Episode 48
Zhao Bai Shi, receive the imperial decree.
By decree of the emperor...
...Zhao Bai Shi, financial commissioner of Shaanxi...
...who has contributed greatly to the country...
...must be rewarded for his meritorious services.
He shall be promoted to the position of...
...provincial governor of Shaanxi.
That is all.
Mr. Zhao.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
We have dozens of you people here!
Yet, you all can't even handle a single Zhao Bai Shi!
You people are just idling in Shaanxi...
meeting and drinking without making any contribution!
When the Shanghai Mechanical Textile Bureau was established...
...the prince broke Wen San Er's backbone.
Wen San Er is still bedridden at home today.
The prince is merciful to you.
I am grateful.
The prince said that since the rebuilt...
...Shaanxi Mechanical Textile Bureau...
...isn't producing results yet...
...if you can turn it into a mere decoration...
...he'll forgive you.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Du, recuperate well.
Get well and continue to serve the prince.
Many rewards are waiting for you ahead.
Good bye.
I'll get a physician.
Come in.
Congratulations, Mr. Zhao. - Congratulations, sir.
You entered officialdom when you were a teenager...
...and became a provincial governor at 30 years old.
You are truly outstanding.
I was expecting this promotion.
But, I thought that the decree would only be issued...
...when the textile factory starts producing results.
I didn't expect it to come so quickly.
You know that connection is important.
Mr. Zhads teacher is helping him from the capital.
Of course everything will go well.
By the way, is there any reply to the memorial...
...concerning the case of the military supply?
You didn't send it over?
I did. But, it was intercepted.
Intercepted?
That's why I got promoted so quickly.
Mr. Pu, help me to draft a letter.
What should I write?
One of my former classmates serves the Ministry of Justice.
I need him to help me to covertly check...
...the documents related to this case...
...in the archives of the ministry.
Yes.
Mr. Shen. -Hu.
Any telegram for me today? -No.
Still none? -Yes.
Mr. Shen, you don't have to come every day.
If we receive a telegram for you, we will deliver it to your place.
It's alright. I don't mind coming every day.
Alright. Go back to your work.
Come and check out our new tea.
Dark tea of Jingyang from Yu Long Quan by Wu Family!
It's fresh! Fresh tea leaves for sale!
Fragrant new tea!
Come and check it out!
Sir, come and taste our new tea.
What do you think? -Not bad.
Come in and try. This way.
Fresh tea leaves! Fresh and fragrant tea!
Master.
This is ridiculous.
Master, I'm too free because there's no customer.
So, I accidentally dozed off. -Free?
Why are others so busy out there?
Master, please sit down.
Are you aware that Shopkeeper Meng resigned?
Yes. -Did he say anything to you?
He said that Wu Family of the east mansion...
...opened a hookah shop and that he wanted to go for it.
How much salary did Wu Family offer him?
They only offered 80% of the salary you were paying him.
But, they gave him shares.
Shares again.
He also said that with the shares in hand...
...he'll be working for himself.
So, he's willing to work very hard.
How's business over the past few months?
Master, we're depending solely on our regular customers.
Please have some tea. -What happened?
Master, all new customers...
...are stopped by them halfway through the street.
This way. Have a safe trip.
Have a safe trip.
No problem. I'll wait for your return. See you again.
Tea leaves for sale! Fresh tea leaves for sale!
Mr. Yang came. He ordered 300 pieces from us last quarter.
He'll order at least 500 pieces today.
Come to our shop. We just received new tea.
Come and taste it. -I buy from Mr. Wu Wei Wu.
Both shops are by Wu Family. Just come.
Master, look.
Sir, the weather is hot and you are sweating.
Come. Wipe your sweat.
Sir, you sound like you are having a cold.
We have cold prevention soup in our shop. Come and have a bowl.
Really? -Come and you will see.
It's not just the soup. I can give you a massage.
Your exhaustion and illnesses will be relieved in 30 minutes.
Xiao Liu! Come! -Small illnesses must be treated.
I don't mind if they steal the new customers.
They don't even spare our old customers.
Isn't this unethical? - This is ridiculous.
Do the running account. -Alright.
Master Wei Quan.
Master Wei Quan, have a seat. -Alright.
Xiao Jiang, are you finished with the calculation?
I'm sorry. But, we're almost there.
It's been more than 2 months...
...since I withdrew from the business.
Isn't it time to return my money?
Master Wei Quan, we are already...
...done with the accounts of each shop.
But, the general account isn't ready yet.
When will you get it done? - I'll get it done right away.
Please wait here.
Master Wei Quan, these are the accounts of all shops.
Please check. lfthere's no problem...
...I'll proceed with the general account.
This isn't right.
This is ridiculous.
Master Wei Quan.
Uncle Wei Wu.
Why haven't you sewed tea?
Uncle Wei Wu, I just asked.
Mr. Yang already placed an order in our shop.
It's not a good idea to cancel the deal.
I've a suggestion. All profits from this order will go to you.
We won't take a cent.
This isn't about the money. This is about ethics.
Mr. Yang has been my customer for 10 years.
How could you all steal our customer?
You're right about that.
But, since we implemented the system of shares...
...the shopkeeper and workers of Yu Long Quan...
...earn 5 taels for every 10 taels we make.
So, they are going all out to bring in customers.
I find it unacceptable myself.
You find it unacceptable yourself?
Don't worry. I'll lecture them later.
We can't be unethical.
Rest assured. This won't happen again.
Zhou Ying! You're here. -Uncle Wei Quan.
Zhou Ying, you need to give me an explanation.
What's wrong? -See for yourself.
The goods, prices and brands are all the same.
How come you sold so little back then...
...when we were business partners...
...and now that we split up, your profit alone is higher...
...than the total profit we earned back then?
Give me a reasonable explanation.
Wei Quan, don't get agitated. -I'm not agitated.
Brother Wei Wu, see for yourself.
This is the account book of their tea shop.
Look.
This is the revenue.
She is making 10 times more money than us.
There's more. Look.
This is the account book of your pharmacy.
Look. How much did you make? Slightly over 1,000 taels, right?
She made over 4,800 taels!
I really suspect that Zhou Ying did something behind our backs...
...when we withdrew from the partnership.
Uncle Wei Quan, 2 months ago, both of you...
...picked the shops first and left the unwanted ones to us.
How come you are earning so much more then?
Wei Quan, I know Zhou Ying's trick.
She used a trick?
Zhou Ying, I'm planning to...
...implement the system of shares as well...
...alongside Wei Quan.
Please tell me the best way to do it.
Brother Wei Wu, you...
If possible...
...let's merge again.
Would you agree with my suggestion?
I... -I don't agree!
Brother Wei Wu, you need to discuss with me first!
I haven't agreed!
What's going on?
What a dimwit.
Madam Ying. -Madam Ying.
Look at this. -Madam Ying.
Madam Ying.
Madam Ying. -Leave it here.
Madam Ying.
Place it here.
Come.
Congratulations. -Congratulations.
Thank you. -Mr. Shen, congratulations.
Congratulations. -Thank you, dear all.
Congratulations. -Congratulations.
Ying, it is the opening of Xingyue Trading today.
I wish you were here to witness the grand event.
From today onwards, I will buy raw silk in China...
...and resell it to western merchants...
...who will sell it in England, France and America.
Sir. -Sir.
Sir, let me inform them of your arrival.
That's unnecessary.
Madam Ying! Please come over!
Mr. Zhao.
Mr. Zhao!
Why is it with you?
I just came.
You came at the right time.
Afew samples of our western fabrics just came out.
Come and take a look. -Alright.
Mr. Zhao, look.
This is rough twill.
This is basic colour cloth.
This is gray goods.
This is fine twill.
This is coloured cloth.
Very good. -Soon...
...we will have samples of thick western fabrics.
Very good.
Mr. Zhao, look at this coloured cloth.
It is woven using dyed threads.
So, the colour is uniform on both sides.
It's soft too and the colour won't fade.
It can rival all the most expensive...
...western fabrics in the market.
You're right.
Mr. Zhao, please give our western textiles a name.
We opened this textile factory...
...in order to generate wealth for both the country and people.
Let's call it Minfu (wealthy people) Western Textiles.
Minfu Western Textiles?
Good. This is a good name. It's decided then.
Alright. -Madam Ying!
Please come here! -Alright. I'll go and take a look.
Alright.
If they can't sell their western fabrics...
...their goal to compete against western merchants...
...will become an empty talk.
They'll be criticised for boasting and being ambitious.
But, most people choose western cloth over local cloth.
I'm afraid we need to think of something else...
...to stop them from selling western textiles.
Local cloth can't stop western cloth of course.
But, western cloth can stop western cloth.
Zha Kun.
How's the business of Gu Yue Western Textile?
What do you expect? It's as good as ever.
Do you think Hu Yong Mei will still listen to me?
Don't we have the letter she wrote?
If she doesn't do as we say, I'll send that letter to...
If you don't want to go to her, I'll go.
No. This time, I'll go.
Look at our gray goods. -Not bad.
The weaving technique is the same. The cloth is very fine.
Ms. Yong Mei.
Mrs. Wu has been waiting for you.
Ms. Hu.
You have something to say?
Yes. I came to do business with you.
You want to do business with me?
This is Minfu Western Textile...
...produced by Shaanxi Mechanical Textile Bureau.
Ms. Yong Mei, I compared her samples...
...with our western fabrics.
Their quality is very good.
We can produce all types of the fabrics you sell.
So what?
No matter what price your supplier offers...
...I'll sell for 10% lower.
10% lower? -Yes.
Ms. Yong Mei, I just discussed with Mrs. Wu.
She won't ask for a deposit or caution money.
She'll even give us a payment period.
Come in with me.
What exactly do you want?
Ms. Hu, there might be a misunderstanding between us.
So, my father's death is just a misunderstanding?
What about my father-in-laws death?
I asked Mr. Zhao to review the case of the military supply.
When the truth prevails...
...we will know the real reasons behind their deaths.
By then, our conflict will come to an end.
Until that day...
...it's meaningless to argue.
Why can't we set our past conflicts aside...
...and do something meaningful together?
The two of us?
Ms. Hu, I've always admired you.
You introduced the benefits of western textiles in Shaanxi...
...and it was your success...
...that gave me confidence in the mechanical textile bureau.
That's why we have Minfu Western Textile today.
So, you're the first business partner...
...that came to my mind.
You want me to be your partner? -Yes.
I'll produce western textiles...
...and you'll market them.
I'll control the cost and increase the quality...
...while you expand the market.
I believe that within 3 years, the factory's production volume...
...will multiply.
The branches of Gu Yue Western Textile...
...will spread across the nation as well.
This is our gray goods.
It's priced at 6 taels per roll here.
To express my sincerity, I'll sell to you for 4 taels.
Alright. But, you must guarantee that...
...I'm buying at the lowest price among all resellers.
No problem.
If it is proven that my father was innocent...
...and that you caused his death...
...I will surely kill you with my own hands.
If I'm guilty, you may punish me however you wish.
Telegram for Wu Family of the east mansion!
Here you g0!
The agents are all very satisfied with the samples.
Moreover, our price is lower than those in the market.
So, sales won't be a problem.
God bless. The mechanical textile bureau...
...will surely have it smooth sailing this time.
Mother, if we make a lot of money...
...I'll buy a big bangle for you. -I don't want anything.
Just fix this bad habit of yours.
Mother, sitting like this feels really comfortable.
Why don't you give it a try?
You're already the owner of a big business. Watch your manners.
If I care about manners, I can't run my business properly.
By the way, Wei Quan's wife came to visit me a few days ago.
She said that they regret...
...breaking the partnership months ago.
Now that we have paflnered up with Wei Wu again...
...Wei Quan wants to come back as well.
The destruction of the textile factory back then...
...made them lose a lot of money.
If they want to come back, we'll just accept them.
Madam Zheng. Madam Ying. It's time to eat.
Mother, let's eat.
Sit down.
Zhang, where are the stickers on the chopsticks?
Xia Lian received dividend again this month.
She has confidence in the business.
So, she tore the stickers off.
It's actually easier to hold when it's wrapped with paper.
Help me to wrap the chopsticks again.
Zhang, how much dividend did you receive in this month?
Speaking of this, I really need to thank you.
My dividend is as much as my monthly salary.
No wonder you aren't working so hard lately.
Now I know why.
Madam Zheng, that's not true. I'll cry.
Madam Zheng.
Madam Zheng. There's a telegram.
Another telegram.
Is it still from Shanghai? -Yes.
It's that lecher again.
Chun Xing, throw it away.
We don't have a man in our family.
You're forced to work outside.
Because of this, many people in Jingyang gossip about you.
It's been unfair to you.
But, you can rest assured. I trust you.
Let's not talk about that. Let's eat up.
This meat is good.
Have a piece of meat.
Ying, Shanghai is a place for everything and everyone.
There are business opportunities everywhere...
...and outside of Shanghai, there are five continues...
...four oceans and many other countries.
If you wish to make restore Wu Family's glory...
...you should walk out of Jingyang...
...and embrace the world.
Zhou Ying said the first batch of western textiles...
...will be delivered latest by 2 weeks later.
Are we really going to help her to sell her cloth and make money?
Even though we are selling her cloth for her...
...the price she offered is very good.
We'll earn a lot ourselves.
Yes. If it isn't for the high profit...
...I'll never collaborate with her.
But, will my father be disappointed in me?
Ms. Yong Mei, I think Zhou Ying has a point.
Perhaps, both master and Mr. Wu Wei Wen...
...were wronged.
Ms. Yong Mei, a person called Mr. Du wants to see you.
Mr. Du? I'm not going to meet him.
He told me to hand this to you.
Stop right there.
What's the meaning of this?
I demanded Zha Kun to hand it to me.
Yong Mei, from now on, you can do as you wish.
No one will threaten you again.
Wait.
What happened to your leg?
This is something so important.
Of course I need to pay a price for it.
This happened because of me?
It's alright. It's just a leg.
Yong Mei, I'm sorry.
I should have done something earlier.
It's been hard on you.
I only...
...gave you half a bun.
Why are you so nice to me?
Why?
I've no idea either.
I just...
...want you to be happy.
Everything I do...
...is for the sake of your happiness.
How did it go?
She didn't suspect you at all?
Why should she suspect?
Even I myself find it convincing.
It's true that I've been helping her...
...and being considerate of her.
It's just that...
...while helping her, I'm also doing my job.
By the way, Hu Yong Mei asked me to...
...find out how her father got involved...
...in the case of the military supply.
We congratulate Wu Ze on passing the national exam!
What did you say? -Wu Ze passed the national exam.
Really? -Yes.
Young Master Ze passed! Hurry! Inform the master!
Young Master Ze passed!
- We congratulate Wu Ze!
Master! -We congratulate Wu Ze!
Congratulations. Wu Ze passed the exam.
Thank you. Please come in.
Thank you, dear all. - What's with the commotion?
Congratulations, Mr. Wu!
Your son, Wu Ze, came in 19th in...
...Shaanxi's provincial level exam!
Congratulations to Wu Ze!
Congratulations, master. - Congratulations, master.
He finally made it.
Come! Bring money over! I'm rewarding everyone!
Thank you, Mr. Wu! -Thank you, master!
Everyone will be rewarded!
You passed! Young Master Ze, you passed!
You passed. It's true. -Really?
Master has hung the announcement in the main hall.
You can see it for yourself.
Mr. Zhang, how's business this year?
Enjoy the meal. Don't be shy.
Come. Have a seat.
Have a seat. -Master Wei Wu, congratulations.
Thank you.
Thankfully, my son is competent.
Thank you. Congratulations.
Please enjoy the meal. Have fun to the fullest.
Mr. Wu, congratulations. -Thank you.
Thank you.
Where is the star of the day?
He'll come over very soon.
Wei Quan, I'll be leaving this place to you.
Don't worry! I'll entertain the guests!
I'll be right back. -Alright. Go.
Please enjoy.
Place them here.
Come. I'll help you.
Be careful. Go.
He Xiang.
Ms. Yi, where do I place this? -Over there.
Has Mr. Zhao arrived? -No.
He isn't here yet?
This is odd. -In facL...
...Young Master Ze isn't present.
Go to my brother's reading room. -Alright.
Mother, please mind the steps.
Sister Zheng.
Uncle Wei Wu.
Wei Wu, congratulations. -Thank you.
"The plum blossom releases its fragrance in winter."
Brother Ze finally succeeded.
Yes. It took him more than 10 years. He finally made it.
Just watch. Brother Ze will surely rise very quickly.
Yes. There's finally an official in Wu Family.
I hope so. Sister Zheng. Zhou Ying. Come in.
Mother, mind the steps.
Master!
Thank you.
Sister Zheng.
Sister Zheng. Congratulations.
Sister. -Good day.
Sister Zheng, this way. - Good day, Madam Zheng.
Sister Yi. -Madam Ying.
Zhou Ying, come here.
Good day, Madam Ying. -Come here.
Greet your aunt. -Ms. Yi.
You're right.
Young Master Ze and Mr. Zhao are drinking in the reading room.
Madam, is Leng Family attending this banquet today?
Their master came with their young master.
Ms. Wu is shy.
She's too embarrassed.
Well, she's young.
Aunt, is she going to marry into Leng Family?
We've set the wedding date.