It's the day before the curtain rises for the performance of the play, and the cast and crew have gathered in the backstage area to watch the performance. The young actor, who has come to perform in the play jinqiu , tells the audience that the play is set in fairyland, where a wealthy landlord hires a young farmer to work on his property. The farmer is grateful to his master for his kindness, but he hates coriander, which he hates because it is so profitable. One day, the young farmer dreams of a fairy and follows the fairy to fairyland. Unable to forget the dream, the farmer searches for fairyland until he runs into a drought and is unable to harvest or pay rent. The landlord asks the farmer to pay back all of his money in double, but the farmer refuses to accept the debt. The play ends with the young actor dying beside a wilted attempt at suicide. The audience is so impressed by the performance that they cheer the actor onstage. The actor asks the audience to help him change his clothes. He's so tired that he doesn't know how to do it, and he wants the audience's help.