Episode 43
Take the gold back.
But, I'd like to keep the snow lotus.
It has withered. Why do you want to keep it?
Even though the snow lotus has withered...
...I'll remember your sincerity forever.
Zhou Ying.
You could have owned my head forever.
I would love and protect you forever.
Like how the snow lotus needs protection from the glacier...
...you should give your head to a woman who genuinely loves you.
What about you? Do you still love your late husband?
Yes.
I hate him very much. But...
...at the same time, I'm very, very jealous of him.
If he's alive, I believe...
...the two of you will become friends.
You definitely won't hate him.
But, his love is a prison.
He's confining your head in it.
You can never walk out of it.
Nothing can confine me. I'm staying because I chose to.
Zhou Ying, come with me.
My business is way bigger than Wu Family's business.
Even though our business is small today...
...we will expand.
I believe that as long as I work hard...
...my business will be bigger than yours in the future.
Serve wine!
I haven't had a chance to treat you to wine yet.
Since you're leaving, let's have a toast now.
May we succeed and thrive in our businesses.
Cheers.
Apafl from love...
...I value friendship the most.
If you don't mind...
...I'd like to be your friend forever.
Zhou Ying, I'm not a man who compromises.
If I manage to let go of you one day...
...I'll come back and find you.
Whatever it is, I will always treat you as my friend.
I'm leaving.
Perhaps we won't meet again.
Let's have another toast.
I want to tell you that...
...no matter how successful your business is...
...you are still a woman.
A woman must be matched with a man...
...to have a complete life.
Good bye.
"Do not laugh if I lay drunk on the battleground."
"At west of Yang Gate...
...I have no more old friends to see."
Zhou Ying, recover your head.
Go back.
Tu'erdan left? -Yes.
You'll regret it. -I won't.
Father.
This gold wants to go out for a walk. I can't stop it.
Alright. I'll go with you.
The latest dark tea from Yu Long Quan by...
...Wu Family of the east mansion!
It's cheap and good! Come and take a look!
The best dark tea in Jingyang! -Madam Ying.
Is there any problem?
Everything is clearly recorded in Yu Long Quan's account book.
Shopkeeper Yan, you are capable indeed.
Thank you, Madam Ying.
But...
But, I remember that we sent to Qitai County...
...307 boxes on the 4th of the 2nd month...
...124 boxes on the 7th of the 2nd month...
...and 59 boxes on the 9th of the 3rd month.
We sent to Shufu County...
...308 boxes on the 4th of the 2nd month...
...139 boxes on the 7th of the 2nd month...
...and 86 boxes on the 9th of the 3rd month.
We sent to Hetian 351 boxes on the 4th of the 2nd month...
...251 boxes on the 7th of the 2nd month...
...and 86 boxes on the 9th of the 3rd month.
Even though Tu'erdan...
...cut off all business relations with us this year...
...we should still give him the rebate he deserves.
Madam Ying, you have great memory.
I overlooked that.
It's alright. Just fix it.
Don't let people see us as realistic merchants.
Yes. I will keep that in mind.
Go back to your work. We shall excuse ourselves.
I'll see you off.
Come and take a look! The tastiest dark tea in Jingyang!
You can go back now. - Gentleman, come and taste it.
This is the best dark tea in Jingyang. Try it.
That made me so stiff.
Madam Ying, do we go home now? I'll get a carriage.
No.
I finally got to come out.
Why don't we have some lamb noodles before we go back?
Sure.
Look at you two. The two of you are like...
...wild rabbits released from a cage.
You're the same. -Let's go.
Let's go. -Let's go.
This smells too good.
3 bowls of noodles. 7 biscuits. -Alright.
Chun Xing, sit here and block the view.
Fu Lai, sit there. If someone we know comes over...
...tell me. -Sure.
Lamb tastes the best and squatting feels the best.
This biscuit is good.
It's tasty.
Fu Lai?
Madam Ying.
You're here as well.
It's you.
I heard you bought all shares of the mechanical textile bureau.
Congratulations.
Speaking of this, I need to thank Shen Family.
If you all didn't withdraw, I wouldn't be able to get it.
Shouldn't you treat me to a bowl of lamb noodles for that?
No problem. Boss.
One more bowl of noodles. -Alright.
Mr. Shen.
I think we made a bet, right?
Yes.
Who do you think won?
I guess...
...you won.
Mr. Shen, you need to keep your word.
Are you satisfied?
It feels like something is lacking.
I'm wearing my mother's best accessories.
The hair accessories are good.
But, your face is a little pale.
How about this?
Is it better? -Not good enough.
Don't we have the handkerchief? -It's with me.
Young Master Xing Yi.
How about this?
What do you think?
Mr. Shen.
You're so mean to yourself.
What can I do? I lost to you.
Fu Lai.
Which is the busiest place between the south and north gates?
The bell tower. -The bell tower?
Book a seat in Wuwei Restaurant which is across the bell tower.
Chun Xing, order some snacks and pumpkin seeds.
Alright.
Mr. Shen.
You may depart now.
The view is good here. Let's sit here.
Please make way.
Mr. Shen, do you want some facial mud mask?
Go away. -Mud mask.
I lost. Even a woman is better than me.
Madam Ying, he's coming.
Even a woman is better than me.
I lost. Even a woman is better than me.
I lost.
I lost. Even a woman is better than me.
He looks quite pretty.
Come home with me and marry me! -Good!
Even a woman is better than me.
I lost!
Even a woman is better than me.
Just wait. I've a surprise for you.
Go back!
Dismiss! Go back!
Enough! Go back!
Dismiss!
Grandmother, have you considered what I said?
What is it again? -Didn't you promise me to...
...help me to make that maid my wife?
You're still thinking about that? -I think about it every day.
Xing Er.
Our family is now rich and influential enough...
...to get you a bride from a prominent family.
Why do you still want that maid?
What's so good about a lady from a prominent family?
I prefer a special one. -Is that so?
What's special about her? -Come, grandmother.
Tell me. -Let me show you something.
Look.
I drew a portrait of her.
What is this?
This... I'm not done drawing yet.
When I'm done, you'll see how pretty she is.
I don't see how she's pretty.
Grandmother.
She's not just pretty. She's also exceptionally capable.
I guarantee that after we get married...
...father will like her a lot...
"because she's an amazing businesswoman.
Our business will get bigger and better.
I'm serious, grandmother.
Grandmother, I promise that after marrying her...
...we will serve you well...
...and give birth to a lot of great grandchildren for you.
These kids will run around like monkeys...
...and serve you every day.
Grandmother.
Is this a yes?
I'll discuss with your mother.
Alright. Since the western machines...
...have arrived in Shaanxi...
...Wei Quan, you can close down your workshop for good.
Close down for good?
The cloth produced in a day by one single western machine...
...is the same as the volume produced by your workshop...
...in 2 weeks. Why do you want to keep it operating?
But, what about the weavers?
Dismiss them. -Dismiss them?
That's easier said than done.
We persuaded them to come when we needed them last year.
Now, we want them to leave on such shod notice.
Isn't this inappropriate? - Didn't we promise to...
...pay 5 taels as compensation to each of them?
Brother Wei Wu, how long can they survive with 5 taels?
Uncle Wei Quan, we've nothing against the weavers.
It's just that local cloth is outdated.
Even if we don't open a mechanical textile factory...
...your workshop will still close down sooner or later.
Zhou Ying, you're right.
We should follow the trend. I understand.
But, Brother Wei Wu, as you know...
...some permanent staff have worked for me for many years.
There's a bond between us.
They just lost their livelihood so suddenly.
I feel bad.
Wei Quan, I know that you've always been a kind man.
But, there's something you really need to understand.
If there's none in the pot, there's none in the bowl.
We invested 200,000 taels.
We need to move on with determination...
...in order to make money.
Fine. Let me think about it.
Alright. We can talk about that later.
Wang Shi Jun, is there any other matter to discuss?
Master Wei Wu, we still owe Mr. Zhao a reply.
What is it about? -Based on the court's permit...
...Zhao Bai Shi is acting as the chairman of the...
...mechanical textile bureau as Shaanxi's financial commissioner.
We're the biggest and only non-governmental shareholder.
We need to appoint someone as the bureau's manager.
This person will take care of all matters related to the bureau.
I'll be the manager.
By right, the manager...
...should be the leader of Wu Family.
Zhou Ying, I had a discussion with Wei Quan.
We'll still let you be the leader of Wu Family.
You'll be the manager of the textile bureau as well.
Really?
But, we have a condition, Zhou Ying.
What is it? -You must make an oath...
...in Wu Family's family temple.
You must swear that you will never remarry...
...and leave Wu Family.
Zhou Ying.
Well, I'm very straightforward. I hope you don't mind.
Look. As the saying goes...
...widows attract rumours.
If you make this one oath...
...men will stop chasing after you...
...and people will stop gossiping about you.
This way, you can rest assured...
...and run the mechanical textile bureau.
I am...
...not going to make this oath.
If you don't make this oath...
...we don't feel safe to let you manage our business.
I won't make this oath.
Why?
Who knows what might happen in the future?
Could it be that you have other plans?
Uncle Wei Wu. Uncle Wei Quan. No matter what happens...
...I'll never betray Wu Family.
I'll surely expand Wu Family's business.
Trust me. -Zhou Ying.
Your surname is Zhou after all.
But, I've been in Wu Family for so many years.
Don't you see how I've treat Wu Family?
We know. We can see with our own eyes.
I'll put it this way. If you make this oath...
...Wei Quan, your mother-in-law and I...
...will feel more assured.
Yes. If you swear to be Wu Pin's widow forever...
...we'll treat you as our own family member.
You all still don't trust me.
Just swear and we will trust you.
No one can force me to do what I don't want to do.
Alright then.
I'll manage the mechanical textile bureau...
...Ol"I my OWFI.
You saw that widow? -I saw her once a long time ago.
Is she pretty? -Well, not really.
But, she's quite stubborn.
I heard she restored the wealth and business of...
...Wu Family of the east mansion that went broke.
She's quite capable.
Of course. Otherwise, Xing Er wouldn't be so attracted to her.
In the past, there was Qian Hong. Now, we have this widow.
Xing Er has really bad luck with women.
Men with businesses outside all have romantic encounters.
As long as he doesn't bring her home...
...it's not big deal.
But now, he wants to bring her home.
Yes. I thought he only said that because...
...he was angry with his father.
I can't believe he begged me twice...
"because of this widow.
I'm really concerned now.
What should we do?
Xing Er isn't the type who buys the hard approach.
We can only persuade him slowly.
Tell Si Hai to send him on business trips.
If he's away from Jingyang, he won't get to see that widow.
He'll slowly forget about her.
I'll advise him as well.
Pick a good bride for him quickly...
...and it'll be over.
What do you think?
Mr. Wu, this is the letter of appointment...
...from Shaanxi Mechanical Textile Bureau.
Mr. Zhao, I actually came because I have a request.
What's the matter?
In terms of age, experience and seniority...
...it's true that I should be the manager.
But, in terms of capability...
...Zhou Ying is way better than me.
But, you're the leader of Wu Family now.
I don't really want to be Wu Family's leader.
Days ago, my brother and I agreed to...
...let Zhou Ying be the manager of the textile bureau...
...as well as the leader of Wu Family.
Our only condition is that...
...she must swear that she will never remarry.
But, she...
...rejected our offer.
Is she reluctant to be the manager or...
She's willing to be the manager.
But, she's reluctant to swear that she'll never remarry.
Since she's reluctant to make the oath...
...there's no need to force her.
Mr. Zhao, think about it.
If she doesn't make this oath...
...how can we rest assured...
...and let her manage Wu Family's business?
Mr. Zhao.
My brother and I have a presumptuous request.
We hope that you can persuade Zhou Ying for us.
Please tell her to prioritise the big picture and the family...
...and accept the condition?
Me?
Zhou Ying respects you a lot.
She'll surely take your advice.
Mr. Wu, look. This is Wu Family's family affair.
Isn't it inappropriate for me to poke my nose in it?
Mr. Zhao, Shaanxi Mechanical Textile Bureau...
...is important to your career...
...and to Wu Family, it is our entire foflune.
We all want the textile bureau to be a success.
So, the manager of the bureau...
...has to be the most capable one among us.
Of course.
So, both you and Wu Family must make Zhou Ying the manager.
Indeed. -Besides...
...Zhou Ying is a young widow.
She'll have to travel and meet people...
...to run the mechanical textile bureau.
The oath will protect her reputation.
The western machines will arrive in Jingyang soon.
The operation of the textile bureau will soon begin.
I've done something unprecedented.
Wu Pin, I'm sure you'll be happy for me.
But now, I'm feeling very vexed...
...because of another matter.
Wu Pin.
Do you really want me to be your widow forever?
Qian Hong said...
...I shouldn't live like this forever.
But, how should I spend the rest of my life?
Apart from business, what else should I do?
I don't know.
Tu'erdan said I should recover my head.
Wu Pin, can I still recover my head?
Mr. Zhao.
Wu Wei Wu came to me.
He wants you to be the manager of the textile bureau.
So, he asked me to persuade you.
Mr. Zhao, you don't have to persuade me.
Have you made a decision?
I'll remain a widow if I want to stay widowed.
If I change my mind one day, no one can stop me.
So, it's pointless to make such oath.
Even though you won't be the manager...
...you'll still help us with...
...the works of the mechanical textile bureau, right?
I persuaded them to invest in the mechanical textile bureau.
I should take full responsibility.
But... -But what?
If I keep telling you all what to do...
...you might say that I'm misbehaving again.
What makes you say so?
You don't have to lie to me.
To men, reputation is the most important thing.
I'm a widow.
Yet, I always travel and appear in public.
I should be spanked.
It's true that I've criticised you before.
But now, I have learnt that...
...you are a special and independent woman...
...who should not be measured by normal standards.
It's alright. Even if you still despise me...
...I'll still talk and act as usual.
I admire your honesty a lot.
I hope you keep it up.
If that's the case...
...Mr. Zhao, I shall boldly bring up a matter of the past.
What is it about?
Many years ago, Wu Family of the east mansion was framed...
...and wrongly accused of adulterating the military supply.
Please review this case.
You still won't give up on this case?
I won't give up before our innocence is proven.
Why are you so stubborn?
Of the two people buried here...
...one is a person I love and one is a person I respect.
They taught me what business and honesty mean.
If these two lied...
...my life and everything I have done...
...will be meaningless.
Apafl from your trust in Wu Wei Wen and Wu Pin...
...do you have any evidence?
Mr. Zhao, I'd like to take you to someone.
Back in the prison...
...I saw Master Wei Wen once. But, he was in a terrible shape.
Both of you were forced to make a confession?
Where is Shopkeeper Tong now?
He was released from prison after Master Wei Wu passed away.
I haven't heard about him again since then.
He probably fled to a faraway place...
...because he feels guilty after giving a false testimony.
But, your testimony alone isn't enough to call for a review.
Mr. Zhao, Hu Zhi Cun...
...claimed that Master Wei Wen made him...
...replace dragon's blood with rosin.
But, we paid the price for dragon's blood in the end.
If master knew that it was just rosin...
...and still paid for the price of dragon's blood...
...isn't it strange?
Mr. Zhao.
If Wu Family really wanted to adulterate the medicine...
...they could have secretly bought the rosin themselves.
Why did they have to buy it through Gu Yue Pharmacy?
Isn't it better to keep this dirty secret to themselves?
They even accused master of murdering Shen Yue Sheng.
I swear that...
...we've never hurt Shen Yue Sheng.
Mr. Zhao, you once made a verdict...
...stating that there was no evidence to prove that...
...Wu Family killed Shen Yue Sheng.
Why is it that Wu Family of the east mansion...
...was held responsible for this crime later on?
Housekeeper Yang.
Was the medicine I sent you effective?
Thank you, Madam Ying.
That medicine was very effective.
The next time I send Xiao Wu to deliver things to you...
...I'll get him to bring some. -No.
Madam Ying, actually...
...I can make a decent living...
...rearing chickens and growing wheat here.
You don't have to send things to me every month.
You sewed Wu Family of the east mansion for so many years.
So, don't worry about it.
Housekeeper Yang, our business has been restored.
Do you want to come back?
The agents I know...
...are all helping Shen Family now.
Even if I go back, I can't do much to help you.
I'll just spend the rest of my life here.
Alright.
Sir. -Have you found the records of...
...the case of the military supply back then?
Mr. Jiang said that the case was investigated...
...by the Ministry of Justice directly.
All evidences and statements were sent to the capital directly.
So, not a single record is left in Shaanxi.
Mr. Pu, what do you think of this case?
I've been a legal advisor for more than 10 years.
I'm not sure if someone was wronged in this case.
But, there were indeed too many mysteries.
I shall submit a memorial to apply for a review then.
Mr. Wu!
You can't close the workshop! My family of six will be doomed!
Yes. How do we make a living?
I still have my mother and two children.
Mr. Wu! -Mr. Wu.
Most of the workshops around Jingyang have closed down.
If you close yours too, we'll really be doomed.
Yes, Mr. Wu. -My whole family...
...will die of starvation.
Mr. Wu, is it because our wages are too high?
You can deduct our wages.
Mr. Wu, I beg of you. Please don't close the workshop.
I don't mind a pay out. I don't mind getting lesser jobs.
Mr. Wu!
I heard you plan to run your own small business.
I wish I can. But, it's easier said than done.
It's not that difficult.
Even if you take the smallest project from the prince...
...you can make enough money for a lifetime.
Jobs from the prince...
...are handled by my employer himself.
I've no chance. -Shen Si Hai can't possibly...
...take all the jobs.
Mr. Zha, do you have a way...
...to let me get jobs from the prince as well?
I do. But...
...you need to do me a favour first.
Mr. Zha, just tell me what to do.
Aren't you quite familiar with the weavers in Jingyang?
Yes. I've handled local textiles for many years.
I know them very well.
Some of them are my relatives.
Come.
Good. -Alright.