The Tavern

Plot Synopsis

At the end of the Qing Dynasty, Jin Feng, the proprietress of the "Auspicious Wine Shop" in the capital city, supported the family business alone after her husband's death. She was jointly算计 by the neighboring Shopkeeper Ha and her husband's elder brother, and the business was on the verge of collapse. The young waiter Xi Zi was intelligent and resourceful, secretly helping her, collecting evidence to clear her name, and cleverly repelling the hooligans. The two gradually developed feelings for each other. Shopkeeper Ha bribed the官府 to seal up the wine shop. When they were at the end of their rope, it happened that Empress Dowager Cixi was on a private visit. Xi Zi risked拦驾 to plead for injustice. Jin Feng stated her experiences in person and presented her wine-making skills, which were recognized by the太后, and she was bestowed with a golden plaque. The wine shop thus grew and expanded. The two also got married under the match-making of the太后, showing the spirit of resistance and true feelings.