In the snow, the merchant Zhang Yi and his wife Zhao, son Xiao-yu and daughter-in-law Lee feast at home. They see a man freezing at the gate and invite him to their place. This is Chen Hu, an attacker recently banished for non-payment from an inn. Good Zhang gives him money and clothes, and Xiao-yu liked Chen Hu so much that he takes him as a twin and companion. Zhao Sin-sun, chained to a wooden block, exiled for manslaughter, is being held past the house. He is also gifted, especially since he is the same name with the old mistress. Chen wants to take the prisoner's gifts, but to no avail. Chen and Zhao harbor mutual hatred.
Xiao-yu suffers from the fact that his wife has not been able to resolve the burden for 18 months. Chen, who has long wondered about a twin wife, assures Xiao-yu that in the Dongyue idol his wife will certainly receive relief. Xiao-yu and his wife hit the road with Chen. In pursuit of Zhang Yi and his wife. Not convincing Xiao-yu to stay, the father tears off half of his shirt as a keepsake and bites his son’s hand so that he knows how painful it is for parents to part with their children. Upon his return, the merchant Zhang finds burnt logs instead of a house. He is broke and goes with his wife to beg.
Chen Hu tells how he pushed Xiao-yu in the Yellow River and took his widow.Soon she had a son named Chen Bao. He is now 18 years old, he is engaged in hunting for tigers. But here he is going to the capital for an exam. His mother instructs him to find the merchant Zhang and gives half the shirt, but does not explain what it is. In the temple of Xiangposa on the way back, Bao, who became a chuangyuan, is confronted with poor old people (this is Zhang and his wife). They take the young man for Xiao-yu - he is so much like his father. The error is explained: folding together half the shirt, the old people recognize their grandson in Bao. Having conspired to meet them near Xuzhou, Bao leaves.
Arriving home, Bao learns from his mother the truth about himself. He chases after Chen Hu, who has gone somewhere. On the way to Xuzhou, Zhang and his wife were arrested by a guard, but Zhao Xing-sun, who had once been treated kindly by them, freed them. Upon learning of Chen Hu’s actions, he rushes to the wanted man. Meanwhile, the old people are faced with their son, Xiao-yu: it turns out he was saved and became a monk. Bao catches up with his “father” and wants to kill him; Chen Hu runs away, but Zhao grabs him. Finally everyone gets together, Xiao-yu finds a wife and son. The ruler of the region arrives and administers justice.
