The Butterfly Chalice

(Synopsis)

Fisherman Hu Yen and his pretty daughter Feng-lien live in Wuchang, Hupei province. One day, while selling his catch at the market, he inadvertently arouses the anger of the playboy son of Governor Lu Lin, and is beaten to death.

It so happens that Yu-chuan, upright son of Magistrate Tien Yun-shan, sees the incident. His conscience prompts him to avenge the old fisherman's death by killing the playboy.

Yu-chuan flees to a river bank where, by coincidence, he is rescued by a fishergirl. She is none other than Feng-lien, daughter of the hapless Hu Yen. Learning that the young man is her father's avenger, she hides him in her boat and ferries him across the river pursued by many soldiers.

As a token of his love and appreciation, Yu-chuan presents his "saviour" with an heirloom in the form of a jade chalice carved with a butterfly design. He escapes to the mountains while Feng-lien tells his noble deed and whereabouts to his parents. She also makes a big scene at the governor's office, protesting against the killing of her father by the governor's son.

The governor issues a warrant for the arrest of Yu-chuan who is still at large.

Sometime later, while on a campaign to crush local bandits, the governor is surrounded by the outlaws, only to be rescued by a young man who claims to bear the name of "Yu-chuan." In gratitude, Governor Lu Lin adopts him as his own son. But he is not aware of the fact that this "Yu-chuan" and the Yu-chuan wanted for the murder of his son are one and the same person.

This situation later develops into a major court case, following the discovery of the true identity of "Yu-chuan." The governor is willing to let bygones be bygones and decrees that the warrant for the arrest of his son's killer be revoked. Henceforth, the families of Lu the Governor and Tien the Magistrate become good friends.

But Feng-lien, the daughter of the murdered fisherman, mistakenly thinks that Yu-chuan now despises the poor and fawns upon the rich. In disgust, she returns the butterfly chalice to Yu-chuan.

After some explanation by all concerned, the misunderstanding is cleared up and Feng-lien and Yu-chuan are happily married.