In the early years of Yongxi, when the mountains and rivers in Kuaiji were clear and cold, Xie Linzhou, the head of Dali Temple, went to the ferry with his case files to investigate water transportation corruption. However, he was repeatedly frustrated because of the obstruction of his family and the destruction of evidence. His superiors persuaded him to compromise, so he borrowed wine outside a wine shop to drown his sorrows.
At this time, the fisherman Yun Piao moored the boat and picked up the wine can he threw into the water. He claimed to be the orphan of a former water transport officer. His father was framed and died by a wealthy family. He wandered across the water, remembering all the private salt warehouses and secret transactions, and was willing to help Xie Linzhou investigate the case. After that, Yun Piao would sneak into the pier night after night to copy accounts and brave the wind and cold to look for fishermen to collect evidence. The evidence they brought was often stained with blood.
During the investigation, Xie Linzhou taught Yun Piao to read, and Yun Piao took him to enjoy the morning mist on the Yue River, listen to the fishing boats singing in the evening, and sing "Yue People's Song" together. The corruption case was finally revealed, but Xie Linzhou resigned. He despised the strife in the court and just wanted to stay with Yun Piao across the river. On the night of the first day of the lunar month, there were no red candles in the hall, only the red rope ring made by Yun Piao and the "Congratulations to the Bridegroom" written by Xie Linzhou.
From then on, there was always a awning boat on the Yueshui River. Xie Linzhou wrote lyrics in the boat, with Yun Lao holding a pole on the bow, and occasionally sang "Yue People's Song". Someone asked if he regretted it, Xie Linzhou waved the lyrics, and Yun Piao handed over the candy cake: "Keeping each other safe is better than anything else."
Purpose: Stick to justice in the fog of corruption in the court, find true love in a boat across the water, resign from office and give up salary in exchange for a lifelong relationship, interpreting the choice of "knowing one's feelings is more important than fame"