Episode 12
Father. Mother.
I told you to write a letter of divorce.
Have you written it? -Father.
Father, I came to ask of you to take back your word.
No way! -Zhou Ying saved my life.
We can find another way to repay her.
I can't live without her. - You can't live without her?
There are countless of maids like her in the slave market.
But, I only want her. - What's so good about her?
I don't know. I only know that...
...I feel very happy and fulfilled...
...when I'm with her. -What if I insist to oust her?
If that's the case...
...I'll leave with her.
Wu Pin, how could you say that?
Fine.
Fine. You are even willing to...
...leave Wu Family for her!
I don't want to leave Wu Family.
More importantly, I don't want to leave you and mother.
But, if I have to pan with Zhou Ying...
...I'd rather remain unconscious.
Father, I beg of you.
Father. Mother.
I know I've misbehaved a lot.
But, for Wu Pin, I'm willing to change.
I'm willing to learn my manners.
Please don't oust me.
I want to be with Wu Pin.
My dear, why don't we... This...
My dear.
Get up. The floor is cold. You will hurt your muscles.
I won't get up until father approves of us.
Get up. I'll persuade him. -No.
Why don't you apologise to your father?
No.
You don't have to go against your father for me.
I'm not going against my father.
I'm just doing what I believe is right...
...be it in disaster relief...
...or making you stay.
Your parents are right. I'm unrefined and uneducated.
So, I can't stand Wu Family's rules.
Not all rules of Wu Family are right.
But, perhaps we don't belong to the same world.
Do you want to be with me?
Yes.
So, no matter how difficult it is...
...we must not give up.
Let's continue kneeling.
The weather is dry! Watch out for fire!
My dear, it'll be midnight soon.
So what?
It's mid-autumn. It's cold out there.
Wu Pin might get sick.
Didn't Physician Liang say that...
...he's healthier than ever now?
Don't worry. -But, he just...
...recovered from a serious illness.
Besides, they've been kneeling for over 2 hours.
This should be enough for a punishment.
It's not enough. -My dear.
I'd like to see how determined Wu Pin is...
...to have this woman as his wife.
You know Wu Pin's character very well.
He's easygoing on small matters...
...but very stubborn when it comes to big matters.
I don't like Zhou Ying either. But, Wu Pin really likes her.
I don't think you can oust her.
Since I can't oust her, I must let her kneel longer.
This woman is too wild. We need to tame her.
But, Wu Pin will have to suffer alongside her.
This is what I want her to see.
If she has feelings for Wu Pin...
...for Wu Pin's sake...
...she will behave in the future.
It's windy. Are you cold?
No. How about you? -I'm not cold.
Do you know?
Since the moment you protected me...
...from the collapsed shed...
...I've been feeling warm deep down.
You only fell for me at that time?
No.
The first time we met...
...on the street of Jingyang, I already fell for you.
Just because of the 5 taels? -No.
Because of your kindness.
What about you?
When did you fall for me?
Perhaps, it was when...
...I learnt that you lied to me.
Why would you fall for a liar?
Right. Because no one has ever made me...
...pity and admire him or her at the same time.
You make me happy, sad, love and hate at the same time.
Stand up. Your father said yes.
Stand up.
Thank you, mother. -Thank you, mother.
Thank you, father!
Zhou Ying, don't forget that...
...you promised us to learn your manners.
Mother, I will surely fulfill my promise.
I've no idea whether you're a fortune...
...or misfortune to Wu Family.
The two of you generously...
...saved the refugees and solved Jingyang's problem.
As the local governor...
...I'd like to drink with both of you...
...to express my gratitude.
I'm flattered. It's not a big deal.
I'm flattered. Don't mention it.
Come.
Brother Shen, we wouldn't dine together...
...if it isn't because Mr. Zhao invited us over.
Why don't we set aside grudges...
...and speak of only the joy of helping others today?
Yes. There are things we all know very well.
Let's set aside everything...
...and only talk of public interest today.
I heard that Wu Family donated their land...
...unconditionally to let the refugees grow crops.
Yes.
If the refugees are self-sufficienL...
...they don't have to rely on alms every day.
That's brilliant of you. Mr. Wu, cheers for that.
Mr. Wu isn't just clever in disaster relief.
He's cleverer in business.
Can we talk about our problem next time?
Why?
Why don't we let Mr. Zhao judge today?
It looks like we can't enjoy the wine properly today.
Mr. Zhao, even if you don't invite us over today...
...I'll still visit you personally.
This is my letter of complaint.
Wu Pin abducted my maid. I have both witness and evidence.
Please return that maid to Shen Family...
...and punish Wu Pin for the abduction.
Mr. Zhao, there is indeed...
...a maid in Wu Family who belonged to Shen Family.
But, Shen Yue Sheng previously promised to...
...let us have her.
But, he was later on found dead...
...and the procedures were not followed-up.
That maid is Shen Family's private property.
She isn't transferable.
That maid is my wife now.
Wu Family won't return her to Shen Family...
...even if we have to lose our entire fortune.
Let's hold a trial.
Mr. Zhao, this is the evidence.
This is the witness.
Where is Zhou Ying?
Sir, Zhou Ying is waiting outside.
Bring her in. -The governor summons Zhou Ying!
Greetings, Mr. Zhao.
Zhou Ying, Wu Family and Shen Family...
...are having a conflict because of you.
One insists to take you back and one insists to keep you.
What is your choice?
Mr. Zhao, even though I married Wu Pin in a hurry...
...it is still a legal marriage. How can we be separated?
But, your slave contract is still with Shen Family.
The contract is just paper. Why can't we be flexible?
What if I demand you to return to Shen Family?
Regardless of your verdicL...
...I will follow Wu Pin even if I have to die.
In this case, my verdict is that...
...Zhou Ying...
"belongs to Wu Family.
Wu Pin must immediately pay Shen Family...
...to redeem Zhou Ying...
...and that would be 15 taels of silver in total.
Mr. Zhao, why are you so unfair?
Since you want me to judge, this is my verdict.
He bought his title. Why do you have to help him?
You are guilty of corruption and bending the law!
I'm not corrupted. But, I did bend the law.
Else, I would have solved the case of...
...the attack on Wu Pin.
Brother Shen, please accept this.
Zhou Ying, listen carefully. I will drag you back one day!
Zhou Ying, take your slave contract.
Thank you for being just. - Thank you, Mr. Zhao.
Zhou Ying, since you came to the court today...
...I have an advice for you.
Please enlighten me.
As a member of a famous family, you should not appear in public.
Women are meant to stay home to run the household.
Mr. Zhao, but you are the one who summoned me today.
I'm not talking about today.
What are you referring to? - It is already inappropriate...
...for a woman to appear in public.
It is even more indecent for a woman to disguise as a man...
...and talk to a foreigner on the street.
This is totally unacceptable.
Mr. Zhao, you're wrong.
I saw it with my own eyes.
That day...
Zhou Ying, Confucius said...
..."men and women walk in their separate lanes".
Mencius advocated distance between men and women as well.
I hope you watch your behaviour from now on...
...since I have allowed Wu Family to have you.
Mr. Zhao, you said that...
...men and women should not be intimate.
What about a married couple?
A married couple is an exception of course.
You...
You said that a married couple can be intimate.
This is public space. You...
Dismiss! -Dismiss!
Mr. Zhao, thank you for the advice.
I can't believe it.
You tricked a governor.
He deserves it for preaching the wrong thing.
But, whatever it is, we still need to thank Mr. Zhao for today.
Zhou Ying, you're free now.
Actually, this slave contract can't tie me down.
Why?
Whenever my father is broke, he'll make up a name and sell me.
Once he gets the money, I'll find a way to run away.
We'll change our names and flee.
Do you know why I was so determined to...
...obtain this contract?
Because I don't want you to run away again.
I hope that you won't have to change your name again.
You'll be Zhou Ying forever. You'll officially be Zhou Ying.
Sure. From now onwards, my name is Zhou Ying.
In fact, you are my Zhou Ying.
Your Zhou Ying? -Yes.
I'll take you along no matter where I go.
If I'm checking the account, you'll help me to calculate.
If I'm negotiating, you'll give me ideas.
We'll work together in harmony...
...to make Wu Family prosper.
We'll be the No. 1 in Shaanxi and the whole country.
No. 1 in Shaanxi and the whole country?
Am I good enough?
Yes. I'm sure you are.
Mr. Shen, is there any problem?
Apart from Yue Sheng's death...
...nothing is true.
True or false, it's not important.
We just need to avenge Brother Yue Sheng.
Is this...
mconsidered...
...a false accusation?
This is just a means to an end.
Mr. Shen, you said that...
...you'll do anything at all to avenge Brother Yue Sheng.
This is no big deal.
Alright.
I'll do it.
But, I have a condition.
Mr. Shen, please tell me your condition.
Don't tell outsiders that...
...I'm the sender.
No problem.
You must write this letter of appeal personally...
...and memorise the content.
Mr. Shen, I will handle this matter personally.
You may rest assured.
Xing Er!
Come here.
Father, you're back so early.
Xing Er, this is Mr. Du.
You probably don't know. It's all thanks to Mr. Du that...
...you escaped Zhao Bai Shi's dark prison.
Mr. Du, thank you for saving my life.
Young Master Xing Yi, no.
Young Master Xing Yi really resembles Young Master Yue Sheng.
It's such a huge regret that...
msomeone like Young Master Yue Sheng...
...died so horribly. God must be jealous of him.
It wasn't god. It was Wu Family...
...that killed my brother. - Xing Er, watch your word.
Young Master Xing Yi is quite aggressive.
Mr. Shen, in my opinion...
...even though Young Master Xing Yi is young...
...he is spirited.
He'll be as outstanding as Young Master Yue Sheng.
Thank you for seeing highly of me.
Mr. Shen. Young Master Xing Yi. I shall excuse myself.
You don't have to see me off.
Father, who is this Mr. Du? He seems to be quite influential.
If Zhao Bai Shi has to obey him...
...I'll really need his help.
For what?
For the matter of my runaway maid.
Zhao Bai Shi bent the law. -What are you saying?
Why are you worried about that maid...
...when we need to avenge Yue Sheng?
Father, I'll go and visit grandmother.
Master, Young Master Xing Yi...
...took 5,000 kg of rice for disaster relieve.
Shen Xing Yi!
I don't care about your usual splurge!
But, how dare you steal our rice for those refugees!
I've taught you for so long...
...and you still can't use the abacus or calculate.
You did things against the family's interest behind my back.
You're quite clever, aren't you?
My dear, Xing Er is just kind.
What kind of kindness is this? He's totally a good-for-nothing!
Since Mr. Zhao treated Xing Erto lunch...
...Xing Er must have done something good.
Is that lunch worth 6,000-7,000 taels?
You're a fool too!
Your brother was already independent at your age.
Look at you.
From tomorrow onwards, you will run errands for me.
My dear, that's too tough. It's too much for Xing Er.
You still want to spoil him?
Kind mothers produce incompetent children.
He's like this because you spoilt him!
Father, don't scold me. It's all my fault.
Get lost!
Zhang Chang Qing is ready.
Shen Si Hai is ready as well.
Shall we start?
We still need one more person. -Hu Zhi Cun?
Mr. Hu, I'm sorry. Our master is away.
When will he be back?
Our master goes out every day lately.
He's always away.
Alright. I'll come again.
Mr. Hu, this is the payment for our previous transaction.
Please check if everything is correct.
You mean... -Mr. Hu, we wish you all the best.
Enough.
Say no more.
Shopkeeper Sun, please take a look at this.
This is a good inkstone. Who brought it over?
A dead pawn.
That gUY-
He can't afford this inkstone. This must be a stolen item.
How much should I offer?
20 taels at most.
Understood.
I prepared this tea personally. Try it.
What's wrong? Did I make a mistake again?
No. It's just that... -What? Tell me.
Come.
Sit down.
Black tea should be boiled in a Zisha teapot.
Also, it is best to use Zisha ware for boiling tea in autumn.
I get it now. I'll change. -No.
How come this tea boiled in a porcelain teapot...
"tastes better than the tea boiled in a Zisha teapot?
I know. It must be because you prepared it personally.
It's so delicious.
Have another cup. -Alright.
What are you reading?
I'm readmg '(u Long Quads accent“ book.
We give a rebate to our business partners...
...who sells the most dark tea every years.
I'm checking to see which of them is eligible.
2-3 of them sold over 50,000 taels of dark tea.
Yes.
They contributed greatly to our dark tea business.
But, most merchants...
...sell only around 10,000 taels of dark tea per year.
Yes. There are over 100 of them.
I think that even though we must encourage the top 3...
...those who deserve a rebate the most are these 100 merchants.
Why? -Because they are all...
...at remote places.
It's impossible for them to sell 50,000 taels of dark tea.
But, if they work harder, they can sell a few thousand more.
If every merchant sells 2,000 taels more...
...in ayearw-
...the sales will increase to hundred of thousands of taels.
What do you suggest?
Give a rebate to all who sold over 12,000 taels of dark tea.
Is it a bad idea again?
I love your bad ideas.
Young Master Pin, Wang Shi Jun came.
I'll be right back.
You may retire. -Yes.
How did it go? -Young Master Pin.
I've done as you instructed. Look.
Thank you. -I shall excuse myself.
What brought Xiao Wang over?
I can't tell you yet. -Do you have to keep it from me?
I don't have a clue yet. So, I can't tell anyone.
Zhou Ying, I'd like to ask father to...
...let you attend the morning meeting in Liuchuan Hall.
Liuchuan Hall? Morning meeting?
What is that?
That's a rule set by my great grandfather.
At 3 a.m. every day, all housekeepers, accountants...
...and shopkeepers of Wu Family who are not away...
...will gather in Liuchuan Hall...
...to discuss about the delegation of tasks.
Also, the four households of Wu Family...
...have many interrelated businesses.
So, on the 1st day of every month...
...housekeepers, accountants and relevant shopkeepers of...
...all four households...
...will gather in Liuchuan Hall to discuss about the businesses.
Sure.
Everyone says that the east mansion's...
...housekeepers, accountants and shopkeepers...
...are all very capable.
I can learn more than 10 years' worth of studies...
...by listening to them. - That's an exaggeration.
But, you'll learn a lot about our family's business
Will father let me attend the meeting?
He doesn't even let me go out.
Mother even made me learn embroidery from Chun Xing.
We hired so many embroiderers.
Why do you need to learn embroidery?
We're more in need of business talents.
Me? Business talent?
Even I could not think of the idea you came up with earlier.
Really? -Yes.
Don't worry. We're in need of talents.
I'm sure my father will agree.
We've lost a big fraction of business.
So be it!
What can we do?
Father.
Why are you here?
I came to pick some better supplements.
I'd like to bring some donkey-hide gelatin...
...I ate when I was sick...
...to Aunt Wu and Brother Wu Pin tomorrow.
Yong Mei.
Forget about Wu Pin...
...and stop going to Wu Family's east mansion.
But, a few days ago, you told me to...
It's not just you and Wu Pin.
The friendship between me and Wu Wei Wen...
...Hu Family and Wu Family...
...is already...
...gone.
Father.
Yong Mei, don't worry. I'll find a good husband for you.
I promise that he'll be way better than Wu Pin.
I don't want another man.
You have no choice!
Leave! I can't believe this!
Please go back.
What should we do? -I'll get more people to help.
I sent her to this family.
How can she be missing?
I'm not leaving! I must see my daughter!
Young Masher Xing Yi!
Someone came and raised a ruckus.
Master is away. The mistress went out with the old mistress.
We don't know what to do. -I happen to be in a bad mood.
Now I take my frustration out. Where is he?
He's right outside.
Who are you? Do you want to die?
You all got my daughter killed.
I don't want to live anymore.
Stop him. Who is his daughter?
The maid who ran away. -Zhou Ying?
Yes. -Zhou Ying, I'm coming.
Old man, you came at the right time.
Who are you?
This is our young master.
Young master?
I need to talk to you. You have to get this done.
Listen. I brought 15 taels to redeem her.
You either return my daughter or give me 30 taels.
You demand for money? Your daughter ran away!
Blood.
I didn't push you so hard. What's wrong with you?
I've internal injuries.
Mr. Shen, please save me. -What should we do?
Get a physician! Quick!
A bottle of wine will help. -You want wine?
Isn't that wine? Grab a few!
Is it alright to drink wine in this state?
There's no more. -Do you feel better now?
Maybe I need another bottle of wine.
Wine.
If I give you 2 catties of braised beef...
...and get the ladies from the brothel to sing for you...
...will you feel even better? - I'll feel like I'm in heaven.
Enough! Stop pretending! Get up! -I cannot.
I need another bottle of wine. Else, I can't get up.
What's so good about this wine?
This is 15 year Xifeng wine.
The best Xifeng wine isn't 15 year Xifeng wine...
...but 10 year Xifeng wine.
Brother, you're an expert
Also, the best one doesn't come from Yi Hua Yong Brewery.
It's from Yu De Dai Brewery. -Yes.
In fact, it'll only taste authentic in Jiju Town.
You can't enjoy it on the floor.
Let's go to Jiju Town now and order their famous...
...soy sauce pork knuckle to enjoy with the wine.
And the creamy fish soup. -Yes.
Let's go.
Let's go. -Young Master Xing Yi, this...