Are You The One (2024) s01e05 Episode Script
Episode 5
♪Flowers falling by the river again♪
♪Turning the clear waves red♪
♪Sparrows singing in celebration♪
♪Calm years pass by the silent bustling city♪
♪Sitting at home♪
♪No one knows love's outline like I do♪
♪If one day the river breeze blows again♪
♪I won't be a mere reflection in the mirror♪
♪Dreams can shatter; Memories remain♪
♪Rich fragrance aids; Light ink writes♪
♪In the deep red windows lies mundane dust♪
=Are You The One=
=Episode 5=
(Clear Winds and Auspicious Aura)
My Lord!
My Lord, where are you going?
(Carrying Sunshine
and Accumulating Blessings)
(Cui Mansion)
Jiu.
Mrs. Cui.
You're so drunk.
Here, have some water.
Leave me alone.
Let me help you change.
Don't touch me.
I know you're not feeling well.
The wine in the jar
smells sweet.
But it's in your stomach,
in four or six hours,
it will smell terrible.
The bed linens
are new
and still damp.
You'll get them smelly.
Get out.
Who knows what's in the wine they're selling?
It's strong and harmful.
Next time, if you want to drink,
I'll have Nanny Li
get some fresh Xinfeng wine
and warm it up for you.
A warm drink
and a comfortable bed
is better than wandering the streets
and braving the cold.
Why don't you ask me
why I drank?
People say
getting drunk eases sorrow.
Who doesn't have tough times?
Even the emperor
isn't always happy.
Though our house isn't
as grand as in the capital,
we're doing fine,
with everything we need covered.
I've thought about it.
Once the shop is running well
and covering our expenses,
maybe we can enjoy meat sometimes.
Then, Jiu,
you can go out,
play Go and visit friends.
Why does every worry
in the world
seem trivial to you?
Since we are married,
we've never been afraid of
troubling each other.
Jiu,
don't act tough with me.
If you ever feel tired,
just let go and rest.
I'll take care of everything.
Why are you looking at me?
I was just thinking.
In this world,
no one ever told me
I could
have a rest
when I'm tired,
except you.
Being born and living
in an ordinary family has its advantages.
Alright,
stop with the drunk talk.
Let me help you
get comfortable and rest, okay?
♪The boat drifts, bringing back the sunset♪
♪When we reunite, we still joke
about the cause and effect♪
♪Who passed by,
the crabapple falls with a turn♪
♪Loving rightly but choosing wrong♪
♪With joys, sorrows, partings and reunions♪
♪Everyone travels far, seeing clouds and snow♪
♪Always hard to stay, yet easy to part♪
♪Crossing spring waters and autumn trials♪
♪A couple under the moonlight,
can stay together♪
♪Time flows as we dream through four seasons♪
♪I wish to journey with you forever♪
♪Year after year♪
Last night
Jiu.
Mrs. Cui, are you alright?
It's okay.
You've seemed unwell since yesterday.
Should we have Physician Zhao take a look?
No need.
I'm just a bit tired.
Don't worry.
Since you're tired,
have some rest.
I need to go to the porcelain shop.
Remember?
I'll take care of everything.
Just kidding.
Mrs. Cui is serious.
Up before dawn,
she started working on porcelain,
looking worn out.
Don't listen to her.
I just didn't sleep well.
Miantang,
thank you.
Jiu.
You don't need to worry about money.
As long as I win at Go,
I'll give the money to you.
Is Is it
Is it too less?
Then I will
win more from now on.
Liu Miantang wants to
handle everything for you?
She probably thinks
I'm a useless
good-for-nothing.
What did you say?
What could I say?
There's nothing to argue about.
She's a bit high-maintenance
but still organized.
I'll let her be.
You don't care to argue with her?
I think you enjoy this, don't you?
Cui Xingzhou, listen up.
No one in this world
truly shares
your worries except me.
Enemies like wolves from afar,
women like foxes close by.
You've living in constant vigilance.
Now,
a beautiful girl appears.
She asks for nothing
and wants nothing,
but trusts you completely
and loves and cares for you the most.
If it were me,
I'd rather be a good-for-nothing too,
even though I'm already one.
Didn't realize
you had a flair for drama.
Could you really kill
such a good woman?
Honestly,
a woman like her
escaping from that den of thieves
has it hard.
Lu Wen has many enemies.
She was left alone and had her tendons cut.
Maybe I should let her go.
Exactly.
The Liu family committed crimes,
so she's homeless.
She's also tainted
and shunned by society.
I should pity
for her innocent suffering.
What if
she helps me catch the thief
What will you do?
I'll give her some money,
send her to a temple,
and let her live peacefully.
And you!
Don't go see her,
or rumors will spread.
Did you hear me?
(Rice)
Mrs. Cui.
Peers can be tough on each other.
We'd better not go.
Why don't we sit here
and have some tea?
Shopkeeper,
tea, please.
Coming.
(He's Porcelain Shop)
Watch the steps.
Easy, sir.
Nanny Li,
look at those two.
They're tanned,
and their waist pouches full.
They came in our shop
and found the best items right away,
which shows they're regular porcelain traders.
But they don't buy anything here.
I want to see
what experts
consider valuable.
- How about this one?
- Not bad.
Next time you get new stock, let me know.
I'll notify you immediately.
See you, sir.
Ma'am, come on in.
We have
the finest porcelain.
Take a look and see if you like any.
I'll introduce them to you.
You have a good eye, ma'am.
This piece is made by our
most experienced craftsman.
Really?
But I've seen this kiln technique
in other shops.
It's nothing special.
Well
How about you check out some others?
Ma.
Ma'am, you can check inside.
These are all fine pieces.
Look.
How about this set?
It's delicate.
What's this seal?
Give it to me.
Ma'am.
You can look, but please don't touch.
This seal
means it's from an official kiln,
made for the royal family.
If it weren't for a flaw,
you wouldn't
be seeing it today.
Other shops are empty,
but yours is bustling
because of these royal items.
We are not the only ones selling these.
Ma'am, you must be new here
and unfamiliar with the market.
So,
just as a reminder,
you buy from shops with trade guild plaques.
Trade guild?
Yes.
There are 12 members in town,
(Porcelain)
with established brands,
mutually guaranteed,
and well-known.
(Porcelain)
As for small,
unregistered trade guild workshops,
I advise you
to avoid them.
In Lingquan Town,
newcomers
who don't know this
won't succeed in their business.
Since that's the case,
I'll buy this bowl.
- Okay.
- How much is it?
One tael of gold.
One tael of gold?
I don't have
that much.
Could you please
lower the price?
He's Porcelain
is top-notch and worth the price.
I can't decide.
Miss He is right there.
Just be kind to her,
and then you can decide.
How do you know
who I am?
When I entered,
the shopkeeper was focused
on the accounts,
glancing at you
rather than the customers.
Clearly, you're here to oversee the books.
The shopkeeper couldn't tend to the customers,
so he had to focus on the accounts.
But I could also be a manager.
How did you know I'm Miss He?
When I said your porcelain
was nothing special on purpose,
you signaled the shopkeeper
to handle it.
Your concern for the reputation
shows you must have authority.
Family business isn't run by outsiders.
Daughters-in-law
are not permitted to run the business.
So I guess you're Miss He.
I'm He Zhen, the third lady
of the He family.
Mrs. Cui, you're smart.
I admire that.
But
you don't need to pretend to be a customer.
I knew who you were
since you entered.
Lingquan Town isn't a big place.
A new Yushao Porcelain Shop
and a beautiful lady taking charge
really stand out and are hard to miss.
Since that's clear,
I'll be straight with you.
I'd like
my shop to succeed here.
Miss He, I'd appreciate
any advice you can offer.
We're both in business.
That's too much credit.
Actually,
I want to join the trade guild.
Since I came here to see you,
it's because I'm determined
to make Yushao Porcelain Shop
thrive in Lingquan Town.
Since
Miss He
had your shopkeeper
pointed out my business flaws,
I suppose you could give me some advice.
Mrs. Cui, you're frank.
Honestly,
I admire you.
But
joining the trade guild is a strict process.
If you really want to join,
have your husband handle it for you.
Frankly,
my husband doesn't know much about business.
I handle our business.
Then you'd better give up.
The trade guild
doesn't accept female members.
Jiu.
How was business today?
Not bad.
Nanny Li told you everything?
Don't worry.
I'll find a way into the trade guild.
That's not necessary.
Why?
The trade guild
is all men,
not suitable for you.
I'll join in and handle that.
You?
But
do you now
how to fire porcelain?
How much clay is needed?
How many craftsmen are required?
How many finished pieces
are needed for profit?
What about the workers' wages?
Do you know all of this?
So,
you just play Go.
I'll take care of it.
Miantang,
our business
has just started,
so take it step by step.
Don't rush.
You don't understand.
If we don't get into
the trade guild,
we'll never succeed.
Those shops have been established
for years
with deep connections.
It's not easy to join them.
In my view,
if we can't continue
this business,
we should close the shop and find
another way to make a living.
You really don't have to
worry about the money.
I'll give you the money.
Even if you stay home
and don't work,
I can support us.
I told you,
just play Go
and I'll take care of everything.
You really don't have to do this.
You don't need to
go through this.
I've tried joining the trade guild.
It's complicated.
No need to waste
your effort on this.
At least let me give it a try
Enough.
That's the last word on it.
I need to go to the Go Club.
Get some rest.
Jiu.
My Lord, Ms. Liu seems to be upset.
She's making a fuss over nothing
and acting presumptuous.
Do you want me to join her?
Mrs. Cui,
you should rest early tonight.
Nanny Li.
What was
Jiu like before?
Well,
he was about the same as he is now.
That's why he's always been this fickle
and domineering?
No, no, no.
That's not what I mean.
So,
did we often quarrel like this?
Well,
this is your private matter.
I don't know about that.
I don't know.
(Clear Winds and Auspicious Aura)
My Lord.
My Lord.
Mr. He.
On behalf of
the 12 members of Lingquan Trade Guild,
I greet Your Lordship.
What are you doing, Mr. He?
Please rise.
My Lord.
We merchants have no land or power.
We rely solely on our trades and crafts.
Yet, we still have to
pay 12 different types of big taxes.
And Zhenzhou is a military town.
The military funds come from the taxes
we merchants pay.
We really can't bear the burden anymore.
Mr. He,
you came to see me overnight
and even knelt down,
just to ask me
to reduce your taxes?
If we could
gain your support,
the trade guild would certainly unite
to support the court
and ease your concerns.
Okay.
I will
consider it.
Also,
tomorrow's river restoration opening
is a major event for Lingquan Town.
I will allow the trade guild members
to participate.
Thank you, My Lord.
(Lingquan Town Porcelain Trade Guild)
Father
visited Lord Huaiyang last night
and caught a cold on the way back.
Today, I'll preside over
the tribute matters.
Okay.
Young Mr. He.
What do we each
need to do this year?
Yes. Right.
How should we distribute it?
How should we do it?
What would be fair?
Right.
We're in charge of fine porcelain painting.
Other members were assigned
their tasks according to the old rules.
Please complete it on time.
The He family is always considerate.
This way,
everyone can at least get a share.
Yes. We all have a share.
That's very kind of them.
Exactly.
We're not the only ones
making porcelain.
If we don't unite,
we'll be overrun by
out-of-town merchants.
- Yes.
- That makes sense.
Yes,
I was just about to say that.
Well, Zhen,
you should leave now.
Business matters
are not for women to meddle in.
Have some tea.
Have some tea.
Good tea.
It's fragrant.
Refreshing and tasty.
- Here. Here.
- True.
Young Mr. He,
someone outside claims to be
the owner of Yushao Porcelain Shop
and wants to see you.
This lowly merchant
finally knows to pay respect.
Yes.
Alright.
Since they're here,
let's
meet them.
Yes.
Let's meet them.
Yes, we should meet them.
Yes, we should.
Exactly.
A woman?
Why is it a woman?
We've never had a female member.
You must be Young Mr. He.
Sorry for the interruption.
You did interrupt us.
Yushao Porcelain Shop is Cui's business, right?
Mr. Cui didn't come himself.
Did he get upset
because we didn't send him
an invitation?
She came without an invitation.
(Integrity is the key to wealth.)
You see?
(Honesty is the best policy.)
She wasn't invited.
Why isn't Mrs. Cui saying anything?
Are you deaf?
- Say something.
- She's deaf.
Hearing Young Mr. He's words,
I realize it was
my fault
for disrespecting everyone here.
So I checked
if there were any rules against women entering
so I wouldn't break any rules.
Even though there's no rule against it,
you are
the only woman here,
which might be inconvenient.
- Exactly.
- Exactly.
I thought coming in person showed sincerity.
Had I known
you were uncomfortable talking to a woman,
I would have sent
a servant instead.
What did you say?
That's not appropriate.
Sending a woman to the trade guild
and speaking recklessly,
your husband
must be quite useless.
- Exactly.
- Really?
But why does Miss He
go manage the shop
even though you're here.
Since Young Mr. He holds that position,
you must be capable.
Your family must be sensible
and clearly believes that a capable woman
can handle business.
What? Am I wrong?
Is Young Mr. He incapable,
or is your family just not very sensible?
Young Mr. He, she's sharp-tongued.
Don't waste your breath on her.
Do you really want to join the trade guild?
I have confidence in Yushao Porcelain Shop.
I seek to rise with the guild's support.
A new member also benefits
the guild in the long run.
It's a win-win situation.
Young Mr. He,
please tell your family
and consider it.
Okay.
Since that's the case,
I have one condition.
If Yushao Porcelain
can secure sales to the royals,
I'll make sure
you join the trade guild.
Gentlemen, what do you think?
Makes sense.
Well said.
That's a deal.
You're deliberately
making it difficult for her.
Since Mrs. Cui is so confident
in her porcelain,
it shouldn't
be a problem, right?
Yes.
That's right.
- I'll be waiting for your good news.
- That's right.
Yes.
See you.
- Go.
- Just leave. Get out.
Let's see if you are capable.
Go.
Look at her.
Mr. Cui is indeed insightful.
Joining the guild
is extremely hard.
But Mr. Cui is surely experienced
and capable.
Mrs. Cui,
why don't you
talk with him
Contribute to and work towards river restoration
for the benefit of the people.
Oh, my.
What a great deed.
I've heard that Lord Huaiyang
will personally preside over the opening.
(Notice)
Lord Huaiyang will come?
(Reforming the river)
Yes, it's wonderful.
This is a huge blessing!
We won't fear floods anymore.
Yes.
Mrs. Cui!
Bicao.
Mrs. Cui.
Go to the kiln and find Mr. Chen.
Have him bring the tank he fired
a few days ago to the riverbank.
Yes.
Mrs. Cui,
you were so fast.
Nanny Li,
don't you always say,
"what a sin"?
Yes.
Yes.
Send someone to catch
all the koi in this yard.
Then go to the market
and buy all the koi you can find.
Mrs. Cui,
why
Why are you doing this?
Koi are very expensive,
and buying them all
will cost a fortune.
Doing good deeds to atone for sins,
why be stingy?
You
I
Excuse me.
Please move aside.
Could you move aside a bit? Thank you.
Mr. He, look,
Lord Huaiyang is truly efficient.
Look at how fast they are.
30,000 soldiers are working on it.
The river restoration
will be completed soon.
Now, you use it as an excuse.
What about the future?
Are you going to renovate
Zhenzhou entirely?
We still have Qingzhou.
As long as you, General, give the order,
I'll mobilize the men at any time.
The first shovel
symbolizes good luck and smooth progress.
General Shi,
you are our honored guest.
Okay.
- Great!
- Great!
May the work be completed soon,
bringing peace and prosperity to Zhenzhou!
- Great!
- Well said!
Our Lingquan Trade Guild
prepared a gift.
We hope General Shi
will accept it.
Lord Huaiyang
has thought of everything thoroughly.
Did you see him?
Too far,
too many people. I can't see.
Is that man Lord Huaiyang?
Yes.
What time is it now?
It's the Wu hour.
I've given my birthday congratulations
and done the first shovel.
Now, it's time to return to Qingzhou.
Wait, wait.
General,
are you going to report to the court?
I can do that.
Please wait.
General Shi, thank you in advance.
However, restoring the river
is not my sole achievement.
Clearing the river
will produce a lot of silt.
We must thank the merchants
who lend their ships
for transporting it.
General Shi,
please speak highly of them too.
My Lord, we
Mr. He,
your actions serve the court
and ease my burden.
Okay.
Koi!
Look! Koi!
There are koi.
It's truly a sign of good fortune.
Heaven blesses Zhenzhou!
- Yes.
- Exactly.
My Lord.
You really went to great lengths
for this memorial.
Since the koi are an auspicious sign,
let's catch them.
Okay, okay.
Go catch them.
Yes.
Excuse us. Please make way.
What are you doing?
Soldiers,
it's your time to shine.
Be careful.
General, we've caught the fish.
- Go get a bucket.
- Look at it.
General, a woman from the crowd
brought a porcelain tank,
claiming it matches the koi.
- Bring it here.
- Yes.
Great.
Congratulations to Your Lordship and General
for the auspicious sign.
General Shi,
you are truly a blessing to me.
What a great omen.
(Yushao Porcelain Shop)
My Lord.
My Lord.
The woman who brought the porcelain tank
is still outside
and wants to request a reward.
- Go give it to her.
- My Lord,
since she brought the auspicious sign
in person,
we should reward her in person as well.
Go. Bring her here.
Yes.
Ma'am, please come with me.
Surely she will be rewarded.
She's just a common merchant,
nothing special to see,
right?
My Lord,
this auspicious sign
is a rare good omen.
It's quite fortunate
for a common merchant to have such luck.
Let's take it as a good sign
- for the river restoration.
- Very good.
We should give her a good reward.
Of course.
Good.
I felt too happy this morning
and now I'm a bit dizzy.
I'll go take a break.
Alright.
Don't look back.
General, she's here.
- You may leave.
- Yes.
I'm Liu, owner of Yushao Porcelain Shop.
The auspicious sign is rare.
I would like to ask His Lordship
for a small reward
for good luck.
Take it.
(Xuanwen Zhongbao cash coin)
It's from His Lordship.
Thank you.
Thanks, Your Lordship.
Let's go.
I told you to watch her,
not let her make a scene.
I kept her here to catch Lu Wen.
Should I give up
being a prince
and just play house with her?
Forgive me, My Lord.
Come on. Don't do that.
I
I thought Ms. Liu
was releasing the koi
to remove sins.
She also said
that the Wu hour was a perfect time.
I thought
she'd release koi upstream,
so you wouldn't
be seen downstream.
She said releasing fish would remove sins,
so you just believed that?
Well
There are so many sins committed.
I mean, I apologize for my mistake.
But no matter how much
I tried to pull or persuade her,
Ms. Liu wouldn't relent
and insisted on joining the trade guild.
Actually,
Ms. Liu has done everything
for you
for Cui Jiu,
to manage the household.
You should talk to her
and make things better.
That would be better than anything I could do.
Where is she?
(Xuanwen Zhongbao cash coin)
The transaction is complete.
This coin was earned
by Mrs. Cui from Lord Huaiyang.
Young Mr. He,
your family should honor your promise.
When did we
give you a promise?
- Mr. He.
- Father.
Mr. He.
Your son once said that
if Yushao Porcelain
could be sold to the royals,
we could join the trade guild.
But that was just a joke.
She took it seriously.
He gave you a way out,
so everyone could
leave peacefully.
Mrs. Cui,
did you take it seriously?
Please leave.
We're very busy these days.
Go. Go.
Now I've seen
what the trade guild is like.
Let's go.
Go. Get out.
Mr. He, see?
What a stubborn woman.
Jiu.
Miantang.
Today, you received
a reward from Lord Huaiyang.
Nanny Li told you that?
Yes.
She also said
you met Lord Huaiyang in person.
With his potbelly,
he seems pretty straightforward.
When I asked him for a reward,
he just gave it to me.
Miantang,
you went to such lengths
just to join the trade guild?
You know what.
A large trade guild
can be quite capricious.
Alright, alright.
I understand.
You didn't take any
of my words to heart.
Miantang,
staying in this house
should be good enough,
shouldn't it?
Don't think about
doing business
or even joining the trade guild,
okay?
Why?
You supported me
in business before.
Why does the trade guild
seem to hit a nerve with you?
Cui Jiu, what are you afraid of?
I
Or were your encouraging words
just to placate me?
Now that I often go out for work,
does it make you uncomfortable?
If that's what you think,
I have nothing to say.
Cui Jiu,
I've never blamed you for being lazy.
I willingly stand in front
to shield you.
But I don't want to see you so cowardly.
You want to achieve something
but fear the trade guild,
so you just hide in your shell.
Likewise,
you sweet-talk me without
putting in the hard work,
and at critical moments,
you don't want me to make a public appearance.
My husband can't be like that.
I can be,
but that's okay.
♪The boat drifts,
bringing back the sunset♪
♪When we reunite, we still joke
about the cause and effect♪
♪Who passed by, the crabapple
falls with a turn♪
♪Loving rightly but choosing wrong♪
♪With joys, sorrows, partings and reunions♪
♪Everyone travels far, seeing clouds and snow♪
♪Always hard to stay, yet easy to part♪
♪Crossing spring waters and autumn trials♪
♪A couple under the moonlight,
can stay together♪
♪Long hidden in the eyes,
flickering in and out♪
♪Let go of the flowers blooming
in the yard last night♪
♪Let go of the waves in the stream
in half a lifetime♪
♪Let those dust and chaos go on endlessly♪
♪In this lifetime, my wish is to the vast sky♪
♪There are many more♪
♪Everyone travels far, seeing clouds and snow♪
♪Always hard to stay, yet easy to part♪
♪Crossing spring waters and autumn trials♪
♪A couple under the moonlight,
can stay together♪
♪Time flows as we dream through four seasons♪
♪I wish to journey with you forever♪
♪Year after year♪
♪For many years to come♪
♪Turning the clear waves red♪
♪Sparrows singing in celebration♪
♪Calm years pass by the silent bustling city♪
♪Sitting at home♪
♪No one knows love's outline like I do♪
♪If one day the river breeze blows again♪
♪I won't be a mere reflection in the mirror♪
♪Dreams can shatter; Memories remain♪
♪Rich fragrance aids; Light ink writes♪
♪In the deep red windows lies mundane dust♪
=Are You The One=
=Episode 5=
(Clear Winds and Auspicious Aura)
My Lord!
My Lord, where are you going?
(Carrying Sunshine
and Accumulating Blessings)
(Cui Mansion)
Jiu.
Mrs. Cui.
You're so drunk.
Here, have some water.
Leave me alone.
Let me help you change.
Don't touch me.
I know you're not feeling well.
The wine in the jar
smells sweet.
But it's in your stomach,
in four or six hours,
it will smell terrible.
The bed linens
are new
and still damp.
You'll get them smelly.
Get out.
Who knows what's in the wine they're selling?
It's strong and harmful.
Next time, if you want to drink,
I'll have Nanny Li
get some fresh Xinfeng wine
and warm it up for you.
A warm drink
and a comfortable bed
is better than wandering the streets
and braving the cold.
Why don't you ask me
why I drank?
People say
getting drunk eases sorrow.
Who doesn't have tough times?
Even the emperor
isn't always happy.
Though our house isn't
as grand as in the capital,
we're doing fine,
with everything we need covered.
I've thought about it.
Once the shop is running well
and covering our expenses,
maybe we can enjoy meat sometimes.
Then, Jiu,
you can go out,
play Go and visit friends.
Why does every worry
in the world
seem trivial to you?
Since we are married,
we've never been afraid of
troubling each other.
Jiu,
don't act tough with me.
If you ever feel tired,
just let go and rest.
I'll take care of everything.
Why are you looking at me?
I was just thinking.
In this world,
no one ever told me
I could
have a rest
when I'm tired,
except you.
Being born and living
in an ordinary family has its advantages.
Alright,
stop with the drunk talk.
Let me help you
get comfortable and rest, okay?
♪The boat drifts, bringing back the sunset♪
♪When we reunite, we still joke
about the cause and effect♪
♪Who passed by,
the crabapple falls with a turn♪
♪Loving rightly but choosing wrong♪
♪With joys, sorrows, partings and reunions♪
♪Everyone travels far, seeing clouds and snow♪
♪Always hard to stay, yet easy to part♪
♪Crossing spring waters and autumn trials♪
♪A couple under the moonlight,
can stay together♪
♪Time flows as we dream through four seasons♪
♪I wish to journey with you forever♪
♪Year after year♪
Last night
Jiu.
Mrs. Cui, are you alright?
It's okay.
You've seemed unwell since yesterday.
Should we have Physician Zhao take a look?
No need.
I'm just a bit tired.
Don't worry.
Since you're tired,
have some rest.
I need to go to the porcelain shop.
Remember?
I'll take care of everything.
Just kidding.
Mrs. Cui is serious.
Up before dawn,
she started working on porcelain,
looking worn out.
Don't listen to her.
I just didn't sleep well.
Miantang,
thank you.
Jiu.
You don't need to worry about money.
As long as I win at Go,
I'll give the money to you.
Is Is it
Is it too less?
Then I will
win more from now on.
Liu Miantang wants to
handle everything for you?
She probably thinks
I'm a useless
good-for-nothing.
What did you say?
What could I say?
There's nothing to argue about.
She's a bit high-maintenance
but still organized.
I'll let her be.
You don't care to argue with her?
I think you enjoy this, don't you?
Cui Xingzhou, listen up.
No one in this world
truly shares
your worries except me.
Enemies like wolves from afar,
women like foxes close by.
You've living in constant vigilance.
Now,
a beautiful girl appears.
She asks for nothing
and wants nothing,
but trusts you completely
and loves and cares for you the most.
If it were me,
I'd rather be a good-for-nothing too,
even though I'm already one.
Didn't realize
you had a flair for drama.
Could you really kill
such a good woman?
Honestly,
a woman like her
escaping from that den of thieves
has it hard.
Lu Wen has many enemies.
She was left alone and had her tendons cut.
Maybe I should let her go.
Exactly.
The Liu family committed crimes,
so she's homeless.
She's also tainted
and shunned by society.
I should pity
for her innocent suffering.
What if
she helps me catch the thief
What will you do?
I'll give her some money,
send her to a temple,
and let her live peacefully.
And you!
Don't go see her,
or rumors will spread.
Did you hear me?
(Rice)
Mrs. Cui.
Peers can be tough on each other.
We'd better not go.
Why don't we sit here
and have some tea?
Shopkeeper,
tea, please.
Coming.
(He's Porcelain Shop)
Watch the steps.
Easy, sir.
Nanny Li,
look at those two.
They're tanned,
and their waist pouches full.
They came in our shop
and found the best items right away,
which shows they're regular porcelain traders.
But they don't buy anything here.
I want to see
what experts
consider valuable.
- How about this one?
- Not bad.
Next time you get new stock, let me know.
I'll notify you immediately.
See you, sir.
Ma'am, come on in.
We have
the finest porcelain.
Take a look and see if you like any.
I'll introduce them to you.
You have a good eye, ma'am.
This piece is made by our
most experienced craftsman.
Really?
But I've seen this kiln technique
in other shops.
It's nothing special.
Well
How about you check out some others?
Ma.
Ma'am, you can check inside.
These are all fine pieces.
Look.
How about this set?
It's delicate.
What's this seal?
Give it to me.
Ma'am.
You can look, but please don't touch.
This seal
means it's from an official kiln,
made for the royal family.
If it weren't for a flaw,
you wouldn't
be seeing it today.
Other shops are empty,
but yours is bustling
because of these royal items.
We are not the only ones selling these.
Ma'am, you must be new here
and unfamiliar with the market.
So,
just as a reminder,
you buy from shops with trade guild plaques.
Trade guild?
Yes.
There are 12 members in town,
(Porcelain)
with established brands,
mutually guaranteed,
and well-known.
(Porcelain)
As for small,
unregistered trade guild workshops,
I advise you
to avoid them.
In Lingquan Town,
newcomers
who don't know this
won't succeed in their business.
Since that's the case,
I'll buy this bowl.
- Okay.
- How much is it?
One tael of gold.
One tael of gold?
I don't have
that much.
Could you please
lower the price?
He's Porcelain
is top-notch and worth the price.
I can't decide.
Miss He is right there.
Just be kind to her,
and then you can decide.
How do you know
who I am?
When I entered,
the shopkeeper was focused
on the accounts,
glancing at you
rather than the customers.
Clearly, you're here to oversee the books.
The shopkeeper couldn't tend to the customers,
so he had to focus on the accounts.
But I could also be a manager.
How did you know I'm Miss He?
When I said your porcelain
was nothing special on purpose,
you signaled the shopkeeper
to handle it.
Your concern for the reputation
shows you must have authority.
Family business isn't run by outsiders.
Daughters-in-law
are not permitted to run the business.
So I guess you're Miss He.
I'm He Zhen, the third lady
of the He family.
Mrs. Cui, you're smart.
I admire that.
But
you don't need to pretend to be a customer.
I knew who you were
since you entered.
Lingquan Town isn't a big place.
A new Yushao Porcelain Shop
and a beautiful lady taking charge
really stand out and are hard to miss.
Since that's clear,
I'll be straight with you.
I'd like
my shop to succeed here.
Miss He, I'd appreciate
any advice you can offer.
We're both in business.
That's too much credit.
Actually,
I want to join the trade guild.
Since I came here to see you,
it's because I'm determined
to make Yushao Porcelain Shop
thrive in Lingquan Town.
Since
Miss He
had your shopkeeper
pointed out my business flaws,
I suppose you could give me some advice.
Mrs. Cui, you're frank.
Honestly,
I admire you.
But
joining the trade guild is a strict process.
If you really want to join,
have your husband handle it for you.
Frankly,
my husband doesn't know much about business.
I handle our business.
Then you'd better give up.
The trade guild
doesn't accept female members.
Jiu.
How was business today?
Not bad.
Nanny Li told you everything?
Don't worry.
I'll find a way into the trade guild.
That's not necessary.
Why?
The trade guild
is all men,
not suitable for you.
I'll join in and handle that.
You?
But
do you now
how to fire porcelain?
How much clay is needed?
How many craftsmen are required?
How many finished pieces
are needed for profit?
What about the workers' wages?
Do you know all of this?
So,
you just play Go.
I'll take care of it.
Miantang,
our business
has just started,
so take it step by step.
Don't rush.
You don't understand.
If we don't get into
the trade guild,
we'll never succeed.
Those shops have been established
for years
with deep connections.
It's not easy to join them.
In my view,
if we can't continue
this business,
we should close the shop and find
another way to make a living.
You really don't have to
worry about the money.
I'll give you the money.
Even if you stay home
and don't work,
I can support us.
I told you,
just play Go
and I'll take care of everything.
You really don't have to do this.
You don't need to
go through this.
I've tried joining the trade guild.
It's complicated.
No need to waste
your effort on this.
At least let me give it a try
Enough.
That's the last word on it.
I need to go to the Go Club.
Get some rest.
Jiu.
My Lord, Ms. Liu seems to be upset.
She's making a fuss over nothing
and acting presumptuous.
Do you want me to join her?
Mrs. Cui,
you should rest early tonight.
Nanny Li.
What was
Jiu like before?
Well,
he was about the same as he is now.
That's why he's always been this fickle
and domineering?
No, no, no.
That's not what I mean.
So,
did we often quarrel like this?
Well,
this is your private matter.
I don't know about that.
I don't know.
(Clear Winds and Auspicious Aura)
My Lord.
My Lord.
Mr. He.
On behalf of
the 12 members of Lingquan Trade Guild,
I greet Your Lordship.
What are you doing, Mr. He?
Please rise.
My Lord.
We merchants have no land or power.
We rely solely on our trades and crafts.
Yet, we still have to
pay 12 different types of big taxes.
And Zhenzhou is a military town.
The military funds come from the taxes
we merchants pay.
We really can't bear the burden anymore.
Mr. He,
you came to see me overnight
and even knelt down,
just to ask me
to reduce your taxes?
If we could
gain your support,
the trade guild would certainly unite
to support the court
and ease your concerns.
Okay.
I will
consider it.
Also,
tomorrow's river restoration opening
is a major event for Lingquan Town.
I will allow the trade guild members
to participate.
Thank you, My Lord.
(Lingquan Town Porcelain Trade Guild)
Father
visited Lord Huaiyang last night
and caught a cold on the way back.
Today, I'll preside over
the tribute matters.
Okay.
Young Mr. He.
What do we each
need to do this year?
Yes. Right.
How should we distribute it?
How should we do it?
What would be fair?
Right.
We're in charge of fine porcelain painting.
Other members were assigned
their tasks according to the old rules.
Please complete it on time.
The He family is always considerate.
This way,
everyone can at least get a share.
Yes. We all have a share.
That's very kind of them.
Exactly.
We're not the only ones
making porcelain.
If we don't unite,
we'll be overrun by
out-of-town merchants.
- Yes.
- That makes sense.
Yes,
I was just about to say that.
Well, Zhen,
you should leave now.
Business matters
are not for women to meddle in.
Have some tea.
Have some tea.
Good tea.
It's fragrant.
Refreshing and tasty.
- Here. Here.
- True.
Young Mr. He,
someone outside claims to be
the owner of Yushao Porcelain Shop
and wants to see you.
This lowly merchant
finally knows to pay respect.
Yes.
Alright.
Since they're here,
let's
meet them.
Yes.
Let's meet them.
Yes, we should meet them.
Yes, we should.
Exactly.
A woman?
Why is it a woman?
We've never had a female member.
You must be Young Mr. He.
Sorry for the interruption.
You did interrupt us.
Yushao Porcelain Shop is Cui's business, right?
Mr. Cui didn't come himself.
Did he get upset
because we didn't send him
an invitation?
She came without an invitation.
(Integrity is the key to wealth.)
You see?
(Honesty is the best policy.)
She wasn't invited.
Why isn't Mrs. Cui saying anything?
Are you deaf?
- Say something.
- She's deaf.
Hearing Young Mr. He's words,
I realize it was
my fault
for disrespecting everyone here.
So I checked
if there were any rules against women entering
so I wouldn't break any rules.
Even though there's no rule against it,
you are
the only woman here,
which might be inconvenient.
- Exactly.
- Exactly.
I thought coming in person showed sincerity.
Had I known
you were uncomfortable talking to a woman,
I would have sent
a servant instead.
What did you say?
That's not appropriate.
Sending a woman to the trade guild
and speaking recklessly,
your husband
must be quite useless.
- Exactly.
- Really?
But why does Miss He
go manage the shop
even though you're here.
Since Young Mr. He holds that position,
you must be capable.
Your family must be sensible
and clearly believes that a capable woman
can handle business.
What? Am I wrong?
Is Young Mr. He incapable,
or is your family just not very sensible?
Young Mr. He, she's sharp-tongued.
Don't waste your breath on her.
Do you really want to join the trade guild?
I have confidence in Yushao Porcelain Shop.
I seek to rise with the guild's support.
A new member also benefits
the guild in the long run.
It's a win-win situation.
Young Mr. He,
please tell your family
and consider it.
Okay.
Since that's the case,
I have one condition.
If Yushao Porcelain
can secure sales to the royals,
I'll make sure
you join the trade guild.
Gentlemen, what do you think?
Makes sense.
Well said.
That's a deal.
You're deliberately
making it difficult for her.
Since Mrs. Cui is so confident
in her porcelain,
it shouldn't
be a problem, right?
Yes.
That's right.
- I'll be waiting for your good news.
- That's right.
Yes.
See you.
- Go.
- Just leave. Get out.
Let's see if you are capable.
Go.
Look at her.
Mr. Cui is indeed insightful.
Joining the guild
is extremely hard.
But Mr. Cui is surely experienced
and capable.
Mrs. Cui,
why don't you
talk with him
Contribute to and work towards river restoration
for the benefit of the people.
Oh, my.
What a great deed.
I've heard that Lord Huaiyang
will personally preside over the opening.
(Notice)
Lord Huaiyang will come?
(Reforming the river)
Yes, it's wonderful.
This is a huge blessing!
We won't fear floods anymore.
Yes.
Mrs. Cui!
Bicao.
Mrs. Cui.
Go to the kiln and find Mr. Chen.
Have him bring the tank he fired
a few days ago to the riverbank.
Yes.
Mrs. Cui,
you were so fast.
Nanny Li,
don't you always say,
"what a sin"?
Yes.
Yes.
Send someone to catch
all the koi in this yard.
Then go to the market
and buy all the koi you can find.
Mrs. Cui,
why
Why are you doing this?
Koi are very expensive,
and buying them all
will cost a fortune.
Doing good deeds to atone for sins,
why be stingy?
You
I
Excuse me.
Please move aside.
Could you move aside a bit? Thank you.
Mr. He, look,
Lord Huaiyang is truly efficient.
Look at how fast they are.
30,000 soldiers are working on it.
The river restoration
will be completed soon.
Now, you use it as an excuse.
What about the future?
Are you going to renovate
Zhenzhou entirely?
We still have Qingzhou.
As long as you, General, give the order,
I'll mobilize the men at any time.
The first shovel
symbolizes good luck and smooth progress.
General Shi,
you are our honored guest.
Okay.
- Great!
- Great!
May the work be completed soon,
bringing peace and prosperity to Zhenzhou!
- Great!
- Well said!
Our Lingquan Trade Guild
prepared a gift.
We hope General Shi
will accept it.
Lord Huaiyang
has thought of everything thoroughly.
Did you see him?
Too far,
too many people. I can't see.
Is that man Lord Huaiyang?
Yes.
What time is it now?
It's the Wu hour.
I've given my birthday congratulations
and done the first shovel.
Now, it's time to return to Qingzhou.
Wait, wait.
General,
are you going to report to the court?
I can do that.
Please wait.
General Shi, thank you in advance.
However, restoring the river
is not my sole achievement.
Clearing the river
will produce a lot of silt.
We must thank the merchants
who lend their ships
for transporting it.
General Shi,
please speak highly of them too.
My Lord, we
Mr. He,
your actions serve the court
and ease my burden.
Okay.
Koi!
Look! Koi!
There are koi.
It's truly a sign of good fortune.
Heaven blesses Zhenzhou!
- Yes.
- Exactly.
My Lord.
You really went to great lengths
for this memorial.
Since the koi are an auspicious sign,
let's catch them.
Okay, okay.
Go catch them.
Yes.
Excuse us. Please make way.
What are you doing?
Soldiers,
it's your time to shine.
Be careful.
General, we've caught the fish.
- Go get a bucket.
- Look at it.
General, a woman from the crowd
brought a porcelain tank,
claiming it matches the koi.
- Bring it here.
- Yes.
Great.
Congratulations to Your Lordship and General
for the auspicious sign.
General Shi,
you are truly a blessing to me.
What a great omen.
(Yushao Porcelain Shop)
My Lord.
My Lord.
The woman who brought the porcelain tank
is still outside
and wants to request a reward.
- Go give it to her.
- My Lord,
since she brought the auspicious sign
in person,
we should reward her in person as well.
Go. Bring her here.
Yes.
Ma'am, please come with me.
Surely she will be rewarded.
She's just a common merchant,
nothing special to see,
right?
My Lord,
this auspicious sign
is a rare good omen.
It's quite fortunate
for a common merchant to have such luck.
Let's take it as a good sign
- for the river restoration.
- Very good.
We should give her a good reward.
Of course.
Good.
I felt too happy this morning
and now I'm a bit dizzy.
I'll go take a break.
Alright.
Don't look back.
General, she's here.
- You may leave.
- Yes.
I'm Liu, owner of Yushao Porcelain Shop.
The auspicious sign is rare.
I would like to ask His Lordship
for a small reward
for good luck.
Take it.
(Xuanwen Zhongbao cash coin)
It's from His Lordship.
Thank you.
Thanks, Your Lordship.
Let's go.
I told you to watch her,
not let her make a scene.
I kept her here to catch Lu Wen.
Should I give up
being a prince
and just play house with her?
Forgive me, My Lord.
Come on. Don't do that.
I
I thought Ms. Liu
was releasing the koi
to remove sins.
She also said
that the Wu hour was a perfect time.
I thought
she'd release koi upstream,
so you wouldn't
be seen downstream.
She said releasing fish would remove sins,
so you just believed that?
Well
There are so many sins committed.
I mean, I apologize for my mistake.
But no matter how much
I tried to pull or persuade her,
Ms. Liu wouldn't relent
and insisted on joining the trade guild.
Actually,
Ms. Liu has done everything
for you
for Cui Jiu,
to manage the household.
You should talk to her
and make things better.
That would be better than anything I could do.
Where is she?
(Xuanwen Zhongbao cash coin)
The transaction is complete.
This coin was earned
by Mrs. Cui from Lord Huaiyang.
Young Mr. He,
your family should honor your promise.
When did we
give you a promise?
- Mr. He.
- Father.
Mr. He.
Your son once said that
if Yushao Porcelain
could be sold to the royals,
we could join the trade guild.
But that was just a joke.
She took it seriously.
He gave you a way out,
so everyone could
leave peacefully.
Mrs. Cui,
did you take it seriously?
Please leave.
We're very busy these days.
Go. Go.
Now I've seen
what the trade guild is like.
Let's go.
Go. Get out.
Mr. He, see?
What a stubborn woman.
Jiu.
Miantang.
Today, you received
a reward from Lord Huaiyang.
Nanny Li told you that?
Yes.
She also said
you met Lord Huaiyang in person.
With his potbelly,
he seems pretty straightforward.
When I asked him for a reward,
he just gave it to me.
Miantang,
you went to such lengths
just to join the trade guild?
You know what.
A large trade guild
can be quite capricious.
Alright, alright.
I understand.
You didn't take any
of my words to heart.
Miantang,
staying in this house
should be good enough,
shouldn't it?
Don't think about
doing business
or even joining the trade guild,
okay?
Why?
You supported me
in business before.
Why does the trade guild
seem to hit a nerve with you?
Cui Jiu, what are you afraid of?
I
Or were your encouraging words
just to placate me?
Now that I often go out for work,
does it make you uncomfortable?
If that's what you think,
I have nothing to say.
Cui Jiu,
I've never blamed you for being lazy.
I willingly stand in front
to shield you.
But I don't want to see you so cowardly.
You want to achieve something
but fear the trade guild,
so you just hide in your shell.
Likewise,
you sweet-talk me without
putting in the hard work,
and at critical moments,
you don't want me to make a public appearance.
My husband can't be like that.
I can be,
but that's okay.
♪The boat drifts,
bringing back the sunset♪
♪When we reunite, we still joke
about the cause and effect♪
♪Who passed by, the crabapple
falls with a turn♪
♪Loving rightly but choosing wrong♪
♪With joys, sorrows, partings and reunions♪
♪Everyone travels far, seeing clouds and snow♪
♪Always hard to stay, yet easy to part♪
♪Crossing spring waters and autumn trials♪
♪A couple under the moonlight,
can stay together♪
♪Long hidden in the eyes,
flickering in and out♪
♪Let go of the flowers blooming
in the yard last night♪
♪Let go of the waves in the stream
in half a lifetime♪
♪Let those dust and chaos go on endlessly♪
♪In this lifetime, my wish is to the vast sky♪
♪There are many more♪
♪Everyone travels far, seeing clouds and snow♪
♪Always hard to stay, yet easy to part♪
♪Crossing spring waters and autumn trials♪
♪A couple under the moonlight,
can stay together♪
♪Time flows as we dream through four seasons♪
♪I wish to journey with you forever♪
♪Year after year♪
♪For many years to come♪