A Branch of Plum

This film (drama)Also known as一枝梅，is aMainland ChinaProducerwomen sex，At2004Released in year 。The dialogue language isMandarin Chinese，Current Douban rating0.0(For reference only)。

During the Ming Dynasty, there was a year of disasters and chaos. The lazy dragon was taken by a mysterious old man who resembled a mischievous child to learn the craft, and he had been gone for several years. The old man taught him many strange and unique skills, making the agile lazy dragon as soft as if he had no bones, able to jump and move like the wind. When the old man saw that the lazy dragon had completed his training, he sent him down the mountain. Before parting, the old man warned him that although he had fallen into this world, there is a code among thieves, and he should only act honorably and not violate natural ethics. After bidding farewell to his master, the lazy dragon arrived in Suzhou. At that time, the city was experiencing a famine, but the Maoyuan rice shop relied on the governor's power to hoard rice, causing the starving common people to complain. The governor's son, Gao Yanai, swaggered out of the rice shop, flaunting his wealth. Seizing the opportunity, the lazy dragon stole the silver that Gao Yanai had obtained from the shop owner. With the stolen silver, the lazy dragon went to a tavern to drink. At the next table, A Cheng and others were discussing plans to storm the Maoyuan rice shop to sell grain. The lazy dragon listened and offered to help with his own scheme. A Cheng and the others were skeptical. That night, the lazy dragon took A Cheng and others by boat to a small dock behind the rice shop. He used a knife to dig a small hole at the bottom of the grain storage, inserting a bamboo tube, which allowed the rice to pour into the boat. They raised their cups to the moon, singing and cheering, blending their voices with the sound of the spilling rice until the storage was empty, and they secretly untied the boat and left. Early the next morning, the lazy dragon and A Cheng distributed the rice to relieve the disaster-stricken people, causing a crowd to gather. The beloved daughter of the renowned constable Zheng Xin, Gui Niang, was also in line to receive some white rice and was very impressed by the heroic acts of the lazy dragon and his companions. The governor summoned Zheng Xin and ordered him to capture the rice thief within a set time. At this time, the lazy dragon had already sneaked into a silk shop and, after succeeding, cleverly escaped. Soon, several thefts occurred in Suzhou, all targeting wealthy families. After inspecting the scene, Zheng Xin noted the high level of skill displayed and concluded that it had to be the work of a master. As a result, he dedicated extra effort to searching. The lazy dragon's whereabouts were uncertain; he found refuge in ancient temples and the gardens behind luxurious residences. A Cheng had become a follower of the lazy dragon, often visiting him and sharing news from the market. One day, while the two were drinking in a tavern, Gui Niang happened to pass by, entangled with Gao Yanai. Unexpectedly, Guang Liang had practiced martial arts since childhood with her father, exhibiting exceptional skills, and beat Gao Yanai and his companions soundly. The lazy dragon watched this in secret, quietly impressed. Hearing from A Cheng that Zheng Xin was searching for him, the lazy dragon decided to engage in a game of cat and mouse with his pursuer. That night, he sneaked into Zheng Xin's home. Zheng Xin was out on official business, leaving Gui Niang alone at home, playing the guqin by the window. The lazy dragon was surprised to see Gui Niang. Her music was delicate, and he was moved by it. Noticing the simplicity of Zheng Xin’s household, he hesitated. Nevertheless, he executed his plan, stealing a jade pendant hanging on the wall and painting a plum blossom on the wall as his signature, referring to himself as "A Branch of Plum." When Zheng Xin returned home and saw the scene, he realized an adversary had been there. That jade pendant was a relic of his mother's, which Gui Niang held dear. Gao Yanai coveted Gui Niang's beauty, and the governor, being indulgent, naturally complied with his son’s wishes. One day, the governor hosted a banquet for Zheng Xin. During the feast, the clerk mentioned a marriage proposal, which the straightforward Zheng Xin declined, displeasing the governor. The owner of the Maoyuan rice shop had newly opened a pawn shop. On the opening day, there was excessive display and ostentation. The lazy dragon learned of this and stealthily broke in at midnight. Unexpectedly, Zheng Xin had made arrangements, and under the illumination of lanterns and torches, the official soldiers had surrounded the place tightly, preventing the lazy dragon from escaping. Zheng Xin took the lazy dragon to the governor’s yamen to report. Nevertheless, the governor did not rush to interrogate but instead imprisoned the lazy dragon and, citing insufficient evidence, pressured Zheng Xin to continue investigating. Zheng Xin knew that the governor harbored resentment from the marriage proposal incident and was intentionally making things difficult, yet he felt helpless. In prison, the lazy dragon bribed the jailer. One day, taking advantage of the opportunity while the jailer was drinking, the lazy dragon escaped from his shackles. At dawn, he stealthily returned undetected. As daylight broke, a crowd gathered in front of the governor’s yamen, with many coming to report thefts that occurred the previous night, all marked with the words “A Branch of Plum.” The governor, aware of the oddity, summoned Zheng Xin, accusing him of substituting false evidence for real, letting the real culprit go and deceiving his superiors. Zheng Xin, wanting to find a defense, found himself dismissed by the governor. The governor ordered an interrogation of the lazy dragon. In the hall, the lazy dragon was full of bravado. Intrigued, the governor wanted to test the lazy dragon's abilities and was surprised to witness his exceptional skills. The clerk nearby suggested that the governor take the lazy dragon under his wing for future use. The lazy dragon avoided legal trouble, and while he wished to repay the governor, he would not submit to being a lackey, thus delaying. The lazy dragon had Gui Niang in his thoughts and wanted to find a chance to return the jade pendant. One day, he quietly visited Gui Niang’s room, re-hanging the pendant on the wall, but was discovered by Gui Niang, who trapped him inside. Seeing that the lazy dragon was indeed the righteous man who had given rice to the disaster victims, Gui Niang was greatly shocked and angrily accused him of being a thief. The lazy dragon escaped and felt disheartened. To change Gui Niang's opinion of him, and having to plan his future, the lazy dragon went to the governor's office and submitted himself to the governor. The governor tasked him with capturing criminals and maintaining order. The lazy dragon used his influence to secretly persuade old associates to withdraw from their former ways, bringing temporary peace to Suzhou. However, he was rebuked by A Cheng and others as selling out for fame, creating inner conflict. The lazy dragon advised the governor to employ Zheng Xin. Zheng Xin was summoned back but discovered that the lazy dragon had become his superior, which was the governor's intention to humiliate him. Zheng Xin was about to resign in anger when news arrived that the official silver from the treasury had been stolen. To clarify the case, Zheng Xin reluctantly chose to stay, bearing the humiliation. Zheng Xin suspected that the theft was the work of the lazy dragon. To clear his name, the lazy dragon had to investigate secretly. The two of them each pursued leads, experiencing misunderstandings and twists, and discovered that the thief was the owner of the Maoyuan shop. Zheng Xin suspected that the governor was behind the theft, while the lazy dragon was half-convinced. After this experience, Zheng Xin and the lazy dragon developed mutual respect. Gui Niang’s view of the lazy dragon changed slightly, but the previous grievances remained unresolved. The inspector received an anonymous report and, having heard of the governor’s corruption, came to Suzhou to investigate in person. The governor grew anxious and called for the lazy dragon, falsely claiming that the inspector was malicious and had ulterior motives. If they could steal the inspector's seal and turn the tables against him, they would turn their predicament into safety. The lazy dragon, unaware of the treachery of officialdom, blindly agreed with his youthful bravado. The lazy dragon infiltrated the inspector’s office, seeing the inspector diligently reviewing documents by candlelight and becoming puzzled. However, he still stole the seal and handed it to the governor. By chance, he overheard a secret conversation between the governor and the Maoyuan owner, discovering that the governor was indeed the mastermind behind the case of the stolen official silver. Startled, the lazy dragon sought out Zheng Xin to explain in detail. The inspector was informed by Zheng Xin and was already aware of the situation. He sent someone to invite the governor to his office as a guest, orchestrating a plan to recover the lost seal. The governor, realizing his exposure, schemed to kill Zheng Xin but was surrounded by inspector's soldiers first. In the conflict, Gui Niang was fatally shot, and the governor was stabbed to death by the lazy dragon. After enduring many twists and turns, the lazy dragon finally understood: the world of officials is far more treacherous than the Jianghu. He bade farewell to everyone and left Suzhou, embarking on a journey to roam the world.