Lan Fang Cao's Visit to the Prison

Lan Fang Cao and his family live in Dengfeng County, in Henan Province in central China. It is an area frequently hit by floods and famine, making life very hard.

Lan Fang Cao's wife has died shortly after giving birth to the couple's two sons, leaving Lan Fang Cao to raise the boys alone. Life is difficult until the boys reach adulthood. Lan Fang Cao's elder son marries a young woman named Wang, and they have a baby girl named Guijie. Only then does Lan Fang Cao start to think about himself, marrying Xu, who has a son named Zhongcai from her previous marriage. One year, the region is again hit by flooding, followed by famine. Lan's two sons have no option but to join the army to earn a living. At the same time, Lan travels to the province of Xiangyang to collect past-due bills from his business partner.

After the men have gone, Xu vents her jealousy on Wang — wife of Lan's elder son — because Wang is young and beautiful, and has been a favourite within the Lan family since her arrival. Xu finds an excuse to kick Wang out of the house, forcing her to work at the local mill, and forcing Wang's daughter Guijie to carry water from the lake, despite her tender years. Xu uses every possible means to humiliate Wang and Guijie.

Xu's own son Zhongcai sees the hardships suffered by his sister-in-law and niece, and often helps them by taking over the hardest work whenever he can. Meanwhile, he tries to persuade his mother not to mistreat Wang and her daughter. Xu refuses to listen to her son, and his kindness actually makes things worse. Xu later decides to set a fire to burn Wang and Guijie to death. Zhongcai discovers the plot and, although it is the middle of the night, he immediately sends the little girl Guijie to her grandmother's village. Wang is also warned, and temporarily moves to a relative's home in another village.

Wang is so grateful that she starts to prepare lunch as a treat for Zhongcai. Blood from the chicken accidentally splashes on Zhongcai's shirt as Wang is preparing the meal. She asks Zhongcai to take another shirt and leave the stained one with her for cleaning. At lunch, Zhongcai receives news of his stepbrothers from the villagers, and travels to see them because he is tired of what is happening at home.

Xu does not see her son Zhongcai for a while and starts to worry about him. She is informed that her son was last seen in Wang's village, so she goes to the house where Wang is staying. In the house she sees the bloodstained shirt and immediately goes to court, accusing Wang of murdering Zhongcai. Wang is tortured and sentenced to death.

Lan Fang Cao is robbed on his journey, and has to beg his way home. When he finally arrives home, it is to a family that has been torn apart. He visits Wang in prison, where he learns the truth, but cannot find a way to rescue her. His two sons who had joined the army have fought bravely, and have both been promoted. During a parade commending them for meritorious service, Lan's sons run into their stepbrother Zhongcai. The brothers are all very happy about the reunion and Zhongcai is sent back home for news. On his way home, Zhongcai passes the site where Wang is about to be executed. Shocked, he dismounts and comes to her rescue. Wang finally returns home with the help of the three brothers.

At home, Lan Fang Cao condemns Xu for what she has done. Wang is a virtuous woman and does not want revenge, instead asking for mercy on Xu's behalf. Xu is very sorry and is moved by Wang's mercy. Meanwhile the three brothers return home with honours from the Emperor, the family reunites, and they all live happily ever after.