Episode 29
What's wrong? ls there a problem?
No. This is good.
You finally look like a young mistress.
Stop praising me. Hurry. Teach me those...
...pleasantries for doing big business.
Big business? I don't know.
The biggest business I did involved 600 taels. Is that big?
What should I do?
I've prepared for you.
Read it out.
"Uphold honour while making profit."
"Role model to all merchants."
"Role model...
"To all merchants." -"To all merchants."
Put down the palanquin.
Madam Ying.
How am I doing? -Very good.
Welcome.
"Uphold honour while making profit."
"Role model to all merchants."
Mr. Tong, this is our young mistress.
Mr. Tong.
I am Tong Jing Fu.
In the past, I had met Young Master Wu Pin several times.
It is unfortunate that he died young.
I am so glad to see you today.
I heard good words about you from Wu Pin.
He said that you are business-minded yet extraordinary.
You uphold honour while making profit.
He called you a role model to all merchants.
It is my honour to meet you today.
No. You have flattered me.
I am neither clever nor courageous enough.
I am not kind or strict enough either.
I'm just lucky.
Mr. Tong, you are...
You are...
You are... -Mr. Tong, our young mistress...
Mr. Tong, I shall not beat about the bush.
You must be here to purchase cotton.
I'm holding all cotton in Guanzhong.
As long as you offer a reasonable price...
...I'm willing to sell all.
Mr. Tong.
Please have a seat.
Mr. Tong, I brought some samples.
Do you want to take a look?
May I know how much of such cotton do you have in store?
At least 800,000 catties.
That's too much. I don't need so much.
How much do you need? -200,000 catties at most.
If the price is reasonable, I can try my best to help you...
...by purchasing 200,000 catties more.
Mr. Tong, what is the reasonable price in your mind?
I purchased cotton for 50 coins per catty...
...at other places.
But, since I have special feelings for Jingyang...
...I'm willing to offer 60 coins.
Mr. Tong, I'm selling my cotton for...
...120 coins per catty.
Mrs. Wu, you must be joking.
Due to the price clash last year, half of the...
...cotton farmers in Guanzhong decided to grow wheat this year.
The cotton farms in Huguang were struck by a disaster.
Their yield is close to zero.
Scarce goods are expensive. Besides, this kind of quality...
...is definitely worth 120 coins per catty.
Mrs. Wu, I've been purchasing cotton...
...from many places for so many years...
...and I've never spent more than 100 coins per catty.
Mr. Tong, a ship rises with the tide.
You will be able to sell your cloth...
...at the highest price ever.
80 coins. I'll take all 800,000 catties of cotton.
If you don't agree, we can forget about it.
To show my sincerity, let me make a suggestion.
If you take all 800,000 catties of cotton...
...I'll give you a discount of 5 coins. It'll be 115 coins.
Mrs. Wu, I'm sorry.
This is impossible.
It's alright. In a few days...
...cotton merchants from Huguang will definitely come to Jingyang.
By then, I might even be able to...
...sell my cotton for 150 coins per catty.
By the way, I think the cargo ship to Wuhan you booked...
...has a capacity of 800,000 catties.
It has to depafl by the 8th day of the month.
It looks like you'll have to return empty-handed this time.
Stop me.
Mrs. Wu, please wait.
Mr. Tong.
Mrs. Wu, give me more discount.
In this case...
...if it is cash on delivery, you can have it for 110 coins.
Deal.
Mr. Tong.
Shen Xing Yi? What are you doing here?
I came to do business with Mr. Tong.
I am Shen Ying Xing, the assistant shopkeeper of...
...Shen Family Cotton...
...and young master of Shen Family of Jingyang.
I see. Hello.
My father sent me to visit you. -Mr. Tong.
Since we've reached an agreement, let's sign a contract...
...and arrange for delivery. -Alright.
This way. -Wait, Mr. Tong.
I heard you all saying that...
...cotton is sold for 110 coins per catty this year.
It's even a cash on delivery.
Coincidentally, I have 800,000 catties of cotton for you.
It's superior quality. My price is also 110 coins.
But, I'll give you 7 days to pay.
You don't have to pay right away. -Shen Xing Yi.
Where did you get your 800,000 catties of cotton?
I'm holding all cotton produced in Guanzhong.
That's none of your business.
If Mr. Tong agrees to buy from us...
...Shen Family will surely deliver the goods as promised.
You came to ruin my business.
I came to do business with Mr. Tong.
Mr. Tong, let's go in and talk.
Mr. Tong, you don't have to discuss with him.
I offer 105 coins.
Let's sign the contract right away.
Alright. -I offer 105 coins as well.
You can still pay within 7 days.
100 coins.
Alright. -I offer 100 coins too.
7 days' payment.
Is she really Wu Family's young master?
Yes, she is.
Man and woman shouldn't have physical contact. Let go.
Mr. Shen, what do you want?
If you give me a hard time, I'll give you a hard time too.
Do you think your trick will work? -It seems quite effective.
At most...
...I'll give up this business.
Let's see if you can deliver the goods.
At most, I'll go to Hanzhong to buy cotton and make a small loss.
But, you'll make a huge loss. That'll make me happy.
Shen Xing Yi, this is a no-win situation.
So what?
If you want me to leave, there is one thing you can do.
Sell all your cotton to me for 80 coins per catty...
...and I'll sell it to Mr. Tong for 100 coins.
Dream on. -If that's the case...
...I'll match your price and allow time for payment.
I believe Mr. Tong will surely choose me.
I can offer the same condition.
You can't.
I've investigated.
You merely paid the farmers some deposit.
You must settle the payment within 3 days after delivery.
Else, you must pay them double.
You've even pawned your land. Where can you get the money?
That's why you want cash on delivery from Mr. Tong.
Don't be so stubborn.
Sell me all your cotton while the price is still high.
Else, I'll fight with you until the end.
Think about it.
Cotton you bought at a price of 65 coins per catty...
...will be sold to me for 80 coins per catty.
You'll make 15 coins per catty from me.
You can easily earn over 10,000 taels from this.
I worked so hard for 3 months and only earn a meagre 15 coins...
...while you can resell and make 20 coins?
Cost for grading, weighing, packaging and transportation...
...is worth at least 5 coins per catty.
Deal.
Right. You should have agreed earlier.
You should have... -Take this, dishonest merchant.
You... You kicked me again.
Mr. Tong, I resign.
You can deal with Mr. Shen.
This... What's going on? -Goodbye.
Don't worry, Mr. Tong. Let's proceed with our discussion.
This isn't the end.
Right. We have a bet.
Mr. Tong.
Shen Xmg Y“!
Father. -Master.
Come. Put it down.
Did you just withdraw over 60,000 taels?
Yes. -Why do you need so much money?
I'm purchasing cotton. - Purchasing cotton?
That'll cost slightly over 10,000 at most.
You withdrew over 60,000 taels!
Father, calm down. Let's sit down and talk.
Father, cotton price went up this year.
It was 60 coins. But now, it's 80 coins.
You still won't need so much money.
Is your old habit back? You acted on your own again.
I purchased 800,000 catties of cotton.
Are you crazy? Why did you buy so much...
...when it's expensive?
Let me finish. Father, calm down.
I made a deal with Tong Jing Fu.
He wants all 800,000 catties of cotton.
He wants all?
I sold it to him for 100 coins per catty.
100 coins per catty?
He actually agreed? -He has to agree.
Why? -Last year's price crash...
...made farmers changed to growing wheat.
So, the production of cotton in Guanzhong decreased by half...
...and cotton farms in Huguang were struck by a natural disaster.
Scarce good are expensive. Of course the price goes up.
You paid attention to Huguang's market?
Of course.
In business, we need to be very informative.
Besides, what does the 800,000 catties of cotton mean?
Basically, all cotton in Guanzhong is in our hands.
We have the final say in the price.
Tong Jing Fu can either give up this business...
...or give in to us.
I've learnt something through this incident.
It's better to take advantage of the situation...
...than bargain with others. If we have the upper hand...
...we'll have control over our profits.
Father, I think we should start developing along this direction.
Even if we'll make a loss first, we must occupy the market first.
Shen Xing Yi, are you being naive again?
You haven't made a lot and you ignore the cost already.
Why are you thinking about making losses?
Listen. You are still inexperienced.
Father, goodbye. -Goodbye, master.
Shopkeeper Shi, I haven't finished.
Go and withdraw 5,000 taels and book next year's cotton.
Now? -Yes, right now.
After deducting the cost, we made a profit of 8,000 taels.
We were supposed to make 20,000 taels.
Shen Xing Yi stole a big fraction of it.
We don't have enough capital. This is already a good result.
Yes. If you consider the 00st...
...Shen Xing Yi only earned two-tenth.
We earned more than 2 times the sum of it.
I must get my revenge.
Shen Xing Yi isn't the one who profited the most.
Who else? -The price of cloth hiked.
Tong Jing Fu made at least 30,000 taels.
That much? -You can calculate yourself.
1 catty of cotton can make 5 feet's cloth. See the profit?
How are the textile workshop and textile store of...
...the east mansion and centre mansion doing?
I think they aren't doing well.
Xiao Wu.
Go and book next year's cotton.
Alright. I'll depart tomorrow.
If my guess is correct, Shen Xing Yi's man is on his way.
So, you must depart now. - Alright. I'll go right away.
Don't fight with them. Just book half the amount of...
...the cotton we booked last year. -Understood.
Grandmother!
I came a little late.
I added fresh almonds into this grease tea for you.
It's good for your lungs. Try it.
What a good boy.
Sit down and talk to your grandmother. Go.
Your father visited me today. He praised you a lot.
Is that so? -What did he say?
Tell me. -He said that...
...you are completely different today.
Xing Er, did we make money from cotton this year?
Yes. The profit is even higher than last year's.
I can tell from your father's smiling face.
Si Hai said that the profit isn't important.
The thing is that Xing Er is now...
...different from others in terms of vision and ambition.
He can't make small money, but he can make big money.
He can't fight, but he can lead an army.
Your father called you a general. Xing Er.
You must have done really well for your father to say that.
What did I say again? Xing Er will better than anyone else...
...once he's enlightened.
The money I made isn't considered a lot.
Someone else spent only 2,000 taels...
...to make over 10,000 taels. -Who?
You all don't know her.
Xing Er, you need to learn from this person.
I'm not just going to learn from her.
I'm going to compete with her.
Mother, here's the 2,000 taels I borrowed.
This is the interest.
This is your dividend.
Why are you giving me a dividend?
I'll give you a dividend each time I make a profit.
Why?
You're my mother. This is my obligation.
But, I'm not your real mother.
You're Wu Pin's mother. So, you're my mother as well.
What's the matter, mother?
That's so heavy. You should have asked me.
I can handle this.
Alright.
Take this money.
These things are worth some money.
You can pawn or sell them as you see fit.
From now on, go ahead and do your business.
I'll take care of the household for you.
Mother, please rest assured.
I won't lose all your money.
I trust you.
Keep it.
Put it properly. Keep it.
Mother.
It'll be your birthday soon.
I want to hold a proper celebration for you.
That's unnecessary.
Even though you made some money...
...we still have a lot to spend on.
I want to do my best to save money.
No. We must celebrate your birthday.
In fact, it must be grand.
Keep the money first.
Come. Keep the money properly.
Good! -Good!
Madam Ying, Master Wei Wu came.
Mother, Uncle Wei Wu came.
Sister Zheng.
We've come to wish you a happy birthday.
Uncle Wei Wu. Aunt.
Zhou Ying. -Sister Zheng.
Today is your birthday.
I prepared a small gift for you. I hope you like it.
Thank you. -Granny Zheng.
Uncle Wei Wu, where is Brother Wu Ze?
The exam is around the corner. He doesn't want to waste any time.
Brother Wu Ze will surely pass with flying colours.
I hope so.
Sister Yi. -Sister Ying.
You're only getting prettier.
Have you recovered? -Look. I'm fine now.
Aunt Ying.
Is this Yu Sheng? -Yes.
She's so tall already. -Yes.
He's much taller than...
...when he broke the funeral basin for Wu Pin.
You're so insensible.
He looks more and more like Wu Pin.
Sister Zheng!
Wei Quan. -Sister Zheng.
I have led my family over to wish you a happy birthday.
May you be blessed with longevity and good fortune!
Present the gifts. -Come here, kids.
Greet Granny Zheng. -What do you think of this?
Good. It's pretty.
Granny Zheng, may you be blessed with...
...longevity and good foflune.
Good. Stand up. -They are so wonderful.
Stand up. -This...
Look. This... -Reward from Granny Zheng.
You can use it to buy sweets.
Thank your granny. -Here you go.
Is this Yu Cheng? -Yes.
Granny Zheng, this is for you. -What a good child.
Good boy. -100 taels.
This is for Yu Cheng. -Thank you.
Be good.
Can you let me hold him?
Be good, Yu Cheng.
Good boy.
Sister Zheng, you gave them so much.
You'll spoil them.
Sister Zheng, we can't accept this.
Zhou Ying prepared this. Just accept it.
Hurry. Thank Aunt Ying.
Thank you, Aunt Ying. -Don't mention it.
We made some money this year. I'd like to share the happiness.
I want to watch the opera. -Go.
I want to watch the opera too. -Go ahead.
Go.
Zhou Ying. -Uncle Wei Quan.
What a joyous day.
It feels like Wu Family's happy days are back.
You're right, Uncle Wei Quan.
On top of bringing the happy days back...
...I'm going to restore Wu Family's glory.
Good. You're motivated.
But, it's difficult since I'm all alone.
I took this opportunity to invite the two of you over...
...also because I'd like to discuss about...
...something important with the two of you.
What is it about?
Let's sit down and talk.
Well...
...even though I made some money from...
...the cotton business this year...
...my profit is nothing compared to that of the...
...owners of textile businesses in Wuhan.
They bought cotton from Guanzhong at a low price...
...and process it into Hubei cloth.
Then, they sell the cloth to Shaanxi at a high price...
...and transport it to the border from Jingyang.
In this process, we make three-tenth of the profit...
...while they make seven-tenth of the profit.
Zhou Ying, you're right.
I sell handwoven cloth. I've seen it myself how...
...cotton turns into Hubei cloth...
...and comes back at a way higher price.
Uncle Wei Quan, you run a textile workshop.
You know it best. Shaanxi's cloth is good too.
How come Hubei cloth sells better?
That's because of our small-scale production.
Yes.
Correct. Our cloth is produced at homes...
...at small quantities.
The volume is low and there is no reputation.
Of course the agents don't acknowledge our cloth.
Zhou Ying, do you have an idea.
Nothing escapes you. Let's have a toast first.
Well, I do have an idea.
Look. I have cotton.
Uncle Wei Quan, you have a textile workshop.
Uncle Wei Wu, you have a textile shop.
We can merge and establish Wu Family Textile Business.
I deliver my cotton directly to Uncle Wei Quan's workshop...
...and the completed products are sold in Uncle Wei Wu's shop.
I did a calculation.
If we merged our businesses and sell our own products...
...we can produce 60,000 rolls of cloth per year.
Our income will increase by double...
...and fame will come with the scale of production.
Once we make Shaanxi's handwoven cloth famous...
...we can compete in the market of Hubei cloth...
...and make even greater profits.
My uncles, what do you two think?
When Brother Wei Wen was alive, we only...
...forked out money to invest in a pawn shop together.
But now, you want all three families to...
...merge our main businesses.
This is a serious matter and I don't feel confident.
Wei Quan, what do you think?
Zhou Ying, I'm a straightforward person.
I hope you don't mind.
It's alright. You may be frank.
It's not a good sign when a hen cries cock-a-doodle-doo.
There's no man in the east mansion.
You've no choice...
...but to be the leader. So, I won't say anything.
But, if you want me to hand you the workshop...
...we've operated for decades...
...I'm afraid I can't agree.
Your father left these with the Ministry of Justice.
Even though they aren't valuable...
...I think they will be important mementoes to you.
So, I asked someone to bring them back for me.
Ms. Hu, you've gotten a lot thinner.
I can't eat in the day.
At night, I always dream of my father.
But, you need to move on.
I don't understand.
My father was such a kind person.
How come he ended up like this?
Maybe he was bullied exactly because he was too kind.
Father, why didn't you tell me that...
...you were treated unfairly?
Why did you commit suicide?
Why did you leave me behind?
Ms. Hu, don't be too sad.
The deceased cannot come back to life.
But, you still have me.
You still have me as your friend.
Thank you.
Come back. Yu Sheng, stop playing with the tools.
Do you want to be an opera actor? -Yu Tong.
Your father will scold you. -I know, mother.
The kids are the happiest ones today.
We've reached. Good bye.
Uncle Wei Quan. Aunt. Goodbye.
Alright. Goodbye. -Wei Quan, goodbye.
Be careful on your way back.
Zhou Ying, did you enjoy today's opera?
Yes. -I think it's quite interesting.
Uncle Wei Wu, you've run a textile shop for so many years.
Do you think I made a point today?
To be honest, I never thought of what you suggested.
But, I must admit that you have a point there.
Since you agree with it...
...can you help me to persuade Uncle Wei Quan?
Wei Quan is very stubborn.
He'll only listen to Brother Wei Wen.
I don't think I can convince him.
If Uncle Wei Quan isn't interested...
...would you still venture into it with me?
Zhou Ying, ever since Brother Wei Wen left...
...you've been the one supporting the household.
You've done great.
I just told my wife yesterday that...
...you are indeed a capable person...
...and that you all will keep getting better.
Thank you for the acknowledgement.
But, I don't know how far your capability can carry you.
Alright. If you can convince Wei Quan...
...I'll be your partner.
We'll establish Wu Family Textile Business.
If Wei Quan doesn't take pad, I won't take pan as well.
Is this alright? -Sure.
You shouldn't have rejected Zhou Ying's idea so quickly.
Why? -Look at how much...
...she gave the kids. She gave them 100 taels each.
She's way more generous than Brother Wei Wen.
So what?
She made big money in such a shod period of time.
What does this prove? This proves her capability.
If we work with her, maybe we can earn a fortune too.
You're just an ignorant woman.
You old man, what do you mean by that?
"As the princess' husband, you are wrong."
"Let me explain."
"The royal family has its own rules."
"There is no such thing as the ruler...
...bowing to his subject."
"No wonder your wife ridiculed you."
"You were a herdsman who took care of cattle...
...and horses."
"He was enraged."
“He yelled at the consort and called her rude.“
Good! -Father.
What's the matter? -There's something...
...I need you to do for me.
"The old general can fight against two at a time."
What's the matter?
You went to visit Hu Yong Mei?
I went to deliver some things to her.
Why did you go without me?
Her father just died. She's all alone now.
Am I not allowed to visit her?
You can visit her.
I just want to remind you that...
...we are here for serious business.
But, she's useful to us. -I know.
But, don't forget...
...who we are.
God bless.
Can you show me the way to Beiji Monastery?
Beiji Monastery? Go 3 miles southwards from here.
This way?
Thank...
Thank you.
God bless.
Stop right there!
God bless. -Mr. Taoist Priest.
Weren't you just asking for directions?
Why do you look so scared?
Did I scare you? -No.
I'm sorry. I'm not strong enough.
I'm sorry. -No.
Mr. Taoist Priest.
What exactly do you mean? -|... I can't tell you.
No! You must tell me today.
You must tell me. -|...
God bless. I have no choice but to tell him.
Gentleman.
It looks like I've no choice but to tell you.
I advise you to go home...
...and avoid going out for as long as possible.
Why? -This is heaven's secret.
That's all I can tell you.
God bless.
I'm totally fine.
He must be trying to scare me.
L---
What's wrong with everything today?
I'm just walking here!
How unlucky.
Open the door!