[E] LAND OF WEALTH / 匯通天下 [TVB][2006]

Written by Funn Lim

Bloody hell! Written 30% and my browser crashed!! And another bloody hell because I kept missing the 1st 15 minutes of the series.

Ko Wa was by the river after that incident last episode. Bak Chuen followed her and asked her is she is still angry with Fu Yi Chek but she cheerfully said no.  My sister filled me in on what I missed and curse the timing, I missed a lot!!

Ko Wa's parents died when she was very young and she had to rely on her abusive uncle and aunt who forced Ko Wa and Fu Yi Chek to work long hours and physical abuse. But because they had each other, Ko Was and Fu Yi Chek was happy. Remember that Mongolian dude? Well he went away to seek better fortune and promised Ko Wa he shall return to marry her. I don't know how much time has passed but Ko Wa waited and waited and finally her brother heard from someone who heard from someone who ... well you get my meaning, unrealiable source that he has married another!! Ko Wa was devastated and nearly could not live with a broken heart, I assume. Don't know whether it was that dramatic or not.

Back at the mansion, Ko Wa was delivering a bowl of noodle soup to Ching when Mrs Cho rudely stopped her and scolded her for not cleaning the compound properly but Ko Wa innocently said she did but Mrs Cho told her to shut up and do it again. When Ko Wa said she needed to deliver the mee first and will clean immediately after, Mrs Cho pushed that bowl which splattered onto Ko Wa's dress. She was shocked, momentarily and Fu Yi Chek who was there to pass a message saw what happened but wisely did not make a ruckus. Ko Wa saw him too and meekly she swallowed her pride and said "I am sorry madam" and Mrs Cho slyly said "So what will you tell everyone about this bowl of noodle soup?" and Ko Wa humbly said "Nothing" and Mrs Cho walked away and Ko Wa quickly clean the floor. Fu Yi Chek looked away for a moment and then  when he looked back Ko Wa was gone.

 Pause here.

I did think Sonija gave just the right amount of shock with what Mrs Cho did, her eyes wide in surprise so yeah, kudos to her. But she also gave the series worst performance in here. Why? The bowl of noodle soup? Still don't get my meaning? HOT noodle soup poured onto her body? It was her lack of reaction to this that caused me to think Ko Wa must have a body made of steel or she could feel no pain. At least a muffled "Ahhhhh" would suffice. Anyway as long as she gave one appropriate reaction it was better than none. Can't expect her to handle TWO reactions at one time. That would be too much for her.

Anyway continue on.

Fu Yi Chek knew what kind of misery his sister was going through for him. He apologised for his behaviour and both of them were close again. In fact Fu Yi Chek seemed like a different boy, he suddenly mature and studied hard every night. He put in a lot of effort and he even felt bad about Bak Chuen's finger. Bak Chuen told him to forget about it although Bak Chuen struggled to keep up with the class in using the abascus and insulted by the trouble makers and endured sarcastic remarks from Mr Chong. Mr Kiu saw it all when Bak Chuen was alone in the class, practicing the abascus as he winced at each count. Mr Kiu simply threw him a pebble. Bak Chuen didn't know what to do with.

Me too. I thought what? Swallow it? Tell Bak Chuen to kill himself for having less ONE useful finger?

Nope. Bak Chuen went to the river, dipped his hand into the river clutching a handful of pebbles and flexed that injured finger. It hurt but he persisted. Then there was a test at the bank using the abascus. Fu Yi Chek and even Bak Chuen managed to count in time and gave the right answer. 2 of the trouble makers pretended to give the correct answer and Mr Chong was so angry he scolded "It is alright if you get the answer wrong, at least you can try harder but to cheat with your eyes open is a testament to your character and lack of integrity, without which is detrimental to the banking business!". Mr Kiu walked in and encouragingly said "To those who did well, well done! To those who didn't, do not worry, try harder the next time" and swoosh, off he went. Bak Chuen ran after him and said "Thank you Mr Kiu for your advice. The pebbles in the river actually relaxed my hand muscle and the injured finger" and Mr Kiu seriously answered "Thank yourself. An advice is of no use if it is not understood and well used". And swoosh, off he goes again like some ninja.

Ko Wa was busy arranging the flowers in the compound when she saw Mr Kiu's servant. She ran to him eagerly and asked "I heard there was an exam at the bank. How did my brother do?" and the serious servant said "He did well" and Ko Wa was overjoyed. Then she asked "Ermm how did Fan Chi Chai do?" and again the servant said "He did well too". Ko Wa mumbled to herself "Oh great great! I was so worried his injured finger may have proved detrimental, I am happy he did well!" and Mr Kiu appeared and he asked her in a friendly less serious way "Oh you know Fan Chi Chai?" and Ko Wa happily answered "Oh yes, he was one of  very first local people Fu Yi Chek and I met when we first came here." and Mr Kiu remarked "This young man is very loyal to his friends, he has potential" and Ko Wa said "Oh yes Mr Kiu, Fan Chi Chai is a good man. He has helped Fu Yi Chek a lot, without him Fu Yi Chek wouldn't have been able to make it in here. ". And swoosh, this time Ko Wa went away happily and Mr Kiu again was impressed with her ermmm.. ho hei, ermm gallantry? Ahhh heroic heroine type of manner.

Anyway Ko Wa passed by a crying kneeling servant and asked her what's the matter and the servant girl tearfully said "My mother is very sick. I applied leave from the butler and he refused to allow me to go home. I begged him and he refused despite all these time he had been touching me inappropriately!" and Ko Wa was so angry she complaint to Jun. The servant girl actually served Jun. So Jun told her mother who listened meekly. The butler not only denied it, he even justified letting the servant leave by saying her mom was indeed very sick. Jun knew he was trying to cover his tracks. Then Jun said "Since she has left I am without a servant. Mother, may I have Ko Wa as my servant?" and Ko Wa was excited. But Mrs Cho interrupted by saying "But Ko Wa is so careless, I am afraid she may not serve Jun well" but Ching interrupted her by saying "What new servant girl will not make a mistake? Jun can teach Ko Wa and Auntie can teach her also. Why not auntie exchange your servant with Jun, you take Ko Wa instead and teach her?" and the aunt immediately said no no no and Jun quickly said "Mother, then let me have Ko Wa please" and her mother agreed. Ko Wa was estatic.

When Ko Wa was leaving, the butler confronted Ko Wa and said "Why don't you mind your own business?" and Ko Wa said "If you abuse your position, I would never keep quiet and when she comes back we will have a witness" and he said "What makes you think she is coming back? Listen here. Keep to your business if not I will make your life here so difficult you would want to leave or else I will make you leave" and Ko Wa was so angry she said "What makes you think you can abuse your position? Don't you forget you are a servant at the end of the day and your position is no higher than mine. Perhaps you should remember your status".

Ooooh drama! In fact before she left with Jun that butler threatened her and said "You better serve little miss well or else you will get it". Scary! I mean don't this guy know who she is?

1. she was personally brought in by Mr Kiu who is very impressed with her gung ho attitude

2. she knows Bak Cheun who is Mr Kiu's favourite pupil; AND

3. she knows Sung Man whom Mr Kiu admire very much.

He shall die for threatening her!!! Stare at him Sonija with that death stare of yours! Laser him with your laser beam eyes!

Back up a bit. I forgot to mention about Sung Man again hearing the problems of the common folks went to the magistrate with solution that involved Ding Fung Sing. The Magistrate acknowledged Sung Man's advice and also Yun Tin's suggestion previously and Mr Kiu was pleased and Mr Cho was not. In fact earlier when the magistrate wanted to meet with the heads at Ding Fung Sing, Mr Cho said no need to call Mr Kiu but it was Yun Tin who said "I am afraid that is not proper. After all he wants to meet with the head of Ding Fung Sing and Mr Kiu being the head of Ding Fung Sing would be most obliged to greet this most esteemed guest". Least to say Mr Cho was not pleased. Yun Tin was very happy at what happened and told Ching. Ching said "Well this Mr Cheong is indeed very good to us" and Yun Tin said "He really liked Jun too. We must pair them up, then we will have one ally on our side who is not interested in the business and our lives would be much easier" and Ching said "How do we know Jun likes him too?" and Yun Tin said "What can she protest on this match made in Heaven? They're right for one another" and Ching acknowledged "I will be happy for Jun if this is true".

Back to Ko Wa. Ching told Jun that she has gotten parents' permission for Jun to go to some big shot's house to sew some wedding gift. Jun was excited and decided to bring Ko Wa along.

Along the way in the carriage, Ko Wa saw Sung Man and loudly shouted his name "Mr Cheong! Mr Cheong!" and Sung Man saw Ko Wa and Jun. Jun asked shyly where he was going and he said he was going to a carnival starting in an hour and Jun expressed her disappointment she couldn't join him and never had an opportunity to see a carnival before.

At the big shot's house the ladies were talking about the impending marriade as Jun was quietly sewing. Suddenly Ko Wa dragged Jun away saying Jun wasn't looking very well and Jun was confused until Ko Wa told her since they have some time they can now visit the carnival! Jun was so excited she was very happy with what she experienced. Then she saw a sword she liked and even gave a few kung fu style with it when she told Ko Wa she wanted to buy it as  a gift for Mr Kiu but Ko Wa reminded her no one knew they were here so buying the sword was not a good idea. Sung Man walked by and immediately bought the sword and like a gentleman carried it for her as Ko Wa walked behind them. Sung Man asked how come Jun knew a bit of Kung Fu and Jun said "I don't really know much. I really wanted to learn but my mother forbade me from doing so" and Sung Man asked Jun "If there's anything I can do for you, I will be happy to oblige" and Jun quietly stared at the sword and said "There is one thing, perhaps you can show me a few style with this sword?"

And so he did, and Jun was smitten. Then Jun tried it herself and Sung Man was smitten. But she lost her footing and fell and guess what? Guess guess guess... Sung Man grabbed her waist and held her close and they both looked at each other's eyes intently and they were both as smitten as the other.

And here I am reminded of the song "Love is in the air... love is in the air".

Next episode, Bak Chuen got framed again but this time he won't take it lying down! Hurray! At last, some life in the wood!

Good episode. I am beginning to fall for Sung Man who is not only smart, intelligent, righteous, capable, can fight and can protect his woman, he is also handsome. Yes, handsome. Steven Ma is so handsome in here in the gentlemanly scholar sense. Just don't have him recite a poem and he can pass as the Emperor in disguise himself! Please don't make this character go evil, pleaseeeeeee........... By the way Steven Ma was excellent. Enough said.

Steven Wong was effective as the more mature Fu Yi Chek. I like him better like this.

Tavia Yeung is very very pretty in here. I remember she was more of a maid than the missus when she first started out but now she looks the part and sounds the part. That Maggie Cheung gesture is more subdued now and she delivers a very good performance of a very soft spoken but determined Jun. I like Jun and of course I think Tavia did great too.

Claire Yiu was quite alright as Ching. The way she sparred words with an equally good Rebecca Chan was fun to watch.

Moses Chan had more emotion today which is great but his face still looked strangely frozen. He has lost his sense of humour in this heavy drama. Of course he had nothing to laugh about but a bit more relaxed would be so much less constipated looking.

John Chiang still same look. Even Kenny Wong the usually more constipated looking guy had more relaxed look. What's wrong with the men in here?

Now Sonija Kwok.  Normally I would make a big issue out of that bad performance with regards to hot soup but here I prefer to look the other way because Sonija did give an above average performance in that scene in the way she had to swallow her pride and quietly said sorry for something that is not her fault. In fact her cheerfulness is quite infectious and  I find her overall performance satisfactory even if curiously inadequate in some scenes.

Oh my god, I am beginning to like Sonija Kwok as an actress. Oh my god. If I feel that way about Shirley Yeung one day, someone please slap some senses into me. Punch me if you must!

Anyway so excited about the next episode because I like to see angry Bak Chuen.