''Ju Dou'' takes place in the early 20th century in rural China. The story begins as '''Yang Tianqing''' (the regular Zhang collaborator Li Baotian) is returning from a trek to sell silk for his adoptive uncle, '''Yang Jinshan''' (Li Wei (actor)). Jinshan, whose trade is dyeing fabrics, is known for his cruelty. Tianqing learns that Jinshan has just recently purchased a new wife, having beaten two previous wives to death after they failed to produce a son, the cruel irony being that Jinshan is in fact impotent.