Original subtitles

[The Heir]

[Episode 2]

We saved for a lifetime.

And in an instant...

it's all gone.

Mother, don't be afraid.

I'll go find work in a few days.

I won't let you and Zhen suffer.

Zhengliang, you've grown up.

Mother, where will we go?

Let's find a place nearby to settle down first.

With your father's health...

Father.

Mother.

Your things.

Thank you, Zhen.

Not only did you of the Eighth Branch

take a life from the Li family,

but you also want to take treasures too?

This is the bone-paring knife from my dowry.

It's my own possession.

But since it was a dowry,

it belongs to the Li family.

It's just a worldly possession.

I can do without it!

Let's go.

Father.

Father.

Let's go.

Sister-in-law,

Jingfu,

please wait!

Mother sent me here

to bring you some things.

These are for the children.

This is...

These are the birthday inksticks

I made for Zhen and Zhengliang.

The birthday inksticks for the kids of the Li family

are all kept with Aunt Junru.

It's kind of Seventh Aunt to remember.

Thank you for your trouble.

Jingfu.

This is the portrait of our ancestor,

Li Tinggui.

Take it with you.

Although you have left the Li family,

Mother hopes you will not forget

that your roots will always be here.

Sister-in-law,

this is for you.

Sister-in-law,

I...

Thank you, Sister-in-law.

Mother also asked me to pass on a message.

As long as there is food, there is a way.

Keep your spirits up.

Don't lose hope.

Come quickly!

Stop it!

What is this nonsense?

Benchang is leading Ronghua to steal things!

What is going on here?

Mother,

[The eldest son of the Tian family, Tian Benchang]

something happened to Zhen's family.

The whole family was kicked out.

I thought,

since our family has always been close to the Eighth Branch,

[The head of the Tian family, Tian Huai'an]

we should help them.

Mother, don't misunderstand.

Ronghua and I

saved these things ourselves.

We didn't take them from the family.

You can't use your own savings either.

Things are different now.

The Eighth Branch has been removed from the family register

[Daughter of the Tian family, Tian Ronghua]

and disowned.

They will be nothing but destitute in the future.

[Mistress of the Tian family, Wang Xiu]

I won't allow you to help them.

Zhen grew up playing with Hua and me.

She never looked down on us.

Do you dare talk back to me?

That's enough.

I think

Chang made a good point.

You are kind and righteous.

I am very pleased.

Ronghua, girls should stay at home.

Chang, go deliver your gift quickly.

Be quick.

Okay.

Stop.

Why are you running?

At a time like this,

you still want to go out?

Father.

I want to visit a friend.

You can't go.

Father,

I beg you.

Keep an eye on him.

Once the sedan and horses are ready,

you'll leave immediately.

Father!

Where are you running to?

Brother!

Brother, put me down.

I have something to tell you.

Really?

You have a lot going on for your age.

Speak.

I...

About that girl?

How about this?

If I find out anything about her,

I'll send letters to the Capital. Is that okay?

Really?

Why would I lie to you about this?

Anything else?

Brother,

actually, I don't want to go to the Capital at all.

I don't want to study,

and I certainly don't want to be an official.

There's nothing there.

No one to talk to,

no one to play with.

Everything I do is wrong.

Father and my teacher

never smile at me.

If one day Father laughed with you,

wouldn't you be scared?

Brother,

I know Father means well,

but if I don't want to do something,

I just don't want to do it.

Then what do you want to do?

I...

I haven't decided yet.

But Li Zhen said I could be a traveling merchant.

What others say doesn't count.

If a person

wants to do something,

you have to ask yourself if you really want to do it.

Let me tell you,

first of all,

I

absolutely support you

in doing what you want.

But

you must first know what you want to do.

How can you know what you want to do?

You need to broaden your horizons.

Huizhou is small.

The Capital is big.

It has so many people.

You need to know what those people

do every day,

eat every day,

and think about every day.

When you understand it all,

you'll suddenly realize one day,

"This is what I want to do!"

Do you understand?

I understand.

Brother.

I want to make more friends

and see the wider world.

When I get to the Capital,

if I have no one to talk to,

I'll write to you,

okay?

Don't.

I don't have time

to read your naggy letter.

Brother.

How about this?

After a few days,

I have a batch of ink to deliver to the north.

If I have time,

I'll visit you in the Capital.

I don't want you to visit.

If not me, then who?

What's wrong?

What's wrong?

Brother,

I think my tooth fell out.

It really did.

According to the ink guild rules,

this tooth should be inspected by the Grandmaster.

You don't study ink making.

Why show it to him?

Upper or lower tooth?

Upper.

Let me see.

Come with me.

I never cared

about the rules,

but I still made Luo Ink into Tribute Ink.

You should be the same.

Do what you want with all your heart.

Forget the family rules.

One day,

I will make Luo Ink

the best of Hui Ink.

If you go into business when you grow up,

help me

open Luo Ink shops all over the world.

Deal?

Deal.

Then...

let's go.

Let's go!

[Boya Garden]

Young Master, hurry.

Father, Mother,

I've asked around.

The city gate has a butcher shop,

a tofu shop,

a clinic,

and a food stall.

The food stall's owner is Mr. Shui.

He's very nice.

He's an old acquaintance of Grandpa too.

Zhen is back?

Here,

for you.

[Just like pine smoke]

-Jingfu! -Father!

-Jingfu! -Father!

-Jingfu! -Father!

Father!

Jingfu! Jingfu!

Doctor,

is my son's condition serious?

The patient was already suffering from tuberculosis

and his body was severely weakened.

Recently,

he must have

suffered some hardships.

Coupled with excessive worry,

it accelerated his illness.

Doctor, just tell us,

how do we treat it?

My medical skills are lacking.

I really can't do anything.

If you could invite the miracle doctor, Old Master Xue,

there might still be hope.

But Old Master Xue is renowned.

I'm afraid only wealthy families can invite him.

I'll take my leave.

Mother, I'll go to Seventh Grandmother.

She won't just sit by and watch.

I'll go with Zhen.

Help!

Open the door! Is anyone there?

Is anyone there? Please save my father!

Young Master Zhengliang,

Miss Zhen, why are you here?

Mr. Zhou,

my father is seriously ill.

We need Seventh Grandmother to invite Old Master Xue.

Please let us see Seventh Grandmother.

Mr. Zhou, I beg you.

Please save my father.

All right.

I'll go in and announce you.

Wait a moment.

Halt.

You can't go.

Please come out!

Third Master Chen has already invited Doctor Xue over.

He should be fine now.

That Tian Jiangyue.

It's a matter of life and death.

How dare she do such a thing?

Doctor Xue,

how is he?

Seventh Old Madam, First Young Mistress,

I was a step too late.

If strong medicine had been administered earlier,

perhaps he could have pulled through.

In the end...

it's too late.

Jingfu?

Jingfu?

My son,

I don't blame you.

I don't blame you.

Jingfu.

Jingfu.

Didn't you say you'd take us back to Yi County?

You said that was where I grew up.

You promised us.

Father.

Jingfu,

if you leave,

who will take care of Zhen, Zhengliang, and me?

Jingfu!

Father,

didn't Doctor Xue come?

He can definitely cure you.

Father!

Jingfu!

Jingfu!

[Li Jingfu's Tomb]

Mother,

just because our names were removed from the family register,

does that mean we're no longer part of the Li family?

Even if we aren't family,

as one human to another,

how could they just watch him die?

Zhen.

Everyone is different.

But we can't control others.

We must conduct ourselves

so we can answer to heaven and earth,

and to our own consciences.

From today on,

forget about that home.

This is our home now.

Do you understand?

Yes.

Alright.

Don't cry.

Stop crying.

Tomorrow,

I'll set up a silkworm bed here.

Let's raise silkworms.

When the silkworms grow up

and spin their cocoons,

I can make a new outfit for you

and a new pair of shoes for your brother.

But you have to help me pick mulberry leaves.

Okay?

Okay.

We'll also put a bamboo bed

outside the house.

We can watch the moon in autumn, the snow in the winter,

and enjoy the cool air in the summer.

We can even watch fireflies.

Look.

There's an empty plot there.

I plan on growing some vegetables

and raising some chickens, ducks, and geese.

I'll also plant some balsam flowers

outside the courtyard wall

to paint your nails.

Mother.

I want to eat grapes.

Sure.

Then...

Outside,

we'll set up a trellis

and grow grapes for you.

Mother,

will everything you just said

really come true?

Of course.

It definitely will.

I promise you.

Come on.

[Ten years later]

Zhen,

are you up yet?

I've been up for a while!

Zhen,

there are two boiled eggs on the table.

Take them with you to eat on the road.

Grandpa!

Going to work?

Here, leave it to me.

You go to work. Be a good girl.

Give it to me.

Hurry up.

Zhen, let me do it.

Go to work.

Grandpa, let me do it.

Why haven't you left for work yet?

I still have some time.

Go to work.

Got it.

Grandpa, Mother, I'm leaving.

Eat lunch without me.

I have to work at the silk shop this afternoon.

Be careful on the road.

Say hello to Mr. Shui for me.

Mr. Wu!

Going out, Zhen?

Going to work.

Catch me!

Catch me!

Slow down.

Slow down.

Zhen is here?

Morning!

Morning.

Mr. Shui.

Morning!

Morning.

Zhen.

Morning.

Zhen.

Here, collect the tea leaves.

Okay!

Did you see it today?

The Ten-li Bridal Procession

was spectacular.

I think in Huizhou, it's called...

Full Phoenix Procession.

Is that it?

Yes, exactly.

That's right!

Miss,

what kind of family

can use this Full Phoenix Procession?

Are there any rules?

When a Huizhou woman marries,

they dig a well at the groom's house.

Those with wealth and means

provide a 480-piece Full Phoenix Procession.

It's to give their daughter support

when living in her husband's home.

It means all her future expenses

are covered by her maiden family,

so she won't have to be subservient

or live at anyone's mercy.

Server, a pot of tea.

Coming!

Mr. Shui,

I'll take care of him.

Okay.

Sir, what would you like to drink?

What do you recommend?

Why don't you try

our new Xianchun tea?

Sure, I'll have a pot of Xianchun.

Sir,

you're from Yangzhou, aren't you?

How did you know I'm from Yangzhou?

Sesame candy is a Yangzhou specialty.

Besides, people from Yangzhou

love having "meat tea",

pairing tea with savory snacks.

I just put two and two together.

Young lady,

you really are knowledgeable.

Here is your Xianchun tea.

Let it steep for a while before drinking.

Okay.

Here, let me help you.

No, no, no need.

I've got it.

Just a quick helping hand.

Thank you.

Sir,

you're in the fur business, aren't you?

Exactly.

These are all goods I imported from Qingyang.

Speaking of the fur business,

the biggest boss in Huizhou is Jiao Ke.

Have you visited him before?

You mean Boss Jiao?

I know of him,

but he only deals in bulk.

Small merchants like me

are nothing to him.

Even if I went there,

I wouldn't be able to get any goods.

I actually have a way

that might allow you

to get goods from Boss Jiao.

Really?

But some things

are hard to say out loud.

I understand, I understand.

Miss,

give me a pot of your most expensive tea,

the Shexian Lianxin Tea.

Coming right up.

Mr. Shui,

Get a pot of Shexian Lianxin Tea!

Coming.

This Boss Jiao

has a mistress

in the west of the city,

This woman

often brings back some furs to sell.

Why don't you

go check her place out?

Thank you, Miss.

You're welcome.

Wait a moment.

Okay.

Take it.

Mr. Shui,

why are you giving me so much?

If it weren't for you,

my Shexian Lianxin Tea

would mold before it could sell.

Then,

I'll accept it.

Take it, take it.

Child,

let me say a bit more.

You're marrying into the newly noble Tian family.

Your dowry cannot be shabby.

Has your family prepared a Full Phoenix Procession for you?

Mr. Shui,

I don't care about those things.

Marriage is about

marrying a person, not things.

Besides,

I have Benchang,

Mom, Grandpa, and my brother.

They are my true backing.

Well said.

Our Zhen

has plenty of confidence.

You're my backing too!

Mother,

here.

Why is there more than usual today?

This morning,

[The eldest son of the Li Family's Eighth Branch, Li Zhengliang]

the prefect held a birthday banquet

and many guests got drunk.

I made over a dozen trips with the sedan chair.

I split the earnings with Zhou.

After deducting the sedan rental fee,

this is what is left.

That is wonderful.

The Captain's daughter-in-law is giving birth soon.

I spoke with the steward.

to help in the kitchen during the full month banquet.

and earn some extra money.

Even if we cannot afford

half a Phoenix Procession,

it will still help with expenses later.

We will not let Zhen suffer.

Right.

Grandpa.

Father.

Father.

What... what is this?

Zhen is getting married.

I have to support her too.

Grandpa,

where did you get so much money?

Chen San is opening a new shop.

I forced him to only use my tables and chairs.

He paid me in advance.

I have to rush these next few days

to get it done for him.

Mother, I will go help.

Take care of Grandpa.

Mr. Shui,

is Zhen here?

Yes.

[Daughter of the Tian family, Tian Ronghua]

Sister-in-law.

Who told you to call me that?

Stop it.

My good sister-in-law,

what magic spell did you cast on my brother?

After he returned from delivering bamboo shoots to you that day,

he kept pestering Mother,

telling her to set the wedding date immediately.

As for him,

he just buried himself in the ink workshop.

He eats and sleeps there,

not coming out day or night.

So,

you know everything?

I know what I need to know.

The shops don't look busy right now.

Let's go to the jewelry shop

and pick out some headpieces and hairpins

for you to wear at the wedding.

I am not going.

First, over the years,

I have saved up quite a few hairpins.

They are enough.

Second,

I have a lot of expenses right now.

I cannot spend money recklessly.

What do you need so much money for?

Let me list them for you.

Our roof is leaking,

so I have to fix it.

Buying medicine for Grandpa costs money too.

As for my brother,

it looks like he has found someone.

I have to save some for him too.

We cannot let others look down on him, right?

And the family needs

money to buy silkworms and plant mulberry trees

to make good fabric for my mother.

She would never bear to buy it for herself.

And...

Zhen,

you are amazing.

It's nothing.

You know how hard

it's been for our family these years.

Not just me,

but Grandpa, Mother, and my brother

are all like this.

We plan carefully and look out for each other.

That's how we get by.

No wonder my brother is determined to marry you.

A housekeeper wife as capable as you

can't be found anywhere else in Huizhou.

No way.

I have to be on my best behavior too.

Otherwise, after you marry in,

you'll probably start bossing me around too.

Hua,

you're starting up again, aren't you?

I'm gonna get you!

You run pretty fast.

You greedy girl.

Grandpa and your brother aren't back yet.

Don't steal food.

I only had one piece.

Zhen,

that Benchang

is always bringing things over.

And now,

why are you even letting him

chop the wood?

I didn't force him.

He insisted.

He said my brother is too busy working,

so he insisted on coming with me.

This is for you.

Zhen,

[The eldest son of the Tian Family, Tian Benchang]

is this...

When children of the Ink Guild marry,

exchanging the birthday inkstick is seen as a vow.

Since we are engaged,

my birthday inkstick

naturally belongs to you.

Zhen,

from now on,

I will carry it with me every day

and cherish it.

I almost forgot to tell you something.

This is the ink order I negotiated with Registrar Zhang today.

Once this order is filled,

my family's ink workshop will be on track,

and I can give you a better life.

Such a large order...

Given the current scale of your workshop,

isn't it a bit too rushed?

The new lampblack shed is already being built.

The schedule is tight,

but for you

and our future,

I have to take the chance.

But don't worry.

It's a bit risky,

but I will make sure this order

is delivered smoothly,

and then I'll give you a grand wedding.

I'll be waiting.

I'm off then.

Take care on the way.

Master Liu,

how is the quality of this batch of lampblack?

[Lampblack: a charcoal ash used for making ink. It's from ash collected from burning material.]

Uneven texture,

inconsistent color.

All low grade.

How is that possible?

The lampblack collection process is simple.

The workers are all experienced masters.

I screened the raw materials myself

and I supervised the work.

There shouldn't be any problems.

In your opinion,

where does the problem lie?

Did you build this new shed

strictly according to the specifications?

It was built to scale based on the dimensions

of the Luo Ink sheds.

That's strange.

If it's an exact replica of the Luo family's shed,

the product shouldn't

all be of low grade.

Master Liu,

why don't we produce another batch and see?

The workshop has an order waiting to be fulfilled.

What did you agree to?

When is the delivery date

for Registrar Zhang's order?

Five hundred sticks

of medium-quality ink a month later.

A month?

Mr. Tian,

at this rate,

I'm afraid you won't make it.

Let me ask you,

how much is the penalty

for a late delivery?

Ten times.

Ten times?

Even mortgaging our entire ink workshop

wouldn't be enough to cover that.

We only have one option left.

We must beg Young Master Wensong.

We're learning the Luo Ink method, after all.

Besides,

Master Luo

wrote from the capital recently.

He agreed to Young Master Luo and Ronghua's marriage.

Ronghua's marriage?

Don't worry about that.

As long as we tell him the truth,

he might be willing to help.

Where did it go wrong?

[Jingxin Hall]

Aunt, Wensong is here to see you.

What do you want?

Aunt,

I'm using the newly acquired thousand-year pine soot

to develop new tribute ink,

but the mixing keeps failing,

so I came to ask for your advice.

I taught you everything

when you were young.

I have nothing left to teach.

This tribute ink matter

concerns the future of the Luo family.

Could you...

Say no more.

[Luo Hanqiong's sister Luo Mengzhen]

I can't help you.

Aunt,

I'm in charge of the Luo family now.

If I can't develop the tribute ink,

how will the Luo family stand

in the Huizhou ink industry?

I beg you.

Please help me.

Since the day I was widowed before marriage,

the Luo family and I

have had nothing to do with each other.

Leave.

I won't get up unless you help me.

If you don't leave,

don't ever

come back again.

Young Master.

Young Master.

The Tians are here again.

What for?

He says there's a problem with the shed dimensions you taught him.

A problem with what I taught him?

That's what he said.

Useless.

I won't see them.

Okay,

I'll tell them to get lost.

Ping'an!

What is it, Young Master?

Is the marriage between Tian Benchang

and the girl from the Li family's Eighth Branch settled?

Yes.

Call them in.

Yes, sir.

Young Master,

what is the meaning of this?

You produced such inferior lampblack,

yet you dare claim it was made according to

the specifications of my Luo Ink sheds?

Young Master,

please don't be angry.

We were just afraid of

tarnishing the Luo Ink's reputation,

so we came to ask for your guidance.

My father values old ties.

He removed the Tian family's slave status

and let you use the Luo family's techniques

to do some small business.

But look at you.

Instead of putting any effort

into figuring out how to make good ink,

you cut corners

and use Luo family products to swindle others.

How dare you ask me for guidance?

Young Master,

look,

we're about to become one family.

How are we family?

Didn't Master Luo

send a letter from the capital?

He tacitly approved your marriage to Hua.

Hua is indeed

a gentle child.

Rest assured,

she will take good care of you after the marriage

and share your burdens.

You've really calculated this well.

You send your son to marry an outcast of the Li family,

and then shove your daughter onto me.

You two

keep talking about devotion to ink,

but what are you actually doing?

As long as you can protect the Tian family's interests,

you'll do anything.

Hey—

Father!

Young Master,

don't be angry.

Please show some mercy

and help us.

Fine.

Tian Benchang.

Go to the Li family

and borrow their ink formula

for me to take a look.

That's impossible!

That is the Li family's secret formula.

How could they lend it to outsiders?

Didn't your father just say

that once you marry the Li girl,

you'll be one family?

How are you outsiders then?

I, Luo Wensong, always keep my word,

and I keep kindness and grudges distinct.

As long as you can bring me that formula,

I will not only help you build the shed,

but I will also take your family's ink making

to the next level.

I'll let you see

what true ink making is.

But if you can't borrow it,

Tian Huai'an,

even if you marry your daughter over,

I can still divorce her.

Luo Wensong,

you've gone too far!

Chang.

You—

Father!

Get out.

It's already—

You... Never mind.

Young Master,

I understand

what you mean.

Leave this matter

to me.

Father,

why did you agree to him?

I can't possibly bring this up with Li Zhen.

Useless fool.

Can't you tell?

This concerns the very survival of our ink workshop.

Now, even your sister's marriage

is involved in this.

And you're too embarrassed to speak up?

Do you want to ruin both things?

I never thought Ronghua's marriage to him was appropriate.

Luo Wensong's two previous wives

both died young.

People say he's cursed to be a widower.

Besides, he has a terrible temper.

If Ronghua marries him,

she will never have a good life.

What do you know?

The Luo family is prestigious and wealthy.

Hua will be

marrying up.

We should be thanking our lucky stars

and you're unhappy about it?

If you continue to be this muddled,

I will go to the Li family right now

and call off your marriage

to Zhen.

Listen to me.

I'll tell you

my plan.

All these years,

I had you get close to the Li family's Eighth Branch

wasn't just to offer help in their hour of need

when they were at their lowest.

Since you were young,

I saw that you were kind, righteous,

and capable of achieving great things.

That's why I faciliated your marriage with Zhen.

I want more than you do,

and I think further ahead than you.

There are so many ink experts in Huizhou,

all with deep pockets

and generations of heritage.

But our Tian family

entered the ink industry empty-handed.

Every step we take

must be carved out for ourselves.

You don't understand

the dangers at every turn,

but I must consider

the future of our family.

That's why I'm having you marry Li Zhen,

and that's why I'm having Hua marry Master Luo.

It's all part of the same plan.

Think about it carefully.

Don't come back until you figure it out.