Fifteen strings of cash

In Wuxi County, butcher Yu Hulu borrowed fifteen strings of cash to do business. He jokingly told his daughter that it was the price for selling her body, and she believed it to be true, leading her to flee that night. Late at night, the gambler and hoodlum Lou Ashu broke into the Yu family to steal the fifteen strings of money to pay off his gambling debts and killed Yu Hulu. Afterwards, he falsely accused Su Shujuan of committing parricide for money. After escaping, Shujuan traveled with an unfamiliar merchant's assistant, Xiong Youlan, but their neighbors became suspicious when they found out that Xiong coincidentally was carrying fifteen strings of money. Consequently, both were taken to the county office to see the magistrate. The magistrate, too invested in the false accusations, concluded that Shujuan had colluded with Xiong to murder her father for money and sentenced both to death. The execution officer, Kuang Zhong, felt there was injustice in the case and fought for a delay in the execution. He conducted a thorough investigation and found flaws in Lou Ashu's story, later disguising himself as a fortune teller to extract a confession from Lou. Eventually, he brought Lou back to the county office, where he questioned him and clarified the truth, bringing the murderer to justice and vindicating the wrongly accused. This is a plot-driven story in a dramatic film, characterized by its complex twists, gripping narrative, and dramatic developments. The film distinctly criticizes the greedy and foolish officials who cling too stubbornly to falsehoods while fully recognizing and praising the just official Kuang Zhong, who values facts, wisdom, and righteousness. The original play was widely circulated and well-received by the public. The film draws from the main content and artistic features of the original, emphasizing Kuang Zhong's commitment to investigation, factual evidence, and impartial law enforcement, which holds significant contemporary relevance. The film also strives to depict a realistic environment, effectively unifying the artistic expressiveness of the opera with the realism of cinema. Although Kunqu opera is a refined art form with limited audience, ...