The story starts in 1899, as an anti-Western feeling is growing and the Qing Dynasty is tottering. After the kidnapping of one son's wife, banker Kang played by Zhang Tielin chooses this third son, an artistic type, to take over the reins of his empire.
However, apart from being entirely unfit to become a ruthless businessman, Third Master carries an undying torch for his young stepmother, who is his first and only love, but who has now been stolen from him by his overbearing dad.
After a reflective spell in the desert where some action belatedly breaks out, Third Master returns on the news of his stepmother's death as chaos erupts in China.
Greed, deception, and jealousy surface under the pressure of war and the impending change from the use of silver to paper currency.
At the end of the film, Third Master decides to use the family's wealth accumulated over centuries to pay its debt to ordinary small clients at their bank. The decision almost bankrupts the family and the son anguishes over it, but then discovers a message left by his forbears, together with a mound of silver: "Righteousness".
