1. The Woman Who Ran Away The Household: Jen + Woman Wang (+Jen’s father) –they are poor, with no children Woman Wang commits adultery and runs away with her lover She and her lover break up and she returns to the Taoist Temple near her home Kao sees her and Jen comes to the Temple

2. Provocations Jen yells at the priest for harboring Woman Wang Kao defends the priest Jen insults Kao, accusing him of complicity of hiding Woman Wang Kao hits Jen Jen curses Kao

3. Sending Woman Wang Home Kao and priest take her to her father in law Father in law sends her to Jen Could Jen have divorced or sold her? Grounds for divorce (besides mutual consent): –inability to bear sons –lascivious behavior –failure to serve inlaws –talking too much –having a thievish nature –being overzealous –having a serious illness

4. Problems for Jen He could not divorce her if: –she had no family –she had mourned her in laws –her husband had become rich

5. The Murder Jen kills Woman Wang Jen plans to blame Kao; Jen and father accuse Kao of murder and adultery Huang arrests Kao and wife, doubt’s Jen’s story and decides to investigate

6. Huang’s Investigation Checking alibis Visiting the crime scene and the site of Woman Wang’s body Huang imprisons Jen and father in law in the temple of the city god with a spy to listen

7. The Resolution Huang explains to Jen what he thought occurred Jen confesses The Punishment: –Father in law exonerated –Jen beaten and humiliated, but allowed to remarry –Kao charged with Woman Wang’s burial