, Yuan-he saves Li, but the hostess again expels him from the house.
On a snowy day, Li sends a maid for Yuan-he and the impoverished Zhao Bull muscles to call them into the house and warm them. They do not have time to drink a cup of wine, as the mistress is and drives the miserable.Then Li Ya-xian announces his decision to redeem himself from the landlady and help Yuan-hee prepare for the exams again.
Time has passed. One day, a new county governor visits old Zheng. Zheng recognizes him as a son, but he renounces kinship. The old man realizes that his son owes his exaltation to Lee, and penetrates her with respect. Yuan-he and Li, who became his wife, enjoy wealth and family happiness. Upon learning that the new county governor is giving out generous alms, Zhao the Bull Muscles comes. Then the former mistress of Lee appears - she lost everything during the fire and now she is begging. Both are assisted. Now all that remains is to reconcile the father with his son, who does not want to forgive him for the cruel reprisal. But with Lee’s help, this is being settled.
