Niu Yong, a cowherd, steals the feather robe of Zhiyun, a weaver maiden who descended from heaven. He traps her, harvests her celestial blood to weave colorful silk for profit, and conspires with his vicious mother and crooked merchants to amass wealth. Desecrating the fairy triggers heavy heavenly rains. The dam bursts, putting the village in peril. His younger brother Niu Liang stays true, exposes the crimes in court and rescues Zhiyun. Zhiyun weaves sacred brocade to mend the sky. Niu Liang sacrifices himself to plug the water vent and calm the flood. The villains are punished. Zhiyun abandons her immortal status to stay with Niu Liang on earth. They run a cloth shop and live happily together.
