Written by Funn Lim
Fantastic episode, drama is getting thicker as the misunderstanding gets more misunderstood.
Mr Kiu was furious. Bak Chuen begged for forgiveness, Ko Wa tried to soften the blow by taking the blame but Mr Kiu scolded "You are a fugitive and you dare come to work in Ding Fung Sing! What?! You want to destroy Ding Fung Sing? You want to harm my family and I? I welcomed you into my home, trained you, took you under my wings and what did you do? You seduced my wife! And you! I took you in too, and your brother, I cared for you, I treated you well and in the end you married me because of him! How dare you?" and Bak Chuen and Ko Wa were both on their knees begging for forgiveness but Mr Kiu was so furious he ended it all by saying "I want you both out of my life! I never want to see both of you again! You can both get out of my sight now! I will tell everyone you both fell to your death in some cliff. Get out now, Master Kwan, take them away!" and he turned his back on them and Bak Chuen and Ko Wa said "No, no, we won't leave, no no" but Master Kwan led the way and reluctantly they left.
Pause here.
I sat with disbelief that Mr Kiu would be so unreasonable and I was right! The moment they left, his angry face soften and he sighed.
Master Kwan took them to the pier and gave them each a luggage. Mr Kwan said to Bak Chuen "Go to this town, my relative will help you if you go to him and remember never to come back. Let Master Kiu have his honour, remember, never come back". And so they boarded the boat, sitting side by side, looking glum. And then Bak Chuen suddenly remembered "Master Kwan said to visit his relative, but he is an orphan" and he and Ko Wa quickly opened their luggage. Inside Ko Wa's luggage she found prescriptions, those that were prescribed to her whne she couldn't eat and Ko Wa immediately understood, "Mr Kiu must have thought I might be sick again so he packed my prescription for me, just in case" and Bak Chuen found loads of money in his bag and he said "Here we have enough to open a shop, Mr Kiu was trying to unite us, to let us leave and be together" and Ko Wa felt guilty "I can't leave just like that. When I was at Kiu Mansion, I wanted nothing more than to leave with you and now that I have left, I feel hollow. Mr Kiu was good to me and I didn't know how to appreciate him. How can I leave him now?" and Bak Chuen too agreed and both looked at each other and realised their love for one another may have fizzled out a little in the face of such a giving man. And so they both made a decision of their life...
Sung Man found out his brother was on his way to arrest Mr Kiu. He rushed to Kiu Mansion, wanted to warn them but it was too late.
Ko Wa and Bak Chuen ran back to Ping Yiu, Ko Wa said on arrival "I knew that if I ever were to leave here just like that I would forever regret it" and Bak Chuen too agree. They rushed home but saw a huge crowd and some guards and then they saw Mr Kiu being arrested, his family behind him looking worried and Mr Kiu saw them and sighed... Fu Yi Chek rushed to Ko Wa and asked "Where have you both been?" and Ko Wa asked "What is going on?": and he answered "Mr Kiu is arrested for being one of the rebels!" and they were as shocked as everybody else.
Sung Man asked his brother "Why did you arrest him? You and I both know he is not a rebel, he so happened to save one! He is old already" and Sung Lai was furious "So you knew he hid a rebel? You knew and you never told me? Did you know by hiding the truth you could your father and me in trouble? Have you thought about that?" but Sung Man quietly said "He is innocent. He is, I know he is. Please release him, he is old, he can't stand prison" and Sung Lai angrily said "So you think he is more important than your own father is it? I am very disappointed in you Sung Man. If you tell everyone what you know now, it will implicate all of us!" and Sung Man cried "Please brother, please" but Sung Lai said "Guards, please escort Sir Cheung into his room and make sure he stays there" but Sung Man as he was dragged away cried "Brother, please he is innocent! Brother, pleaseeee".
In the prison, Bak Chuen and Ko Wa kneeled before Mr Kiu who was very quiet. They both begged for forgiveness and Mr Kiu asked "Why did you come back?" and they both agreed they can't leave, especially not now. Mr Kiu said "You silly fools. I am but an old man, love to me is no longer of any importance. You two love each other, do you not think I do not understand that? I have separated you both, so I shall reunite you both. There is still time, you're both young, go away, be together whilst you still can" but Bak Chuen refused and said "Sir, I will stay. When everything is alright, I will leave Ping Yiu because I don't want to harm you or your family because of my status" and Mr Kiu looked at him and said "I knew I was right about you. Chi Chai, let us not talk about your status right now." and Ko Wa and Bak Chuen both felt relieved.
At home, everyone panicked. As usual, the people come and withdraw money. Like some souless zombie, problem withdraw, no problem, put back in. At the Chamber of Commerce, everybody refused to help or be associated with Mr Kiu and so Mr Cho got elected as chairman much to the disapproval of Yun Tin.
At home, Yun Tin complained bitterly, almost as if blaming Mr Kiu for all the troubles as Jun confessed she knew about the rebel. I think it was Ching who retorted at her husband "Are you blaming father then?". Anyway someone suggested Jun go find Sung Man and so she did.
Sung Lai met her and curtly said "My brother will not see you" and Jun politely asked "He won't see me or you won't let him see me?" and Sung Lai said "Don't you understand Miss Kiu? Haven't you figured out who masterminded this arrest of your father? It was Sung Man" and Jun stood there in disbelief and said "I don't believe you. Sung Man is not that kinda of man" and Sung Lai viciously said "He is not, is he? How much do you know my brother Miss Kiu? I know him all my life. He wants to be an officer and he has no other ambition than to serve the empire. This is his best opportunity to get his career back. Do you really see yourself as that important that my brother would sacrifice his career for love? Are you that naive Miss Kiu?" and Jun began to believe him since in the last episode she never really saw Sung Man's reaction to his brother vicious words about Jun and her family.
Sung Man broke down his own door and ran out and he bumped into Jun. He looked terrible and whispered "Miss Kiu..." and Jun immediately asked "Did you tell your brother about my father helping the rebel?" and Sung Man said "Yes..but.." and before he could finish Jun angrily said "How could you? I never knew you could betray my father, my love for you for advancement in your career!" and Sung MAn pleased "Please it was not like that, it is more than what you could see" and Jun crying said "I know your family never liked me. I heard what your brother said. Since our family the Kus could never unite with your family the Cheungs, since your father thinks that I am not good enough for you and that I am nothing more than a trader's daughter filled with the filthy smell of money, let us break off right now and you can seek your career advancement any way you so wish" and Jun ran away crying with her maid giving Sung MAn the stare of death and Sung Man almost in tears saying "Miss Kiu...".
Pause here. Why oh why can;'t he just finish the sentence or begin it properly? Why say yes Sung Man? Why take the blame? WHY? I will tell yiu why. Then there will not be any drama I tell you. Not good for ratings.
Anyway they were thinking ways to help Mr Kiu and all of them asked Jun what happened with Sung Man and Jun reluctantly said "They're under a duty, I doubt there is anything Sung Man can do but he is trying". Bak Chuen suggested they bribe some officers since hiring a lawyer wouldn't help much which they agree. Meanwhile someone ran to them and said "2nd taukeh! 2nd taukeh! We don't have enough cash flow for the withdrawals. What should I do?" and Bak Chuen immediately said "Don't worry I have asked the branches to send in money" and immediately the guy was relieved and said "Luckily 3rd taukeh is so far sighted!" and he left. But Yun Tin was furious "Who are you to act like you did? Who gives you the authority to transfer the funds?" and Bak Chuen said "I am sorry but this is like the last crisis so I acted the way Mr Kiu did" and Yun Tin said "You're just a runner turned 3rd taukeh! Who do you think I am ? I am the 2nd taukeh! And you never even consulted me!" and Ching was quiet and Bak Chuen said "I talked to Mr Kiu about this, he agrees" and Yun Tin shouted "Don't you dare drop Mr Kiu's name on me!! You're nothing but a runner! How dare you show me this disrespect?!" and it was Ko Wa who shouted "ENOUGH! We have enough troubles already. Let us not quarrel. Husband would have approved any measures to save the bank, the bank's priorities come first!" but Yun Tin was unhappy and he walked away.
Bak Chuen walked alone and Jun ran up to him and consoled him and said "I think my father was right about you/. What you did was in the welfare of the bank and I thank you for it. I am merely a girl, I know little about the business, if not for you, we would have been in deeper crisis. Thank you" and Bak Chuen said "I was just doing my job little miss" and Jun said kindly "Yes I know, but unlike some other people, I know you're sincere. Sometimes it takes time to know the true nature of someone" and Bak Chuen curiously asked "Little Miss are you alright?" and Jun snapped out of her hatred for Sung Man and said "Yes I am fine".
Jun and Ching went to the temple to pray for their father's wellbeing when they saw Ko Wa, busy burning, cooking eventhough the monks asked her to sit down, she gently declined and insisted on doing the cooking and all. Ching looked on and Jun said to her sister "Actually mother (she calls Ko Wa mother by the way) has been praying for father and doing charity in his name these few days. She hardly rest" and Ching was very moved by Ko Wa's gesture and said "Mother" and Ko Wa looked up and Ching said "Mother, let us help" and all 3 helped and Ko Wa was happy that Ching finally accepted her.
In prison, Sung Man managed to get in and saw Mr Kiu, sleeping on the prison bed, with bruises on his face. Angrily he asked the officer "You tortured him? He is an old man, he can't stand the torture" and the officer said "Of course he must be tortured since he won't reveal where the rebels are" and Sung Man angrily said "He doesn't know!" and the officer said "Sir, this you can take it up with Sir Cheung, your brother". Sung Man faced the sleeping Mr Kiu and he cried and with a heavy heard he whispered in his tears "Mr Kiu, I am so sorry, I am sorry, please forgive me".
Pause here. I felt bad for Sung Man, taking the blame for something he didn't do.
Meanwhile bank in deeper crisis. Mr and Mrs Cho were so happy and Mr Cho whispered "Do you know who told the officers about the hidden rebel?" and Mrs Cho's eyes widened and she said "YOU? You're so smart my husband! So what happened?" and Mr Cho explained and Mrs Cho said happily "I hope this spells the end of the Kius. Serves them right!".
Pause here. disgusting.
Back at Sung Man's place, Sung Man angrily pleaded with his brother "Please let him go! How can you order torture on him? He is innocent! He is old, he can't stand the torture!!" but Sung Lai was adamant and Sung Man realised it was of no use and Sung Man said "Please brother, I beg you, if you would let him go, I will do anything, I will do anything you ask of me" and his brother slyly said "Well perhaps Mr Kiu may not be connected with the rebels after all" and Sung Man said "Yes yes" and Sung Lai asked "If I let him go, you will do anything?" and Sung Man meekly nodded and his brother finally revealed his true colours why he arrested Mr Kiu in the first place "Alright then, I want you to part with Miss Kiu and return to Beijing with me" and Sung Man couldn't believe his brother's demands and Sung Lai continued "Do you think after this fiasco there would still be any chance for you and Miss Kiu? It is over my brother. Listen to me. Go home, advance your career, forget about Miss Kiu" and Sung Man sat down and thought for awhile and reluctantly said "Ok".
Next thing Mr Kiu was released carried into the cart by Master Kwan with his family there. Sung Man rushed out and looked at Jun in tears, Jun saw him and angrily looked away, refused to acknowledge his presence and Sung Man stood there for the longest of time until the horses and carts were out of sight.
POOOOOOOOOR SUNG MAN!
At home, Mr Kiu's health was certified as a-ok. But he looked much older with some white hair. He was worried about the business, even after he was pronounced innocent the business was bad as everyone fled to Mr Cho's bank. In a family meeting he asked Yun Tin "Is everything alright with the bank?" and Yun Tin said "Thus far everything is fine" but Fu Yi Chek chimed in "It was Chi Chai who thought of transferring the funds and all" and Mr Kiu praised Bak Chuen but Yun Tin said "He did it without consulting me" but Fu Yi Chek said "Someone had to act fast" and Ko Wa said sternly "Fu Yi Chek, shut up".
Mr Kiu no longer had any standing in the Chamber Of Commercer and Mr Cho was garnering power and he being sidestepped. Bank was not gettng any better.
In the office room Mr Kiu found out the branches too had cash flow problems and he said "I was so stupid. I should have known this too will affect the branches. I can't let the bank fall in my hands, not in my hands" and he coughed and taa-daa-taa-daaaaaaaaaa... BLOOD! HE COUGHED BLOOOOOOOOD! So everyone panicked. And Mr Cho quietly said "Perhaps it is time I retire" and Yun Tin smiled a little.
Next day Mr Kiu sat in the hall with all his main branch employee there.
"I am old and my health is not getting any better. And so I have decided to retire as 1st taukeh and in my place I choose....Fan Chi Chai as my successor" and some were surprised but Yun Tin was angry. "I disagree! How can you choose him and not me?" and Fu Yi Chek chimed in and said "It was obvious isn't it? Chi Chai is a natural leader" and Yun Tin angrily said "You shut up! Just because you're the brother of his wife doesn't give you any higher standing than you deserve!" and Fu Yi Chek was about to argue back when Ko Wa loudly said "Fu Yi Chek, shut up!" and he did. Yun Tin continued "The job should be mine! I slaved in this company for 15 years and in the end what did I get? I can't even beat this lowly runner! Oh admit it! You favoured him from the start! There is no such position as 3rd taukeh and yet you create one for him! Unlike some other people who knows how to please the heart of the boss, I am often honest and blunt and if I lose to him on this point, I do not feel I have lost fair and square!" and Bak Chuen said "Sir, perhaps I am not qualified. There are others better qualified than I am, please rethink your decision" and Yun Tin said "See! See! I can't win this, not in the face of this pretentiousness! He should have slaved 10 years more and still he should never qualify for this position!" and Mr Kiu weakly walked to him and said "I don't want to do this in front of these many people but I feel I must. You want to know why him and not you? I have always given you opportunities, opportunities which you wasted away by first plotting against Mr Cho and then against Chi Chai. Whilst everyone is trying to safeguard the interest of the bank, you wanted to safeguard your own interest above all else. When I was in prison, it was Chi Chai who thought of ways to save the bank from ruins and bribe the officers whilst you were busy holding on to some meaningless title at the . The incident with the Mongolian branc best illustrate your capabilities. You were inept, you could not make decisions at all" and Yun Tin shouted "I couldn't just close the bank like he did! I wasn't the 1st taukeh and I can't make such an important decision arbitrarily!" and Mr Kiu patiently said "That is the point. You do not possess leadership and you're afraid of taking on responsibilities" and Yun Tin screamed "What about him then? He is new and he was just a runner and now you give him such a huge responsibility?" and Mr Kiu said "He may be new but he is willing and has the capabilities to learn" and Mr Kiu sat down. Ching told her husband "Enough! You have said enough!" but Yun Tin was still angry and he shouted "I will never accept this decision! It is not fair!! You yourself once said Ding Fung Sing must never fall into hands of strangers and now you are giving it tro him, a stranger whilst I YOUR SON IN LAW, YOUR FAMILY is given nothing! You are a hypocrite! You have dishonoured your ancestors with this decision and you have shamed them all!" and Mr Kiu kinda vomitted blood then and Jun immediately said "Enough! You have said enough!" and CHing too said the same thing but Yun Tin was not to be stopped and he said "A hypcorite! You're a hypocrite! Everyone see this hypocrite! SEE THE HYPOCRITE!!" and Jun shouted "ENOUGH!" and he said "You shut up! You're just a woman, don't butt in!" and Jun said "I am a member of this family, his daughter, I have every right to speak!" but Yin Tin said "Everyone listen! He is giving away bank to a complete stranger!" and Jun stood next to Bak Chuen and loudly said "Who says he is a stranger? When everything settles down, I shall marry Fan Chi Chai, and so he has every right to inherit this bank!" and even Mr Kiu who was quite sick now as surprised as were Ching, Ko Wa and everybody else, including the always wooden looking Bak Chuen. Yun Tin looked at them both and smiled ironically, as if saying So this is it, this is it. Angrily he pushed past everyone and ran out of the hall as they all looked on.
Next episode, Bak Chuen must prove his worth and something horrible happened to Ko Wa thanks to Mrs Cho.
What an amazingly fantastic episode. I too am convinced Yun Tin lacks that leadership. Which made me remember that memorable scene in Safe Guards when Wayne's mom insists Wayne inherit the business and refused to eat unless Steven let go of the position, Steven pleaded with her by saying "I can't let him inherit the business. He is not capable, he will only ruin the business and get himself killed". Fantastic dialogue there and the final 15 minutes scenes of this episode too had that same tension and realistic dialogue.
I pity Sung Man also. What more can I say? He and Jun are doomed.
The performances tonight are electrifying. For once John Chiang looked more than a wood, he was wood of the highest quality. Same performance but good because he added angry into his performance other than bored looking or stern looking. I like his Mr Kiu, he is an honourable man and what he did for Bak Chuen and Ko Wa was very giving.
Moses too had more than just the wooden surprised look tonight. Tonight he added shocked look. That is a strech for him but well I enjoyed his performance however limited it was.
Sonija Kwok was ok but I felt last episode she was better when she was love sick. Here tonight in the midst of such tension and emotions, she was a bit bland in her output if you know what I mean.
Stephen Wong, that Fu Yi Chek guy right, well he was good too as he had some tension moments with Kenny Wong.
Now Kenny Wong had more emotions tonight than any other episode. His anger was understandable but was of course selfish in the end and he portrayed that well although his voice may be filled with emotion, his face somehow didn't quite match the voice. A pity.
Claire You was ok, nothing much. She should have slapped the husband for causing dear father to vomis blood.
The 2 best performances tonight had to be Steven Ma for his heart wrenching performance of the lovelorn and misunderstood Sung Man and the fantastic Tavia Yeung who have class and some fine acting for her Jun. The scene where she accused Sung Man was great, so was the scene where Sung Man stood there and looked at her go. These two played off each other well and their parting was sad too. Fantastic performances by these 2.
Other than that, no comment.
Fantastic episode. At this point are you watching this series? If not give it a try. It is so far more good than bad.
My personal recommendation for a similar scene is Safe Guards which to me is a classic because well the dialogue is one of the best there is. The fact that Wayne Lai won most memorable sidekick and that one scene where his character scolded his uncle won the most favourite memorable scene at the ASTRO Wah Lai Toi TV Drama awards 2007 recently is a testament how good they were. Safe Guards should have won too and I was hoping Steven Ma would win. His performance in there was good but you know he improved even much more in Land Of Wealth. Anyway that ASTRO TV Drama Awards usually let the more popular win so Wayne's win is a testament to some credibility to this award show which destroyed itself when Forensic Heroes won Most Favourite Series. Well you can't have it all.
