Both he and Shuan Shi decide to run away when they accompany the child, Chang Chun, on a visit to a nearby temple. Leaving him kow- towing in the temple, they are about to board the mule cart when they see Hei Tsui and an employee of the wine shop looking for them. They leave by another route. But Shuan Shi, her ankle hurt, is unable to proceed.
Meanwile Chang Chun follows their footsteps in desperation. He shouts their names and, finally, comes upon them in an embrace. Childishly, he shouts that “big brother” has abducted his wife and, in an attempt to stop him, Tsuen sees the child overbalance at the edge of a cliff and fall to his death.
After his death, Mrs. Meng successfully resists all relatives’ attempts to gain
control of the family fortune and offers Tsuen management of the shop. But Tsuen, hounded by the image of the dead child, cannot work. Visited by Hei Tsui, he spurns her and arouses an insane jealousy in her.
During the widow’s illness, Shuan Shi reveals to Tsuen that she is with his child. Desperate, he purchases poison to kill the widow and to prevent her hearing the news.
He puts the poison in the widow’s medicine but, at her bedside, she tells both that she has made a will leaving all to be shared between them. Torn by remorse, Tsuen confesses his murderous intention and Shuan Shi reveals she is pregnant. The shock kills the widow.
Eavesdropping outside, Hei Tsui hears all this and rouses the villagers, who hound Tsuen and Shuan Shi to a barn. Cornered, they set fire to the place and prepare to die in each other’s arms — victims of an outmoded tradition.
— The End. —