Original subtitles

[Strange Chronicles of Tang]

[Episode 7]

[Flying General]

[Delivery Service]

A rich man chose to work as a courier.

Mr. Kang,

didn't it strike you as odd?

Perhaps...

he found the job of a courier fresh to him

and wanted to try being one.

Besides, Chang'an is a vast city

full of unusual happenings.

So I didn't give it too much thought.

How long did he work

for you?

For a few months.

Nearly half a year.

What else do you know

about Chen Shubao?

I remember when he waited for tasks,

he would often read

erotic poetry from the Qi and Liang Dynasties.

That's all I know.

Did he have any friends

here?

Friends?

I don't know.

But since he and Hu were a team,

I think Hu knows him best.

He enjoyed reading

the Collected Poems of Xu Ling most.

He also told me

he wouldn't do this job for long.

He believed

he'd eventually

soar to great heights.

He was picky about delivery jobs.

[Hu, a courier]

He wouldn't go to the southern districts

where the poor reside.

I already figured out

what he was up to.

Two months ago,

when he made a delivery

to Xuanyang District,

he met a wealthy young lady.

After that,

he showed up here

less and less often.

I bet...

they got together.

Do you remember when he left

the Flying General?

It was 6 days ago.

I remember it vividly.

That day,

he wore a pomegranate red robe,

the knot button of which was turquoise.

I said to him, "you don't look like

a courier, dressed like this."

Come on.

Take a look.

Is this the robe?

Yes, it is.

How did this robe

end up in your hands?

Is Chen Shubao in trouble?

Do you know where he lives?

In Xiuzhen District, I guess.

Are you sure?

One day...

[Delivery Service]

"Up in her chamber high, the lonely wife, awake,

[The Collected Poems of Xu Ling]

leans by the window, missing her love."

It's getting late.

My wife must've made dinner.

It's time I went home.

You've been picking and choosing

all day

without making a single delivery.

A-Are you leaving so soon?

Hu!

It's your team's turn.

Where to?

Xiuzhen District.

Got it.

I'll go!

It's on my way.

Actually,

I'm not completely sure.

I just guess

he lives in Xiuzhen District,

[Flying General Delivery Serivce]

or the nearby Puning District,

Xiuxiang District,

or Anding District.

There's no such man called Chen Shubao.

Among the nearly 1,000 cultivators here,

his name is not found.

Official Lu,

I've been to Puning District

and Xiuxiang District.

No one named Chen Shubao lives there.

New findings!

Two men in Anding District

are named Chen Shubao.

One died last year

at the age of 90.

He was an icon of longevity in Anding District.

The other one

is his neighbor, aged 3.

The kid's parents named him Chen Shubao

to pray for their son to live a long life

like that old man did.

Maybe it's an alias.

Liu,

go to the Flying General now

and bring a man called Hu to Yongzhou Prefecture Office.

Yes.

Luo,

have Miss Xijun over to the west hall

of Yongzhou Prefecture Office.

Ask her to draw a portrait of Chen Shubao

based on Hu's description.

Yes.

Let's split up and work.

Sure.

Sheng is a broker.

I spent a day following him.

He's been traveling from one district to another,

recommending a place

called Relief-from-Woes Shop to the rich.

It's said to be where worries can be reduced.

But I don't know

what this shop sells.

Relief-from-Woes Shop?

[Save Lives, Relieve Woes]

Does such a place exist?

Yes.

It's in Xiuzhen District.

This shop opens once

at about 7 p.m.

every three days.

Seven p.m...

Now is about time.

[Liuhe Sushan Shop]

Please don't come in!

Please leave!

The shop's closed now.

We're done for the day.

Come earlier tomorrow!

Sir,

isn't the shop open till 7 p.m.?

Why are you closing it now?

Yeah.

That's because our shop

is too popular.

All Sushan has sold out.

But I came here

at this time yesterday,

and got a portion.

Why isn't there any left today?

Yeah!

I'm just not in the mood, alright?

How rude of him.

What's that attitude?

Ladies,

do me a favor

and come back tomorrow,

will you?

- Let's go. - Let's go.

- Let's go. - Let's go.

They've all bailed out

and left me to deal with this shop.

Am I working as

a shopkeeper for them now?

I'm not doing this.

We're closing!

Today, everyone gets to go home early!

Thank you, Mr. Fei.

Get a move on!

New twists have been put on

the roast chicken in the Ghost Market.

Now that I've got the news,

I must go and taste it.

Or how can I live up to the title of the Chicken Master of Tang?

We're really out of Sushan!

-Mr. Fei! -Mr. Fei!

[Relieve Woes]

I think this is

the Relief-from-Woes Shop.

Look.

You keep watch here,

while I check things out.

Be careful.

Don't worry.

Got it.

[Relieve Woes]

"Before me, unseen are the ancients."

"Behind me, unseen those to come."

Who are you?

I...

I'm a businessman.

No one introduced you.

What do you want?

D-Don't hurt me!

P-Please don't hurt me!

I...

I might have come to the wrong place.

I'm leaving right now.

Get back to your work.

[Relieve Woes]

We need a proper plan.

This is no ordinary place.

Yingtao,

you did a good job.

This...

It's you?

Aren't you from the county office?

What have I done wrong

to be treated like this?

Let me ask you.

How much did you

pay Lady Hong's Secondhand Store

for that robe?

Fifty wen.

Stop lying, or you'll be dead meat.

I...

No one will save you.

Thirty!

Thirty wen.

Officer,

I did trick 20 wen out of the county office,

but that's not a capital offense.

It's hard to make a living in Chang'an.

I still owe much money to the pawnshop.

I had no choice!

Seems he's ready to tell the truth now.

Yes, I am!

I really am!

What exactly does the Relief-from-Woes Shop sell?

This shop

doesn't sell anything.

It's a sanctuary where hearts are soothed.

Sanctuary?

Tell me more.

Chang'an does have a lot to offer,

but the living cost here

is just too high.

Both commoners and officials feel under pressure.

That gave rise

to the Relief-from-Woes Shop.

It's designed to

relieve people of woes and stress.

Every three days,

there is a Confession Assembly in the shop.

Though I became

an official member long ago,

I still haven't reached the lowest rank

of iron.

So,

I can only listen from the outermost circle.

I don't even have the privilege

to pour my heart out in front of others or pay membership fees.

It's a privilege to pay membership fees?

Never heard of that.

Just because you haven't heard of it doesn't mean

you can deny its existence.

Officer,

please let me go.

Today, a gold member is coming for a visit

for the first time.

I need to go meet him.

This is his first visit,

yet he's already a gold member?

How to make that happen?

Well,

it's difficult.

But not very difficult.

To become a gold member immediately,

one needs to offer gold, of course.

What kind of sanctuary is this?

All is just a scam for money.

I'll go destroy it.

You...

No need to rush.

Let me ask you.

How much gold does it take

to become a gold member?

No fixed amount.

It's negotiable.

The Relief-from-Woes Shop

is not meant for commerce.

Since there are too many members,

it's impossible to give everyone

a chance to talk.

The shop thus puts its members

into three tiers, namely iron,

silver,

and gold.

There are limited spots

for gold members.

The rule says

only those who have paid 100 visits

are qualified to compete for a spot.

But given my connections,

I can help those

who feel like getting things off their chests

in front of others

as a way to relieve themselves of stress become gold members,

provided that they offer

valuables like gold and silver.

I see.

Aren't you going to meet someone?

Off you go.

Okay.

There you are.

Are you Sheng?

Yes, exactly.

Why weren't you waiting here?

My stomach got upset

and started acting up,

so I had to go find a washroom.

It took some time.

Please forgive me, sir.

Lead the way.

This way,

please.

That voice sounds so familiar.

Yingtao,

come over.

Have you seen this person before?

He's too far away,

with that veil covering his head.

I can't get a good look at his face.

Who is he?

I'm going all in.

Y-You have a gold ingot?

This is designated

to my use as Chief of Secret Agents

for collecting

special intelligence.

What's your plan?

You're not going to buy

a gold membership, are you?

Not one,

but two.

I have a feeling

that there's something interesting

about the Relief-from-Woes Shop.

Let me open your eyes to a whole new world.

Oh, please.

You just want me to protect you

from losing your life, right?

You should've played dumb.

You do know when to make your move.

That being the case,

how can I not grant a gentleman's wish?

"Before me, unseen are the ancients."

Officers,

why did you catch me again?

Wait a minute.

Are you trying to buy

two gold memberships

with only one gold ingot?

Isn't it too little?

Strike the deal,

or...

I'll cut off your head.

It's deal.

"Before me, unseen are the ancients."

What's the next line?

"Who wouldn't say so?"

What did you say?

Women shouldn't respond with that line.

They should say, "Whatever you say, sir."

"Who wouldn't say so?"

"Whatever you say, sir."

Just head to

the golden masks.

Then, a man will say,

"Gold melts, and silk is stained."

All you need to do is respond

with the next line of the poem.

What about me?

Women should answer,

"Friendship should be tested in person."

What's all that?

Do keep it in mind.

A wrong answer

will get you killed.

"Gold melts, and silk is stained."

"Friendship is tested in the shifts of fortune."

"Friendship should be tested in person."

It turns out the two of you

are gold members invited by Master.

Please proceed.