During the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty, Ling Guixing, a villain in Panyu County, Guangdong, wanted to gain fame and was superstitious about Feng Shui. He provoked and harassed his cousin Liang Tianlai in many ways. The Liang family are loyal people and always give in at every step. Ling Guixing relied on his wealth to carry out his evil deeds, and one night, he ganged up with thieves and set fire to the Liang family, killing seven corpses and eight others. Liang Tianlai repeatedly complained to the county and government, but because Ling Guixing paid bribes everywhere, the unjust case could not be redressed. Instead, the government executed Zhang Feng, a beggar who had testified righteously, to death. The sufferer Liang Tianlai was driven out of the Yamen and was extremely miserable.