Original subtitles

-Bravo! -Bravo!

[Xiangsheng Troupe]

♪ Fires of war engulf the frontier mountains ♪

♪ From Yao Pass rides a young woman general ♪

♪ With delicately arched brows, luminous eyes, and cherry-red lips ♪

Let me do it!

-Bravo! -Bravo!

♪ Who dares say a woman cannot rival a man? ♪

♪ The enemy general looms, seven full feet of dread ♪

♪ She answers with a thunderous war cry ♪

Be a good pig in this life,

and be a good person in your next life.

It's done!

There's a lot of blood— bring another basin to catch it.

[Pursuit of Jade]

[Episode 1]

We'll be ready to feast in a moment.

-Great. -Alright.

No need to rush.

Didn't the Fan family just have a funeral?

Why did Mrs. Chen

hire Changyu to slaughter the New Year pig?

Out of pity, of course.

The Fan couple were killed by bandits,

and they left behind no property—

only two little girls.

Luckily, Changyu is capable.

She's following her father's trade,

butchering pigs to support the family.

She's held the family together all on her own.

Poor thing.

The Fan couple were such good people.

How did they meet such a fate?

-Granny Kang. -You're here.

Come on, sit.

It was all because of that girl. She cursed them.

Don't talk nonsense!

Didn't I say it before?

Look at how beautiful Fan Erniu's wife was.

Who knows,

she might have come from a brothel.

Otherwise, how would she ever marry a butcher like Fan Erniu?

Good heavens.

Have respect for the dead.

Let's not talk about it anymore.

Am I wrong?

She may take after her mother

with all that delicate beauty,

but she has such strength.

Let alone a girl—

even a young lad

couldn't match her.

She's really strong.

That girl

just has a hard fate.

I didn't say that.

Wasn't she engaged to Song Yan?

The Song family

went to have their birth charts matched,

and when they saw the results...

oh my.

-She was born under a cursed star. -I haven't heard of that.

The Song family panicked and hurriedly

called off the engagement.

Is that so?

Granny Kang,

here's some pig blood for you.

To help wash away your bad luck.

You... you...

Look at her! That's outrageous!

Look at what she did to me!

Mrs. Chen said

that half of today's pig is to be shared with the neighbors.

Everyone, come and choose your cuts!

Hey, you...

Let's go, hurry.

What did I say wrong?

You... you are a jinx!

You cursed your parents to death.

-You drove your fiancé away! -Come on, stop talking.

Your sister was born sickly—

that's also because of you!

Alright.

Well, look at her!

Granny Kang, the pork!

Don't snatch!

This piece is mine!

This piece is mine!

Changyu,

here is the money for butchering the pig today.

Thank you, Mrs. Chen.

The feast is about to start.

Stay and eat with us.

No, thanks.

My family just had a funeral,

and you didn't mind. Hiring me anyway

was already more than kind.

Alright then.

Take the pork offal.

Oh, I couldn't.

Just take it.

Your father used to make the best master stock.

Giving it to you won't be a waste.

Take it home for Changning.

Thank you.

I'll head back now.

Changning is waiting for me at home.

Changyu!

There's a war in Chongzhou,

so it's not peaceful around here anymore.

Be careful on your way home!

Don't worry.

I checked the almanac before leaving.

It's a lucky day.

What a good girl.

It's a pity

she has a hard life.

Four, five, six...

Ten, eleven, twelve...

Fourteen, fifteen, eighteen...

Sorry.

I'm really sorry. Sorry.

I didn't mean to. I really didn't.

You've been a good pig in this life.

Be a good person in the next life!

I didn't mean to.

Jade Emperor, Queen Mother of Heaven...

He's not breathing?

No... h-he's almost dead.

Changyu,

just go home.

No, my family is poor.

I don't have the money to save you.

I still have a younger sister at home.

What if you turn out to be a bad person?

Changyu, don't be soft-hearted.

Go home. Just go home.

Go home. Go home!

I'm coming to save you!

Don't die!

Don't die...

Don't... It's okay.

You've been a good pig in this life.

Be a good person in the next life!

Mother...

It must be my mother who wanted me to save you.

Hold on.

Please don't die.

My mother wanted me to save you.

Changning?

Changning, open the door!

Sister,

I went to town to watch a shadow play today.

It was about a female general...

Sister?

Help me with the things outside.

Changyu!

Who are you carrying?

I found him on the road.

He had barely a breath left in him.

Auntie Zhao, help me get him inside.

You...

You don't even know if he's good or bad,

yet you dare bring him home?

Besides, he is a man.

You're an unmarried girl.

People's gossip will drown you!

No one saw you on the way, did they?

His wounds look

just like my parents'.

He must've run into mountain bandits too.

I can't worry about all that now.

Carry him to my house.

I can't bring bad luck to your home.

What if he dies?

Either he dies out there,

or he dies in my house.

Let's go.

Come on!

My husband went to the post station at the town entrance on business.

I have to go drag him back.

You watch him for now.

Changning,

come here!

You have to stay and watch him too.

It's improper for an unmarried girl to be alone with a man.

I'll be back soon.

Okay.

Why is he bleeding so much?

Before Mr. Zhao gets back,

you absolutely must not die.

I've gone out to treat patients with Mr. Zhao before, after all.

I have to try, even if it's a long shot.

Changning, go fetch a bowl of hot water.

Auntie Zhao said

an unmarried woman and a man shouldn't be alone together.

I have to stay here and watch.

Forget about that.

He's about to die!

Go, quickly!

Last time, I used this much.

But he's bleeding more this time.

Better to add it all.

What's going on, Changyu?

He...

What are you doing?

Feeding him medicine.

You...

What the hell?

You poured the whole pack of medicine in?

Are you trying to save him or kill him?

What are you doing, kid?

I thought

since last time there wasn't as much bleeding,

I'd use more this time.

Last time it was a donkey!

A donkey!

Is that the same as a human?

With a whole bowl of that forced down,

forget a person—

even a full-grown donkey would drop dead!

Why are you yelling?

I just wanted to save him.

I didn't want him to die in your house,

so I added a bit more medicine.

Eating too much can burst your stomach.

Then why don't you eat until you burst?

You can die from eating?

Alright, alright.

You two go out first.

Girls should wait outside.

Changyu can barely feed herself and her sister.

What is she thinking, bringing a strange man home?

Why didn't you stop her?

Look at that face,

and you'll know why.

How could I stop her?

What use is a pretty face?

It doesn't put food on the table.

That big brother is so handsome.

That's why you carried him back, right?

Nonsense.

I was just trying to save him.

It has nothing to do with his looks.

The scouts have tracked them all the way here from Chongzhou.

The blood trail disappeared here too.

It snowed for a day and a night,

so the footprints are all covered.

This is Jizhou.

[Wei Sheng]

He Jingyuan's turf.

We cannot search without permission.

Report this back to the capital. Let the Prime Minister decide.

Let's head back.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

[Chunfeng Tofu Shop]

[Xigu Lane]

Changyu, you're back.

Changyu.

Changyu!

Changyu, please wait!

Changyu.

Haven't seen you in half a month,

and you've only grown more beautiful.

This is...

This is the medicine you just bought for Changning?

I have some...

Just say what you want to say.

I was just thinking

your engagement with my son

was already called off.

So, it's useless for you to keep that betrothal letter.

-How about... -You want the betrothal letter?

Fine.

Let's settle the accounts first.

Over these years, my family paid tuition fees for Song Yan

and gave financial aid to both of you—

settle those accounts,

and I'll return the letter.

You can't blame us for calling off the engagement.

That fortune teller said your fate is cursed!

I can't let my Yan marry a woman like you

who brings misfortune to her husband!

If we're talking about debts,

we owe your parents,

not you.

My father signed that betrothal letter with you.

Then go down to the underworld and ask him yourself.

You wretched girl!

Stop right there!

Mother.

Please calm down.

It's better...

if I explain things to her.

Yan,

that wretched girl...

she's just after your official rank.

She knows you're soft-hearted and easy to manipulate.

That's why she won't let you go.

She's using past favors to demand repayment!

In a few days,

-Using past favors... -the County Magistrate

will come to escort us to our new home.

To demand repayment?

-Mother. -By then,

-she'll pay for this. -Let's go inside.

Changyu,

I, Song Yan, am not an ungrateful person.

I have always remembered your family's kindness.

But of all virtues, filial piety comes first.

If I defied my mother and insisted on marrying you,

I'd become an unfilial and unrighteous man.

Although we cannot become husband and wife,

we can be like brother and sister.

I'll take what you just said

as mere words spoken in anger.

I won't take them to heart.

Don't.

You must take them to heart.

And there's no need to speak of being my brother.

Even between real brothers, accounts must be clear.

What I hate most

are those who gossip behind people's backs,

spreading rumors that I'm a jinx,

that my family is trading favors for marriage,

and that I'm forcing Song Yan to marry me!

Others said those things!

What does that have to do with us?

I never mentioned your name,

so why are you in such a rush to admit it?

-You wretched girl... -Mother!

Changyu,

I don't care what outsiders think.

But the feelings between us all these years—

can they truly be weighed only in silver and gold?

Yes, they can only be weighed that way!

You give me the money, and I give you the betrothal letter.

Don't disgust me with your talk of "feelings."

Raising two pigs would have been better than knowing you!

You...

are nothing but ingrates.

What did you say?

You wretched girl,

watch your mouth!

-You are a pig! -Mother.

-Your whole family are pigs! -Mother.

No wonder you slaughter pigs!

What nonsense is this?

The old saying is right—

spending money on men

only invites divine punishment.

There's still a man lying in the room!

You startled me.

Here.

Those packs must have cost enough

to attract divine punishment, eh?

Changyu.

That young man is awake.

Go and check on him.

Really?

I thought he was a goner!

Mr. Zhao, you're amazing!

You're a miracle worker for all sorts of creatures!

Is that a compliment

or a jab?

You're awake.

I...

I saw you collapsed in the snow,

so I carried you back.

But the one who truly saved you from death's door

is Mr. Zhao.

He changed your clothes too.

This is his home.

He is a doctor.

He treats mules and horses.

People too, of course.

Thank you.

When you carried me back,

did you see anyone else?

Anyone else?

No, it was just you.

There were others buried in that snowdrift?

I'll get you some water.

Here.

Where am I?

This is Xigu Lane, Lin'an Town, Qingping County.

You don't look like you're from around here.

Where are you from?

What's your name?

Did you run into bandits?

I'm Yan Zheng.

"Yan" stands for words,

and "Zheng" for righteousness.

I fled here as a refugee from Chongzhou.

Do you have any other family?

All Solus.

"All Solus"?

Your family isn't surnamed Yan?

Is "All Solus" your stepfather?

I mean,

I'm the only one left in my family.

I'm sorry.

No wonder when I saved you,

you kept calling for your mother.

Mr. Zhao!

What's wrong? What's wrong?

Why is he coughing like this?

I don't know.

I just mentioned his mother,

and he started coughing!

Why did you bring up his mother?

You can't upset the patient at a time like this.

Oh, holy mother.

You just mentioned it too.

Look!

Quick, help him lie down properly.

Yan Zheng?

Yan Zheng?

Yan Zheng?

[Yan]

If he really dies because of my questions,

what should I do?

Even a simple coffin is expensive.

How about

I just dig a pit and bury him?

Changyu,

how about we ask the Heavens?

That works.

Good or bad, let the Heavens decide.

Let's play the straw-snapping game.

If I lose, I'll buy a coffin.

If you lose, I'll dig a pit.

Okay.

Best two out of three.

Three rounds maximum.

Again.

The Heavens said three times,

"Buy a coffin."

My money pouch says...

dig a pit.

Mr. Zhao.

Don't blame yourself if you can't save him.

It's his own fate.

What is this?

My sister is stingy.

The Heavens told her to buy a coffin for that handsome brother,

but she insists on digging a pit just to get by.

I'm not just "getting by."

I even made him a memorial tablet.

Look, "Yan Zheng."

Luckily,

I know how to write both characters.

Throw this unlucky thing away immediately!

That young man has a strong constitution.

Plus, last night

you fed him some hemostatic decoction,

and he coughed up a mouthful of clotted blood.

His life is saved!

That's great!

His life is saved!

His life is saved. His life is saved.

Don't celebrate too early, you two.

From here on, the medicine

will cost more than that coffin.

Changning.

We're having noodles tonight.

Go to the kitchen

and fetch me half a basin of master sauce.

Okay.

Changyu, come here.

What are you thinking?

Changning has always been in poor health

and is still taking medicine.

Where will you get the extra money for his medicine?

Does that young man

have any family left?

He's "all Solus."

-He's what? -He's what?

He said his whole family is dead.

He's the only one left.

He fled here from Chongzhou.

He ran into bandits at Huchakou.

Right now,

I'm afraid he has nowhere else to go.

Does he have

any money on him

or a travel permit?

When I changed his clothes,

I checked everything.

Not a single coin.

Either

the bandits robbed him clean,

or he's just a pauper himself.

How about we carry him to the county government office?

Let the officials decide what to do.

No way.

There are so many beggars lying outside that office.

Have you ever seen them care?

That's right.

If he were dead, we could just bury him.

But since he's alive, we can't just abandon him.

Let him recover here first.

As for money,

I'll figure something out.

[Xigu Lane]

The weather is dry.

Beware of fire hazards!

[Fill Your Belly]

[Fill Your Belly]

Two, four, six, eight, ten.

Five, ten, eleven...

Mother,

if it's really you who wanted me to save him,

should I see it through to the end?

What should I do?

[Lin'an]

[Luo's Pawnshop]

One tael?

This hairpin is made of pure silver!

My father spent almost four taels on it!

Well, this hairpin is indeed silver,

but I can only give you one tael and five mace.

If it weren't for what happened to your family,

you wouldn't get any more than this anywhere...

Wait...

Wait, wait, wait!

Don't go!

We can still negotiate.

Two taels!

Not one coin less!

Alright, come back.

Since we're neighbors in Xigu Lane,

I'll do it to earn some good karma.

Put your fingerprint here.

I'll definitely redeem it.

It's very important to me.

Rest assured.

[One silver hairpin pledged. Two taels of silver granted.]

As if it were a rare treasure.

Go.

Changyu,

you bought pigs.

Fan's Butcher Shop reopens tomorrow.

Everyone, please come and support us!

She's the boss now.

Sure, sure.

Changyu!

Mr. Li?

Are you...

taking over your father's business?

I have to make a living, don't I?

That's the spirit.

Don't listen to what others say.

[Li Deqin, Chef of Yixiang Restaurant]

What's wrong with butchering pigs?

Food makes no distinction between men and women,

and neither does hard work.

Thank you, Mr. Li.

Look.

I used the pig-selecting method my father taught me

to choose these pigs.

Look at this round rump and short tail.

Pigs like this have thick skin and rich fat.

It will be top-quality pork!

Since it's going to be top-quality pork,

how could we not fight for it?

Our Yixiang Restaurant will order half a side!

Thanks, Mr. Li!

-Bye, Mr. Li! -Okay!

Let's go.

Go.

Shoo, shoo, shoo.

Shoo, shoo, shoo.

-Shoo, shoo, shoo. -Changyu!

Back from buying pigs?

Yes.

This pig is so fat.

Shoo, shoo, shoo...

Shoo...

Good little piggies.

Let's not block the way.

Let's go.

Come on. Move!

Hurry up!

Go. Get going. Go.

Come on.

Shoo, shoo, shoo.

Let's go home.

[Are you alright? Please reply promptly.]

[Are you alright? Please reply promptly.]

[Xigu Lane, Lin'an Town, Qingping County]

A white-feathered falcon?

Who threw this?

It hurts like hell!

Where did this stone come from?

Which bastard hit me?

I'll kill him!

Let's go!

You really haven't seen any?

No, I am from this village.

Anyone found sheltering refugees...

will be imprisoned.

Report truthfully.

Rest assured, sir.

-Check over there. -Of course.

-What happened? -Cut the crap!

How many households are left?

Sir,

should I take you to a doctor first?

To hell with the doctor!

You guys check the households ahead!

-Yes! -Yes!

Sir, what's going on?

They're going door to door,

searching for refugees without household registration document.

That scared me.

I thought they were collecting grain tax.

Why the sudden check for refugees?

They're going to arrest all the refugees

and send them to the Chongzhou battlefield.

The war there is critical.

Once taken, they'll be placed in the vanguard battalion.

What's the vanguard battalion?

Is that impressive?

They're sent to die.

Yan Zheng,

do you have a travel permit or household registration document?

Yes.

But I lost them.

You lost them?

Look for them again.

Have you checked your clothes?

When you changed my clothes,

didn't you go through everything on me?

I...

I did that to save you.

Don't misunderstand.

Wait, how did you know?

You...

This isn't the time to talk about this.

If you don't have a travel permit or household registration document,

you'll be taken as a refugee

and sent to die in the vanguard battalion!

What should we do?

The soldiers are coming.

Since the soldiers are here,

I can't stay and cause trouble

for you.

I've got an idea.

There's a place to hide.

Open the door.

Open up!

Open the door!

Community Head, what's going on?

Changyu,

are you the only one home?

Sir, this is the Fan's household.

It's connected to the Zhao family's place.

Are there any strangers staying here?

No.

It's a small town.

Everyone knows each other.

We'd notice even an extra stray cat or dog.

There's no stranger here.

No one.

-No one. -No one.

No one.

Captain!

Captain, look.

What's with

this bloodstained cloth?

Explain!

Who is injured in your house?

No one is injured.

I'm a butcher.

It's a rag for wiping knives.

I just slaughtered a pig a few days ago.

A rag for wiping knives?

You two, guard the front courtyard!

The rest of you,

come with me!

Sir,

the Fan family used to make a living by butchering pigs.

Can a young lady like you

slaughter a pig all by yourself?

Do you know

that hiding refugees is a felony,

tantamount to treason?

Your whole family could be exiled

or conscripted!

Sir,

my parents are dead.

It's just

my younger sister and me in the family.

Changyu.

Come here.

Did you really hide a refugee?

If you harbor anyone,

10 households will be punished together.

You don't want your neighbors

to suffer with you, do you?

If you hand the person over now,

I can still put in a word for you.

We'll say you were coerced by him.

Stand ready!

The soldiers have found you!

Come here.

[Fan]

Sorry, sir!

My sister and I were playing hide-and-seek.

You came so suddenly,

and I didn't have time to call her out of hiding.

No one.

No one.

[Fan]

All right!

Let's go check the next household!

Let's go!

You, go search the pigsty over there.

Yes, sir.

Why do I have to search this?

What is there to search in a lousy pigsty?

Sir, watch out. The pigs bite.

Sir, watch your step— there's pig offal on the ground!

No one here! There's no one here!

Just two pigs!

[Fan]

Changning, go lock the gate.

It's me.

♪ In gold-thread dress, with moth or willow ornaments ♪

I'm coming.

♪ Giggling, she melts into the throng with trails of scents ♪

♪ But in the crowd once and again I look for her in vain ♪

They're all gone.

♪ But in the crowd once and again I look for her in vain ♪

You can relax now.

♪ When all at once I turn my head ♪

♪ I find her there ♪

♪ Where lantern light is dimly shed ♪

♪ But in the crowd once and again I look for her in vain ♪

♪ But in the crowd once and again I look for her in vain ♪

♪ When all at once I turn my head ♪

♪ I find her there ♪

It's okay now.

♪ Where lantern light is dimly shed ♪

[Post-Credits Scene]

-Bravo! -Bravo!

♪ In the depths of winter, snow sweeps across the northern wilderness ♪

[Xiangsheng Troupe]

♪ We first met in that snow when your life hung by a thread ♪

♪ Fated by heaven, bound by two hearts ♪

♪ I vowed to wield the butcher's knife for you ♪

Whose child is this? Get out!

Get out!

Don't come in here! Whose child is this?

♪ Hidden tides surge as spears clash amid the chaos of war ♪

♪ Through life and death, we remain side by side ♪

♪ She exchanges the butcher's knife for a weapon of battle ♪

You naughty kid!

♪ A woman of valor raises her weapon toward the battlefield ♪

Everyone, sorry about that.

Sorry.