Set during the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song dynasty, Bianjing (modern-day Kaifeng) thrives with prosperity. The city’s streets bustle with life—shops line the avenues, crowds are dense, and the vibrant calls of merchants fill the air. Into this lively scene enters Lady Li, a wealthy woman from Luoyang, accompanied by her four daughters: eldest daughter Shouhua, third daughter Kangning, fourth daughter Haode, and youngest daughter Leshan. They have traveled to Bianjing in search of the second daughter, Fuhui, who is already married.
As dawn breaks, their slow-moving cart enters the city. Kangning wakes Haode, who had fallen asleep on her arm, while the other sisters prepare themselves to look elegant and presentable for their meeting with Fuhui. Haode complains about their mother’s frugality, wishing they had hired sedan chairs instead of riding in a plain cart. Leshan, woken by the chatter, joins the squabble, and the two sisters argue until Shouhua jokingly notes that peace only exists when they’re asleep.
Peering out of the cart, the sisters admire the finely dressed pedestrians on the streets. Lady Li expresses her hope that, once they reunite with Fuhui and settle in Bianjing, she can find good matches for her other daughters, ensuring a life of luxury for them. She holds up Fuhui’s marriage as an example of success. However, unbeknownst to her, Fuhui’s seemingly perfect marriage has left her deeply unhappy. Initially, she and her husband, Fan Lianghan, shared mutual affection, but over time, Fuhui discovered his weak character. Easily influenced by others, Fan Lianghan frequently visits brothels and shows sympathy for questionable women, causing Fuhui endless frustration and anger, earning her a reputation as a shrew.
Elsewhere, a prominent man named Chai An visits a tavern to meet his friend Liang Junqing and cousin Fan Lianghan. Chai An is surprised to see Fan Lianghan wearing a bamboo hat and sitting quietly. Fan claims he was stung by a bee, but when Chai An removes the hat, he finds Fan’s face red and swollen. Chai immediately suspects Fuhui and decides to confront her.
Meanwhile, Lady Li and her daughters arrive at the grand Fan residence, delighted by its opulence. To their shock, Fuhui refuses to see them, and the steward lies, saying neither the master nor mistress is home. As Lady Li prepares to leave, she overhears the steward making disparaging comments about their plain cart, insinuating disrespect. Furious, she slaps the steward and declares that she will never step foot in the Fan residence again.
As the Li family departs, Kangning glances back at the house. After they leave, Fuhui emerges, her eyes filled with tears, gazing sorrowfully at the fading cart. At the same time, Chai An rides past the Li family’s cart on horseback, oblivious to their identity. Later that night, Chai An stays at Liang Junqing’s home, leaving a woman’s robe out as bait and sending word to Fuhui that Fan Lianghan has two maidservants in his room. Enraged, Fuhui storms into the room with a knife, only to find Chai An lying on the bed. Chai An scolds her for acting out of jealousy, warning her not to disgrace her family. Humiliated, Fuhui leaves, unaware that Fan Lianghan was hiding nearby. Chai An berates him for his behavior, urging him to change.
Lady Li and her daughters settle into an inn, but Kangning sneaks out at night to check on Fuhui. She finds her sister biting stones in frustration until her mouth bleeds and brings her back to the inn. Fuhui tearfully confesses her struggles, explaining that she avoided them earlier out of fear of tarnishing the family’s reputation. The sisters, angry on her behalf, decide that Kangning will teach Fan Lianghan a lesson. Despite her concerns, Fuhui agrees, determined to reform her husband.
The next morning, Fan Lianghan relaxes at home, enjoying food and drink while being served by maids. When he hears Fuhui has returned, he pretends to be sick. Fuhui, suspicious, is about to confront him when a maid whispers in her ear. Kangning then arrives with a fake remedy made of child’s urine, tricking Fan Lianghan into drinking it under the guise of curing his headache. Afterward, Fuhui feels comforted by her family’s presence, regaining her confidence.
Meanwhile, Liang Junqing and his friends observe the Li sisters in the garden, admiring their beauty. Disguising themselves as maids, they try to get closer, only to be caught and scolded by Kangning and Leshan.
Chai An, intrigued by Kangning’s fiery personality, deliberately kicks a ball near her, breaking her hairpin. Kangning retaliates, leaving Chai An momentarily stunned by her boldness. Lady Li, noticing Chai An’s interest, decides to investigate his background at a nearby temple.
While praying for good marriages for her daughters, Lady Li notices a thief stealing offerings. She chases him down, drawing criticism from Chai An’s mother for her loud behavior. However, upon learning the thief’s motives—poverty and an inability to marry off his daughter—Lady Li generously gives him the offerings. Kangning questions why dowries are so crucial, and a woman explains that families in Bianjing prioritize financial stability for daughters to secure good marriages. The thief later returns the offerings, insulted by their poor quality, and curses Lady Li’s daughters, causing her to faint from anger.
