It is 1678 during the Qing dynasty and Inspector Yu Chenglong has been assigned to Fujian province. He is a veteran civil servant who wears simple clothing and eats sparingly. He finds the province suffering from misrule at the hands of officials and rulers who dress in bright silks and only discuss policy over fine wine. The prisons are full of thousands of people who have been accused of “collusion with pirates” and are sentenced to be executed. The streets are full of starving homeless children whose parents are in jail. In this 2008 Shanghai production of a Beijing opera, Inspector Yu goes immediately to work to remedy the ills in society, taking children into his house and feeding them, freeing people unjustly imprisoned, and easing the tax burden of the poor. Of course his actions anger the corrupt officials, and they accuse him of being an avaricious hypocrite who takes bribes and hides jewelry in his mysterious treasure chest. Just what is in that chest? Will Yu survive a drinking contest with Prince Kang, who says he will support Yu’s reforms if the older man can out drink him? The theme of an honest government official who helps the poor is of great interest to the People’s Republic.