Original subtitles

[Legend of the Magnate]

[Episode 25]

Please have a seat.

Let me.

Have a taste, Lord Gu.

This is what they usually drink.

It's similar to our tea.

How do you like it?

Similar?

Not at all.

The British don't drink tea?

They do.

They just add milk to it.

Captain.

Greetings, sir.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

A handshake will do.

He said it's a pleasure to meet you.

How are you?

How are you?

I'm fine.

He's great.

[Tod, British Warship Captain]

The captain says

this warship belongs to

the British Empire's Indian Navy,

protecting the Indian Ocean routes.

He's

going back to India to report for duty.

This ship is not for sale.

Okay.

I was just about to ask

about India.

Thank you.

See you.

No problem.

Mr. Zhang from Lu'an Salt Shop.

I'm here.

Excuse me.

Our Master wants to see you.

Mr. Li.

You're here, bro.

Have a seat.

Mr. Li,

I won't lie to your face.

I'll be frank.

This salt field

has been in my family for 3 generations.

I heard

you were buying salt fields in bulk,

so I rushed over with the deed.

It's just that...

if I just sell it

like this,

I'd be betraying my ancestors.

Taking someone's ancestral property

is unforgivable.

This salt field deed is not that important to me—

I can take it or leave it.

But if I don't buy it,

brother,

can you go back?

If I'm not mistaken,

that outfit

is what you just redeemed

from the pawnshop.

There are

more than 390 salt households in Jiangnan.

Since I'm getting into the salt business,

I must be careful.

Please forgive me if I offended you.

To be honest,

life is indeed a bit hard right now.

How about this?

I'll give you some money

to open a salt shop

so you can make a living.

In name, the shop

will be yours.

Once it turns a profit,

we'll split it eighty–twenty.

I'll supply the goods.

Take

this deed back.

Mr. Li,

you're truly a living Bodhisattva.

You're helping me at a time like this

so that our whole family can live.

I...

I don't know what to say.

You...

Take him down

and hand over the money and the salt license.

Let's go.

Father.

I've been waiting for you for a long time.

Just a few hours feels long to you?

It's not that I can't wait.

I've been waiting for more than 20 years.

Are you upset?

Then tell me, what have you been waiting

for all these years?

I'm waiting for a chance.

Waiting for your trust.

I've barely been here a few days,

my seat isn't even warm,

and here you are.

When will that old fox Hu

surrender?

Soon.

I followed your arrangement

and gave him 3 days.

Three days?

How do you know it'll be soon?

He's at a dead end.

But I heard him tell the tea merchants

that if they can't hold out,

they can sell the tea to him

and he'll buy it back

according to the previous price.

He was just spouting nonsense.

He's afraid we'll split his power.

He's still reluctant to admit his failure.

This old man

has been in charge of a province's tea

for most of his life.

You think he'd be scared

of a naive young man like you?

He's hoarding tea

to challenge us.

Challenge us with what?

We could just not buy his goods

and let him cry

over that old tea.

Don't pile it here.

How can we get in?

[Tea]

Has Mr. Gu

brought any news?

No.

Is there no room in the warehouse?

Go.

Mr. Hou Er,

the warehouse is full.

Full?

Yes.

Old Master Hu.

Old Master Hu, Old Master Hu.

Waiting like this

isn't going to work.

The nearby tea merchants

all know you have a way,

so they keep

sending tea here.

The money in our counter

flows out like water

and never comes back.

The tea gets older every day.

Spring tea has a daily price.

What do we do if we don't wait?

Well...

Right now, the whole market

follows the same price—

that's set by Li Wantang.

You tell me, do I accept it or not?

Well, why does Li Million

hold a grudge against us?

Don't you know that?

Isn't it because

that Mr. Gu

ruined his plan?

If you ask me,

you should just compromise a little

and beg Li Wantang for some leniency.

The lives of all the tea merchants in Anhui

are in your hands.

Wait, you...

Old Master Hu, you have an invitation.

Invitation?

I'm busy.

It's a guest from the capital.

From the capital?

Come on.

[Yours Humbly, Li Wantang]

Old Master Hu.

Li Wantang is inviting you personally.

This is a way out.

He's showing you some respect.

It would be inappropriate

if you don't go.

If I go,

it's for the Tea Merchants' Association.

Of course.

You never said anything

about buying a ship.

See you again, my friend.

When did I ever say

I wanted to buy a ship?

Are you even here to handle

the tea business or not?

Isn't that exactly

what I'm doing now?

Come on, Pingyuan, focus on what's important,

will you?

You came here just to drink some black bitter water?

You didn't like it?

I found it interesting.

I like it.

I like it.

Go back now.

Why?

You didn't get it done,

Pingyuan.

That British guy said

the imperial court

has given the authority to sell tea

to the Li family.

If they don't buy it from us,

many people in Anhui

will hang themselves or jump into rivers this year.

How is that considered "done?"

Your logic is getting

clearer and clearer.

Not bad.

Pingyuan,

stop teasing me.

Just tell me—

do we have a solution or not?

Here's what we do.

Rent a fast boat immediately.

You must go back

before dawn tomorrow.

Impossible.

I can't make it back even if I know magic.

Didn't you hear

that foreigner just now?

Li Million has to deliver

within 3 days.

He's not in Beijing right now.

My only worry is

Old Master Hu

getting soft

and selling the tea.

If that happens,

there will be no place for us

in Anhui.

When you get back,

tell Old Master Hu

to give me one more day and night.

I will definitely

get this done for him.

One day...

and one night?

Tell him exactly what I said.

Well... so where are you going?

I have my things to do.

Those foreigners can scheme against us,

and we can scheme against them too.

Before, our disadvantage

was that we knew too little

about them.

Just wait and see.

Once this is over,

we'll have plenty of big business to do.

Pingyuan,

can you just give me a hint?

No.

It's not the time yet.

Don't worry.

You'll understand when it's done.

So what if Li Million

is strong?

Since he wants to

drive me into a dead end,

he can't blame me.

I told you to keep an eye

on that Gu.

Where is he now?

I-I don't know.

I'm not sure.

Master,

he left it to us.

So soon?

He agreed to leave the deed here

[Official Certificate]

as collateral.

This family

smokes opium every day.

I don't think the deed will last more than 3 days.

They're suffering but still want to look dignified—

what's the point?

[Tax Receipt]

Do I

have a dinner with Old Master Hu

tonight?

Yes, Master.

Go tell the people outside

to head home

and come back tomorrow.

Wait!

Father,

you promised

to let me handle things here.

I just came here today, and you're now

stirring things up again.

If you go to this dinner tonight,

I'll go back to the capital!

I'll just leave everything behind!

Go ahead.

Angry?

Was it you who suggested Gu Pingyuan

go to Shanghai?

Was it?

He doesn't understand

how the Qing Empire's customs work

at all.

He's just a small-time tea farmer,

a prisoner who escaped from exile.

I don't understand,

why do you have to be friends

with him?

You'd rather ruin your own family's business

to help an outsider!

Father,

you had people eavesdrop on me.

Whether this tea deal

makes or loses money—

I don't care at all.

There are plenty of business opportunities.

But I have

only one son.

Tell me,

why did you do that?

Why?

I just thought

we couldn't do business like that.

Then how should we do business?

It doesn't have to be a fight to the death.

The roads of the world should be open for everyone to walk.

Why do you have to

force others into a corner like that?

I regret it.

I should've let you

keep studying.

You're not cut out for business.

As long as you don't smoke opium or gamble,

our family fortune

will last you several lifetimes.

Fine.

Go back to the capital.

I'll hire an old Hanlin scholar

to help you pick up your studies again

and teach you

the classics.

That would be good too.

Father,

you want me

to withdraw from the family business?

Yes.

You're not made for business.

And you don't understand the Qing Empire.

I don't!

You do!

You are always right!

I'm the one who suggested Gu Pingyuan

go to Shanghai.

I didn't even

want to come to Anhui in the first place.

You want to buy the goods from those tea merchants

at 20 percent of its value—

that's bullying!

That's pushing them

to the brink!

What kind of business is this?

If you had troops,

you might as well send soldiers to rob them!

Wouldn't that be easier?

Kid, kid,

a kind man can't command troops, and a righteous man can't manage wealth.

Whose path is really easy?

So you're saying

I can't do business

because I can't be a bad guy?

We're exploiting Anhui this time

because His Highness wanted us to.

He was furious that the Anhui people

ruined his plan at the Grand Tea Competition.

You think I can afford to show mercy,

let them go,

and offend His Highness?

I can't.

If His Highness fails, I'll be dragged down.

I can only be Li Million

if he doesn't fail.

This is the Qing Empire.

[Baixiang Restaurant]

[Baixiang Restaurant]

Greetings, Old Master Hu.

I'm Master Li Wantang's butler,

Zhang Guangfa.

Nice to meet you.

Is Mr. Li here?

I'm late.

I'm terribly sorry.

Our master

told me to give you a message.

He

won't be coming today.

He's Li Million, after all.

Of course he's very busy.

Please ask Mr. Li

when he'll be free.

I'll visit him then.

I brought some gifts.

I wonder...

Our master wouldn't dare accept them.

One shouldn't take rewards without earning them.

Our young master

didn't handle the tea matter well.

The foreigners suppressed the price

too low.

Yes.

Our master said the quota

for this year's spring tea is already enough.

There's no need to offend our peers.

That's right.

Keep it for yourself.

We don't need it now.

Sir.

Sir, please wait.

[Baixiang Restaurant]

Sir, please wait.

Sir,

that's not how it works.

[Baixiang Restaurant]

The price is just too low.

He can't be pushing us over the edge, right?

How about this?

Please

help us ask Mr. Li.

As long as he gives us

at least a little for our hard work,

we'll treat the rest

as free labor.

Consider it an apology to Mr. Li

on behalf of Mr. Gu.

How about it?

Do you have the final say?

Of course.

It's settled then.

Okay.

Tomorrow morning,

you can go to Tianfu Inn

with the goods list.

Okay.

It's better to resolve grudges than keep them.

So how about my...

Alright.

[Official Certificate]

It's fine. Go ahead.

Master,

your not showing up scared him badly.

He kept begging for leniency.

In the end, he said

Young Master's price was too low,

forcing the tea merchants across the province

to a dead end.

He said they just didn't want their hard work to go to waste.

I told him to bring the goods list

to the inn tomorrow morning

to see you.

They have no way out?

Yes.

There's something more funny.

When I was leaving, he said

you can just consider their work this year for free

as their apology to you on behalf of Mr. Gu.

[Official Certificate]

Who knows what that Gu put

in his head?

Apologizing for him with an entire province's tea?

Alright.

Your young master wants to bet with me.

Do you know?

He thinks I don't know how to do business.

At least I'm not as good

as his friend Gu.

That's childish talk.

I'm not a child.

Are you going back to the capital with me,

or do you want to go first?

I'll go with you.

I know what you're thinking.

I will fulfill your wish.

Hey-oh, hey-oh!

Row it!

Hey-oh, hey-oh!

Row it!

Dragon Boat!

Fly onward!

Dragon Boat!

Fly onward!

Guys!

Guys!

You're the boss here, right?

I want to discuss something with you.

Can you give me a ride?

Sit, sit.

Wait...

Sit down.

Master spent a fortune

to secure the exclusive rights to tea trade

from His Highness.

The Grand Tea Competition was just an event

to give His Highness face.

"Top Tea Under Heaven" was supposed

to be granted to the Li family,

and then it would be natural

for the Master to gain the right

to trade with foreigners.

Who knew that Gu

would ruin everything?

If we don't teach the Anhui people

a hard lesson,

not only will the Li family lose face,

we won't be able to explain ourselves

to His Highness.

So you were sent ahead to shake them up.

Master agreed to invite him to dinner,

but he

never planned to attend.

He never planned to attend?

Of course.

He first raised

his hopes high,

then threw him straight into despair.

Once he panics,

the Anhui Tea Merchants' Association

will be in our hands.

That so‑called "Top Tea Under Heaven"

is merchandise exclusively controlled and sold

by the Li family anyway.

We're a dragon boat team,

not a passenger boat crew.

Go.

We're preparing for a race.

Go!

You misunderstood.

Honestly,

I do have something urgent to do.

I must be there

before dawn tomorrow.

By dragon boat?

Really?

It's all yours.

Take it or leave it.

500 taels—

for a trip to Anhui!

Brothers,

this is enough for us

to get wives!

Are we doing it or not?

Yes!

You beat the drum

and cheer us on.

Me?

Let's go.

Beat the drum!

Young Master,

go back and rest.

I just want to see

how Old Master Hu

will surrender tomorrow.

Why put yourself through this?

Has Master

ever miscalculated in business?

With all his moves,

how could that Hu be his match?

[Maojian from Mount Huangshan] [Taiping Hou Kui]

Just wait for the final news.

Mr. Gu said 3 days.

[Tea]

It's been 5 days.

And we are still waiting?

Indeed.

How long are we supposed to wait?

I told you from the start—

Orchid Snow tea is a monster

and shouldn't have been brought to the capital.

And what happened?

He went on his own

and stirred everything up.

And the result?

What happened?

All the tea merchants in the province

are apologizing on his behalf.

What kind of nonsense is that?

Sun Wukong was very capable,

but when he ruined the Peach Banquet,

he still got trapped

under Five Elements Mountain.

Sun Wukong at least had a cudgel.

That Gu

only has his mouth.

That's right.

What kind of situation is this?

Then why don't you come up with an idea?

What good is all this useless talk?

When he won the title

of "Top Tea Under Heaven,"

you all rushed

to ask for his recipe and tea seeds.

Why are you all just talking now?

Mr. Hu,

spring tea waits for no one.

Let's not talk about

what Gu is like for now.

We need to get through

this crisis first.

Otherwise,

everyone will be doomed.

That's right.

Everyone will be doomed.

All of us.

If any of you think

you're capable

of getting us through this crisis,

I'll kneel and step down immediately.

If you have no ideas, then just shut up.

What?

Li Wantang is using official power to pressure us.

Even if we hand over

Mr. Gu's head,

will he stop?

Who got us the plaque

of "Top Tea Under Heaven?"

Who works their butt off every day outside?

I'm honestly embarrassed for you all.

Shame on you.

You seriously think

Master will lose?

When I first arrived,

I said

the tea business in Anhui

shouldn't be handled this way.

If we want to run the "Top Tea Under Heaven" brand,

we could negotiate with them.

Why bully them

so arrogantly?

Who does business like that?

At first, I thought

Master was just venting his anger.

Now that I think about it,

what he said makes sense.

As the saying goes,

"No merchant is without cunning."

It's a bit harsh,

but it's right.

You're Pingwen?

Where is your brother?

Did he leave a message?

What did he say?

What did he say?

Servants!

Take him inside.

Make them some hot porridge.

Old Master Hu,

let's go.

Even if you want to die, wait a little longer.

What are we waiting for?

Look at him—

what can he even say?

I remember now.

My brother said...

What did he say?

He said to wait for him for one more day and night.

Is there ever an end?

Get him inside!

He really dares?

He really dares.

Is it funny?

No.

Have you sent people to ask around?

Is he afraid to come,

or

is someone among them against it?

No one's against it.

It's just that old guy Hu

holding out on his own.

Master, please don't be angry.

I don't think he can hold out much longer.

It's not like

he can turn things around.

I can't believe it.

By logic,

he should've been cornered.

So how did he stand his ground

after just one night?

Something's off.

Something's off.

Nothing's off.

If he wants to drag it out, let him.

We can outlast him anyway.

It must be

that brat Gu causing trouble.

Send some men to Shanghai

to dig around

and see what he's up to.

Okay.

Father,

I'm going back to sleep.

Our business is not going well.

How dare you go to sleep?

It's your business,

not mine.

Go back.

So many people are waiting for you.

Yes.

Go back.

Old Master Hu, there's a letter!

Old Master Hu.

[To Old Master Hu]

[Cover]

[I caught a chill last night and was unable to keep our appointment.]

[I feel deeply sorry about it.]

[I have arranged a banquet at Baixiang Restaurant at noon today,]

[and I sincerely invite you to attend]

[so that I may offer my apologies in person.]

It's Li Million.

Li Million?

He said that

because he stood me up yesterday,

he wanted to make it up to me

by inviting me to a banquet

at Baixiang Restaurant at noon today.

Go. You should go.

Old Master Hu,

we must accept the face he's giving us.

I should go?

Yes.

You should go.

Hey,

where is the messenger?

Old Master Hu,

he's waiting for your reply downstairs.

Well,

tell him this...

Why did you...

Why did you tear it up?

Why did you tear it up?

Yes.

Yesterday,

if that Li Million

hadn't acted so overbearing,

I would have sold him

all the tea in the province

for cheap.

That was close.

Where are you going?

I

didn't sleep well last night.

I have a headache.

If anyone comes looking for me,

just say I'm unwell and won't see visitors.

[Top Tea Under Heaven]

After you go back,

tell all your clerks

not to sell

a single ounce of tea today.

Master.

That Hu

is still that stubborn?

Yes.

He hid away under the pretext of recuperating,

saying he had a headache

and wouldn't see anyone today.

I made a wrong move.

I thought Hu

was just arrogant and foolish,

and I wanted to knock him down a notch

to push the price lower.

If I'd gone

to that dinner last night,

things would probably be settled by now.

Let's wait

and see what miracle

he can pull off.

I've been thinking.

I thought about it the whole afternoon

and still couldn't figure it out.

Master,

we've already

taken care of the foreigners.

And everyone at the imperial court is on our side.

He has no room to make a move.

What can he even do?

Don't talk too big.

Time has changed.

Now there are foreigners and the Southern Army.

This world

belongs to young people now.

I'm not going anywhere.

I'll stay right here and watch.

Where is Qin?

He's in his room.

I'm already this old,

and I'm still competing with my own son.

Let it be.

I'm curious about the outcome.

[Jinyang Villa, Shanxi]

How did he make himself like this?

Go get a doctor.

Get the master here.

Also,

get Mr. Li here.

Hurry.

Mr. Gu.

M-Mr. Li.

You didn't have to put yourself through this

just to drink this wine.

I finally made it.

You're lucky.

In one day

I'll be on my way to Inner Mongolia.

We almost missed each other.

Master Jin,

Madam Jin.

I knew it.

Don't you think

our luck

is getting better and better?

Indeed.

Yes.

Please, take a seat.

Alright, alright.

Wencai told us to take our seats.

This way, please.

Come, Mr. Gu.

This way, please.

Okay.

Mr. Li.

What are you doing?

I've never handled

such a large deal before.

Now the fate of all the tea merchants in Anhui

rests on me alone.

So, Mr. Li,

I really need your help this time.

Come, sit down.

I

was just about to ask you.

That thing of yours,

the "Top Tea Under Heaven"—

what exactly is it?

I'm in the tea business myself,

yet I didn't even know what Orchid Snow tea was.

Only after asking around

did I find out it's yours.

As long as you want it,

I can supply as much as you need.

Okay.

It's a deal then.

Now,

let's talk business.

What was it you said

about Anhui tea?

Here's the thing.

Li Wantang got the exclusive rights

to the tea trade between the imperial court and the foreigners.

He holds a grudge because I ruined his plan

at the Grand Tea Competition,

and now he's determined

to crush Anhui's tea business.

I can't just sit and wait to die.

I've decided

to fight him.

Li Million in the capital?

He's not so impressive.

Wencai means

Li Million isn't anything special.

That may be,

but this time he got the exclusive rights

to the tea trade

between the imperial court and the foreigners.

This

can't be solved with just money now.

Mr. Li,

for the sake of all the tea farmers in Anhui,

please help me.

Okay.

Bro,

I'll take all of Anhui's tea this year.

Worst case, I'll make

a few more trips to Inner Mongolia.

It will be sold eventually.

Right?

Mr. Gu,

I still have to say this—

for something this minor,

you could've sent someone

to tell us.

Or you could've sent us a letter

through any of our shops.

Why did you have to come all the way in person?

Your health is more important.

Don't end up

getting sick all over,

just like my husband.

Then we really wouldn't be able

to forgive ourselves.

Yes.

I know

you truly care about me.

But I can't

dump every burden on your shoulders

whenever

I encounter something.

As for this matter,

I do have a few ideas

we can discuss together.

Okay.

Although I only spent a day in Shanghai,

I've come to believe

that this so‑called exclusive tea‑trade right

isn't such a big deal.

The imperial court has no real control

over the foreigners nowadays.

So I was thinking—

could you support me

in making a deal with the foreigners?

Go ahead.

According to my sources,

the British East India Company

is based in India.

If we leave

from Shiliupu Pier,

pass through the Strait of Malacca,

and then travel by sea for another 2 days and nights,

we can reach India.

Tea sells

extremely well there,

and the price they pay is far higher

than what the foreigners pay here

in our country.

So I've been thinking,

instead of relying on Xianghe Trade House

to deal with the foreigners,

why don't we sell our tea

directly to India?

I'm not dreaming.

I've actually found a few possible channels.

We're listening.

Before I say it,

could you help me

with one thing?

Anhui tea can't wait even one more day.

Li Wantang has gone mad with greed.

He wants to swallow it in one bite.

Could we find someone

who can take over all of Anhui's tea at once

and ship it to Shanghai?

Then I'll go to Shanghai with you,

and from there

we can make a trip to India. What do you think?

Mr. Li,

your draft bank in Hefei

hasn't opened yet, has it?

Are you short

on ready cash?

How about

I invest?

You invest?

There's no need for that.

What I'm thinking is that

we need someone

with enough influence

to take over all the Anhui tea—

someone who can suppress Li Wantang so thoroughly

that he can only tuck his tail between his legs

and slink back to the capital.

Only then will our Association Head's face

stay intact.

At a time like this,

saving face doesn't even matter.

No, no, no.

Please wait for a moment.

I'll arrange for someone to deliver the message.

Mr. Gu,

how about I show you the garden?

Let's go.

He's doing that again—

conducting business in silence.

When you buy your coffin,

let me invest.

Fine.

Mr. Gu,

the water in this lake

is from the Jin River.

A feng shui master once said

that it leads straight to the Dragon Palace.

Businessmen

like auspicious symbols,

so I named

this place

"Seven Treasures Garden."

"Mountain spirits burn the alchemy stove,"

"the Dragon King offers a treasure boat."

This is a sign of world domination.

Gu, you don't mean it sincerely.

In such an elegant place,

it would be a pity

to talk business.

But now,

the Anhui Tea Merchants' Association

is really at a critical point.

If you could lend a hand

and save us from disaster,

wouldn't that kindness

outweigh

even the beauty before us?

I never help anyone.

Never.

You can't show kindness.

When a beggar

calls out "Master,

Madam"

and receives a bowl of leftovers,

it's only because of

those two words.

That's how business

works.

Mr. Gu,

do you understand

what I mean?

Yes.

Nothing in this world comes for free.

If you beg with your face raised,

you'll get nothing.

Yes.

This time, Li Million got an imperial edict

from a noble in the capital.

With the authority of the imperial court,

he wants to dominate

the tea and medicine market in the Southeast.

If I act rashly

on my own,

would there be risk?

Besides,

overseas matters

are uncertain.

If I

board an ocean liner

and go out there,

it would be like a human stepping into a beast's den—

how could I do business?

Of course, for a friend,

it's okay to take a risk,

but it can't be a long-term strategy.

I'm a businessman.

I have no reason to go against

the imperial court and Li Million.

As for which path should I take,

I defer to your advice.

You specialize in the tea trade

and dominate the market in the Northwest.

But if Li Wantang

grabs the entire

Southeast tea monopoly

for himself,

he will inevitably become a great rival of yours.

That's the first reason

you should help me.

This is a political talk.

Nowadays, business

is no longer like in the past,

when merchants stayed in their lane

and the imperial court

could control everything.

With the rebellion in Jiangnan,

the regime's hold on local affairs

is weakening.

This is a situation unseen

in 300 years.

Yet Li Wantang still thinks

he can use the imperial court's power

to suppress the provinces,

imagining he can dominate everything.

That thinking is outdated.

Since we are in merchants' associations,

we should join hands

and make money together.

If you are willing,

I can offer Anhui tea

at the lowest price

and guarantee you a fixed yearly quota.

We can

expand outward together—

that's the real way to win.

Why bother fighting among ourselves?

Cooperation?

That's good.

Let's join forces

and make money from the foreigners together—

wouldn't that be better?