Original subtitles

It smells so good.

What's cooking?

I'd really like to have some.

My sister is making a tasty braised dish again.

What is it?

I'm not telling you.

Changning,

tell Mrs. Zhao not to make dinner.

We'll send them noodles with pork intestines.

Go do it now.

You little glutton. Off you go.

Mrs. Zhao,

my sister says you don't need to make dinner today,

since she'll cook noodles with pork intestines for you.

[Pursuit of Jade]

[Episode 2]

Dinner's ready!

Mr. Zhao made you a crutch.

Thanks.

No pig's tail at all.

We're having "meat gourds" today.

I'll braise a pig's tail tomorrow.

Have you forgotten Mom's rules?

Don't be rude. We can't eat until the guest does.

We'll eat after you, sir.

Thanks.

You've been having porridge these days.

Is one bowl of noodles enough for you?

O-One bowl of noodles is...

enough...

You're in recovery.

You should eat more.

Yes, eat more.

Thank you.

Is it good?

Yes, very good.

What exactly...

are "meat gourds"?

Intestines.

Pork intestines.

I was worried you wouldn't like offal.

Seeing how much you enjoy it has put my mind at ease.

Don't worry.

I already got all the pig feces out...

I mean...

I cleaned the intestines thoroughly.

Mr. Zhao likes those that have only been washed once,

saying that feces give them more flavor.

You scared me!

What now?

Do I even need to report to you before I sneeze?

But you gave me a fright!

Could I have controlled it?

Are you done eating?

There's so much left.

A few bites are already enough

for me since I'm weak now.

Are you sure?

Yes, I'm sure.

Had better not to waste it.

Food is precious.

Eat up.

Is this...

what you usually eat?

We don't get to have this every day.

Only when the New Year is approaching

and people start butchering pigs

would they give Changyu some offal.

It's been a long time since I last had noodles with pork intestines.

Thank you for the noodles.

A pig's tail will be served tomorrow,

since Changyu will butcher a pig.

-You know how to butcher pigs? -No.

How is it possible for a delicate and sweet girl

such as myself to butcher pigs?

My sister was running her mouth.

Don't believe it.

You stay here. Keep quiet.

Changning, come here.

Let's play hide-and-seek.

Open the door!

Open up!

She's a pig butcher.

You were a good pig in this life.

Be a good person in the next life!

I'll feed you by butchering pigs!

Changning, time to wash your face!

Come on.

Changyu, where is your silver hairpin?

I pawned it.

You pawned the hairpin Mom gave you?

She would be upset.

Don't worry. I've struck a deal with Mr. Luo.

I'll redeem the hairpin as soon as I earn enough money.

Miss Fan, are you home?

Miss Fan.

Chef Li told me to collect half a pig here.

Got it!

Here's the pay for the pork.

Thanks.

Take care!

Changyu, when did you butcher that pig?

At the crack of dawn.

Stop telling everyone

that I'm a pig butcher.

Changyu, did you pawn the hairpin

to support that handsome young gentleman?

Shh.

Keep it down.

Or people might hear us.

I did it to save his life.

Mrs. Zhao was right.

The cost to support a man is high.

I have to work harder to make more money.

[South Market]

[Meat]

[Fan's Butcher Shop]

You're all sweaty.

Impressive, huh?

Dad, Mom, I brought food.

Look,

you're all sweaty just like your father.

Let's eat.

-Sure. -Yes.

Come on.

These are yours, Dad.

Mom.

Here you are.

How is it, Dad?

Very good.

I really love your cooking.

Changyu.

Are you reopening your family's butcher shop?

Yes.

I'll continue what my parents started.

[Fan's Butcher Shop] [Guo Jiu's Butcher Shop]

Hello, welcome.

How about this piece?

It's fresh.

[Boiled Dough Foods]

I guarantee it's fresh.

[Fan's Butcher Shop]

How much is the offal?

[Meat]

Ma'am,

offal is not sold separately today.

This is the opening day of my shop.

For each catty of pork you buy,

I'll throw in one tael of offal.

First come, first served.

Really? What a bargain.

I'll take... 5 catties of pork belly then.

Coming right up.

Pork belly is 20 maces per catty.

But since you're the first customer today,

I'll lower the price to 18 maces.

You do know how to do business, miss.

I'll buy from you again!

Here you are.

Take your pork.

Great.

And here is your free offal.

Thank you so much.

Here's the pay.

Take it. Thanks.

Do come again!

I will, definitely.

Alright.

How much is this?

The meat is very fresh.

Pork belly is 20 maces per catty today.

I'll take one catty.

For each catty of pork you buy today,

I'll throw in one tael of braised offal.

You can have this for free.

Changyu! Changyu!

Changyu, stop selling pork this way!

Mr. Guo!

[Guo Jiu's Butcher Shop]

One must not break the rules

when doing business, right?

I know this is your shop's opening day.

Why do you have to offer offal for free?

[Guo Jiu's Butcher Shop]

[Meat]

Mr. Guo,

I'm only giving a special offer on this occasion

for good luck.

How am I breaking the rules?

You are, with what you're doing now.

Is anyone else than you giving away free offal?

Enough, Guo Dali.

Why bicker with a young girl?

She's only selling half a pig.

I'm talking to her. How is it involving you now?

[Fan's Butcher Shop]

Yeah, Mr. Guo.

Are you picking on me

because I'm parentless and all by my lonesome?

Exactly!

How can you do this?

It's wrong to bully this young girl.

You're way out of line!

Fine, fine, fine.

Today is an exception then.

Don't throw in offal again tomorrow.

Got it!

This policy was meant to last one day anyway.

Go with it then.

You're a real meddler!

I need to save some for sale later.

Fan's Butcher Shop has just opened!

Buy pork and get free braised offal!

Twenty maces per catty!

Day-fresh pork!

Pork belly is 20 maces per catty today.

How much would you like?

[Fan's Butcher Shop]

I'll take one catty.

One catty, right?

Three catties for me!

Two hundred and seventy.

Two hundred and eighty.

Two hundred and ninety.

Changyu!

Changyu!

[Butcher Shop]

-Mr. Zhao, listen, today, I've earned... -You listen to me first.

Your uncle brought some goons from the gambling house to your place.

They're turning your home upside down for the title deed.

What?

[Butcher Shop]

Filthy scum.

Changyu!

Why are you carrying that knife? Don't make unwise decisions!

[Fan's Butcher Shop]

Oh no. She's going to kill.

Song Yan, open the door!

Song Yan!

Song Yan!

Song Yan!

Song Yan, Fan Erniu and his wife treated you well.

You should come out and defend Changyu!

Song Yan!

Song Yan, open the door!

I know you're in there!

Song Yan!

Song Yan!

Song Yan!

A life is at stake!

Song Yan!

Song Yan!

Sit down.

Focus on your studies.

Mother,

Changyu is in trouble.

I must go help her.

Fan Daniu is Fan Changyu's uncle.

This is essentially

an affair within the Fan family.

What does it have to do with us the Song family?

How can I contribute to the country if I can't even help a family?

Why should I take the imperial exam and strive

to become an official if I just ignore

an ongoing dispute near my doorsteps?

Stepping out of this door

is bidding farewell to scholarly honors and official careers.

Song Yan!

Have you learned nothing from those books?

Do you have no respect

for your father's dignity and pride at all?

Son,

we went to such great lengths

to cancel your engagement to that jinx.

If you stand up for her today,

you'll give a chance to those gossipmongers

to tarnish your reputation, won't you?

Mrs. Zhao, stop yelling.

Song Yan is no longer engaged to Changyu.

Why would he and his mother help her?

Enough, Granny Kang.

Changyu is pitiful just because her parents died?

My mother passed away a long time ago too.

Has anyone pitied me?

Stop it.

Song Yan!

Song Yan, open the door now!

Mrs. Zhao! Mrs. Zhao!

What's going on with Changning?

She's been gasping for breath.

Changning!

Changning!

Don't be afraid.

Sniff it. Nice and slow.

No rush.

Changyu's here.

She's even carrying a knife.

She's not going to kill, is she?

Shortly after her father's death,

her uncle's already trying to seize her and her sister's property.

Even a rabbit will bite when cornered.

Changning,

-Are you alright? -Changyu.

Mrs. Zhuang, Mrs. Zhao,

take care of Changning for me.

Sure.

Let's go.

Let's see if we can help.

Stop what you're doing!

Changyu, you're finally back.

[Jin Yuanbao]

You're back, Miss Fan.

Take your men...

and get out of here.

Things work by certain rules in the gambling house.

Fan Daniu claimed this house to be his,

so I came to look for the title deed,

with which he'll pay his gambling debts.

You told them you owned this house?

Changyu...

I didn't have a better choice.

M-M-My dear niece,

please do your uncle a favor.

[Fill Your Belly]

Please give them the house to pay off my debts.

I promise I will

treat you and Changning

like my own daughters from now on.

Alright?

Why not give them your house instead?

But where are my wife and I

supposed to live that way?

Changning and you will both get married in the future.

This house will be of no use to you then.

What Changning and I do with the stuff left by our parents

is none of your business.

Did you hear that?

He doesn't own this house.

I'm your uncle. I...

Come here!

Come here!

-Mr. Jin, Mr. Jin... -Don't move!

Mr. Jin!

If you don't give me the title deed today,

I'll have to chop off a hand of his

and show it to the brass.

I'll count to three.

One.

Two.

Use this cleaver.

It's sharp.

One chop's enough to cut off

the skin, flesh, muscles and bones.

It'll spare my uncle from some suffering.

You... You...

You're joking, right?

You started this joke first.

Fan Changyu!

Your parents both died because you're a jinx!

Are you also going to have me, your own uncle, killed now?

Nobody wants you, little miss. Even your fiancé ditched you.

How dare you keep this house as your dowry?

[Fill Your Belly]

Will any man put his life at risk

and marry you, a jinx?

You...

get out of my sight right now.

Otherwise, unlike them, I won't take your hand,

but your life!

I'll kill you first,

and then myself as an apology to my parents!

Miss Fan,

we from the gambling house are reasonable people.

The Legal Code of Great Yin

says that the property of a citizen who has no male heir

should be inherited by the closest kin, such as brothers.

Even if you take this matter to the magistrate's office,

this house will be awarded to Fan Daniu the same.

That's right.

Those from the gambling house are truly reasonable.

Now that the Legal Code of Great Yin also supports that I have this house,

what are you lot waiting for?

Continue to...

look for the title deed for Mr. Jin!

[Fill Your Belly]

Search carefully.

[Memorial Tablet of Meng Lihua] [Memorial Tablet of Fan Erniu]

Dad,

if I defiantly break your rules,

please don't be mad.

Changning!

Turn around and count to ten.

One.

[Fill Your Belly]

[Fill Your Belly]

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Seven.

Will you go away or not?

Eight.

You idiots. Team up and attack her!

Nine.

I've only counted to nine.

I might as well quit this business

if I let a young girl beat me down!

Watch out!

You're ganging up on a parentless girl in broad daylight!

Where is your...

My Lord.

All the damaged items are recorded here.

Pay for these,

and this matter will be settled.

Jin Yuanbao,

you're 27 years old now, aren't you?

Instead of raising a family and pursuing a career,

you're stirring up trouble all the time.

Can you face your grandmother?

W-We'll pay for her losses.

Then who will pay for our medical bills?

The four muscular men of you were defeated by a woman.

I...

And you have the gall to ask her to foot your medical bills?

Get lost now.

Wait!

[Memorial Tablet of Meng Lihua] [Memorial Tablet of Fan Erniu]

You knocked over my parents' memorial tablets.

You can't leave until you apologize.

Officer,

I should be the owner of this house.

If you have problems about its ownership,

then write a complaint and submit it to the magistrate's office.

I...

For damaging these memorial tablets,

you'll be flogged 20 times

if she decides to sue you.

Mr. Fan Erniu,

Ms. Meng Lihua,

we're sorry.

We're sorry.

Please forgive us.

We apologize!

[Memorial Tablet of Meng Lihua] [Memorial Tablet of Fan Erniu]

We apologize!

We apologize.

I'll leave this money here.

You may go now.

Come on. A word in private.

-Go! -Mr. Jin, Mr. Jin...

Mr. Jin.

Mr. Jin!

Keep this safe for your sister.

I knew it was right

to ask you to come over.

Though Fan Erniu is gone forever,

your friendship with him remains.

But I'm afraid Fan Daniu won't stop

fighting for this house.

Changyu.

Changyu!

A young girl has to sustain an entire household alone...

How unfortunate.

[Memorial Tablet of Meng Lihua]

Dad,

you told me to never let anyone see me use

[Memorial Tablet of Fan Erniu]

the long-handled blade techniques you taught me

except in the face of imminent danger.

But I disobeyed your order today.

I beg for your forgiveness, Dad, Mom.

I'm sure your father will forgive you.

You're severely injured.

Why did you come out

instead of resting inside?

There was too much noise.

I thought I'd come out for a look.

[Memorial Tablet of Meng Lihua] [Memorial Tablet of Fan Erniu]

"Fan Erniu..."

So your father was not only a butcher,

but also a martial practitioner.

You heard all that?

Before my father became a butcher,

he worked as an armed escort.

Your mother was named Meng Lihua.

Was that her real name?

Yes. My mother was amazing.

She was literate.

She composed fragrances.

The other butchers

and their homes reek

when pigs are slaughtered.

But my home is an exception.

All our washed clothes would be scented

with the incense made by my mother

to purge all the bad odors.

Folks,

there's nothing to see here.

Stop watching, folks.

Dismissed!

-Leave! -Go home!

Thank you.

Today, those people were in the wrong.

But they did make a point.

If Fan Daniu really files a complaint,

Changyu will probably lose her house.

Is there anything we can do?

Changyu and her sister are all by themselves.

You must help them.

I didn't say I wouldn't help.

There is actually a solution.

[Memorial Tablet of Meng Lihua] [Memorial Tablet of Fan Erniu]

How did your parents pass away?

They met bandits.

My father's throat was slit.

He died on the spot.

My mother was drawing her last breath when she was brought home.

She hung in there for six to eight whole hours

just to speak to me and my sister.

But she didn't manage to say a single word.

All she could do was give me the hairpin she was holding.

Your parents definitely won't blame you.

This gauze isn't stained with blood.

It's clean.

Thanks.

Unlike me, at least

your parents were with you when you grew up.

At least you still have your sister,

your own flesh and blood.

At least...

you still have your home where you've lived for many years.

By contrast, my parents

were gone when I was little.

How did they pass away?

War took their lives.

Well, as parentless children,

we shouldn't be comparing our miseries.

Sorry.

I reminded you of your painful past.

You've figured out the truth now.

I'm just a butcher with brute strength.

Laugh if you want.

You not only saved my life,

but also have been trying to raise money

to provide for me.

Wouldn't it make me an ingrate

to laugh at you?

Changyu! Changyu!

Mrs. Zhao wants to see you.

Don't tell anyone I cried.

Let's go.

Careful.

Will he get well?

Will he fully recover?

At worst, there might be lingering issues in his legs.

His other body parts will be fine.

Mr. Zhao, Mrs. Zhao!

There you are, Changyu.

Come on in.

We'd like to discuss something with you.

Look at the snow on your head.

What's the matter?

Why so mysterious?

Mrs. Zhao, just speak your mind.

I'll do whatever you say.

Have a matrilocal husband?

It's Constable Wang's idea.

Best advice ever.

Look, this way,

there will be a male heir to your father,

and you can keep your house.

Fan Daniu won't be able to snatch it away.

This house is all

your parents left for you and your sister.

If it's gone,

how are you supposed to live?

Yeah. Parents usually choose husbands

carefully for their daughters.

Changyu really lives a bitter life.

What decent young man would agree to be a matrilocal husband?

Extreme conditions call for extreme solutions, right?

Changyu has to find a matrilocal husband

if she is to keep her house.

What's a matrilocal husband?

That refers to...

a man who your sister

will spend the rest of her life with,

and who can take care of you and her.

Then I want that handsome young gentleman to be this man.

Not him!

Why not?

Based on my ten-odd years of matchmaking experience,

I can tell he's a decent fellow.

Mrs. Zhao, as you just said,

what decent young fellow would agree to be a matrilocal husband?

My wife has been a matchmaker for over a decade.

She's seen more young men than you've seen pigs.

You should take her expert advice on this.

Besides, Chongzhou is an active combat zone now.

I heard the military would launch a recruitment again.

Every family's hurrying to arrange marriages now,

just to ensure they have heirs.

Finding a matrilocal husband

is even harder than reaching the heavens!

Yan Zheng can't be my husband.

Why can't he?

He just can't!

But why?

He...

Alright. Keep it down.

Yan Zheng

is badly injured

and will probably have trouble with his legs after he recovers.

He even doesn't have identity papers or travel permits.

Nonetheless,

the silver lining

is that he's a choice within your reach!

Right?

Changyu, this is a win-win opportunity

for both of you.

Neither of you are taking advantage of each other.

-But... -My wife's right.

You just promised to do

whatever I say.

Mrs. Zhao...

Knock it off!

Mr. Zhao.

I know you both want what's the best for Changning and me.

But please let me mull it over.

What is there to think about?

-Changyu. -Changyu!

-Changyu! -Changyu!

Why are you sighing?

Changyu,

tell me what you think

is wrong with that lad.

Do you mean...

he can't perform in bed?

Don't worry.

I'll ask my husband

if there's a cure.

That's not what I mean.

Don't read too much into it.

What if Yan Zheng rejects this proposal?

You're a beautiful young lady who can provide for the family

by butchering pigs.

Who is he to turn you down?

Besides, he doesn't have identity papers or travel permits.

If he marries you,

at least he won't be taken for a refugee

and sent to the Vanguard Battalion.

How can I force him to be a matrilocal husband

after I just saved him?

It's blackmail through owed favors.

His opinion aside,

he'll inevitably

become the same as Song Yan over time.

Scholars always betray those who love them.

But Yan Zheng is not a scholar.

He's nothing like that ingrate Song Yan.

Mrs. Zhao,

Yan Zheng...

is like a piece of tallow white jade

that I stumbled upon in the snow—

beautiful,

lustrous,

and valuable.

But I don't own this jade piece,

not even if it's carved

with my name on it.

Then put your name on it and keep it for yourself for now.

If anyone comes looking for it,

we'll return it.

Yan Zheng already said

that he'd leave upon recovery.

When he has a wonderful girl like you as his wife

and leads a stable life here,

will he ever want to leave?

He'll probably stick around even if you tell him to go!

My dearest Mrs. Zhao,

it's not a good idea to coerce him into marrying a butcher.

Forced fruit is never sweet.

It doesn't matter, as long as it quenches your thirst.

If Yan Zheng dares to say no,

I'll toss him out!

If you had saved a donkey,

it'd pull the millstone for you.

I'll talk to him if you don't.

Don't!

I'll talk to him myself.

Is something up?

Come in and talk.

I...

I'm wondering...

I'm wondering if I can do laundry for you!

But those are...

You're welcome!

Those are clean clothes.

Where did these clothes come from?

I snatched them.

I'm going to wash them.

Let me help, Changyu.

Here you are.

Yan Zheng...

Would you be my...

matrilocal husband?

When I recover and leave,

I'll pay you money.

But I don't want money.

I want you.

If you refuse,

I'll beat you up!

Then you'd better kill me.

Or you'll have to pay extra to get me medical help.

You...

Don't squeal, piggy.

Be serious.

You're now acting as Yan Zheng.

Focus.

Uncle didn't get the title deed yesterday.

He'll probably lodge

a complaint with the magistrate's office.

To keep this house,

my only option

is to find a matrilocal husband.

Mom and Dad are dead.

This house is the only thing they left.

I can't lose it. It's not only for my sake,

but also for Changning's sake.

I'm not forcing you to marry into the Fan family.

I'm just...

asking.

Dry weather!

Beware of fire!

Come in.

Mr. Zhao and Mrs. Zhao are both asleep.

I was worried no one would serve you tea.

You'd easily get chilly after losing blood.

That tea has turned cold.

Don't drink it.

I made you some soup.

Thank you.

This is...

Pork liver soup. It helps replenish blood.

One bucket of offal was left from yesterday,

so I made this soup for you with it.

It's a bit hot.

I'll eat it later.

You hate offal, don't you?

You had only a few bites of the noodles

with pork intestines yesterday.

You also dislike this pork liver soup, right?

I wouldn't say I dislike it.

I'm just...

not used to it.

But...

I'm not able to offer anything better.

Pork liver soup helps replenish blood.

It's good for your health.

Just pretend it's medicine and eat it.

I'll leave you to it.

Miss Fan.

I'll do as you said.

Then eat it while it's hot.

No, I mean...

I agree to be...

your matrilocal husband.

Great.

If you stay,

I'll feed you by butchering pigs.