COLLECTION · Series · 1990

杨乃武与小白菜

Original title

The story takes place in Yuhang County, Zhejiang, during the late Qing Dynasty. Yang Naiwu (Sun Qixin), who makes a living writing legal complaints for others, is captivated by the beauty of Little Cabbage (Tao Huimin), a young woman already promised in marriage. As it happens, Little Cabbage rents a house on the Yang family's street-front property, and one thing leads to another until the two develop feelings for each other. Little Cabbage lost her mother at an early age and has had a bitter life since birth. Yang Naiwu is deeply sympathetic and has her help with odd chores around the house—washing and cleaning—to earn a little money for her household. The family maid, Ge Sangu, notices their affair. Yang Naiwu instructs her not to breathe a word to anyone, and Sangu agrees. Little Cabbage, admiring Yang Naiwu's brilliance, hints that she would give herself to him. Yang Naiwu, aware that he has so far achieved neither rank nor fame, promises that once he passes the provincial examination he will find a way to free her from her engagement to Ge Xiaoda, and that he himself will divorce the utterly loveless Yang Zhan-shi and take Little Cabbage as his wife. The plan seems thorough and complete—but little does anyone know that this would set off a wrongful case that would shake the entire nation...