This scene opens in the city hall of the city of Zhengzhou, where the Governess is speaking with her brother-in-law. The Governess tells him that her son, Gou Shen, has refused to accept the protection offered by the city authorities. He also tells her that he has received a letter from Gou Heen, who has asked him to pass it on to her. He says that he knows that there are people who stand in front of his house and claim that he takes bribes, but he has to speak up because he is a weak scholar who has endured injustice without complaint. He promises to go to the city and rescue her son. He explains that if they don't rescue him, he'll die in the foreign lands. He adds that the years of hard work they've invested in the southern part of town will have to be wasted. .