The Ordeal Before The Revolution

A plugging contest is held in several villages of the Hos. Niu representing the Eastern Village is ordered by Ho Kuei to try hard to win the championship. Niu does all his best, but a foul play resorted to by the Western Village causes a confusion. Then news goes around that Ho Fu's son has won the bachelor's degree. Ho Kuei immediately changes his stance and orders Niu and Chun-mei to apologize to Ho Fu instead, much to the chagrin of Chun-mei. Ho Szu-chin returns from town to the village, and Niu and Mei come to meet them at the station. Chun-mei falls for Szu-chin, hoping to marry into riches. Szu-chin sends her a pair of shoes, much to her exaltation. On the other hand, Niu also loves Chun-mei, and is disappointed to find her attached to Szu-chin. When the Western Village is plundered by bandits, Szu-chin, in spite of his parents' opposition, leads Niu and others to suppress them.… ...

Niu is wounded for rescuing Szu-chin. Paying tribute to his excellent services, Ho Kuei makes Niu the Captain of the militiamen. Szu-chin and Chun-mei congratulate Niu. Niu frankly admits he won't mind Szu-chin marrying Chun-mei, and Chum-mei becomes embarrassed when Szu-chin clarifies that he has no intention to. A constable returns to the Hos' Village to offer to his ancestors. When an attempt on his life is foiled, the revolutionaries are killed, and Szu-chin, severely wounded, is brought by Niu to the woods for shelter. On his way back home, Niu is arrested by the constable on charges of being a rebel. Niu hastens to defend for himself and takes the constable to find Szu-chin, but he has already left. Niu is detained. Ho Te tries to frame Niu. Chum-mei learns of it and sets fire to the Rural Committee to release Niu. Niu and Chun-mei flee to the city, but to avoid arrest, they take refuge in the wilderness.… ...

Niu and Mei, who are forced to tell Ying the whereabouts of the gems, declare that they know nothing of it. Since Mei does not want Niu to be killed, she brings them to look for the gems which have already disappeared when they arrive there. Mei runs away and falls down from the cliff. Niu thinks that Mei has died. One night, Niu escapes from the stockade and goes home but is followed by Chang Tai. Niu, who is brought back to the stockade, wants to burn the stockade but is prevented by Yu Lao-chiu. Shan brings the officers to arrest them and Niu is mistakes as a bandit too. At that time Niu meets Chang Lei.

Niu's foot is wounded by a guard and he is saved by Chang Lei. On the other, hand, seeing that the stockade is ruined, Mei thinks that Niu has been killed. Later, she becomes Lu Hao-mei's servant. Chang Lei brings Niu back to the stockade for him to nurse his wound. Although Niu is still discontented with the bandits, he becomes a good friend with Chang Lei. Once when Chang Lei is on duty, Niu tempts him away. But then disturbance is aroused in the stockade for the alarm rings suddenly. Chang Lei is thus punished for not performing his duty. Feeling guilty about it, Niu is willing to be punished for Chang Lei.

Since Niu has recovered from his wound, he is sent away. On the way, he meets Ho Kuei and teaches him a lesson. Then, he decides to go back to the stockade and be a bandit. Mei, now working in Hao-mei's house, is attracted to Ming Lan-ku, the great actor.. But once, Lan-ku wants to rape her. Hao-min now decides to force Mei to be a prostitute. You Su-chung, who is going to marry Kan Yi-wen, plays with him on the street. They are scolded by their fathers. Su-chung goes to receive Kuo-chung who comes back from Japan. On their. way home, Ying, who robs; them, kidnaps Su-chung.

Actually Lao-chiu was a rich man. But Dao-lin had robbed his properties. So Ying wants to take revenge for him this time. Lao-chiu decides to blackmail Dao-lin with Su-chung. Dao-lin discusses with Wen's father for what they are going to do. Su-chung, who is sad and angry when she knows what his fathers had done, is pacified by Niu. On the other hand, Mei is not willing to be a prostitute. Once, she runs away and goes to seek help from Ming Lan. When Ying and Chang Lei go to get the ransom. Chang Lei is caught. Since Niu is afraid that Lao-chiu will do harm to Su-chung, he let go of her.

Although Niu is punished for. releasing Su-chung, he is let go of by Lao-chiu secretly. After Su-chung has arrived home, Dao-lin wants her and Yi-wen get married as soon as possible. Su-chung asks Dao-lin about the robbery that year. but Dao-lin denies it. Yi-wen asks Su-chung if she has been offended by the bandits. She is so angry that she leaves and then meets Niu who asks her to save Chang Lei. Ying also comes to teach her. how to do it. The three of them snake use of Yi-wen to save Chang Lei. Wen's father is so angry that he wants to arrest Su-chung. She is advised by Ying to go to the stockade for shelter.

Kuo-chung tells Wen's father that Su-chung is killed by the bandits. Although Wen's father knows that it is false, he accepts the explanation. Su-chung is allowed to stay in the stockade. But disturbances are caused for the bandits are attracted to her.. She then decides to leave the stockade. On the way, she hurts herself. And when Ying finds that Dao-lin has said that Su-chung is dead., they pity her and let her stay. Chang Tai wants to act as a go-between for, Su-chung and Chang Lei, but hefails. Knowing that there are some important goods of the court, they goes to rob it successfully. But then, they discover that they are the armaments.

However, they do not know how to use armaments. Ying wants to sell them to Kuo Chin. Lao-chiu agrees at last. Unexpectedly, Kuo Chin betrays them and they are encircled are the officers and guards. But then, they are saved by the revolutionaries, Chou Ching and Huang Fu-ming, etc. Lao-chiu agrees immediately to sell them the armaments to revolt against the Ching. Mei finds that she is pregnant and goes to the theatre to tell Ming Lan. She meets Niu who goes there to rob. Since Niu has become as bandit and she is now pregnant, she refuses to unite with Niu. Knowing that Mei is pregnant, Ming Lan gives her aborticide to eat in secret.

At the feast in the house of Master. Wang, Mei appears as the sister. of Ming Lan so as to get known with the rich. Ming Lan is much discontented. Kuo Ya-you, the comrade of Lao Chiu, wants to co-operate with Lao Chiu to rob the tonics. Actually, Ya-you wants to deal with Lao Chiu. Ying finds them suspicious and warns Lao-chiu of it who takes no notice of it, however. At the celebration for. their success this time, Chang Lei discovers that Li Bai-sheng wants to poison them but is wounded. Therefore, they are all poisoned. And Ya-you kills the people of the stockade. Only Lao-chiu, Chang Tai and his wife, Ying, Niu and Su-chung are able to escape from the disaster..

It is five years later. Ya-you has been the leader, of the stockade and now forces a girl to marry to him. On the other hand, Niu has married Su-chung and they have a son, Bao. They attack Ya-you and get back the stockade successfully. Chang Tai and his wife thinks that Chang Lei is dead and grieve on it. Thinking that he has involved his brothers, Lao-chiu handles the stockade to Ying and Chang Tai. Niu goes the Hos' village and makes a scene on Ho Kuei. When he knows that there is a raper in the village, Niu helps them to catch him. But he is shocked to know that the raper is Chang Lei.

Chang Lei was saved by Chou Ching who taught him the Taoist magic. However., he was entwined and has to rape women. Therefore, Niu decides to bring him to the stockade to cure him. But Chang Lei leaves suddenly because he knows that Chou Ching is arrested by the officers. So he goes to unite with Fu-ming so as to save Chou Ching. Ming Lan is addicted to drug. Their life is getting more difficult. Once, Mei meets Kuo-chung and she decides to seduce him. Chang Lei is unable to save Chou Ching with his magic for. there is a bank opposite it. So he asks Niu to rob the bank first. But when they are ready to take action, Chou Ching has died already.

Chang Lei decides to rob the bank. Ming Lan flirts with the wife of Lu Yueh. When Lu Yueh wants to take revenge on him, Ming Lan exchanges it with Mei. But then, Dao-lin asks Lu Yueh to let go of Mei. He can only consent. Dao-lin is then attracted to Mei. Niu and the others rob the bank and save Szu-chun and the revolutionaries. A fight begins when Kuo-chung discovers it. Niu is. injured and is saved by Su-chung to a clinic which belongs to Yi-wen. Yi-wen saves Niu at once. Niu is anxious for Yi-wen and Su-chung reunite with each other..