Written by Funn Lim
I missed the first 45 minutes or so but really I didn't miss much since the first 45 minutes focussed on the dying Mrs Kiu.
Yes Mrs Kiu was dying. The moment I started watching she was dead and Mr Kiu locked himself in his room writing Buddhist scriptures all day. Meanwhile Ko Wa discovered Fu Yi Chek panicking and he said he accidentally poured water over the bills and he was very worried since "the debtors can now deny they owe any debt!". Ko Wa told him not to worry and helped him to dry the bills over a small fire but as she was doing it I think she got distracted by her memory of Bak Chuen. Anyway she burnt her hand and Mr Kiu was there and was worried also. As Fu Yi Chek went to look for some cream, Mr Kiu advised her that "I know you love your brother very much but there are times you must learn to let go a little" and Ko Wa said "Sir, what about you? You lock yoourself in your room whole day writing Buddhist scriptures ... Isn't it in the Buddhist teaching that one must learn to let go instead of holding on? That is the only way you will let your loved ones who passed on go in peace...". Not in so many words but Chinese are very economical with their words. Anyway Mr Kiu lovingly wiped his wife's ermmm what do you call those? Wooden plague? That wooden worhip thing. He gently said "My dear wife, today I have received a great advice. I will let go so that you can go in peace. You were right about Ko Wa and you have excellent taste. She is a woman of honesty and integrity. So you can rest in peace now, everything will be all right".
I think before she died Mrs Kiu asked Ko Wa to take good care of Mr Kiu. You don't ask that of a servant so Mrs Kiu was giving her implied consent to Mr Kiu to marry this woman. Pause though; never had Mrs Kiu ever asked in her weak feeble voice "Ko Waaa....do you have a boyfriend?" because by that time Ko Wa was madly in love with Bak Chuen who was ermm well woodenly in love with her. You know Moses lar....hard to decipher.
Next part dedicated to Bak Chuen's story.
We meet that despicable Uncle Lam again. Hate him. Anyway in private Uncle Lam was addressing something and then camera zoomed away and we see him talking to the wooden worship things of the Chai family, including that of Bak Chuen. He said "I know I have betrayed your trust but I was doing it for your own good. I have erected this in your memory so that you will always be given offerings. May your souls rest in peace".
Pause here. More like for his soul to rest in peace you bastard!
Bak Chuen met with Sung Man who was now back from Beijing and Sung Man was working with an official as the interpreter with the French. Sung Man was still out of job, officially. Anyway Sung Man who earlier or maybe later planted a tree in memory of Mrs Kiu told Bak Chuen "I have my regrets, that I could not visit Mrs Kiu for the last time. I was beseiged by work, I couldn't make it" and Bak Chuen said "She will understand. I heard you're working for an official now who deals with the westerners?" And Sung man good naturedly said "Yes, he is Lam Ying Kit" and Bak Chuen eyes widen a bit when Uncle Lam walked in with his assistant and Sung Man introduced them. Uncle Lam's assistant said "Wow, the 3rd taukeh of Ding Fung Sing indeed looked the part! I am privileged to have met you!" and Bak Chuen just stared at Uncle Lam, he couldn't stop staring but he managed to calm down and socialise a bit.
Back at home, Bak Chuen saw Fu Yi Chek trying to kill a rat with a broom but the rat got away. Bak Chuen asked "What are you doing?" and Fu Yi Chek said "That rat, look at what he did to the shirt made by sister" and Bak Chuen looking like a WOODEN mad man said "But what will it do to kill this one rat? There will be others. You must look for the nest, and kill the source there, only then can you take out the entire clans of bad rats". Fu Yi Chek of course may be confused but Bak Chuen was determined, he will seek revenge for his family but Uncle Lam is only one of those rats. He will find the source.
Next episode, Bak Chuen became a total maniac as he went again someone unseen for revenge. And Bak Chuen refused to run away with Ko Wa. Exciting stuff.
I am glad I skipped Mrs Kiu's death since I really have no pity for this stupid woman who nearly ruined her husband's business. I also believe if Mr Kiu knew Ko Wa was in love with someone he wouldn't have married her later. The best part was of course Bak Chuen's story and the way he just stared at Uncle Lam. That scene with Uncle Lam was also despicably good, with flashbacks of Mr Chai and his pitiful end.
Acting wise, no comment. Ok maybe one. I am not sure who is more wooden, Moses or John Chiang. Maybe different grade of wood but still wood. Sonija in fact had more expressions on her face in this episode. Moses simply just look wooden angry, wooden mad, wooden sad, wooden happy... he must have been a tree in his previous lives.
