Original: 萬家傳說
The play tells the story of the love between man, ghost and fox among scholar Wan Wentong, female ghost Liu Zi, and vixen Hu Qianqian
While reading by the riverside, MAN WEN TUNG suddenly hears a dog barking from the bushes. He goes to cook for the source only to find a woman's clothing on the ground. He picks up a scarf but in doing so he slips into the river. Not knowing how to swim and in panic, WEN TUNG is saved by a nude young woman. Half-conscious, WEN TUNG catches glimpse of a beautiful face but he soon faints. When he regains his consciousness, he still bears the young woman in mind. WEN TUNG intends to learn martial arts but objected by his father LIN YAN, he switches to literary studies. Still mischievous, WEN TUNG often fools around with CHEUNG YUN FAT and PAO KAM. LEE TAK FOOK takes WEN TUNG and SIU MIU to the gambling house but he gets SIU MIU into trouble that she is forced to serve as a whore. Escort WONG comes along and gives her a hand. WEN TUNG is punished by LIN YAN for indulging himself in pleasure, much pitied by SUK YIN……
WEN TUNG visits the whore house and comes across the young woman who saved him. Learning that she is the famous where KU YUET, he tries every means to meet her but fails. Missing her dearly, he paints a portrait of her. Many rich men spend much money just to catch a glimpse of KU YUET. However, WEN TUNG finds out that the arrogant KU YUET does not work as a whore but earns her living with her skills, thus he grows more fond of her. A rich man, CHIN, tries hard to make approaches to KU YUET but fails. He perchance discovers WEN TUNG’s painting and takes it to please KU YUET who is much impressed by it but does not believe that it is CHIN's work. Not wanting to give up, WEN TUNG goes again to the riverside. To his surprise and delight, he meets KU YUET who spends the night having a drink with him. WEN TUNG left KU YUET a good impression when she saved him……
While washing clothes at the riverside, SIU MIU is attacked by a raper. Fortunately, she is saved by KU VLIET who draws them away. The next day, the rapist is found dead in a grisly manner at the whore house and the incident reinforces the villagers of devils haunting the village. On the way to town, LIN YAN is stopped by the village chief, LIU YUEN, who thanks him for saving his life. Told by LIN YAN that he has made a mistake, LIU YUEN counts the years and is convinced that LIN YAN is the descendant of the man who saved him. WEN TUNG is mesmerized by the vixen, WU GING, who takes him to a mansion in the mountains. Claiming herself to be KU YUET's sister, WU GING lures and scares WEN TUNG who is so frightened that he faints. KU YUET is in fact CHIN CHIN who is a fresh vixen. Fond o f WEN TUNG, she stops WU JING from threatening him. WU JING agrees on the condition that CHIN CHIN seduces a man daily for her to prey on……
Still fond of CHIN CHIN, WEN TUNG feels reluctant to marry LIU GI. SIU MIU persuades him to make his decision after meeting LIU GI at the temple. By mistake, WEN TUNG takes the ugly cousin, LIN, as GI, and without doubt, he rejects the marriage. WEN TUNG indulges himself in thoughts of CHIN CHIN and fools around with his friends all day, creating troubles. Furious of his son's behaviour, LIN VAN confines him to the house. To earn a living, TAK FOOK serves as a worker at the rich LEE family. Ill-treated by Madam Lee, FOOK feels much frustrated. In late night while stealing food, TAK FOOK discovers the First Madam flirting with her cousin. FOOK overhears that her greedy father forced her to marry her husband, and sympathizes with her. The Second Madam happens to come along and FOOK slips away in panic, leaving his shoe behind……
Eager to meet her fiance, LIU GI, without telling her father, disguises as a man and goes join WEN TUNG's studying group, hoping to know more about him. When getting along with PAO KAM and his friends, LIU GI is often laughed at because of her feminine manners, much to her embarrassment. WEN TUNG and LIU GI, in her disguise, become good friends. After getting along with WEN TUNG and knowing more about him, GI grows fond of him. However, she is puzzled since she cannot find a way to express her love. LIU GI finds out that WEN TUNG met her cousin by mistake, thus she asks her father to invite the MAN family to come along and she would show up as the daughter to please WEN TUNG. Thinking that LIU GI is forcing-him to marry her, WEN TUNG leaves a letter and runs away from home, much to GI's disappointment.
On the way to the capital, WEN TUNG is robbed by the bandits and is forced to spend the night at the tavern, only to find that all the rooms are occupied. The keeper's daughter, FUNG, is attracted to WEN TUNG, insists that he takes lodge in one of the rooms and serves him well, much to his embarrassment. The tenant, KONG SHAN, returns to find that he has to share the room with WEN TUNG and both gets frustrated. The next day, WEN TUNG and KONG SHAN go out together and are stopped by a group of bandits trying to rob them. WEN TUNG outwits them and runs away with KONG SHAN. The two compromise with each other and become good friends. Before long, KONG SHAN bide WEN TUNG farewell for the reason of returning home. At the tavern, WEN TUNG comes across a poor scholar who lacks travelling expenses to go enroll in the civil examination……
WEN TUNG learns that the scholars in town gather at a study to appreciate the flowers and also to learn from one another, thus goes with two scholars to join them, waiting for the chance to present himself. At the study, WEN TUNG criticizes the works of the owner who happens to be the King's brother, Lord TUEN. When TUEN comes out to meet him, WEN TUNG is surprised to find that he is in fact KONG SHAN. After revealing his identity, TUEN finds that WEN TUNG does not hang on his influence, thus thinks highly of him. At the gambling house, WEN TUNG finds that the banker cheats and reveals his trick, only to be beaten up by the scoundrels. WEN TUNG sells his paintings and with the money, he goes to the whore house with his friends. LIU GI regrets acting rashly and scaring WEN TUNG away, thus sets off to the capital in search of him, hoping to explain the whole thing to him……
WEN TUNG perchance comes across a fortune-teller, KUNG SUN CHEUNG, and tells him about Lord TUEN's time of birth. To his surprise, CHEUNG eagerly asks to see TUEN. CHEUNG predicts that TUEN would be the future king and he would ascend the throne in 60 days. Delighted and worried, TUEN listens to LAU CHIU's advice and asks CHEUNG to keep it a secret. CHIN CHIN sneaks into the Lord's house and comes across a green vixen who also seeks to prey on TUEN. The two have a fight and CHIN CHIN finally beats her rival. CHIN CHIN gets into the group of songstresses, performs before TUEN and seduces him. WEN TUNG find TUEN missing the songstress and takes him to the whore house to meet her. When CHIN CHIN finds that WEN TUNG is with TUEN, she is afraid of causing further entanglement and so refuses to see them, much to disappoint TUEN. Not wanting to give up, TUEN goes alone to meet CHIN CHIN who now agrees to entertain him……
When CHIN CHIN is about to prey on TUEN, the King dies and TUEN ascends the throne. Being the king, TUEN is protected by a divine shield and CHIN CHIN is greatly weakened. However, she cannot hides away to recuperate since she is implored by TUEN and is forced to stay with him. The Queen Mother pushes TUEN for his marriage but she would not accept the humble CHIN CHIN to be the Queen. To please his mother, TUEN casually selects a woman to be his wife. KUNG BUN CHEUNG gets drunk and reveals to LAU CHIU that TUEN would only stays in his throne for three years. Learning about this, TUEN kills CHEUNG so that he would not create unrest among the people. WEN TUNG is told by TUEN to read the examination papers but he just casually gets his job done. The Queen is neglected by TUEN and when she learns that he is going to take CHIN CHIN as the concubine, she becomes jealous and plots against CHIN CHIN……
WEN TUNG falls into deep sorrow for CHIN CHIN's death and asks to bid TUEN farewell. TUEN agrees since after ascending the throne, he finds a gap between WEN TUNG and him. Grief-stricken, WEN TUNG comes across LIU GI in her disguise and gets cheered up. WEN TUNG comes across FONG YI whose desperate mother kills herself because he fails in the examination. WEN TUNG regrets that he has not been serious in reading the examination papers. WEN TUNG tells LIU GI about his experience in the past months and when mentioning CHIN CHIN'‧s death, he falls into deep sorrow. LIU GI comforts him and feels glad that she still has the chance to win his affection. LIU GI falls very ill and takes the chance to ask WEN TUNG vow to stay with her forever. WEN TUNG agrees but then he carefully nurses GI who gradually recovers.
LIU GI is attacked by a bandit and to preserve her virginity, she kills herself. In her father's dream, GI asks her father to go to the capital to pick up her body. LIU GI, as a ghost, takes WEN TUNG home. WEN TUNG tells his family and friends about his experience at the palace but they do not believe a word he says. However, WEN TUNG feels their concern for him. SIU MIU tells WEN TUNG that he, by mistake, has been taking LIU GI to be another person and that LIU GI goes alone to the capital to look for him, hoping to clear the misunderstanding. WEN TUNG feels disappointed that he misses the chance of meeting LIU GI. SIU MIU goes to buy a knife. In a chat with the shopkeeper, BAK YUE YIN, SIU MIU reveals LIN VAN's identity and BAK shows strange expression, much to puzzle SIU MIU. In her male disguise, LIU GI bids WEN TUNG farewell and asks him to look after his sister. WEN‧ TUNG readily agrees……
WEN TUNG learns that his fiancee, LIU GI, dies on her way to the capital. Feeling sad and guilty, WEN TUNG goes to pay tribute to her but is sneered by LIU YUEN. LIU GI goes to visit WEN TUNG but is stopped by the ground god at the door. LIU GI attaches herself to the willow twig and sneaks into the house. CHIN CHIN decides to win WEN TUNG's love and follows him to the village. Seeing that WEN TUNG is charmed by LIU CHI, CHIN CHIN tries every means to stop them. Threatened by CHIN CHIN, LIU GI asks LIU YUEN in his dream to arrange for her "ghost marriage" with WEN TUNG. WEN TUNG's parents agree to it. After getting married with WEN TUNG, LIU GI tells him the whole thing. Shocked to discover the truth but seeing that LIU GI is sincere, WEN TUNG gets to accept her.
CHIN CHIN disguises as a village maid to seduce WEN TUNG who falls for her charm. LIN YAN discovers a gravestone with bloody engravings outside the house and is convinced that it is done by BAK YUE YIN. The fact is that LIN YAN and BAK VUE VIN were once under the same teacher learning martial arts. Several hundred years ago, YAN and VIN perchance discovered a thousand year ginseng at the peak of a snowy mountain and after taking it in, the two acquired eternal life. VUE YIN is fond of LIN YAN but she is possessive. To win his love for her, she drew LIN YAN into killing his brother. Learning the truth, LIN YAN, in deep sorrow, vowed to discipline himself, giving up his martial arts. He even stayed away from YUE YIN to lead a secluded life at the village. LIN YAN fell in love with SUK YIN and revealed to her that he had an eternal life. Touched by LIN YAN's sincerity, SUK YIN decides to stay with him for as long as she lives.
YUE YIN has been searching for LIN YAN for quite some time and feels jealous when finding that he is staying together with SUK YIN. LIN YAN tells YUE VIN that he only loves SUK YIN, much to her disappointment. Seeing that LIU GI has died for quite some time, the ground god advises her to apply for switching to her next life. Devoted to WEN TUNG and deciding to spend more time staying with him, LIU GI takes that risk that she would vanish forever. LIU GI helps SIU MIU and SUK YIN in their housework and the two are much impressed. PAO KAM grows fond of SIU MIU but cannot find the words to express his love for her.
TAK FOOK owes Escort CHEUNG money and is forced to agree to SIU MIU's marriage with his son, YUN FAT. SIU MIU feels reluctant to marry the lustful YUN FAT and before she makes up her mind, she tests PAO KAM's love for her. Though loving SIU MIU, PAO KAM sees that YUN FAT vows to turn on a new leaf and so he gives up. CHIN CHIN is jealous of LIU GI staying together with WEN TUNG, thus seduces him to make love with her. However, in doing so, WEN TUNG becomes feeble since CHIN CHIN is a vixen. Finding that WEN TUNG is getting worse in health, LIU GI warns him. However, WEN TUNG cannot help himself but goes every night to meet CHIN CHIN.
Frustrated to find that WEN TUNG indulges in lust, LIU GI goes to challenge CHIN CHIN. Realizing that they both truly love WEN TUNG but that would actually do him harm, LIU GI and CHIN CHIN are at a lost of what to do. PAO KAM suppresses hi& emotions, giving his advice and good wishes to SIU MIU who is going to get married with YUN FAT. Feeling PAO KAM's love for her, SIU MIU regrets that they have not revealed their love for each other. Before his marriage, WU GING seduces YUN FAT who cannot help himself but yield to his lust. TAK FOOK falls for YUE YIN and tries to please her. Still fond of LIN YAN, YUE YIN pays no attention in him. WU GING perchance discovers that LIN YAN acquires eternal life, thus decides to prey on his undying body but fails.
LIU GI warns WEN TUNG that CHIN CHIN is actually a vixen in disguise. Knowing the truth, WEN TUNG decides to break his relationship with her. On the night of the marriage, WU GING seduces .YUN FAT and sucks all his blood, turning him .into a dry corpse. Frightened and feeling helpless, SIU MIU is accused by all to be a vixen and is even rejected by her father. WEN TUNG comforts her and asks her to stay behind. Convinced that SIU MIU is innocent, PAO KAM tries hard to speak for her who is much impressed. The two grow more fond of each other.
To make LIN YAN tired of SUK YIN, YUE YIN draws SUK YIN to take in poison which would make her age quickly. LIN YAN realizes YUE YIN's trick but cannot find a way to stop her. Though devoted to WEN TUNG, CHIN CHIN is much impressed by LIU GI who gives up being a human in exchange for 49 days staying with WEN TUNG. CHIN CHIN thus decides to give up. LIN YAN reveals YUE YIN's plot and in frustration, reveals to her that he is forever devoted to SUK YIN, much to YUE YIN's disappointment. Many men in the village are killed in turn and all the villagers vow to burn SIU MIU who is held responsible.PAO KAM decides to go stop them but is locked up by his father. Just when SIU MIU is about to be executed, a villager is killed at the same time. Proven of her innocence, SIU MIU Ls released. Knowing that she is going to die, SUK YIN reveals to WEN TUNG that he is actually an orphan whom LIN YAN took pity in and brought him up……
SUK YIN realizes YUE YIN's love for LIN YAN and knowing that she herself is going to die, persuades him to accept YUE YIN's love for him. LIN YAN convinces SUK YIN of his devotedness to her while YUE YIN feels ashamed of herself. Finding that YUE YIN is much depressed, TAK FOOK is afraid that she would kill herself, thus keeps her company day and night. YUE YIN is touched and grows fond of him. In his dream, PAO's father is told by his wife that SIU MIU would make a good wife and asked to make arrangement for her marriage with PAO KAM. WU JING kidnaps SUK YIN and draws LIN YAN to her trap. Realizing that his mother is in danger, WEN TUNG goes with LIU GI to save her but is defeated and injured seriously. Finding that WEN TUNG is dying, CHIN CHIN yields her protecting pearl to prolong his life. However, in doing so, CHIN CHIN is rid of her accumulated attainment and is greatly weakened.
LIN YAN comes to SUK YIN's rescue and has a fight with WU JING. YUE YIN comes along and the two drive WU JING away. In saving SUK YIN, YUE YIN transfers her eternal life to SUK YIN since she decides to stay together with TAK FOOK as other ordinary couples. Knowing that he is going to lose LIU GI who is approaching her limit and CHIN CHIN who is rid of her strength, WEN TUNG gets very depressed. A village girl dies of accident and LIU GI learns that she can make use of her to re-enter the mortal world. However, LIU GI does not want to leave CHIN CHIN behind who would thus be alone at Hell. WEN TUNG is forced to choose between CHIN CHIN and LIU GI, feeling much puzzled. Can CHIN CHIN and LIU GI re-enter the mortal world to stay with WEN TUNG? Don't miss the final episode!
