Since we're not destined to be together
We must accept our fate
You taught me never to submit to traditional values
Be bold and courageous
As I always say, it's better to be a woman
Getting married? Only fools will do it
Remember, it's a blessing to meet
the love of your life
You must treasure him at all costs
Never give up no matter what happens
Everything can be dealt with
as long as you love him
Great Great Granny was a strong woman and entrepreneur of Phoenix House
However, she was much weaker in love
She was so close with the man she loved
Yet she suppressed her feeling and refused to meet him
She rather suffered the hurt and abuse of her cruel husband
If I were her, I would leave Yuk-lun
And fled to somewhere with Yu Tsz
Bring me some soup for my hangover
Why are you standing there? Why are you running away fro me?
Master, you smoke and drink too much you might die young
Shut up,you are in no position to speak here
Stop making a scene
The House will open soon I have a lot of matters to attend to
It's more important to serve your husband
Didn't I teach you enough last night?
Let me go
Why do you stare at me with such resentment?
See clearly who I am to you,I'm your husband
You rather let other men touch you
Instead of touched by your husband
I am doing a favor to touch you
Madam
Fine, I won't touch you again
However, don't be happy too early
As long as you are my wife
You won't be able to be with another man you'd never be with that chef
I won't divorce you and I won't let you go
You'd never be able to live with that chef
Madam
Delicious, a nice balance between lean and fat pork, they melt in the mouth
I could bring you more if you like them
I've eaten so many nice dishes
This is a small gift in return
Master Cheung
Open it, a good spatula befits a good chef
Do not hide your culinary talents
Master Cheung
Remember to use your talents wisely you have a bright future ahead
Future? See if you can live through today
Yuk-lun
What a good plan, you pretended to leave the capital
While you have an affair with that woman
I don't understand what you said
Stop pretending, how shameless you are
If you are not having an affair
Why does she pay 10 taels everyday to cure your injured arm?
Settle your problem outside
Shut up, I will get to you later
You don't have anything to say now, do you?
Don't mess around
It's too late to beg now
I'll kill you first and then get to that woman
Our relationship is pure, don't insult her
Shut up and beat him
Don't do this
You're in luck, let's go
Madam
You're out for so long, have you prepared all the food ingredients?
I did as I wish, although I failed to bring whom you want to see back here
I've brought this thing for you
Did you meet Yu Tsz?
Master Yu asked me out, he met Master at the bonesetter's place
No wonder
He has fully recovered
How do you know?
Look at the artistry of this doll
He couldn't make it if he hasn't recovered
No wonder Master Yu asked me to bring this doll back to you
Besides being a birthday gift it also serves as a sign of recovery
I'm glad that he's fully recovered
Only Master Yu can make you smile again
You are destined to be together
You shouldn't have married Master
Sin, stop babbling that nonsense
I just feel sorry for you, Madam
I am happy as long as he is recovered
Although Yu Tsz wasn't with her with his support and encouragement
Great Great Granny gathered strength to bear with all the pains and sufferings
Alright, last call
1,2 and 3. 6 points, that's small
What's wrong with this?
As for Yuk-lun, after his failure to become chairman of the Chamber
He either gambled or smoked opium with Fa Chin-hung
When he's broke, he'd go home for money
Great Great Granny has lost all her hopes in Yuk-lun
She focused on managing the House
Boss
Boss, the rice is...
Boss! Come over and help!
Boss, are you alright?
Madam isn't sick, she's pregnant
Yu-fung is pregnant?
You'll be a mother soon!
Wonderful, we have an heir!
Congratulation, Madam Hei
Madam is weak, she needs to rest
Let's prepare some stews for her
That's for sure, ask Yuk-lun to come home
You're back, Yuk-lun
Why did you sand someone to ask for me?
You will become a father soon
Congratulations, Master What?
I'm going to be a grandmother you're going to be a father
Wait, this woman is pregnant
but the child might not be mine
What are you talking about?
How can you say that, Master?
I haven't been back for a long time
I haven't touched her in ages
That child might be someone else's
Wong Yuk-lun, you were drunk that night...
And? That'd be too much of a coincidence
I won't be responsible for this child
Are you drugged on opium?
Madam Hei!
Am I drugged or are you senile?
Don't be too happy so soon
Check and see if the child resembles me or not after he is born
Yuk-lun!
I'm sorry, Yu-fung. Our family has wronged you with such a bad son
Madam, the doctor asked you to rest
I can't leave the kitchen to On and Chuen
Only I know the secret recipes, I'm fine
No, you can't go, Madam
Who is acting against the advise of others?
Madam Hei
You're pregnant, you need to rest in bed
People are waiting for the signature dish
Roasted Phoenix smells so good
Is the sauce ready? Are the ingredients ready?
Red pepper, coastal glehnia root
Yu Tsz
Sin told me Master Yu hasn't left the capital
I decided to hire him back
We need a proper chef at the House
I'll take the blame if Yuk-lun protests
We have a proper chef now
I only know how to cook
This spatula of mine will never leave here
The kitchen is my territory, you need to follow my rules from now on
Pregnant woman are not allowed here
Rest and keep the baby well have a fat and baby for the Wongs
A baby is happy only when the mother is happy
Luckily, Yu Tsz returned in time
and cheered Great Great Granny at the lowest point in her life
In the second year of the Eight-Power Allied Forces' intrusion of Peking
Li Hung-Chang signed the Boxer Protocol with 11 foreign countries
Starting the division of the country
In 1901, Empress Dowager returned to the capital with 3000 trucks of belongings
and started a reformation right away
Her Highness has returned to the palace
A royal notice was put up yesterday regarding her reformations
Security and warmth are more important
Her Highness was once here, do you think she'll visit again?
I don't think so
The times are changing, I wonder how it will turn out later
Don't worry about that, you should only worry about whether you have
enough nutritious food or not
Otherwise, your baby won't be fat enough
The baby is naughty, he often kicks me
You must teach him well then
I don't mind the teaching effort
I hope that he won't be as useless as his dad
Big news! Big news!
What is it? What's wrong?
Someone in the market said that Yuk-lun has been arrested
What? Why?
Sir, I am the wife of Wong Yuk-lun the owner of Phoenix House
I'd like to meet my husband
Unauthorized people are not allowed into the courthouse
then please tell us what is his charge
I cannot comment on a case which is under investigation
Old folks are worried at home, do us a favor and tell us, please
I said no comment, leave
What is it?
Brother Cheung-Wong, do you remember me? I'm Yu Tsz of Prince Kung's Mansion
Master Yu, we haven't met for a long time
Brother Cheung-Wong was kind to me
Can you do us a favor?
Tell me how Boss Wong is and what crime he has committed
It's a working case, we cannot comment
Brother Cheung-Wong, do us a favor
How is it?
Brother Cheung-Wong said a night soil worker
Came to the house of Yuk-lun and Fa Chin-hung
and found them unconscious from an overdose of opium
He reported to the court, Fa is found dead and Yuk-lun is saved
Why are they keeping my lord?
They are investigating whether it is homicide, suicide or accident
When are they going to release him?
Brother Cheung-Wong didn't say anything
How are you?
Don't stand in the wind, let me escort you home and think of a solution
How are you? It hurts
Can you walk? There is a temple close by, let us go there to take a rest
How are you, Yu-fung? It hurts!
Please keep Yu-fung safe, she has to be!
It hurts, Tsz!
Bear with it, I'll go and find a midwife
I can't stand it, I have to bear it now
I'm here with you, you'll be fine
It hurts, Tsz!
It's a girl Let me see
She is as pretty as you are
Yuk-lun, Mother is here to see you
Yu-fung is here as well
Save me, save me!
What is making you like this?
His opium addiction is kicking in
Don't worry, the investigation has finished
Fa Chin-hung's death has nothing to do with you
Fa died of an opium overdose
Yu-fung has born a baby girl for you, she resembles you a lot
Carry her over for him to take a look
I don't want to see her, give me opium
Mother, I'm in pain, I want opium
Release me, give me opium
Mother!
Drink this
Chi-Kwan, why are you crying?
Today you're 1-month old and it's your grandmother's birthday
You should be happy
Chi-Kwan
You have given her so many gold jewelry
She can barely move, she's complaining
Grandmother Pik's the heaviest, say thanks
Let's thank Grandmother Pik
Thank you, Grandmother Pik
Chi-Kwan is here to say thank you
She is the apple of our eyes, of course she has everything
I want to give her a gold monkey pendant
Fortunetellers said it'd make the child smarter
Smarter child!
You will spoil her like that
Chi-Kwan is worthy of our love look how cute she is
With the rad apple cheeks
If you like children so much, have your own
We'd like to, but we haven't been able to
Unlike Yu-fung, she had such a smart child
once she married into our family
Children are a gift from God take it slowly, it's never too late
That's right, let's try hard
The happiest thing is for Yuk-lun to dine with us together
Right, I haven't done that for a long time
You have finally quit your opium addiction
You can join us for dinner happily
This is the greatest birthday gift for me
I have been a bad son, causing you to worry
Sorry to you all, you have worried for me
The return of a prodigal's son is priceless
We are happy to see how you are now
Thanks to the advice of Brother Yu and wife
The dishes are ready, let's start
Let's start
Madam Hei, I know you have an unfulfilled wish through the years
I have fulfilled it as a gift to you
My wish?
Open the gate, we're going home
I've never expected to live here again
All thanks to the protection of the deities and our ancestors
We do not have to suffer anymore
The mansion needs much reconstruction
We can take care of those after moving in
Alright
Call for some firecrackers
Get ready for that
Madam Pik and Madam Chi are tired
I shall escort them to their rooms
Go to the room! Let's go, come on
I haven't been here for ages, escort me to take a look, Yu-fung
Alright
It's windy outside, let me carry Chi-Kwan don't let her stay in the wind
You want to carry Chi-Kwan?
Yes, I saw you and Sin carrying her
I know how to coo her to sleep
This is the first time you ask to carry her
Everything has a first time, she's his daughter after all, let him do it
Let me do it
How forgetful I am to forget the money
What are you doing?
Yuk-lun! Chi-Kwan, it's fine
It's fine, don't be scared!
What's wrong? Madam, Madam Hei
I forgot to bring money, so I returned
Only to find Yuk-lun robbing Chi-Kwan of her gold jewelry
He has even taken the necklace
An opium addict is hard to turn good
Great Great Grandpa didn't quit
Sometimes he came back to steal and rob the House
Most of the time he vanished
Great Great Granny has scolded him and persuaded him to no avail
She has no expectation of him anymore
She focused her mind on raising her daughter and managing the House
Luckily, she had Yu Tsz as spiritual support
What I don't understand is after so many years
Not that Great Great Grandpa disappeared
Why didn't they consider getting together?
The train to Nanking will leave soon
Chi-Kwan, Mother is taking you to our hometown to visit your granny
This is my first trip aver
Take good care of Madam and Chi-Kwan
Be careful on the way
It'll be cooler in the coming few days
Have you brought enough clothes?
Remember to wear enough clothes
Chi-Kwan, let us buy sugar-coated haws
The train will leave soon, don't go
We can only buy them here, we'll be quick
Let's go and buy sugar coated haws!
Although it's only a month you've never been away too far
I have never separated from you
This time, I have a strange sensation that I am going to leave you forever
I feel strange too
You have treated me too well therefore I am too dependent on you
Be careful on the road
You have to manage the House and take care of my family on my behalf
If you see him, persuade him a little
I was told that he was beaten at an opium den some time ago
He has vanished again now
Try to get him home next time
He must be leading a horrible life outside
Madam Hei is very worried
I never expect Yuk-lun to walk on a path like this
If Fa Chin-hung and Yuk-lun both died in the opium overdose
Will our paths be any different?
All I think about is to raise Chi-Kwan
Right, after everything that has happened
As long as we know we have each other on our minds, that is enough
Madam, Brother Yu, the train is leaving
The train waits for no one, bon voyage
Take care yourself
Mister, what happened?
The train to Nanking derailed
It crashed into the mountain
Let's go!
Yu-fung!
Madam, what is it?
Sin, take Chi-Kwan outside first
What about you? I'll look for Yu Tsz
Yu Tsz!
Yu-fung...
Yu Tsz Yu-fung!
Yu Tsz, Yu...
Tsz! Tsz!
Tsz!
The train waits for no one, bon voyage
Take care yourself
It's a girl
The kitchen is my territory, you need to follow my rules from now on
Pregnant woman are not allowed here rest and keep the baby well
This is our House's signature dish - Roasted Phoenix
You are willing to sacrifice your life in order to save me
I fell so guilty about it
Tsz!
I am but a little bamboo leaf I'd try my best
To block the rain for you
Yu-fung!
What if there're wolves around?
I'll scare them away by pretending to be a shepherd dog
Will you really marry me?
Let's seal a pinky promise
Tsz!
Yu-fung!
Early 1919, the and of World War I
At the Paris Peace Conference
Representatives of China failed to abolish the 21 previously signed demands
The power Germany had in Shandong was even passed to Japan
Yet Chinese government agreed to those terms
As a result, May Forth Movement broke out over 3000 students from Peking University
and 10 other schools met at Tienanmen Square
With slogans such as “defend our sovereignty and punish the traitors“
The whole country was high on anti-Japanese sentiment
My Great Granny Wong Chi-Kwan was a high school student at that time
Influenced by New Culture Movement and May Forth Movement
She adored liberation and democracy
Disproves feudal ideals and traditions
She's forward-thinking, rebellious
a learned youth who loved justice
Cheung Li isn't here yet
It's bad to take back my word now
You are late, treat me soybean milk
I need to help my grandmother with something, I have to go now
Wong Chi-Kwan!
What is it, strong girl? You liar
My granny would kill me if she finds this out
Finish the street drama before you die
Can you assign me a role which faints and
falls to the ground the minute she appears?
Is it humiliating to perform street drama?
As the vice-chairperson of the Society of Women's Advancement
Shouldn't you take part to help?
When do I become the vice-chairperson?
It's immediately affective!
I am willing to perform in street drama
But if my Granny sees me she'd stop me from going to school
And imprison me in the House I won't be able to act as vice-chairperson
Don't worry, nobody will recognize you
here I am!
To Lai-kan, can't you be punctual just once?
I have my reason, I need to pack my pan, my notebook...
Fine, let's go
You licentious man!
I let him run away
What is it? He touched me
Of course he'd run after he touched you
Don't let me see you again!
Alright, let's go
Granny, let me help you
Useless Chinese! Your government has passed Shandong for us to rule
Stop your useless resistance
Yeah, why do you keep fighting?
Chinese are impotent! You have invaders from outside and traitors from within
What power do you have to resist us?
Right, what power do you have?
You're wrong, Chinese won't surrender easily
We must unite and fight the outsiders
Let us unite and punish the traitors
Chi-Kwan didn't go to the House this morning, did she?
She went back to school to study
A woman doesn't need to study that much
In the turmoil of war as this a skill is more important
What's all the fuss?
We will never surrender
We will fight until the and the final victory is ours
You have to leave our country! Leave!
What kind of girl would perform in public?
This girl's figure resembles...
I won't surrender! Shut up!
Chi-Kwan, why are you here?
Policemen!
Let's dash!
Search around
Somebody said the students ran that way
Let me go It's that licentious man again
I'll call the police if you don't go
He ran away again, a country bum!
Licentious and traitorous!
Scum of the society and shame of the country
If I aver see you again, I'd...
Granny?
Aunt Sin, save me
You are too much this time
A demure lady performing on the street
Caught rad-handed by her Ganny
Great Granny in trouble now!
This is called "Land of Plenty"
With yellowish fried eggs
The golden bits are fried pine nuts
With clear white radish as garnish
Try and see if I pass or not
Fried eggs is the true test of a good chef, she's giving you a surprise
Chi-Kwan is so nice, forgive her this time
I'd like to eat it just by looking at it
The eggs are fried smoothly
Salted fish dices add texture
and a nice and fragrant taste
The pine nuts are fried to a perfection carrying a fresh aroma in them
The radish is cut thinly, very nice
Uncle On taught me to cut them paper-thin
It requires years of skills to do this
First step in frying eggs lies in beating
Use a balanced force, avoid making bubbles
Than, prepare the salted fish, cut the salted fish in halves
Dice the first half and puree the second
Mix the pasta into the eggs, bringing a salty flavor to the fried eggs
Timing is most crucial for frying eggs
Fried for too long, the eggs... will become old and coarse
Not long enough, the eggs will taste fishy
Add the diced salted fish in when the eggs are almost done
Switch off the fire after a light stir the salted flavor will blend with the eggs
then we'll deep fry the pine nuts
Soak them in sugared water before frying
Sprinkle some salt, then serve
Madam Hei, there's also almond... sweet soup with egg white
And your favorite, chrysanthemum cakes
Chi-Kwan has been such a good girl
She worked hard in the kitchen for these,
she is really sincere to apologize to you
Nice, your acting is very good
Do you consider me an old fool?
Madam Hei
By defending her, you're ruining her
How will I believe that she can make such delicious dishes?
Uncle On and Chuen helped her, right?
I am not a fool
Grandma, I did learn from Uncle On and Chuen
Get in the kitchen and show me
Start, I'd like to know how wonderful your culinary skills are
As the future owner of the House
There's a lot of smoke and fumes here
The bad air is bad for the skin,why don't...
Are you cooking or not? If not, you won't be able to go to school
Grandmother
Nobody may help her
Whoever helps her will be fired, alright?
Madam Hei, are you alright?
Wong Chi-Kwan
Kneel before the ancestors
Yu-fung, I am sorry, I don't know
how to teach Chi-Kwan to be a nice girl
Granny, this is an accident
You have accidents every single time when you go into the kitchen
Spilled some water, broke a pot
Hurt Uncle On or cut Aunt Sin
This time I am in luck, and ended with a crutch
I will do it next time, I will prepare whatever dish you like to taste
Stop lying, every year you say “just one more year, and I'll learn to cook"
You lied every single year, you can't even boil an egg
They spoil you and help you
I know that, I was giving you another chance
Yet you stepped further out of line, you did nothing as you've promised
I really dislike cooking, and I lack talent
The more talent I lack, the worse I cook
The worse I cook, the more I dislike cooking, the more I dislike...
Stop arguing, I didn't let you study
in order to be argumentative
Does a student have to tear her clothes and show her shoulder to everybody?
Studying is more than learning to read and write,I learn to discern right and wrong
Chinese have been too cowardly, thus we are often bullied by the West
My drama was meant to fight for ourselves
You should fight for yourself, Phoenix House is your mother's brainchild
You'll inherit it sooner or later
Work hard and learn to manage it well
Madam Hei, Chi-Kwan is still young, she'll become mature later
Right, let's talk about inheriting
the House when Chi-Kwan is older
Grandmother, I'll be good
Give me another chance, I have only one more year before graduation
I will return to the House then
Since there's just a year left one year of study doesn't matter
Stop going to school form tomorrow onwards
What?