[E] LAND OF WEALTH / 匯通天下 [TVB][2006]

Written by Funn Lim

This episode is indeed a very badly written one in terms of Sung Man's overzealous attempt to complete the task given by Cixi. It was so bad I watched it in total disbelief. But first Bak Chuen....

Training hard with Fu Yi Chek and Ko Wa standing there to watch at a not so secret location, the spies Hong Fei and King Yin observed and was worried. But Hong Fei assured King Yin there were many ways to cripple them as in you know destroy them. King Yin was assured.

Come competition day, I found out that whoever wins the race wins the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce sit and now it is between Mr Cho with his ever present devious smile and Mr Kiu with his ever frozen look. In fact I think this series boasts a myrid of actors (veteran as well) who can get by the ENTIRE series with one single expression.

And so the race began... but not before Mr Kiu's horse keels over and I think fainted. Everybody suspected foul play and King Yin and gang taunted them to just quit. Ko Wa said wait and ran to the stables and pulled out Mr Kiu's horse formerly her horse and said to Fu Yi Chek to control the horse well. Welllllll... Fu Yi Chek is of course not the main actor here so take a big guess who will control the horse...

Anyway they raced and raced and raced and collected all the flags suddenly King Yin knew he was losing and so instead of whipping the horse to go faster whipped Bak Chuen and Fu Yi Chek and stole their flags!! The crowds looked on with disgust but Bak Chuen valiantly stooped down and retrieved the thrown flag and raced on but King Yin and Hon Fei were way ahead. And then suddenly the entire wooden cart or whatever you call it simply and spectacularly fell apart and the horse was now dragging the cart without wheels slowing him down. Bak Chuen desperately and valiantly climbed and jumped on the horse with Fu Yi Chek holding onto the cart (whilst standing on it of course) tightly and guess who won? Well only by like half the head of the horse but well I must say it was a spectacular race. Everybody except you know who cheered and Mr Kiu won the seat. Hip hip hooray!!

Back I think in a restaurant Mr Kiu praised Bak Chuen, Fu Yi Chek and especially Ko Wa endlessly (whilst maintaining the SAME look as in all previous episodes).

Pause here. One reader commented he looked at her with lust. Frankly I can't decipher his look. It could be anything. That was how bad it was.

Anyway one man wasn't happy and that was Yun Tin. He went home drunk on the bed and his wife gently asked him "Why are you so upset?" and he answered in his monotone and same expression kinda way 'I worked for father in law for so many years and today should have been my day but instead my thunder was stolen by that Ko Wa and her brother" and she said kindly "But they did helped father, they deserved the praises and husband, try not to say too loud, people will hear" and he bitterly spat "So what? SO WHAT? Let them hear... I tell you this was planned, my injury (I think it was caused by Ko Wa, not sure since didn't watch last episode) was caused by Ko Wa and the poisoning of the horse as well" and she asked "Why would she do that?" and he said "Think about it. This is her way of getting attention, of winning favourable opinion of father, she is a devious woman, we have all been duped" and he went to sleep as his wife quietly said "So she is....".

So Ko Wa has an enemy.

Anyway Sung Man came back to Ping Yiu very nicely dressed and at once visited the magistrate he was investigating. He didn't visit Kiu family at once but he gave them presents. Whilst Jun was slightly disappointed, she was very happy to know he will be visiting tomorrow.

Meanwhile Sung Man was well received by the magistrate who treated him to some rare fine wine, a gift by the French ambassador to Cixi. Sung Man and his servant was shocked to see he had that same wine and he explained "It wa a gift by the ambassador as I have helped him in some matter". Then Sung Man observed he had many antiques and Sung Man was more determined to catch this corrupt official. Anyway found out this magistrate got his career recommended by Mr Cheong himself. Is there a connection? I won't be surprised.

Pause here.

My sis told me Cixi was bent on destroying this magistrate because his area gave the least donation during her birthday. If that was the case, Sung Man has been duped into believing this is her effort to eradicate corrupt officials. There are many worse than him.

Next day Sung Man was walking at the town when he saw how the police harrassed the citizens for money. Sung Man then knew that was how that magistrate got his money and was determined to catch him. He followed one of his men to an empty building that supposedly hold the salt that is a controlled item. The foreman there tried to chase Sung Man and servant away but Sung Man accidentally dropped his jade and the foreman saw it and knew Sung Man did not lost his way or whatever. Can't remember his excuse for being there.

Next thing Sung Man, servant were following these men and knew they were trying to escape. Meanwhile Kiu family waiting for his arrival and Jun was anxious. They knew he must be busy but was offended he did not send someone to explain his lateness and Ching observed "Could he have changed his mind? Since now he is some big time official..." and Jun looked sad and Ko Wa quickly defended Sung Man which offended Ching but her father told Ching to just shut up in a very polite way and not to further add to Jun's anxiety.

Anyway they followed them to a hut and as they observed suddenly guards came and arrows were shot and some died. Sung Man knew it was the magistrate's way of silencing his partners in this salt fraud.

At home the magistrate told his wife they were lucky to escape and that he knew Sung Man was a special official here to spy on him. But luckily he got a single bank cheque of I think $5000 so it was not a total lost.

Meanwhile Sung Man caught one of those who escaped and he confessed to the dealings. But he also said the magistrate was just a middle man working for someone and he had given this magistrate the bank cheque.

Sung Man followed the magistrate who decided to mail the cheque back to his hometown with a letter but he knew Sung Man was following him and so he went into the antique shop and placed the money into the painting prepared by the owner. Sung Man came in and arrested him, searched the house but found nothing. The wife arrogantly said "So I suppose you owe us an apology" and Sung Man said "How do I owe you? You're an officer of the empire and you're accountable to investigation. I am just doing my job and so you too should let me do mine".

Sung Man was disappointed he couldn't find the cheque but then he remembered the painting and how the magistrate was hovering over it. He rushed to the shop and enquired about the painting and knew that the painting was due for delivery to Ding Fung Sing.

Immediately in his official costume he entered the bank with his guards and asked Mr Kiu politely to see the painting. Yun Tin explained the painting was a congratulatory gift by the magistrate to Mr Kiu for the chairmanship and once opened there was the cheque. Sung Man was delighted at the evidence and asked Mr Kiu and Yun Tin to follow him to the courthouse for recording of their statement. They agreed and as they walked with the guards the people were like "Why is Mr Kiu being escorted by the guards? And his son in law too?" and Mr Cho passed them by and was curious too since it was Sung Man escorting them.

At night Jun and family were anxious when Mr Kiu and Yun Tin came back. Ching was a harsh critic of Sung Man's careless action and even Yun Tin was taken aback at what happened and quietly said "People will make wrong assumptions about our bank" but Mr Kiu assured them "He was only doing his job. Our reputation is strong, we will survive this".

Next day Mr Kiu was asked to rush to the bank and what he saw was mayhem. People were rushing to withdraw their savings and Mr Kiu found out that someone was spreading rumours that Ding Fung Sing had something to do with the corrupt magistrate (who was arrested by the way) and his salt fraud. Mr Kiu looked....ermmm... worried I suppose.

Next episode, more mayhem.

No comments on the performances since I have said what I wanted to say but the plot is ridiculous. Someone as smart as Sung Man would have been discreet, he would have asked Mr Kiu to see him in private and asked for his explanation. He wouldn't have escorted him in full view with guards in tow. Reputation is everything and  I find his thoughtlesness confusing and unbelievable. If this was the writer's way of dicrediting Sung Man in Jun's eyes, there are far better ways. Stupid writing if you ask me.

Anyway and so the downfall of Mr Kiu and the rise of Bak Chuen begins. And how stupid Sung Man will continue to be.

I am running out of things to say about the performances.