THE LADY OF LUTE (TSUI NG NAN)

Synopsis

　Tsui Ng Nan was married to a scholar Choi Pak Kei. She was not only noted for her beauty and intelligence, but she was also a perfect wife as well as a dutiful daughter-in-law in the eyes of her neighbour Cheung Kong Chai

　It had been Choi’s greatest desire to get the highest graduate from the Government, however, he didn’t want to leave his aged parents behind for the examination. But on the other hand, Choi’s father wished his son to achieve fame and success, and to be somebody in his field, so he bitterly reproached Choi for having no ambition to aim high, and finally compelled the latter to set off for the public examination.

　Before leaving, Choi entrusted his family to the care of his friend and neighbour, Cheung Kong Chai.

　After a hard study, Choi was ultimately awarded the highest graduate, and the Prime Minister seeing Choi a bright young promising youth, offer to give him his daughter in hand of marriage in spite of Choi’s protest. Even though Choi had attempted to resign from his official rank if he was compelled to marry again, however, his resignation was turned down and the marriage was finally held. After the wedding Choi still resided in the capital city with his newly wed bride and father-in-law.

　During this time, a draught was just happening in the town where Tsui Ng Nan and her folks lived. Everywhere was dry and rainless, and with the little food she got, she all reserved for her father and mother-in-law. At first, Choi’s parents thought that she had already reserved enough food for herself, but when they learned of the truth, they were deeply touched at her filial pity, and eventually refused to take all the food from her. As time passed, they could no longer stand with the little food they had, thus they became weaker and weaker in strength, and finally Choi’s parents died of hunger and old age. Taking pity, Cheung helped Tsui Ng Nan to bury her folks, and in addition gave her a sum of money enough for her trip to find her husband. So with the little sum of money and a guitar, Ng Nan sang her way to the city.

　Meanwhile, Choi who was now living luxuriously with his present wife, did not feel happy at all, for his heart was always feeling guilty of deserting Tsui Ng Nan and his aged parents behind. His wife didn’t know of his story, and seeing how unhappy he was, she begged her husband to tell her the problem that was actually bothering him day and night. When Niu, his wife, finally learned of the truth, she felt very sorry for the error she had committed as she didn’t know that Choi had a wife beforehand. Wishing to pay back for the wrong she had done, Niu begged her father to permit Choi to return to his own native town.

　It came to pass that Tsui Ng Nan finally arrived at the city and found to her knowledge that Choi had already married to somebody else. Amidst agony and anger, Ng Nan took her leave. Later when Choi learned of his wife's visit, and saw the guitar that she had left behind, he immediately set off his pursuit, and met Ng Nan on the way, who ultimately forgave Choi after much persuasion, and they both rode towards a homeward journey to their own town for retirement.

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