Episode 69
Good morning, Shopkeeper Qin.
Good day, Shopkeeper Qin.
Did the headquarters reply? -Yes.
What did they say? -They said you can decide...
...if it's below 300,000 taels. But, they want you to be careful.
If Ri Chang He goes bankrupt...
...it might cause insecurity in the whole market.
How's the situation at Ri Chang He's end?
I heard they can't honour the due deposit vouchers.
Do we still lend them the 300,000 taels?
Shopkeeper Qin, Mr. Jiang, the accountant of Wu Family came.
He wants to talk to you. -Mr. Jiang?
Let him in.
Shopkeeper Lin.
Have you prepared the 200,000 taels for Ri Chang He?
I just finished preparing the money.
Deliver it to him quickly.
Shen Si Hai sent someone to ask already.
Yes. -Shopkeeper Lin.
Someone came to withdraw cash.
Withdraw the cash for him then.
He wants to withdraw 250,000 taels.
250,000 taels? Who?
Mr. Jiang. -Shopkeeper Qin.
What brought you over?
Shopkeeper Qin. -Please have a seat.
Mr. Jiang, how may I help you today?
I'll be frank then.
Ri Chang He sought help from you.
I'd like to know what you're planning to do.
How much do we have now?
250,000 taels.
They deposited real cash.
We can't refuse to let them withdraw the money.
But, Ri Chang He...
I can't be bothered.
Yes.
Banks work together and lend money to one another.
This is a common thing.
If there is no serious consequence...
...of course we should help one another.
But, I heard that countless of people...
...rushed to Ri Chang He today.
A bank run broke out.
If you send money over at a time like this...
...you might end up losing the money.
Even if Ri Chang He is having a crisis...
was a peer, I'm obligated to help.
I advise you to watch from the sidelines.
I always take responsibility for my own actions.
Shopkeeper Qin.
You are only considered rash if you get yourself into trouble.
Escort the guest!
Shopkeeper Qin.
Come out and see.
These are all Wu Family's shopkeepers...
memployees and agents.
They all have accounts in Bao Feng Long.
If I say the word, they will flock in immediately...
...and withdraw their cash.
It's not much. It's just tens of thousands taels.
I believe you can handle this.
But, if so many people...
...flock into Bao Feng Long to withdraw their cash...
...what will others think?
To make things worse, everyone knows Ri Chang He's case.
Bao Feng Long will most probably face a bank run too.
Can you deal with that?
Ri Chang He sent someone to press for the money.
Shopkeeper Qin, our young mistress said that...
...she needs to deposit the profits of our textile factory...
...in a bank. I wonder if Bao Feng Long is interested.
Tell Ri Chang He that our headquarters...
...disapproved the loan. -Yes.
Stop.
It's been so many hours. -Yes.
Why aren't they opening yet?
Move.
Master.
Outside... -I saw.
Do we still open the bank today?
Have we received the loan from Tian Cheng Heng?
Not yet. -Send someone to ask.
I've already sent someone.
Alright. -Once we receive the cash...
...open the door.
Yes. -Shopkeeper Pu.
Master. Shopkeeper Pu. This is a telegram from...
...our branch in Beijing. - From our branch in Beijing?
What's wrong?
Master, is there trouble?
Our branch in Beijing...
mclosed down. -What? Why?
The servants in the prince's household...
...received news...
...and flocked over to withdraw their money.
Our branch in Beijing ran out of cash completely...
...and was forced to close down.
If the news reaches Jingyang...
...there'll be a bank run.
The news has already spread to Jingyang.
Master!
Shopkeeper Pu. Master. Zhengtong Bank's shopkeeper...
...said that the market is very unstable...
was the news has spread. They can't lend us money...
...in case a bank run happens.
The owner of Tian Cheng Heng said so too.
'(es Baa Feng Long gave me the same reason for...
...their headquarters' disapproval of our loan.
Go. -Shopkeeper Pu.
Shopkeeper Pu, we received a telegram.
Master, this is a telegram from our branch in Shanghai.
Open the envelope.
Read it out.
Our branch in Shanghai...
...folded.
Master. -Master.
It's over.
Shen Family...
...is doomed.
This... What's the meaning of this?
Out of business? Until when?
What about my deposit vouchers?
Where's my savings? That's my hard-earned money!
Shen Si Hai! Open the door!
Give me back my money! -Shopkeeper Pu!
I know you're inside!
Give me back my money!
Why?
Who?
Who is behind this? - Give me back my money!
Open the door, Shen Si Hai!
I know you're inside!
Who set this trap for Shen Family?
The prince deposited a total of 100,000 taels.
But, Ri Chang He returned us 8,000 taels.
I think we need to do something...
...to make Shen Si Hai pay the remaining 2,000 taels.
Shen Family is rich. Even if Ri Chang He is gone...
...they won't have a problem gathering 80,000-90,000 taels.
Why are you so impatient?
I'm not the impatient one. The impatient one is the prince.
Why don't you find an excuse...
...to confiscate his house?
Isn't it better to confiscate his business propeflies instead?
Shen Family's accounts receivable...
...will surely be more than 80,000 taels.
Whatever it is, we can't let the prince suffer a loss.
By the way, Mr. Zhao...
...what did the prince say about Ri Chang He's disaster?
Is he planning to punish me for this?
Both the empress dowager and emperor have heard about...
...the closure of Beijing's Ri Chang He.
The prince is busy dealing with the situation over there.
He has no time to worry about Jingyang yet.
But, I heard that the prince is not...
...very satisfied with Shen Si Hai.
He finds Shen Si Hai incompetent. It seems like...
...he intends to find a new partner in Jingyang.
Who?
The prince seems to prefer Wu Family.
Wu Family?
That's impossible.
Wu Family's business has been expanding over the years.
The profit of their Jingyang Textile Factory...
...is a few times higher compared to the textile bureau.
It's inevitable for the prince to be interested.
But, don't forget that...
...the prince almost killed Zhou Ying back then.
But, it was also the prince who spared her.
Besides, everyone knows that the prince appreciates talents.
If he could accept me, of course he would accept...
...a clever person like Zhou Ying too.
But, even if that's the case...
...will Zhou Ying agree?
Everyone in Jingyang knows and envies how...
...Shen Family became the richest merchant here.
Zhou Ying isn't stupid. She's a businesswoman.
To her, there's no eternal foe...
...or friend. Money is the main concern.
Madam Ying, Ri Chang He in Beijing, Shanghai and Jingyang...
...has been out of business for 8 days.
Ri Chang He has gone bankrupt.
Many nobles in Jingyang deposited money in Ri Chang He.
They will surely force Shen Si Hai to...
...sell his properties to pay up.
Shen Family has gone bankrupt.
By the way, Wang Ji Gao has resigned.
He's taking Ms. Jiu Hong to Tianjin.
Shen Si Hai won't believe that he was cheated by 3 telegrams.
No.
Shen Si Hai only had a capital of 2 million taels.
Yet, he tried to do a business that requires 5 million taels.
I wasn't the one who defeated him.
It was his greed.
Madam Ying!
Someone wants to see you -Who?
He didn't identify himself. He called himself your old friend.
Let him in.
Seal this place! -Mr. Zhao, you...
What are you doing?
I'm sealing off this place as instructed by the prince.
Mr. Zhao, we just received news that...
...a wanted criminal appeared in Jingyang.
Let's go. -Let's go!
Teacher Kang.
Zhou Ying.
Teacher Kang, what brought you over?
I came to make a request.
Go ahead. -Please be merciful.
Please spare Shen Family and my father.
Teacher Kang, we don't know each other.
I don't know your father.
Even if I do know him, why should I spare him?
Because I'm Shen Xing Yi.
Shen Xing Yi?
I once begged you...
...to admit that you are Shen Xing Yi.
Yet, you told me that...
...for your father and Shen Family...
...you can only be Kang Zhuo Wen.
Yet, today...
...you became Shen Xing Yi again.
But, it's still for your father and Shen Family.
Mr. Shen.
Your loyalty and filial piety are so touching.
Yes.
I am the one behind...
...the misery of your father and Shen Family today.
Yet, you want me to spare him at this point.
Do you think it's possible?
I know it's impossible. But, I still need to come.
Why? -Because my surname is Shen...
...and he's my father.
Come with me.
This is my father.
15 years ago, my father died in the prison.
Wu Family of the east mansion went broke...
...and it was all caused by your father.
Yes.
But, my father had no choice.
He made his fortune from scratch.
He earned every coin through sheer hard work.
He values all profits he makes...
...as much as he values his life.
He would go all out to defend his business.
He's not a bad person. He's just blinded by hatred...
...and money. -What about Wu Family?
Look at my father and Wu Pin.
They did not treat Shen Family as their enemy...
...or threaten Shen Family's business.
Alright.
Shen Family deserves this punishment.
But, think about it. My brother died young...
...and Shen Family has lost one big fraction of our wealth.
My father is in agony and regret now.
If you want us to go broke, your objective has been achieved.
No. This is far from enough.
Must you corner us?
If I were the one in Shen Family's shoes...
...would your father, Du Ming Li and the prince...
...spare me so easily?
Won't they corner me as well?
I'm just doing this...
...to protect myself.
I foresaw this before I came.
Why did you come then?
Just to make myself feel better.
But now...
...you are wanted.
Everyone in Jingyang knows you. Aren't you afraid?
My father can even sacrifice his life for me.
I can afford to take this risk for him.
What if I report you?
If it's you, I'll surrender to fate.
You must surrender.
Because this is karma.
You rejected me when I begged you to take me away.
This wouldn't happen if you took me away back then.
So, the bankruptcy of Shen Family today...
...is actually a consequence of your action.
What do you want? -I'll do as you did.
I'm going to be cruel. -Zhou Ying.
I won't blame you for anything you do.
Alright. I'll send someone...
...to inform Mr. Zhao of your return now.
Madam Ying.
Mr. Zhao came.
Stop him. -I'm afraid we can't.
He came with a lot of soldiers.
Find Mr. Han. -Alright.
Don't you want to report me?
You will see it. Come with me.
Hurry. That way. -Stop right there!
Stop right there!
Shen Xing Yi, you're really back.
Mr. Zhao. -Mr. Zhao.
It's been a long time.
You sure have some guts to come back to Jingyang.
A revolutionist can't be a coward. -Seize him.
Yes! -Zhou Ying.
I already spared you when you helped Wu Ze to flee.
Don't push your luck. - You can't take him away.
Do you know who he is now?
After the Hundred Days' Reform, he became Sun Yat-sen's companion.
I don't care about his identity.
As long as he's before me, I won't let you take him away.
He's even more unforgivable than Wu Ze.
Both the empress dowager and emperor want him captured.
If you get involved with him, I won't be able to save you.
No means no.
Zhou Ying, can you do what is right?
Mr. Zhao, we've known each other for over a decade.
You should know that I don't do what is right.
Seize him! -I won't let you!
Zhou Ying, you are rebelling.
So what? -Don't protect me.
You're in my residence. You're mine.
No one can take you away without my permission.
Zhou Ying, don't blame me for being mean.
I can say the same. -Don't sacrifice yourself for me.
This has nothing to do with you.
Han San Chun, tell your men to leave.
Mr. Zhao, I only obey Madam Ying.
Zhou Ying is crazy. -We'll be crazy with her then.
Yes. We've always been doing crazy things with her.
Mr. Zhao, it looks like it'll take a fierce battle...
...for you to take him away.
Mr. Zhao, the three of us are like-minded people.
It's not a bad thing if we all die together today.
Report! Mr. Zhao!
Mr. Zhao, it's a mess outside. -What?
An account holder who failed to claim his money after 7-8 days...
...set fire at Ri Chang He...
...and chaos broke out on the streets.
Someone went to burn Shen Family's other shops.
Shops that don't belong to Shen Family are affected.
Some even took advantage of the chaos to rob and steal.
Mr. Zhao, I'm just a fugitive.
You can hunt me anytime.
But, if you don't put the chaos under control...
...it'll spread like wildfire.
Mr. Zhao.
Settling the unrest is way more important than...
...capturing Shen Xing Yi.
Shen Xing Yi, if I ever run into you again...
...I won't spare you.
Let's go! -Let's go.
Zhou Ying.
Leave at once. -|...
Escort Shen Xing Yi. Go.
Go.
What should I do? My money!
It's all burnt!
It's burnt to the ground!
Where's my money?
Zhu Shao Jun.
Madam Ying.
You deposited money in Ri Chang He as well?
Madam Ying, they offer a higher interest.
I saved my money here each time I received my salary.
I can't believe this happened.
It's my 5 years of savings.
I was planning to use the money for my wedding.
I don't serve Shen Family! Don't hit me!
You got the wrong person! Stop! - Take this! Stop right there!
Stop right there! -Take this!
Stop right there!
Apart from Ri Chang He...
...three other shops that belong to Shen Family were burnt.
Fortunately, everyone ran out in time.
All tea leaves in the tea shop were robbed.
The local textiles we couldn't sell...
...were robbed as well.
It doesn't matter anymore.
The pharmacy Zhao Bai Shi sealed off...
...is however, spared from the disaster.
Actually, we can earn from the 5,000 packs of raw silk...
...if we keep them until next year.
Who will give us time and wait until next year?
Master, who is the person behind this?
Do you have any clue?
I no longer care.
I've done...
...too many wrong things in life.
I even harmed people.
My enemy is just punishing me on behalf of god.
I deserve this.
Shen Family is officially bankrupt.
Master.
My greatest fear...
...was poverty.
In order to make money...
...I was willing to endure all hardships...
...and humiliation.
I would sell anything at all...
...including my conscience.
But, despite all my sacrifices...
...I gained nothing in the end.
But, this isn't the worst.
Because I suddenly realised that...
...the feeling of having no money...
...isn't that scary at all.
Do you know what's the worst?
It's when I suddenly realised that...
...all sacrifices I made...
...in order to make money...
...aren't worth it at all.
It's not worth the price at all.
Master.
Master, Zhou Ying of Wu Family came to see you.
What brought her over? -She said she has something...
...very important to discuss with you.
Invite her in. -Yes.
Madam Wang, Shen Family's house is so big.
Of course.
Even though Shen Family isn't the richest in Jingyang...
...they are the second richest.
Search carefully!
Lock this door!
She's definitely still in this mansion!
Find her at all cost!
You're the one behind everything?
Yes.
Zhou Ying, you're so cruel.
Why did you set Shen Family up?
Housekeeper Huo.
Is this to avenge Wu Wei Wen? -Yes.
Congratulations. You succeeded.
If you came to find out how miserable I am now...
...you are free to ask Housekeeper Huo.
Housekeeper Huo.
Answer all her questions.
There's no need to hide anything for me.
Don't worry about my pride.
More than a decade ago...
...Wu Family of the east mansion fell.
Today, Shen Family went bankrupt.
I surrender to my fate.
But, as for what will happen to Wu Family...
...a decade later...
...only god knows.
How much money do you need now?
Will 2 million taels suffice?
What's the meaning of this?
Use your 5,000 packs of raw silk as collateral.
Don't you want a revenge? -Yes.
For 15 years, I've always wanted a revenge.
Why do you want to help me then?
I made countless of people...
...pay a huge price while trying to defeat you.
Some even lost their entire fortune.
This isn't what I want.
You must be up to no good again. -What are you afraid of?
It can't be worse for you.
You're right.
But, I have a condition.
How do you want to humiliate me?
Firstly, I want you to write down the whole process of...
...how you forged the evidences to frame my father back then...
...and redress the injustice for him. Secondly...
...the 2 million taels must be used to compensate...
...the loss of the people first.
Alright. I agree.
Zhou Ying. -Uncle Wei Quan, sit down.
Wang Shi Jun.
Deposit 2 million taels in Ri Chang He immediately.
2 million taels? -Yes.
Ri Chang He will come back to life.
If Ri Chang He goes bankrupt...
mcountless of civilians will go bankrupt as well.
I can't bear to let that happen.
Zhou Ying, I don't get it.
Shen Si Hai caused Brother Wei Wen's death.
He's our enemy.
How can you help our enemy?
Uncle Wei Quan, I'm doing this for Huai Xian.
Huai Xian?
If I'm still the old me, revenge will be nothing but sweet.
But now, I'm a mother.
Besides money, I want to leave behind...
...bliss and happiness for my child...
You can't run! -...and not hatred.
The enmity between Wu Family and Shen Family...
...shall end here.
Take this. Your thigh. Your arm.
Mother! Help me! I'm losing!
I'm coming.
Thank god. -Thank you, master.
Thank you, master. Thank you, Shopkeeper Pu.
Stand up. You don't have to do this.
Thank you.
Sparing Shen Si Hai, means sparing Du Ming Li.
The prince wanted to punish him for Ri Chang He's bankruptcy.
But, now that Ri Chang He is saved...
...Ming Li and the rest are spared from punishment.
If my guess is right...
...Ming Li must be preparing to strike back now.
Bring it on.
"Zhao Bai Shi colluded with Zhou Ying...
...to swallow the prince's wealth."
"They are unforgivable...
...and deserving of severe punishment."
Is this enough? -Yes.
Shaanxi Mechanical Textile Bureau announced to...
...lower their prices for all western textiles?
Yes. They lowered the prices by 30% in average.
The price for their gray goods is lowered to 3.5 taels per roll.
That's lower than the cost. -Yes.
He must have learnt that...
...we spent 2 million taels to support Shen Si Hai...
...and that we cannot afford a loss...
was we have no free capital now.
So, he dares to set a price like this.
Without cash to absorb loss, we can't lower our prices to...
...match theirs. But, if we don't lower our prices...
...we won't be able to sell our cloth.
I overestimated Du Ming Li.
In the end, he only came up with Hu Yong Mei's old trick.
But, if Mr. Han didn't contribute...
...all his assets back then, we might still be defeated.
Now, we can't depend on Mr. Han anymore.
Although we can't get help from Mr. Han this time...
...we have Mr. Zhao, Mr. Qian, Mr. Sun, Mr. Li...
...Mr. Zhou, Mr. Wu, Mr. Zheng and Mr. Wang.
Who are you talking about?