Written by Funn Lim
First and foremost, a very good episode although whenever the men started talking about business I can never understand a single word. Just know that it is secretive, full of back stabbing and is profitable.
This episode began with Ko Wa being scolded by Mrs Kiu and Mr Kiu with Jun looking on helplessly. Ko Wa took all the blame, saying she was being playful, didn't know the consequence of her actions and Jun just went along with it. Jun looked like she was about to defend Ko Wa when Mrs Cho, whom I deduce stays with the Kiu family since she is always there started to lecture Ko Wa, even recommending that she be fired immediately. Jun wanted to say something but Ching stepped in and said "It is not entirely Ko Wa's fault. Although she made an error in judgment, luckily Mr Cheong was there if not Jun would have been all alone, lost in the woods. Mr Cheong is a gentleman and I do think he acted properly in the circumstances" and her husband wholeheartedly agreed and Mr Cho told his wife to just SHUT UP! Mr Kiu in the end decided not to punish Ko Wa but warned Jun against any future impropriety since she is a little missus of some standing. Mr Kiu left and Ko Wa was alone, kneeling down when that Mrs Cho told Mrs Kiu that Ko Wa must be punished, if not she would be as reckless in future and guess who will do the punishing?
Oh that butler seized the opportunity, took Ko Wa outside, made her kneel and poured cold water over her and then slyly said "So you think you're high and mighty don't ya? Look at here now, you punished. Beg for mercy, maybe I will consider it..." and Ko Wa simply refused and that man poured some more and left her kneeling.
Pause. I was wondering so what? Pour water only what? Well then I remembered it was winter, Ko Wa was not properly attired and she was wet with cold water, so there she was shivering. Poor girl.
Mr and Mrs Kiu was strolling in the compound, discussing about Jun and Mr Cheong and both decided it was best for Jun and Mr Cheong not to see each other for a while. Thatw as when Mr Kiu saw Ko Wa, shivering and kneeling and he quickly went to her, held her so that she can stand and she almost fainted. Mr Kiu told her to go, the punishment is over and she quietly left. Mr Kiu then turned to his wife and quietly said "Ko Wa may have made an error in judgment but she was noble. She took all the blame for Jun, giving Jun an opportunity to step down with dignity and lessen the scandal. Dear wife, maybe perhaps in future Ko Wa should be given more kind consideration as I think she deserves it" and Mrs Kiu gently replied "I will. I know you value her for her loyalty and her love for her brother, if not she wouldn't have been here. In fact I think perhaps I need a new servant girl by my side...".
So Ko Wa became Mrs Kiu servant girl whilst Jun had a new servant girl whose sole duty was to follow her everywhere, much to the annoyance of Jun.
Pause here. What Mrs Kiu did was honourable because one she can ensure Ko Wa doesn't go take Jun frolicking around everywhere and two, no one would dare to punish Mrs Kiu's servant girl so in a way this is to stop the bullying.
Jun was alone at the compound when King Yin came and started insulting Sung Man which Jun didn't agree. Then King Yin tried to confess his love for Jun by giving her a jade pendant but Jun refused to accept and stressed "I have always thought of you as my cousin and nothing more" and King Yin blamed it on Sung Man and looked positively evil.
Meanwhile Bak Chuen was doing well at work and he was learning English too. He bumped into Sung Man at the market (didn't notice the melon though) and Sung Man too was impressed with Bak Chuen's dedication. He took Bak Chuen to the church and asked a nun to teach him English is she has the time. Bak Chuen was very grateful and in fact was in the church when one potential client of Ding Fung Sing rushed in and exclaimed in English that he has lost his 1st wife! They watched in amusement as they heard the man said his 1st wife found out he wanted to give a shop to the 2nd wife as a gift and the 1st wife was jealous and ran away. So now that man would have to take a loan to buy 2 shops instead! Back at Ding Fung Sing, Bak Chuen was discussing his English and that funny incident with Fu Yi Chek when Yun Tin walked by and overheard the conversation. He knew that man was Mr Cho's personally handled client and a plan was hacthed.
King Yin was in a bad mood and he insulted the efforts of Bak Chuen and Fu Yi Chek in learning English, saying "So knowing 1 to 10 in english is so what? Do you know ten thousand in English? one hundres thousand? Useless!" and Fu Yi Chek hotly said "But Mr Chong said we just need to recite one to ten. Moreover we have yet to learn more! Mr Chong, please say something on our behalf" and King Yin blasted "I am your senior! You will listen to what I have to say!" and then Yun Tin came in, Fu Yi Chek complained to him and Mr Chong agreed and Yun Tin simply said "If that is the case, Mr Chong, they pass" and he walked out and King Yin looked insulted,
Mr Kiu was alone in his study when his servant said Sung Man was there to see him. You know that butler. Anyway Mr Kiu seems reluctant to see Sung Man until he was told Sung Man waited for more than an hour. Mr Kiu went to see him, looking stern and unpleasant. Sung Man immediately raised his hand to greet Mr Kiu and offered his most sincere apologies, again explaining what happened and blamed his own stupidity for crossing the line with Jun. Mr Kiu looked at Sung Man in the eyes and said quite honestly "I know you're a gentleman Mr Cheong but by your actions with my beloved daughter I am unable to determine if it was sincere gallantry or perhaps there is a purpose..." and Sung Man immediately replied "Mr Kiu, I know your daughter is in love with me, she has shown me affection and has confessed as much. I myself must confess; I too am in love with your daughter and I want no more than to complete the exams that is coming soon, gain a position in the civil service and I will return home to my family, tell them about Miss Kiu and with their blessing return here to seek her hand in marriage". Mr Kiu's back was facing Sung Man and when Sung Man was finished, Mr Kiu actually smiled with his back facing Sung Man, impressed with Sung Man's sincerity and glad that he had found his daughter a good husband.
Mrs Kiu, Ko Wa and Ching was at the temple when Mrs Kiu got a fortune teller slip that predicted an average luck for Jun in matters of love. Mrs Kiu was very worried but Ko Wa interpreted it different and cheerfully said "I think little miss will find a good husband, she is a good person and a good person always gets good blessings from the heavens". When they were walking out, they encountered a man who was abandoning his wife, with his wife crying "How can you leave me now? I have worked hard for this family to establish our shop and now you're leaving me?" and that man pushed her to the floor roughly. In came Sung Man who held his wife up and angrily scolded him "How can you treat your wife like this? She is to be appreciated, not to be mistreated like she is not worth your time!" and that man arrogantly said so what and Sung Man said "Well then, your missus can file a complaint against you for assault as permitted by the laws of this great dynasty. Missus, go and see a magistrate, he will help you" and she seems reluctant and that man seems afraid and Sung Man said "If you don't want this, then go home with your wife. Peace and togetherness in family is most vital!" and that man quickly said to his wife gently to go home. Mrs Kiu was very impressed with Sung Man and nodded in approval.
Jun was upset. She was very worried about what her father might think of Sung Man now, and when Ching came by to talk to her, Jun confessed her anxiety but Ching explained that Mrs Kiu was very impressed with Sung Man over an incident at the temple and she was sure Mrs Kiu will not object the relationship. Jun asked what of Mr Kiu and Ching believed Mr Kiu too had accepted Sung Man's explanation and all was ok. Jun was very happy and Ching teased her that she looked eager and ready to wed.
The next scene Jun was at the compound when she heard the flute by Sung Man, They did a duet together and then Jun quickly stood by the door and spoke to Sung Man with the closed door as a barrier. Sung Man confessed that "I will have to leave soon to attend to my personal affairs" and Jun was very disappointed but was very happy when she heard "However I will return as soon I can with my parents blessing and I shall seek your hand in marriage" and Jun will wait for his return and so Sung Man rode a horse and away into the sunset. Maybe sunrise or maybe noon. But you know, with style.
Pause here. They're indeed a match made in heaven you know, everytime they're together it is so bloody romantic.However a pity it was doomed because although Jun was worried her parents will not accept Sung Man she has never thought what about Sung Man's parents? I thought well she is rich so that should be fine but Sung Man comes from not just a well to do family but a highly respected family and such a union may be ok now but back in those days, Sung Man is like the ideal son in law for any highly respected family and let's face it, Ding Fung Sing may be rich but they're not powerful. Doomed. Feel so sad.
Continue...
Mr Cho was on his way to meet that client I mentioned when he was stopped and an old friend told him King Yin was hit my a carriage and was hurt. He quickly rushed to find his son, couldn't find him, and spent the whole day worrying when he saw King Yin well and fine. That old man conveniently said he may have mistaken someone else as King Yin and quickly left. Mr Cho went back to the bank and to his surprise saw his client shaking hands with Yun Tin. It seems Yun Yin sealed the deal. Mr Cho was very angry and complained to Mr Kiu. But Yun Tin explained "The client was waiting the whole day sir, what am I supposed to do? So I negotiated with him" and Mr Cho said "But you quoted to him such a low interest, we are hardly making any money!" and Yun Tin blasted back "But he told me that was the number you agreed to give him" and Mr Kiu agreed the interest was a bit too low when Yun Tin explained "But sir, why is he borrowing money?" and Mr Cho said "Because he wanted to buy a shop for his 2nd wife, that we all know" and Yun Tin said "But what you don't know is his 1st wife is very jealous and he wanted to but a shop for his 1st wife too and so I gave the low interest because we have agreed on a loan for two shops instead of one". Mr Kiu then agreed "Well then the interest quoted wouldn't be too low, it is in fact a profit" and Mr Cho was both shocked at this relevation and angry that he has been side stepped.
Back in his own room, he was complaining bitterly and he told his wife "I have never really cared much for Yun Tin. I know he is ambitious but I never knew him as this cunning! Obviously boss wants to pass the business to him since he is always siding Yun Tin. Now I must do something....".
Next day he was so sick he can't go to work. The next few days he was sick too and many clients came and went because they wanted to negotiate with Mr Cho and he wasn't there. Yun Tin approached Mr Kiu and suggested he be allowed to assist these clients since the business can't just close down because Mr Cho was sick. Mr Kiu said he will think about it and he and wife visited Mr Cho who was pretending to be sick. Mr Kiu sincerely said "I hope you will be well soon. Meanwhile I will be passing some of your duties to Yun Tin so you rest well" and so he left. Mrs Cho said bitterly "I am not even sure if he was sincere when he was telling you to rest!" and Mr Cho said "It is confirmed then. I pretended to be sick to see the situation and now I know he clearly favours Yun Tin. I must do something... fast...".
Next episode, Mr Cho hatched a plan to dethrone Mr Kiu who himself is getting old and is prone to heart attacks.
I find today's episode very interesting, both romantic and intriguing. I really like Sung Man-Jun pairing but what a sad pair. Imagine having to marry someone you don't love and seeing the one you love marrying another. OH THE TRAGEDY!!! OH THE PAIN!! OH THE DRAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Performance wife, everybody did well. John Chiang seems a bit devious at times. I think his Mr Kiu knows about the rivalry between Mr Cho and Yun Tin but why is he encouraging it if he knows Mr Cho may retaliate? Did he know?
Steven Ma was excellent in my opinion. His gallantry, his gentlemanly Sung Man is so attractive I find Steven Ma very handsome in here. I find his Sung Man such a good man and as I have said for the past 7 episodes I hope he doesn't turn out bad. I hope the writers will not junk-afied Sung Man.
Tavia Yeung is pretty and is effective as the gentle but noble Jun. Nothing much to say since she is mostly in love in this episode.
Chris Lai looks set to be the villain in here whilst such a subdued Stephen Wong seems a bit unsettling to me. Suddenly he is like out of the picture but came back in momentarily to stand up for himself.
By the way I do think Moses speaks better English that Steven and here it was Steven who taught him English!! Like Wife, Jealous, THREE, very funny scene.
Moses Chan is ok, still wooden in most scene, mostly with his wide-eyed-boredom look on his face. But he is not that bad, like Kenny Wong, they're functional with Moses Chan a better actor than the ever boring and ever constipated looking Kenny Wong. I am just glad he did not expose his chest in here.
Lui San may I say again is so beautiful in here. In fact Claire Yiu, Tavia, all the women in here who plays someone rich has such beautiful make up. One scene had a close up on Claire Yiu's face and I cant help but marvel at the make up. Gorgeous!
Sonija Kwok did well today.Functional and even cute in one scene where she saw Sung Man outside the temple and was smiling and wanted to rush to say hello whe Ching and Mrs Kiu looked at her and she quickly stepped backward since her behaviour is unacceptable. I find that really funny. Overall she managed to give her Ko wa a likeable jovial personality even during the punishment scene and really I really like her, the character and the actress.
Oh now the plotting begins which I am sure will not understand a single word of it. But never mind, the story is moving along now and let's just see how this series' fare in more serious moments with these few main characters.
