Du ShiniangLing Lung Cantonese OperaCantonese Opera Development Fund 'New Cantonese Opera Play Scriptwriting Competition' Outstanding Script Award
The story takes place during the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty. Du Shiniang, a songstress in the capital, is an unrivalled beauty among the courtesans. Young men and aristocrats in the capital all fall for her charm. Liu Yuchun, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, receives financial support from his rich kinsman Li Ganxian. One evening, Li takes Liu for a visit to the brothel, and both won Shiniang's attention. Liu, aware of his humble circumstances, admires Shiniang but lacks the courage to show his love; Li, smitten of Shiniang's beauty, is bent on winning her over. But lacking in literary talent, Li asks Liu to compose a poem in his place. It succeeds in getting Shiniang to meet Li and they take vows of love. Sun Fu, a rich salt dealer, is enrolled at the Academy through donations. He is enamoured of Shiniang but she rejects him.
One day, Shiniang and friends are on a pilgrimage to Fragrant Hill and run into Sun Fu. Liu happens to pass by and defuses the situation, only to be misunderstood by Shiniang who dislikes him ever since. The bawd of the brothel, for want of money, forces Shiniang to become Sun's concubine. Shiniang resists by threatening to kill herself. Fearing she may lose both Shiniang and the money, the bawd gives Shiniang ten days to raise three hundred taels of gold to be released from the bond. Li goes about raising the money, but lacking the means, he asks Liu for help. Wanting to free Shiniang from the bond, Liu borrows one hundred and fifty taels of gold from Sun Fu and hands them over to Shiniang, who shows appreciation for Li but mocks Liu. Eventually, Shiniang has raised enough money for her release. She returns to Jiangsu-Zhejiang with Li.
When the boat sails near Guazhou, Li begins to feel regret: he is now broke, and his parents may not forgive him for marrying a songstress. In the meantime, Sun Fu's boat has caught up with them. He is willing to pay Li a thousand taels of gold to buy Shiniang from Li. After weighing the pros and cons, Li agrees, he even owns up to Shiniang his decision. Ruing her choice of husband, the disillusioned Shiniang sinks her treasure chest full of jewels into the river and jumps in to drown herself. Later, a dispirited Liu leaves the capital. At Guazhou, he sees a wooden treasure chest on the river and picks it up. That very evening, he has a dream - Shininag appears on the waves and tearfully tells him her sad story. But they are now separated by death, and Shiniang's regrets are remembered by posterity.