Original subtitles

[Legend of the Magnate]

[Episode 18]

Tomorrow, you two brothers

will carry thorny branches on your backs

and come with me to the Tea Merchants' Association.

Perhaps Mr. Hou Er

will let it go.

-That's right. -Yeah.

Will you do it?

No.

Why should I?

I'm not going.

If you don't go, who will?

Listen here,

you two

can't keep causing trouble like this!

The beating you got last time wasn't enough for you,

was it?

Just look at him.

Apologizing with thorns on my back.

Fine.

I can carry those thorny branches,

and I can admit my mistakes.

As long as it's good for our village,

even if Hou Er

slaps me a few times,

it's worth it.

But let me ask you all—

then what?

It's not like I

carried his child and jumped into a well,

so why would he hate me this much?

He just wants to force down

the price of my tea.

If, at this moment,

I go bow and scrape to him,

he'll use the chance

to push down the price of all the tea

in the village even further.

So what about the tea you have now?

Will you sell it or not?

Will you sell it or not?

He's trying to slash the price.

Will you sell or not?

Today, my brother and I

went through every tea shop

in town.

Right now, top-grade Silver Bud

sells for 3.3 strings of coins per jin

on the market.

-That high? -That high?

-So high! -Yeah.

Second-grade

sells for 2 strings.

Even the third-grade Silver Bud

can sell for 1.7 strings.

1.7 strings?

-That's so high. -Exactly.

But that Hou Er

simply offers

only 1.3 strings

for my best tea leaves.

And the price difference

will all go

straight into his pocket.

Are we here every day

working so hard, growing tea,

breaking our backs without rest,

just to make that Hou fellow rich?

-Hou Er is really despicable! -Exactly!

Next time he comes to the village,

we should beat him to death!

-Kill him! -Kill him!

Enough, enough!

Gu,

stop saying those useless things.

Just tell us what we should do now.

It's not like tea merchants across the country

have all died out.

Since when is the Tea Merchants' Association

the imperial court?

Is it the government?

Does it hold absolute power?

Our Anhui tea has major clients

in the capital,

in Inner Mongolia,

and in the Northwest.

I can handle all those distribution channels myself.

But at this moment,

I hope you can trust me

and stand together through this.

This isn't about trust.

You need to show us

t-the real money.

That's right.

Yes.

Exactly.

Indeed.

Then how about this:

I'll buy

all the tea you have in stock

at 10 percent above the price offered

by the Tea Merchants' Association

down the mountain.

What do you think?

-Good. -Yes!

Alright!

-Yes! -Yes!

Deal!

Gu,

let's not make decisions out of anger.

You don't have that much money!

Don't worry about that.

Everyone,

we have a deal, then.

Give me a few more days.

We'll trade in hard silver.

-Alright! -That works!

-Okay! -Alright!

Hard silver is good.

Gu!

Gu!

Are you crazy?

You see?

Gu has gone mad,

completely mad!

Pingyuan,

why are you being so reckless again?

You shouldn't have

said that just now.

Then what should I have said?

I thought about it the whole way back.

I have a solution.

[Blessings and Auspiciousness]

Ask me.

Tell me, what's your solution?

If you ask me,

I think you should run away.

Even if we don't go to apologize,

someone else will naturally do it.

Listen to me—

early tomorrow morning, make a trip to Shanxi.

Take two assistants with you

to deliver a letter for me.

Find Madam Jin

and tell her

that I need to borrow some money.

So you're planning to borrow money?

How much should we borrow then?

Fifty to sixty thousand taels.

Don't put me through this.

Tomorrow I'll carry the thorny branches

to apologize!

Pingyuan! Pingyuan!

[Abode of Virtue]

Is Mr. Bayan at home?

That's me.

You're too polite, sir.

What can I do for you?

I know that you

have been doing the tea business

between Huizhou and the grassland.

I'm a local tea merchant.

I've brought some

tea samples

for you to try.

[Floating Clouds and Endless Winds]

What goes around comes around.

Let me tell you something, Mr. Gu.

All the tea merchants

staying at this inn

are my friends.

Here's some advice,

free of charge—

get lost!

That's what you get for defying the Tea Merchants' Association!

[Abode of Virtue]

On behalf of the Anhui Tea Merchants' Association,

Hu Yutai,

respectfully awaits your arrival, Mr. Li.

Old Master Hu.

Mr. Li.

Please.

Please.

Please, please.

Anhui's top-grade teas this year—

Melon Seed,

Silver Bud,

and Hou Kui—

I'll buy them all at full price.

That's wonderful.

With your arrival,

I can finally feel at ease.

However, the reason we invited you here

is that we, the Anhui Tea Merchants' Association,

have a special request

and hope you can help us.

The Grand Tea Competition?

Exactly, exactly.

This time,

our Anhui tea must

win first place no matter what.

Everyone,

please sit, sit.

-Sit. Sit. -Let's sit.

You've probably all heard.

The late Emperor

passed away in Rehe.

The capital has new rulers now.

The former Noble Consort Yi

and the Sixth Prince jointly oversee state affairs.

The new reign title is Tongzhi.

"Tongzhi"

means the ruler and ministers governing together,

and also brother-in-law and sister-in-law ruling together.

That's good, that's good.

I'm not just making small talk here.

Nominally, the Grand Tea Competition

is hosted by our family,

but the one actually tasting and judging the tea

is the Sixth Prince.

The Sixth...

That isn't just a tea gathering.

It's business.

Your Anhui tea wants to win first place.

Then, what about Yunnan tea

and Taiwan tea?

That's where things get complicated.

Old Master Hu.

What is it?

There's a

young tea merchant outside.

He sent his calling card,

saying he wants to meet with the Tea Merchants' Association.

This person is too arrogant.

It's clearly the Silver Bud,

and he has the nerve to call it Orchid Snow.

Send him away. I won't see him.

Orchid Snow tea—

that's quite a lovely name.

Come on, let me take a look

and see who this is.

No manners whatsoever.

What kind of person is this?

An old acquaintance of yours.

[To Old Master Hu, head of Anhui Tea Merchants' Association]

[Greetings from Gu Pingyuan]

Old Master Hu says

he's too busy to see you.

He's discussing business with guests.

Here.

Your card is returned.

Please leave.

Who are the guests?

Gu!

Mr. Li Qin.

I knew it.

You must be the one.

Alright, let's not talk here.

Let's go.

How did you manage

to offend that Hu fellow

right after arriving in Anhui?

That old man's brain is stuck in the mud.

As if he'd ever look kindly on someone like you.

Listen to me on this.

I'll find a chance.

I'll think of a way to smooth things over

between you and him.

You came

with your father this time, didn't you?

Back in Shanxi,

I offended him terribly.

Counting on him to help me now?

Forget it.

True enough.

Well then,

I know some

local tea merchants.

I'll pay out of my own pocket

to have them buy

all your tea.

Anyway, I won't let you lose money.

Just hearing you say that,

I'm deeply grateful.

[Orchid Snow]

It's only that the Orchid Snow tea of mine

is like a timeless beauty.

If it only mingles among common,

[Orchid Snow]

vulgar teas,

I think that would be too much of a waste.

[Orchid Snow]

Let me try.

Orchid Snow.

What do you think?

Truly like a stunning beauty.

You indeed are a kindred spirit,

willing to speak the truth.

But what's the use?

The tea merchants in Beijing

all listen to my father.

And you've offended

the Anhui Tea Merchants' Association here.

Such fine tea—what a pity.

Or sell it to the Mongols.

I've already offended

all the Mongols too.

Wait,

why do you cause chaos

wherever you go?

As if I wanted to.

I'm just a tea farmer now.

My whole family depends on me

selling tea to put food on the table.

Those bloodsucking tea buyers

push the prices so low.

What am I supposed to do?

Just let them bully me?

I think you've reached a dead end.

I've come to realize—

maybe in this life

I'm destined to end up at a dead end.

I'm used to it by now.

That Grand Tea Competition

your family is hosting—

could my Orchid Snow tea

win the championship?

Sure it could.

Orchid Snow tea takes the crown,

and then you pass the Imperial Exam to become top scholar—

parade through town on horseback and rise to high office.

You're having

quite a sweet daydream here.

Do you want me to kick you

into the lake?

You're always mocking me.

But honestly,

if you really want to attend

our family's Grand Tea Competition,

I can find a way

to get you in.

But after that,

you are on your own.

I'm at a dead end anyway.

What's there to fear?

I'm counting on you now.

Father.

Where did you get it?

Father,

this is the Orchid Snow tea.

How kind of you,

willing to put in a good word for him.

This might even be better

than the top-grade Silver Bud tea.

I think there's real business potential here.

I think

that old man Hu

is being too overbearing.

Such good tea—

just because it doesn't suit his taste,

he rejects it without a second thought.

If you ask me,

if we could have

this Orchid Snow tea

for sale in our own tea shops

every year,

wouldn't that be...

You've been

paying close attention to the family business lately.

That's good.

Such excellent tea—

if we have exclusive rights to sell it,

it'd be wonderful.

But it's Gu Pingyuan's tea,

which changes everything.

Why is that?

Let me ask you—

if we buy his Orchid Snow tea,

what would happen to him?

I doubt that Hu fellow

would dare to fall out with you.

We can just buy it.

Would he dare offend our Li family?

You have a point,

but he would harbor resentment

because we made him lose face.

If our competitors

chose this moment to approach him,

he'd turn on us in an instant.

Our years of business relationship

would be gone.

Besides, his tea

has limited annual production.

With our hundreds of stores,

could we really rely on the tea alone

to sustain our business?

Even if none of those issues existed,

by doing this,

wouldn't I be encouraging

people like Gu Pingyuan

who seek attention

and emboldening such young people?

One day,

would he demand to share

the profits with us equally?

Or would he simply

take everything and sell it,

no longer working with us?

It's the same as

when Xiang Yu saw the First Emperor of Qin—

the ambition to take his place is plain to see.

It's very possible.

Ambition, you see...

It's like

a fire in one's heart.

Easy to ignite,

but hard to extinguish.

In this world,

rules always come first.

And what are "rules"?

I am the father,

and you are the son.

When I meet guests while seated,

you must remain standing.

If even this cannot be upheld,

what business is there to do?

Remember this:

even the finest herbs must be removed when they block the path.

I've already instructed every merchant

in the capital

not to buy Gu Pingyuan's tea.

And you—don't play tricks behind my back.

If I find out,

I won't spare you.

How did you get back so quickly?

Next time, could you please assign me tasks

that a human being can actually accomplish?

The things you make me do—

what kind of tasks are these?

I'm just not capable of doing them for you.

I didn't get a single coin!

There's boiled water inside.

You're drinking raw water like this—

aren't you afraid of getting diarrhea?

If I die from diarrhea,

I'll finally have peace.

All the way back here,

I've been so worried.

You've already made those big promises,

and soon everyone in the village

will bring their tea

with their palms up, asking for money.

Won't that drive us to our graves?

Mother's legs aren't what they used to be,

and she'll have to flee with us by then.

How pitiful.

Did you get to

see Madam Jin or not?

I didn't even catch

a glimpse of that Madam Jin

you mentioned.

I handed in your note,

and they said Madam Jin

went out of town to check on some...

some branch shop,

and they don't know when she'll be back.

Good grief.

We might be able to wait,

but the tea can't wait!

Besides,

with that scrap of paper you wrote,

and you're asking for 50,000 or 60,000 taels—

why should they lend you money?

Can you please smarten up a bit?

Hey, you're really getting into

scolding me now, aren't you?

I won't say anything more.

I'm thick-skinned anyway.

My life is worthless.

Tomorrow I'll go apologize with thorny branches on my back.

Drink some boiled water

and wash your feet before sleeping!

If I ever listen to you again,

I'm a complete donkey.

[Silver Bud]

Put them inside.

All right.

Okay.

Put it here.

Okay.

Careful.

Zhu Laosan,

you're the craftiest one here.

Don't you short me on the weight.

I won't, I won't.

Come on, come on.

[Silver Bud]

Thank you, Mr. Pingwen.

I'm taking it to your home.

[Blessings and Auspiciousness]

Put the tea here.

Thank you, Mr. Pingwen.

Where's your brother?

[Blessings and Auspiciousness]

Okay, okay.

Mrs. Gu.

Having your meal?

Would you like to join us?

I'll pass, but thanks.

Now that the tea is sold,

half the weight on my heart

is lifted.

That's better than any meal.

Right?

Right.

Um...

I have a cousin who lives at the foot of the mountain.

He's got some good tea too.

You think we brothers

are rich suckers, don't you?

Your cousin's tea?

What about your uncle's tea?

You want

my uncle's tea too?

We want all your family's tea!

This kid...

How can you speak like that?

We'll buy it.

Spread the word—

besides tea from our village,

I'll take tea from other villages too.

But there's one condition:

I'll only buy first-grade tea.

Second or third grade—forget it.

For all the tea I purchase,

I'll still add 10% to the price.

In the next couple of days, I'll have Pingwen

bring the money to you

so you can have peace of mind.

Really?

Then I'll tell everyone just that.

Thanks!

Thank you, Mrs. Gu.

Thank you, Mr. Pingwen.

Thank you, Mr. Pingwen.

I'll take my leave now.

Mother.

We have a hen at home.

Let's kill it and stew it.

It's doing so well.

Didn't you want to keep it for eggs?

Eggs?

We can't even afford to eat an egg anymore.

Haven't you heard? We're finished.

My brother is dragging you and me

straight to our doom.

What are you two brothers talking about?

You didn't see it.

A few days ago,

my brother got kicked in the head

by a donkey.

He bought all the tea in the village

and laid it all outside.

If you had seen it,

you couldn't eat right now.

You shouldn't talk about your brother like that.

No manners.

Pingyuan.

What are you doing?

You heard him.

I just bought a batch of tea.

I opened

a tea shop for Pingwen in town.

We've got to have something to sell, right?

Enough, enough.

Wipe that grin off your face.

You think you're rich like Li Million

with houses, land,

and mountains of gold and silver?

What are you using to pay everyone?

Those thorny branches from last time—

Pingyuan, put them on my back.

I'll crawl into town.

If I die halfway there, leave me there!

I might as well be dead!

Is Mr. Gu home?

We don't want any more tea!

[Blessings and Auspiciousness]

Madam Jin,

what brings you here?

Madam Jin?

So you're Madam Jin.

This is your younger brother, right?

Unfortunately, that day

I happened to be at our Datong branch.

They told me your brother had visited.

He didn't get to eat

or even have tea.

I couldn't bear the thought of that.

So I hurried over to apologize.

I'm sorry.

No need for that, really.

[Blessings and Auspiciousness]

Madam Jin, please come in.

Mother!

Mother,

[Blessings and Auspiciousness]

this is my friend from Shanxi.

Greetings, Old Madam Gu.

I wish you good health.

Get up now, get up now.

Please come with me inside for tea.

Old Madam Gu,

let me help you inside so we can talk.

[Blessings and Auspiciousness]

My husband and the others

send their regards.

I've also brought all the gifts

they sent.

Come in quickly!

-Yes, Madam. -Yes, Madam.

Come on.

Pingyuan,

are those gifts real?

You don't believe it?

Open the boxes and see for yourself.

Madam Jin,

I really owe you one this time.

Mr. Gu,

the untamed spirit you display outside

is kept in check at home, eh?

It's quite interesting to see.

After all, you are

our Association Head!

That's all made up.

This boy...

What Association Head are you talking about?

Let me explain to you, Old Madam Gu.

Mr. Gu

is the leader of our Shanxi

Draft Bank Merchants' Association.

Among the 3,000 draft banks in Shanxi,

just one note from Mr. Gu

and everyone will obey.

Speaking of which, Association Head, I should

apologize for arriving a day late.

No need for such formalities.

Mother,

Madam Jin is just teasing me.

I have something to discuss

with Madam Jin in private.

All right.

Our guest has come from afar,

so you must take good care of her.

We're country folk with simple manners.

Please don't mind, Madam Jin.

I don't deserve such courtesy, Old Madam Gu.

Please excuse us for a moment.

Madam Jin, you don't have to

come all this way yourself.

When I left Shanxi,

I made it clear.

There would be no such thing

as an association head anymore.

Please stop teasing me.

Mr. Gu, you can live here

and still be so calm about it.

You truly are a great hero.

Those who offended you

must be blind.

I'm just a tea farmer now.

Anyone can offend me.

But you, Madam Jin,

coming all this way in your esteemed position—

I feel truly sorry about it.

That's where you're wrong.

With our friendship,

Mr. Gu,

even across thousands of miles,

I must come to you immediately.

My husband is in poor health

and not fit to travel.

If I didn't come personally,

I simply couldn't be at ease.

To avoid any inconvenience in using it,

I've exchanged everything

for banknotes from the Four Major Banks in the capital—

10,000 taels each,

20 notes in total.

Redeemable in hard silver.

I hope it's enough.

I can't possibly use that much.

If you can't use it all, just save it.

My husband said

it's rare for you to ask for help,

so we're more than happy to assist.

A small Anhui Tea Merchants' Association

dares to stand in your way?

They must have

lost their minds completely.

Just say the word,

and we can buy up all the tea

in Anhui province. It's nothing.

Anyway, Mr. Li is in the tea business.

He has plenty of connections.

I'm just a tea farmer now,

trying to prove a point to the villagers.

I don't want to make

such a big fuss about it.

Anyway,

here I must

thank you, Madam Jin.

All right,

I'll follow your instructions.

If there's nothing else,

I'll take my leave now.

The marketplace is like a battlefield—

no moment should be wasted.

Leaving so soon?

Won't you stay for a meal?

You think I came to Anhui

just for you?

I heard Hefei will be recaptured soon.

All along my journey,

I've been checking when we can

open a branch office here.

Mr. Gu,

you have your way of doing business,

and I have mine.

Mr. Gu,

no need to see me out further.

She's as capable as any man.

It's only right.

Be more careful.

Listen, everyone—

all the tea

should be stored separately according to grade.

If this warehouse isn't big enough,

we can rent another one!

My brother said

that for anyone bringing tea,

as long as it's top-grade,

we should pay

10% more than the Tea Merchants' Association!

Understand?

-Yes! -Yes!

Mr. Pingwen, the boat has been rented.

Please go check it out.

Let's go take a look.

[Ping]

[Orchid]

Look.

[Orchid Snow]

How's the writing?

Pingyuan,

you really have time for such refined pursuits.

I heard that the Grand Tea Competition

doesn't allow individual participants.

Only provincial tea merchants' associations can attend.

Rookies like us—

will we be allowed?

In this world, you have to take risks.

What?

Without them,

we have no path forward?

But aren't there rules?

Rules?

They set the rules.

Those rules only benefit themselves.

I have my own rules.

Not for myself,

but for this Orchid Snow tea,

I must fight for recognition.

Such a treasure

going unappreciated in this world—

wouldn't that be a crime in itself?

By the way,

arrange for someone

to take care of our mother.

After lunch,

we'll set off for the capital.

Really?

The marketplace is like a battlefield.

Some matters

are as urgent as a raging fire.

Delay even a moment, and you'll answer for it.

[Orchid Snow]

Pingyuan.

Why are you still up so late?

Have a sip?

[Orchid Snow]

I don't want any.

I'm completely wiped out.

We're almost at the Shandong border.

I originally thought that this time,

I could live a peaceful life

and take good care of our mother at home.

[Orchid Snow]

But I never thought

I'd still be wandering around.

This must be my fate.

Speaking of which, this is my first time

going to the capital.

You want to stay quietly at home,

but I kind of want to go out and explore.

After getting married,

with a wife and children filling the house,

I won't have time for such things anymore.

Traveling around

has its charms too.

Have you seen the stars over the grassland?

The stars there

are completely different from the ones here—

brighter...

and more beautiful.

Pingyuan, what are you talking about?

Before we left this time,

Mother told me

to treat this as a chance to see the world with you.

Whether we succeed in business or not

doesn't matter.

The most important thing is to stay safe.

You too,

just take it as a chance to relax.

Don't keep thinking about Miss Bai.

I've already thought it through.

Yimei is a person,

not an object.

Whom she likes or doesn't like

is her own freedom.

Even her father can't make that choice for her.

But some people

are different.

She's hurting you from the inside.

It's like suddenly sobering up in the middle of the night,

pushing the pillow aside to sit up,

and feeling a tightness in the chest,

as if you can't breathe.

Pingyuan, you're acting so strangely today.

What's wrong?

I've had too much to drink.

I wanted to give you a gift.

I read in a book

that scholars exchange poems

♪ Names being etched and centered in the time ♪

when bidding farewell.

♪ A goose flying across the barren plains, carrying the setting sun's last light ♪

I don't know how to write poems.

I'll recite a few lines

♪ An old friend suddenly comes to mind, and the world feels vast and desolate ♪

I read this morning to send you off.

"Gloomy winds and rain;

♪ You point toward the cooking smoke ♪

roosters crow without cease.

Having met you, my dear...

♪ Saying time has brewed its own fragrance ♪

how could I not rejoice?"

♪ Even when hair turns grey, we'll still gaze at each other, fingers entwined ♪

♪ The Milky Way spans the west window ♪

Suddenly, a familiar face comes to mind—

half frowning, half smiling— leaving me utterly uncertain.

Daughter,

are you happy with your trip to Shandong?

I've taken another job

to Wuyuan, Huizhou.

I have

many friends among the outlaws there,

and the scenery is beautiful.

Let's go there and have a good time.

Can we not go?

I want you to rest for a couple of years.

It makes me look so unfilial.

Now you're lecturing me.

Then at least try to be happier.

In life, you must

learn to take things up and let things go.

[Capital Wharf]

You must be Master Gu Pingyuan

from Anhui, right?

Who are you?

I work for Madam Jin.

My surname is Cui.

You can just call me Manager Cui.

So you're a friend from Hengchang Bank.

Thank you for your trouble.

Please be careful when unloading the goods.

Guys, unload the goods!

Careful now!

Master Gu,

this way, please.

Second Master Gu,

please!

Keep going, keep going.

This way.

Pingyuan,

you've got quite a few friends in Beijing.

The last time I left

this place,

I was in shackles and chains,

being escorted away.

If it weren't absolutely necessary,

I'd never want to come back here in my life.

Come on, Master Gu. Please.

This is the carriage.

Ms. Su,

what brings you to the capital?

I heard your Grand Tea Competition

is going to be quite lively.

I came to beg for a cup of tea.

Is that okay?

Merchants attending the Grand Tea Competition

[Prince Gong's Mansion]

must present tokens issued by the Ministry of Revenue

for identity verification!

Intruders

will be severely punished!

We're done for.

Your friend has really screwed us over.

If he doesn't come, how can we get in?

This is bad.

Who closed the door?

Who closed it?

Who's there?

Let me out!

Who's outside?

Young Master,

just for today!

The master has given a strict order:

if you take even half a step outside,

it's the path to your death!

-You can't go anywhere! -Path to my death? Nonsense!

Don't you dare!

I've already made plans with him!

Open the door!

Don't just stand there.

Think of something.

A mansion this big

can't have just one gate.

Let's look around

and see if there are other doors

we can enter.

That way.

[Prince Gong's Mansion]

[Phoenix Singing in the Bamboo Grove]

[Grand Tea Competition]

[Guangdong Tea Merchants]

[Fujian Tea Merchants' Association]

[Sichuan Tea Merchants' Association]

[Zhejiang Tea Merchants' Association]

[Anhui Tea Merchants' Association]

Come on.

Give it to me.

Eunuch, you look well!

Please rise, please rise.

Having the God of Wealth bow to me—

what an honor.

Eunuch, you're radiant.

Clearly, you've made great progress in your cultivation.

You must be close to immortality!

Not at all.

I cultivate

just to live a few more years

to better serve His Highness.

Yes, of course.

Now, excuse me.

Please.

There's a door.

Hurry.

You reckless fool,

what's the rush?

Are you in a hurry to die?

What are you doing?

If I drop this on your account, you definitely can't afford it!

Such big talk.

Bragging with nothing to show for it.

You asking for a beating?

Did you fall or not?

Let them go first.

After you.

What are you holding in your arms?

You guard it like gold.

I'm afraid you'll be shocked if I tell you.

Then go ahead and shock me.

I haven't known

what fear feels like for a long time.

It's our family's Orchid Snow tea.

Ordinary folks can't afford this.

It's the champion tea of the Grand Tea Competition!

Blowing hot air, are we?

The Grand Tea Competition has just begun.

How is it that your champion tea

isn't even inside yet?

We don't have the entry pass.

This rascal is quite amusing.

Let him come in

with us.

I'd like to taste this tea.

Orchid Snow tea...

That's a nice name.

Is that a man or a woman I was arguing with?

Why do people in the capital sound

so androgynous?

Androgynous?

Looks like a eunuch to me.

Keep your mouth shut once we get inside.

Let's go.

Prince Gong and Prince Chun have arrived!

Your servant pays respects to Your Highness Prince Gong!

[Prince Gong]

Greetings, Your Highness Prince Chun.

[Prince Chun]

Your Highness,

the tea merchants' associations

from all provinces are ready now.

We await your instructions.

[Zhejiang Tea Merchants' Association]

[Sichuan Tea Merchants' Association]

[Virtue Shines Through Time]

His Highness says

to start with the Anhui Tea Merchants' Association!

Much obliged.

Much obliged!

[Sichuan Tea Merchants' Association]

[Zhejiang Tea Merchants' Association]

Much obliged.

Stop.

Officer,

we're participants in the Grand Tea Competition.

If you stop us,

you can't afford the consequences of delaying us.

You may have gotten through the main gate,

but do you know how to get through the second gate?

Officer,

we're country folk.

We got through the main gate

with help from someone from our hometown.

So, please tell us

how to get through the second gate.

The entry fee for the second gate—

5,000 taels.

5,000 taels?

For you two, 10,000 taels.

And you must clearly state

which tea merchants' association you belong to.

I'll have to send someone

to get your association's head

to come and claim you.

Only then will I let you through.

I understand.

What should we do, Pingyuan?

I can pay

the 10,000 taels,

but if you're expecting

that Old Master Hu

to come and take us in,

that's absolutely impossible.

I told you we shouldn't have offended them.

Hand in hand toward the garden...

[Yunnan Tea Merchants' Association]

This tea is only grown

in the southern foothills of Mount Huangshan.

It grows in secluded mountain valleys, with dense branches and lush leaves.

This tea, with its single stem and bud,

once processed,

resembles a silver dragon entering the palace.

[Anhui Tea Merchants' Association]

Brother, look.

The Anhui tea merchants

even brought a performer.

[Anhui Tea Merchants' Association]

Brother,

who are you trying to fool?

I've never heard of that.

Just brewing green leaves directly.

I know about this. It needs to be roasted

and heat-treated...

Calm down.

Those tea merchants from Anhui

have transported such a large tea tree

all the way to the capital.

They put in quite some thought.

Just wait and see.

This tea

is quite interesting.

I've never had tea like this before.

How can I drink any other tea

after this?

Stop.

I'm from the Hubei Tea Merchants' Association.

The entry fee is 5,500 taels.

Search him.

Why did it go up by 500 taels again?

The Anhui Tea Merchants' Association

presents to Your Highness

the finest Tunxi Silver Bud.

[Anhui Tea Merchants' Association]

Here it comes.

Let's try it.

Freshly roasted tea.

Your Highnesses,

this is the Tunxi Silver Bud respectfully presented

by the Anhui Tea Merchants' Association.

Brother,

just for the effort alone,

it deserves the top prize.

What's the rush?

Plenty of people are lining up to present their tea.

Let's take our time and enjoy.

We've come all this way,

yet haven't even caught a glimpse

of the Grand Tea Competition.

If only we could go in and join the fun,

I'd have something to brag about when I get back.

Why don't you go in?

Weren't you going to win the championship?

Isn't that the effeminate one?