Story content:

Qin Chong is an honest man. His parents died when he was young, and he works as an oil seller in the Zhu Family Oil Shop. Because of his hard work and honesty, the old shopkeeper intentionally handed over all the business of the oil shop to Qin Zhong. Qin Chong's favor made Xing Quan, who was also a boy, jealous. Because Xing Quan had an affair with the old shopkeeper's woman, Lan Hua, even though Qin Zhong was "upright and not afraid of a slanted shadow", at Xing Quan's instigation, he was arranged by the old shopkeeper to sell oil and take responsibility for his own profits and losses. Unexpectedly, Qin Zhong's business was extremely prosperous because of his popularity.

One day, Qin Chong was taken into a famous brothel in the city by a middle-aged woman named Mrs. Zhao. Here, Qin Chong got acquainted with Wang Jiumama, the bustard of the brothel, and also accidentally bumped into the beautiful prostitute Wang Meier. Everyone has a love for beauty, not to mention that Qin Zhong is also a hot-blooded young man, so Qin Zhong especially wants to spend a night with Wang Meier, who is rated as the "Oiran Lady". But when Qin Chong learned that he had to spend ten taels of silver to spend the night with Wang Meier, Qin Chong's enthusiasm immediately cooled down. But it’s not easy to forget Wang Meier! For this reason, Qin Chong had to often go to brothels with excuses and began to secretly accumulate money.

Hard work pays off! After more than half a year, Qin Chong finally collected ten taels of silver. After paying the money, it took another half a year before Qin Zhong had the opportunity to get close to Wang Meier. However, when Wang Meier came back drunk, Qin Chong not only refused to take advantage of others' danger, but also served Wang Meier wholeheartedly all night. Qin Chong's deep affection moved Wang Mei'er, and Wang Mei'er was originally forced into prostitution, so Wang Mei'er secretly made up her mind that when Qin Zhong came back, she would use her many years of savings to let Qin Zhong redeem her life.

Perhaps it proves that "we are destined to meet thousands of miles apart". Although Qin Chong was repeatedly plotted by Xing Quan, Qin Chong still met the teased Wang Meier again by the lake. After such an encounter, Wang Meier became more determined to marry Qin Zhong. With the help of Mrs. Zhao, Wang Jiuma from the brothel finally agreed to let Meier redeem herself. From then on, the "oiran" who regained her freedom and was wanted by everyone became the wife of the oil seller Qin Chong.

Extended information

The Oil Seller, a traditional Yue opera drama. See the legend of Li Yu's "Oiran Oiran", "The Oil Seller's Monopoly of Oiran" and Chapter 39 of "Wonderful Views of Modern and Ancient Times" in Volume Three of "Awakening the World". Sichuan Opera, Shaoxing Literary Opera, Hunan Opera, Qin Opera, Hebei Bangzi Opera, Yunnan Opera, and Ping Opera all have this repertoire, and Chu Opera has "The Drunken Oiran". In 1982, Hong Feng and Fu Jun adapted the play based on the 39th chapter of the novel "Wonderful Wonders of Modern and Ancient Times" "The Oil Seller Monopolizes the Oiran" and a traditional play with the same theme.

It tells the story of Qin Zhong, an oil seller in the Song Dynasty. In order to help his fellow villager Xin Shan's daughter who was separated during the war, he worked hard and saved ten taels of silver to meet Xin Yaoqin, an oiran who had fallen into prostitution. It wasn't until the third watch that Yao Qin returned drunk. Qin Zhong served tea and soup until dawn and left. Later, Yaoqin was bullied by the evil young master Wu and was thrown on the snow to freeze, but was rescued by an oil seller. Yao Qin was deeply moved by the two encounters and fell in love. Hou Yaoqin reunited with her father, who was an official, and still did not mind Qin Zhong's "poorness" and married him.