A Silk-Thread Marriage
A wicked premier, Chang Wei-to, who relies on the “Free from Death” gold medal conferred by the king, does every kind of evil things without fear. However, he is knocked down by Duke Ding-kuo, who uses a golden whip given by the king’s father. Chang is banished and lives in Chung Mou District. Without correcting his bad character, he seizes boys and girls, and causes the people of the district suffer very much. One day,he seizes an orphan girl, white Jade, into his house and sends her brother, Kin Ko, in custody to the magistrate of the district, asking him to deport the young man to prevent his revenge.
The magistrate, who is a righteous man and a trusted follower of the Duke, arouses suspicion of the case. He makes inquiries carefully and finds out the true facts. He then gives a plan to Kin Ko, telling him to sneak into Chang’s house to find his sister.
Chang presses White Jade to become his concubine. She refuses and is beaten and locked up. A maid-servant of Chang’s daughter pities her and promises to save her in due course.
Kin Ko disguises himself as a silk-thread hawker. By chance, he is called into Chang’s house by the maid-servant. Realizing he is White Jade’s brother, she tells him where his sister is. She also gives him a purse as she has fallen in love with him. The maid-servant takes the opportunity to persuade the young lady to release White Jade. Just when White Jade is to be released, Chang discovers her disapperence and orders to search the whole house. The maid-servant advises the young lady to escape by the back door , and tells him to report the case to the magistrate.
Chang’s daughter, although she has promised to release White Jade at first, now changes her mind and denies having seen the orphan girl in order to save her father’s face. The magistrare orders his guards to search for White Jade, but she is nowhere. Chang begins to rose and shouts to his men to put the magistrate into custody. However, in the nake of time, the maid-servant appears with White Jade. Seeing this, the magistrate orders Chang to be arrested. Suddenly, Chang’s daughter shows the “Free from Death” gold medal out. The magistrate becomes hesitated. Fortunately, the magistrate’s chief attendent comes in time with some guards in the disguise of the Duke’s followers and bringing with them the Duke’s golden whip which is false. Thinking the whip is a genuine one, Chang surrenders himself. The maid-servant and Kin Ko marry at last.