Merchant Zhao Guo-qi has a bad-ass son, nicknamed Yangzhou-well, and a daughter-in-law. Having become sick, Zhao calls for a friend, an honest rich man, Li Mao-qing, nicknamed the Elder from the East Hall, and instructs him to look after his son. They conclude an agreement, under which, without looking, puts his signature and son.
10 years have passed since the death of old Zhao. Yangzhou-well spends time in the company of drinking buddies - Liu Long-qing and Hu Zi-chuan. They are in his house, demanding money; when it turns out that there is no money, they order to sell the house. In return, he is offered to settle in a donkey stall. Yangzhou-well's wife manages to warn old Li, who is driving rogues. Then Yangzhou-well pretends to need money to do business. Lee believes - and buys a house. Yangzhou-well immediately sends friends to arrange a feast with the singers.
Lee teaches his son the art of accumulation. Again comes Yangzhou-well's wife with a complaint. Lee bursts into an institution where he feasts with his friends, chases them again, reproaches and exhorts the young man. But all in vain.
The beggar Yangzhou-well and his wife are starving in an abandoned pottery kiln. He comes to the teahouse and asks his friends to help. They allegedly go away to buy him food, but they themselves tell the owner to collect their old debts from Yangzhou.Hearing his sad story, the owner lets Yangzhou-well in peace. With his wife, he secretly comes to his wife Lee; she feeds them and gives a bunch of coins. Returning Lee does not believe that his friend’s son wants to take the righteous path, but Yangzhou-well really begins to trade in coal and his own goods, and then save up money, denying himself everything.
Old Li invites neighbors and Yangzhou-well with his wife to his birthday. At the banquet, he reads out the agreement concluded with the late Zhao. On the basis of it, Lee bought everything that Yangzhou-well squandered (Zhao left the money), and now he is returning his father's possessions to the recovered young man. Newly appeared crooks are driven out.
