All language subtitles for Marvelous.Women.2021.E20.1080p.WEB-DL.H264.AAC-ChinaHuanyu

Timing and subtitles brought to you by "Bound by Threads" @Viki.com

❝ The Old Man of Jiangnan ❞ by Lu Hu - Singers: Lu Hu and Liu Xijun

♫ Apricot blossoms fall on the lake surface ♫

♫ The misty rain dissolves away the longing ♫

♫ The face under the oil-paper umbrella ♫

♫ Hasn’t yet lost the youthfulness ♫

♫ Your face in my dreams ♫

♫ Emerged intermittently ♫

♫ I wish I could return to the past ♫

♫ Lying down drunkenly by the river bank ♫

♫ How attached we were when we met ♫

♫ How inseparable we were when we were together ♫

♫ Mandarin ducks and butterflies couldn't see ♫

♫ The great beauty of this world ♫

♫ I’d like to be carried by the wind to Nirvana ♫

♫ But nothing is comparable to you ♫

♫ If the heart never changed ♫

♫ I would have no regrets on the day I died ♫

[Marvelous Woman]

[Episode 20]

Eldest Mistress, I think Miss Zeng has a point.

Xiao Lan, have you ever thought of what kind of life you want to live?

Not really.

All I want to do now is to learn from you and become great at Kesi.

And in the future it would be great if I could marry someone honest from the residence.

What about you, Eldest Mistress?

Actually, it only occurred to me recently.

I have lived a disciplined life for too long.

It has drained me.

I want to see what my life will be like if I care less about the rules and more about my own will

what my life will be like.

Is that Second Master's bird?

Eldest Mistress, it's been a long time since the last time you came here.

The reason I avoided here was that I was scared of it bringing back those memories.

Now that I have let go the past, I thought why not coming here and having a look

as a commemoration of the past.

[To Cui Xi]

My dear wife, Cui Xi. Since you married to me,

you have always done your duties and been a respected member of the family.

I feel guilty when I think how much I owe you.

I have given it a great thought. As a man in this world,

it's my duty to manage my family, govern the state, and rule the country.

Hence, I have to end my affection and settle the business with Zeng family.

That's my way of protecting you for the rest of your life and you will not be hurt again

Eldest Mistress, are you okay?

What is that letter?

It's a letter to me from Eldest Master.

What did he write?

I thought Eldest Master was deeply in love with Miss Zeng. How come he wrote such a letter?

She would be very upset if she saw this.

Of course he was still in love with Zeng Bao Qin.

He was grateful for all I did for Ren Residence

so he promised to give me safety and peace for my life.

He just wanted to comfort me with this letter.

He wanted to end his affection but he never realized

he had given all his love to Zeng Bao Qin.

The deeper the love is, the more painful it hurts. Xue Tang,

I didn't understand it but now

I'd rather you were a heartless man

so that your love affair with Zeng Bao Qin

would concern me no more.

The journey the three of us have come along

started with a wrong marriage and was full of hatred and revenges.

It should have been put to an end long ago.

Miss Zeng, Eldest Mistress wants to see you at the Residence.

What does she want to see me if she never listens to me?

Miss Zeng, my apologies.

What do you want?

You were right. I'm the Mistress of Ren Family. I should act in the family's interest.

My own feelings should be set aside.

The reason I invited you here is that I have some business to talk with you.

Invited? Are you sure about that?

You wouldn't have come at all if it was a proper invite.

In your opinion, what I do for Ren Family actually damages the family.

So, I'd like you to tell me in person what I should do.

Zeng Bao Qin, do you dare?

Are you asking me to become a member of Ren Family?

I said it. I will never ever become a concubine mistress in Ren Family.

I'm inviting Miss Zeng, not a concubine mistress.

You refused to accept me when I wanted to beome part of the family.

And now you are forcing me to become a family member. What are you after?

Time changes.

Shu Yan, help Miss Zeng settle in the west wing.

From now on, you are in charge of management of her courtyard.

Yes.

Miss Zeng, please come in.

You are taking Eldest Mistress' side and giving a hard time to Miss Zeng.

I never mean to give a hard time to Miss Zeng.

Ru Yi, Eldest Mistress actually mean well.

There are so many cruel punishments in a residence like this.

Ru Yi, if Eldest Mistress ever intends to hurt you,

I will fight with my life to make sure your safety.

Fight with your life?

Yes. Eldest Master treated me really well.

I will never turn a blind eye to Miss Zeng's sufferings.

Besides, you are here, too.

Enough!

I'm glad you said it.

He is a faithful man.

He's being faithful? He dares not disobey Eldest Mistress.
(TN: lit. If Eldest Mistress points to the east, he wouldn't dare to go westward.)

He cares about you.

It's just like how you care about him.

I don't want him.

My Lady,

Why don't you take my side?

Ru Yi, the thing between you and Shu Yan all started because of me.

Ru Yi, you have never left my side for all these years.

We are not bond by blood but we are already a family.

I know your happiness and your struggles.

Now, I don't want to tell you if you should be with him or leave him.

Because it's a business between you and him.

But I will always stay at your side.

Just like what you have been doing for me.

My Lady.

My Lady. Do you think Shuyan and I can be together?

Silly girl.

You have to ask your heart.

Ask Shuyan's heart. Not me.

Have you made up your mind?

Xiushan is my son. You can't stop me from seeing him. That's No.1.

That's number one.

Number two, I may not be allowed to leave the Ren Residence,

but I can go wherever I want inside the residence.

Number three, and most importantly.

I'm not Concubine Mistress Zeng. I am Lady Zeng.

I agree to all three of those requests.

Sister, you can't keep me here for a lifetime.

I will get out sooner or later.

If you want to leave all the mess of the Ren Family to me, and enjoy some peace yourself, then I don't agree.

You are Xiushan's birth mother. This is your responsibility.

But this is not what it says on the family tree.

On the family tree, you're his mother.

Sister, no matter what you want to do,

Please think twice before you make a decision.

Think about the big Ren Household,

and don't just go down your own way.

Come.

[Bring Honor to Ancestors and Benefit Future Generations]

Son greets mother, and wishes you good health.

Get up. Get up.

Make a kowtow to your birth mother and greet her.

Son greets mother, and wishes you good health.

Get up, my good boy.

Your birth mother is very talented. She knows a lot, nothing less than Teacher Feng.

If you have any questions about your schoolwork, ask your birth mother.

Mother, do you mean that I can

get to see my birth mother more often?

Your birth mother will be staying with us from now on.

Mother, I'm very happy. I'm really, really happy.

Mother is very happy

to be staying with Xiushan too.

Now that you've joined the Ren Family, you have to learn the ways of weaving of the Ren Family.

Sister, do you mean that you will teach me to weave?

Don't you remember that I know how to weave?

You learned weaving as a hobby.

What I'm going to teach you now are the weaving techniques passed down from centuries ago in the Ren Family.

Clean your hands.

The Ren Family has been running the Qingyue Workshop in Suzhou for two centuries.

Here are the finest textiles that generations of our forefathers have collected.

The real way of weaving

can only be acquired after you've touched those works of art

and figured out how those advanced techniques were achieved.

Two centuries of heritage is what made the Ren Family excel.

Weaving does not only takes a lot of time and effort itself,

but also requires complicated procedures before and after.

Silkworm farming, silk reeling, growing plant dye, refining the dye...

There are more than 20 indispensable procedures that are interrelated.

In every procedure, the Ren Family has its own way.

We farm silkworms three times a year,

Spring silkworms, early autumn silkworms and late autumn silkworms.

We don't keep them in the summer, because it's too hot and the silkworms get sick easily.

The Ren Family can farm skinny silkworms.

Skinny silkworms produce thinner silk, which can be used to produce lighter yarns.

No wonder the organdie yarns produced by the Ren Family are famous across Suzhou.

Pay attention to the water you use to reel the silk. The water must be clear.

The water from the mountains is not as good as that from the river. Still water is not as good as running water.

Our family usually uses water from Lake Taihu.

So that we get silks that are thin, round, even, and tight. White and clean, pliable yet tenacious.

The best dye plants are grown with careful attention.

In rural areas, the Ren Family has dozens of mu of paddy fields to grow dye plants.

That's how we ensure enough dyestuff is supplied to the Qingyue Workshop.

In addition, we hire professional miners to mine ores for dyeing.

Some rare ores even take years to find.

This indigo color is made by mixing Baphicacanthus cusia and lime.

This fuchsia color is dyed with Lithospermum and alummordant.

This scarlet color is dyed with sappan wood and alummordant.

And this yellow color is created by mixing gardenia and vinegar.

But the yellow color from gardenia fade easily under the sun.

So we can only use it for fabrics intended for indoor uses.

The yellow color on outdoor fabrics comes from the pistil of sophora flowers

mixed with alum or iron vitriol.

Come with me.

This is the Carpenter House of the Ren Family.

- Eldest Mistress.
- Carpenter Song's family has been making looms and embroidery hoops for the Ren Family

ever since his grandfather's generation.

They use the finest wood and craft it carefully.

A workman must first sharpen his tools if he is to do his work well.

Did Mr. Song retrofit the loom you used for restoring the double-sided weaves as well?

No. We've got plenty of talented people here at the Ren Household.

To manage household affairs, you have to know how to use them well.

Come here.

This is the holy lotus pattern from North Song Dynasty.

It's different from the extravagant styles of the Tang Dynasty,

and becomes more elegant, realistic,

tidy and simple. It also incorporates unique weaving techniques.

Look at the center of the flowers. The weft is thin and closely woven,

and gradually becomes thick and loose as it spreads out. This way, the leaves of the flowers have multiple layers.

The last step

is to combine all the hard work from all the previous procedures

and put them together in your own hands.

Sister, after touring all these places with you, now I understand

that every thread comes at a cost.

You’re very smart. If you're willing to get down to it,

You can definitely master all the tricks of the Qingyue Workshop.

In the future, you will achieve far greater than what I have achieved.

Eldest Mistress, I thought you had already checked the accounts. Why are you still writing?

These are not the accounts. These are my years of experience managing the Ren Household.

Why are you writing these down?

I'm afraid I'd forget.

So I want to put them down as early as possible.

Have you delivered the gift books to the school?

Yes.

Teacher Feng said that Young Master Xiushan is clever and quick-witted,

and he's very happy to have a student like him.

Xiushan needs to go to school and become well-educated.

Only when he's well-educated,

he can become the hope of Zeng Baoqin.

And that's how the Ren Household can be settled.

Feng'er.

Come over here! Hurry! Feng'er!

Come here!

- Mother, what is it?
- Take a look at this booklet.

These are all the girls at the age for marriage in town.

I worked so hard to get it from the matchmaker!

If you don't like Shufang,

pick a girl from the list and make her my daughter-in-law.

Mother. How can you do this?

What have I done wrong? I've been following her around and helping her a lot.

I dared not break wind!

How can she be willing to be your wife?

Mother. What did Shumo tell you?

What can he tell me?

He's your henchman. He wouldn't tell me anything.

Don't you forget. I gave birth to you.

Do you think I have no idea what you're up to?

Son.

Son. In fact, you need to pamper a girl to make her happy.

Even though Shufang is the Lead Shopkeeper, you still have to pamper her.

She said she only wants to marry the guy she likes! She likes Teacher Wei.

Not me. I'd rather leave her alone, so I can still talk to her.

No. No.

Shufang has a straightforward personality.

She likes you. That's why she's talking to you.

That means she doesn't hate you!

Get up. Go! Go show yourself in front of her.

Mother. Can you leave your hands out of my business?

You idiot! Don't you know how to get a wife?

You're such a fool!

What a waste of my energy!

Brother Shumo! Concubine Madam asks to see you.

Let's go.

Concubine Madam, I really can't tell you. Or Second Master will beat me up.

I'm the mother of the Second Master. Will I do anything bad to him?

Just tell me honestly.

What exactly is going on?

Maybe I can help make it work out between him and Shufang!

Just tell me about it!

We can't wait any longer. It might be our last chance!

Just say it!

Shufang! Shufang!

Aunt Liu.

Shufang. I have to tell you something.

But... Don't tell anyone that I said it.

Your brother has come to see you many times.

But every time, Second Master got someone to kick him out.

I'm afraid there's something urgent happening in your family, so I think I should let you know.

Just so you know, okay?

Thank you, Aunt Liu.

You're welcome. See you.

Shufang, it's good news that you're in a relationship with Second Master Ren.

Why do you keep it from me? I'm your brother!

Will I do anything bad for you?

Do you call yourself a brother?

You sold me twice.

Well... I was doing it for you!

Well, thank you so much.

Last time you pushed me down, were you doing that for me as well?

But it's okay.

You put me down a life-long indenture.

From now on, we shall never cross path again.

Don't come to visit me again.

Hey! Lin Shufang! How dare you!

Lin Dahu! How dare you touch her!

Shufang! We're biological brother and sister!

For the sake of you being my biological brother,

I gave you almost all my savings these years.

In the end, you still sold me for 200 taels of silver.

Lin Dahu. Let me tell you.

I will no longer be your sister.

Shufang! Shufang!

Don't follow her.

Shufang! It's all brother's fault! Shufang!

I asked you to keep an eye on Shufang and you let her run out by herself.

You've become so unreliable now!

Shufang, are you okay?

I'm fine.

Let's go.

Forget about it. Let's go.

Second Master. Thank you for coming here.

Don't worry about me. I've learned my lessons from my family,

and I won't make the same mistake again.

Good to know. Good.

Second Master. You bought my indenture?

How do you even know it?

Don't blame him. I forced him to tell me.

Don't think too much.

I'm just thinking that I've known you for so many years,

and you're a good girl.

It would be such a pity for you to be someone's concubine.

So I thought...

I could help you out.

That's why you did so much? Because you felt pity for me?

No. No. Not because I felt pity for you.

Then why?

It's because...

Shufang, I really do like you.

I really, really do like you. Can you just give me a chace? Just once!

If you're willing to do it, just give me another chance. I'm serious. Just one more chance!

Shufang, don't cry.

If you're really not happy to do it,

I can wait.

Who asked you to wait?

I do.

Really?

Really?

[Ren Residence]

Cuixi, we've finally got their marriage settled down!

Now that it's decided, let's have the wedding ceremony soon.

Concubine Madam, the betrothal presents from your side can be the same as we agreed last year.

And I'll prepare the dowry according to the customs.

Let's find a matchmaker, and make an official proposal soon.

I've checked the calendar. There's an auspicious day at the end of this month.

Let's just get this happy event held at the end of this month!

Great. Great!

Eldest Mistress, what's the hurry?

How's that a hurry? If your wedding was not put off last year,

maybe we'd be having your child's 1-month celebration now!

Eldest Mistress was right. We can't delay your wedding any longer.

Or who knows what accidents will get in the way?

Mother! What are you talking about? What accidents could there be?

Concubine Madam!

Nonsense! Nonsense!

Oh! Nonsense! Nonsense!

You two should do as we say,

and have your wedding ceremony soon!

Okay. We'll do as you say, Sister-in-law.

We'll do as you say, Eldest Mistress.

Zhaodi! Yindi!

Good girls! Let me look at you.

Wow! You've both grown taller!

You look more and more like Qiao'er!

Eldest Mistress, what brings you here?

I came to see the girls. I've brought something for them.

Here, put it on.

Safe.

Thank you, Eldest Mistress.

You're welcome.

And sound.

Thank you, Eldest Mistress.

Safe and sound!

Eldest Mistress, you don't have to buy those expensive gifts.

I promised Qiao'er

that I'd take good care of the girls.

I'm sorry, Eldest Mistress.

Let's not talk about these in front of the girls.

Come here, let's kick the shuttlecock! Pick it up for me!

Play the shuttlecock with Eldest Mistress!

Give it to Eldest Mistress!

Sister.

Your skills have improved a lot.

I've been locked up in the Ren Residence these days,

spending my time either weaving or embroidering.

How can I not get better at my skills?

But how long are you going to keep me here? I can't stay here forever.

I thought you were looking forward to reuniting with Xiushan.

Aren't you happy?

I am happy.

I can see him every morning when I wake up,

spending days and nights with him.

It's something I dared not dream of these years.

It's just that I've been reminding myself that I can't indulge myself in it.

Li Zhao is still in Jiangning. He will come back sooner or later.

After he comes back, if he comes to visit me, I can get some information from him.

If Li Zhao comes back, I will let you leave here.

Collection of Essays on Livelihood.

Introduction to Business and Worldly Affairs.

Ancient and Modern Skills of Maths.

Sister, why did you bring those books to me?

The Ren Household runs a business in the weaving industry and established itself with business for hundreds of years.

All the offsprings of the Ren Household need to learn business.

You've been learning music, chess, caligraphy and painting.

I assume you haven't ever read these money-making books.

Sooner or later, Xiushan will be managing the business of the Ren Household. You're his birth mother,

and if you learned these, you can assist him in the future.

I am his birth mother. But you are his official mother.

Won't you be assisting him?

Of course I will be assisting him as well.

Have Rufeng and Shufang decided on their wedding date?

Yes. It will be at the end of this month.

You put me in the Ren Residence, and taught me all your skills.

You asked me to check the Expense Journals and learn how to run a business.

And you married Shufang off in such a hurry.

It's almost like getting your affairs in order.

What do you mean that I'm marrying Shufang off in a hurry?

If it were not for the incident last year,

Shufang and Second Master would have been married a long time ago.

You're not thinking about doing anything stupid, are you?

I promised Lianggong that I will make the best out of my life.

Stop making those wild guesses.

[Suzhou Weaving Bureau]

[Accumulating merits for the Generations to Come]

Hurry up!

Lower it down.

Welcome home, master.

Things finally got sorted out in Jiangning. From now on,

Cao Wen Bin and his people won't seek trouble with us anymore.

Congratulations, master.

Go and tell Ding Rong to work with extra diligence.

Deal the raw silk in stock as quickly as possible.

Ding Rong works very hard on it, often coming over to pay his respect when your lordship were away.

That's why I gave him the job.

Also,

all this time I was away, what has Shen Cui Xi been up to?

For your lordship's review.

[Gusu Essays]

It looks like Cao Wen Bin and Shen Cui Xin are getting closer.

Shen Cui Xi put in so much effort

for his daughter's betrothal.

No wonder Cao committed to helping her despite his position as a magistrate.

With his endorsement,

the reputation of the house of Ren prevails.

General Accounts Office prospers,

putting the Weaving Bureau in shade.

Now Wei Liang Gong is dead. And Shen Cui Xi has always been discreet.

It won't be easy to find faults with her.

With reputation comes slanders.

Shen Cui Xi's days will be numbered.

Cao Wen Bin is too much of a wolf for Shen to tame.

Once done with the raw silk business,

I'll deal with that woman.

Greetings, my lord.

What a privilege you grant me, madam. It took you long enough.

One can't ignore your lordship's summoning.

Li Zhao is back in Suzhou.

Whatever feud you have with each other,

his trip to Jiangning caused me a lot of trouble.

Now my superior has sent this letter of reproval.

They are placing obstacles for me to remain in office.

All because of the house of Ren.

Whatever method you use, Mrs. Ren,

I want my fund to be quadrupled than the last.

My lord, the Magistrate of Suzhou is the most lucrative post.

Every time a magistrate remains in office, a fortune would be poured on him.

No house would have enough fortune

- to quadruple it.
- Then what's to be done?

My superior is very angry this time.

What else can appease him other than money?

My lord, in my opinion, the key is the inspector.

Shen, let me make it clear.

I am the Magistrate of Suzhou, not some weaver who will act as you command.

I'm talking to you about how I could remain in office. Don't you dare bring your beef with Li Zhao

into this!

Nor would I ever dare, my lord!

Now your lordship don't see eye-to-eye with Li Zhao.

I'm afraid he would pick on you even if your lordship don't.

Suzhou Weaving Bureau directly answers to the imperial court.

Being against someone like him does only harm.

To spare us from further suffering, we might as well take initiative poking on his vulnerability.

Eliminating the threat once and for all.

By then, your lordship would be impartially enforcing the law. And if someone frames and leaves you to be reproached,

your lordship would not be at fault. With the reputation in your favor

and some financing, remaining in office

would be easy to achieve.

Some nice pictures you've painted.

But cunning as he is,

I‘ve had Li Zhao investigated for over half a year and got nothing on him.

In the letter, my superior ordered me not to again cause trouble for no reason.

If your lordership makes a move again, it will naturally be success with one strike.

I have been in business in Suzhou for many years.

I have many connections in the field. When I receive assurance next time,

your lordship can make the move then.

Alright.

I'll wait for Eldest Mistress Ren's news then.

If I still can't capture him this time,

even if the Ren family's wealth is all spent, you'll have to come up with the money for my renewed term.

My lord, if solid evidence cannot be obtained yet,

in the matter of your lordship's term renewal, the Ren family will definitely do everything for you.

My lord, this is the ledger from the recent deals.

Shopkeeper is indeed a businessman. All the ins and outs are recorded clearly.

Of course I must be clearly onn everything when working for your lordship.

There will be a third deal tonight. I was afraid that I would disturb your lordership's rest too late at night,

so I'm sending the ledger now.

When you do things, I can rest assured.

Looking at the more recent transactions,

the volumne of the goods has become bigger. Are those people getting bolder

because the Magistration's office isn't patrolling?

Yes, My lord. They has sent a message that Uncle Biao will personally pick up the goods tonight.

Also, it will be twice a day from now on.

I estimate that within a month, the warehouse will be emptied out.

A profit that is three or four times on turnover,

how can we only do it for one month?

I told people to get another batch of raw silk from the market.

My lord, you've bought more...

The price of rawl silk in Suzhou's marketplace

has been kept low by the General Accounts Office.

Selling it to the South Asia bandits gets high prices.

We can't let the profit margin go to waste.

If Ren Xuetang didn't monitored Zhang Biao so tightly

so that Zhang Biao didn't dare to come in,

I would have been able

to do this trade early on.

My lord, then... Is Ren Xuetang

dead or not... dead...?

Zhang Biao has returned.

What do you think?

My lord, don't worry.

I will definitely do my very best.

You've waited long. Thanks.

Uncle Biao, the goods are ready for you.

Load the ship!

- Yes.
- Uncle Biao,

- let's sit and chat.
- Alright.
- Please.

Oh yes, why did you suddenly change the meet-up place?

Didn't you already take care of Magistrate Cao?

Could it be that there's other trouble?

It takes caution to sail the ship for 10,000 years.

I've long heard that Shopkeeper Ding is cautious.

I am really seeing it for sure now.

I've long heard of Uncle Biao's fame. It's my honor to meet you today.

I haven't come to Suzhou for many years,

how can my fame still be in Suzhou?

Uncle Biao, even though you haven't been to Suzhou,

but you are still famous in Suzhou.

Uncle Biao, it's cold today. I estimate

that the loading won't finish quickly. I've prepared some food and wine to warm you.

Good. You're thoughtful.

Here.

Here, Uncle Biao.

Uncle Bio, I will

drink up this bowl first.

Eat.

Sure.

Be careful.

Be careful.

Watch your feet. Stay inside.

Timing and subtitles brought to you by "Bound by Threads" @Viki.com

❝ Passionate yet Ruthless ❞ by Lu Hu - Singers: Lu Hu

♫ One who appears affectionate may be the one with a stony heart ♫

♫ One who appears heartless may be the one with real affection ♫

♫ The one invested in love ends up with a broken heart ♫

♫ The one by the cold pond, leaves a lonely silhouette ♫

♫ Uniting with a seemingly affectionate one ♫

♫ Leaves one tearfully gazing at the predestined love ♫

♫ There is nothing to fear about the preordained death ♫

♫ It’s rather the foredoomed life that one can only accept ♫

♫ The beautiful scene of this moment ♫

♫ Is like a dream, like a fantasy, like an illusion ♫

♫ If love is put with an end, my heart will stop with it ♫

♫ Where can I go to await the duckweed? ♫

♫ The falling blossoms deliberately follow the wind ♫

♫ The coldhearted rain drizzles until dawn ♫

♫ The dream that came after a heady good wine is hard to wake up from ♫

♫ I’m lost in a hopeless search for you in this hazy world ♫