Wu Dalang, whose original name was Wu Chunlai, later changed his name to Wu Zhi after his mother's surname, with the courtesy name Dalang, from Laifeng County. Both of his parents died when he was young, and he raised his brother Wu Song through hardships. He made a living selling cooking cakes and married Pan Jinlian. He originally lived in Qinghe County and later moved to Zihe Street in Yanggu County. The prototype is actually the magistrate of Qinghe County: However, later archeology found in the tomb that Wu Song and Wu Zhi were hundreds of years apart, which means they were not from the same period.

Wu Zhi was a poor young man, and his friend Huang Tang helped him. Unexpectedly, a fire broke out at Huang Tang’s home. He wanted to go to Wu Zhi to find an official position, but Wu Zhi treated him well with good food and wine, but he always refused. Don't support him. Huang Tang left without saying goodbye in anger. On the way back home, he spread rumors everywhere to vent his anger. Seeing that the rumors had little impact, he posted big-character posters everywhere to humiliate the Wu couple. The famous local monk Yu colluded with him and made him jealous. Later, when he returned home, he found that Wu Dalang spent his own money to build his house. Huang Tang regretted it and came to apologize to Wu Dalang and come forward to refute the rumors. However, it is easy to spread rumors but difficult to refute them. It was too late when the apology was made, and the rumors spread even more widely.