
A heated dispute erupts when a bitter quarrel between a proud merchant family and a crafty matchmaker turns violent. The matchmaker, feigning tears and innocence, manipulates the local magistrate’s aide, Hou Deng, into believing she has been wronged by the merchant’s son, Qǐ Zǐfù. She spins a tale of insults and broken promises, prompting Hou to hatch a scheme to trap the family by using two petty thieves as unwitting pawns.
Hou’s plan quickly spirals when the thieves are seized and, under pressure, point the finger at Qǐ’s household as the hideout for stolen treasures. The magistrate’s men storm the tofu shop, discovering a hidden bundle of valuables that appear to belong to the powerful Baifū estate. As accusations fly and the merchant’s father is shackled, the matchmaker watches with a sly smile, ready to turn the chaos to her advantage. The stage is set for a tense showdown between deceit, justice, and the desperate fight to clear an innocent name.
Language
zh
Duration
~29 minutes (27K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Verony Ling
Release date
2003-10-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

Best known as the traditional author of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, this classic Chinese writer helped shape one of the most influential stories in East Asian literature. Much about his life remains uncertain, which only adds to the legend around his work.
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