She Marries Her Sister's Fiance

—The Story—

Chang Yew Wong decorates his house beautifully as he is expecting his future son-in-law, Mao Wen Kan, to come to marry his elder daughter, So Hua, as soon as the result of the Spring National Examination is out. So Hua, however, looks sad in her room, because her future husband is a poor man.

Mao, who has obtained the degree of the No. l Scholar of The Year in the Spring National Examination, comes to the house in shabby clothes, pretending he has failed in the Examination. Chang does not mind his future son-in-law's failure, and still receives him heartily.

Hearing there are sounds of music in the street, So Hua becomes cheerful, thinking Mao is successful in the Examination. But, when she finds out Mao has failed and the music is played for her wedding ceremony, she immediately turns angry and refuses to be married. Her father persuades her again and again, but in vain. So Mei, Chang's younger daughter, seeing her father in the awkward predicament, agrees to take her sister's place to marry Mao.

Suddenly, music sounds again, a band of men bring in head-wears and the imperial order given by the emperor to So Mei. Relatives and villagers begin to realize that Mao has gained the degree of No. 1 Scholar of The Year in the National Examination, and that his disguise is only to test whether So Hua loves him or not.

After finding out what happens, So Hua is greatly socked. She runs out immediately to ask Mao to forgive her and take her home as his wife. Mao just says "See you again!" and goes away with So Mei.