Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available.]

Chef Fang

Episode 13

Fairness to all

Jie.

Why are you here?

We saw the bulletin just now.

What’s wrong?

Anything happened?

There were children in surrounding cities missing.

It’s even shocked the imperial court.

So serious?

The senior decrees we solve the case as soon as possible.

But we have no clue.

Look. Your father is worrying about it.

Yishao, we’d better not go in

and get scolded by father.

How about I make dumplings?

Father is far too busy to have lunch.

Let’s bring him some dumplings.

Alright.

Jie.

Tell my father we come when it’s convenient.

No problem. But…

I’ll make dumplings for you

and the officers, too.

OK. For your dumplings,

we’d bust a gut solving the cases.

Goodness. All that you are thinking of is food.

You don’t care because it’s not my wife.

How many dumplings does she have to make

to feed so many constables here?

Shitou and Lian will help me.

Moreover, you will help me, too.

Fine then.

Some are robbing the rich and assisting the poor.

Some are taking risks

because they can’t live.

In my opinion, thieves and robbers

can be forgiven.

But children traffickers

are intolerable.

They will pay for it.

You are right.

Children at six or seven in age have memories.

After being abducted and sold,

they still remember their biological parents.

Part for ever. It’s outrageous.

My Lady.

You’ve mentioned that Master Mo has a kid.

How old is he? He should be taken good care of.

Don’t let them take him.

Dongdong?

He is so quick-witted.

No one can abduct him.

They should avoid him.

My Lady, is the stuffing alright?

Yes, it’s alright.

Municipal Government of Dongxiang

Mr. and Mrs. Shen are here.

Why are you running?

What’s wrong?

I’ve told you to wait at the gate.

What are you shouting at?

And you.

You can just run.

But take the food before you do.

Silly. Good for nothing.

Yong, Yishao, there you are.

Hurry. Take the food.

Yes.

You have no manners.

Jie. Go have lunch.

We will bring it to father.

Thank you.

Father.

Father.

Leave it and have lunch.

I’d like to finish them first.

Father, you’d eat first.

It wouldn’t taste good if it cools.

It smells delicious.

OK. I’ll eat first.

Have you had lunch?

Yes. But seems I’m hungry again.

Yishao, get me a bowl and a pair of chopsticks?

OK.

Father, we have many kinds of stuffing.

Each has different stuffing.

Try and see which one you prefer.

Then I’ll prepare that more often.

This one with minced mutton is really yummy.

The vegetarian one is delicious, too.

Your Honor.

What’s wrong?

Two kids are reported missing.

Both are girls at about 13 or 14.

They even abduct those at 13 or 14.

They are not little kids. It’s kidnapping.

The criminals are so nasty.

We have to bring justice to them.

The reporter is here. Will you question him?

Let’s go.

Yishao, leave the dumplings for me.

I’m OK with cold dumplings.

Yong, are you thinking about the case?

Tell me.

I don’t have any clue yet.

I’m sorry for families who lose their children.

The parents must be worried.

I just want to find some clues quickly.

Then father can solve the case earlier.

Yishao,

let’s inquire about tomorrow.

Maybe we can find some clues.

Who would we inquire?

So many children are lost in one time.

It’s not done by only one person.

The secret will ooze out.

I have made some friends before.

They may have some information.

It makes sense.

We’d go tomorrow morning.

Alright.

Yong, my mother was really good at Kunqu opera.

I can sing some. Let me sing for you.

Your voice is so young.

Why did you learn to sing for old roles?

My mother liked that.

She told me it’s silly to sing for a young beauty.

Why didn’t you learn more operas from your mother,

instead of cooking from your father?

Mother didn’t allow me to learn.

She said,

the two hardest places in the world

are theatre

and whorehouse.

It’s really hard. They are not treated as a human.

Actually, those with common looking

are better than those with beauty.

My hair.

You just said who looks ugly is better.

Why you care that much?

Yong, be careful. Where are we going?

Find some clues in the theatre.

Father.

What?

People reported

that two female corpses were found by the river.

Jixiang Theatre

Sir, where are you going?

The corpses were found.

They are the two missing girls.

I’ve heard kids missing in other cities.

But most of them were abducted and sold.

Why were they killed?

Is it because they are grown up,

indocile and rebellious?

They were killed under desperation.

Merciful Buddha. What a sin!

Come. Let’s take a look.

Boatman.

Boatman.

May I ask you something?

Recently,

did you see someone suspicious around?

Suspicious?

I’ve been fishing all the time. I saw nothing.

Two corpses.

They can free them if they don’t want them.

Why did they kill them?

All dead rabbits.

Yishao, let’s get back first.

We can’t find any clue here.

Let’s ask Jie about it later.

Let’s go.

Yishao, what’s wrong?

Yong, there is a black soya bean over there.

Yishao, what’s a black soya bean?

You know beans, like green bean and broad bean?

Black soya bean is one of the beans.

However, it’s rare.

This is wild. Very delicious.

Besides, it’s nutritious, good for eyes.

and good for our health.

Yishao.

Then, how do we eat it?

I can cook Bean a bean.

Will you try?

Of course.

Let’s pick some back.

OK.

Don’t pull it out. Just pick some.

Like its name,

it’s black.

Yishao, what are you doing?

By doing this, it will grow flourishing next year

with more bean pods.

Yong, it’s not enough.

Let’s take a look in there.

Come on.

Yishao.

It may have snakes there.

Snakes? Let’s not get in.

It’s OK, Yishao.

Stay here. I’ll go in.

No. Don’t.

It’s alright.

No. Don’t. You don’t get in, either.

Hey, what an affectionate couple!

You can just go home for pulling and pushing.

It’s shameful to do so outside.

It’s weird. Why there are people speaking?

Who’s that?

I’m over here.

What’s wrong?

He’s the one who taught me Kungfu.

Little girl, you have a good memory.

You’ve grown up a lot.

Geezer, get down. It’s dangerous for you.

Amazing!

Master.

You have a good vision.

By the way, Yishao,

I just picked black soya beans for you.

Geezer, how did you know we would come

and pick the black soya beans?

Right, master. What are you doing here?

I’m not telling him.

It’s weird.

Only this place has black soya beans.

None in other places.

And it was dug not long ago.

Weeds around were cleared.

It seems someone planted them on purpose.

I got it. Geezer.

It must be you who planted it here on purpose

to attract us.

Am I right?

You’ve really ranged yourself.

I’m surprised.

Geezer, who exactly are you?

Don’t ask right now.

Yishao, I’ve been missing your cooking.

Would you cook some dishes

for me?

OK. Let’s go back home.

I’ll buy some good materials.

No. I’ll have to get out later.

I’ll be back when it’s dark.

Don’t tell anyone.

I don’t want to be bothered.

By the way,

I won’t come with nothing.

I’ll go and get you some gifts.

I can’t be a freeloader, right?

Yishao, this old Taoist is suspicious.

Why can’t we tell others his coming?

Don’t worry, Yong.

He’s been just like that.

In those days he taught me,

he also didn’t let my father know.

However, the face is the index of the heart.

My master is definitely not a bad guy.

Come on. Let’s go home and cook Bean a bean.

OK.

Let’s go.

Lian. Shitou.

Coming.

Shitou, bring me the beans.

Alright.

My Lady, what have you cooked?

Chili and sour potato, needle mushroom with sauce,

dried tofu with garlic, chicken roll with Huadiao,

Spicy tripes and chicken claws, fried shrimps with cashew nuts and parsley.

Sweet pork chops with lotus root, braised bamboo shoot with potherb mustard,

and pumpkin tofu rolls with Pu’er tea.

Awesome.

Alright, we will start cooking Bean a bean now.

Bean a bean?

Yong, time for lunch.

Come on and have a try.

Bean, bean, bean, bean a bean.

I’m coming at the right time.

Geezer, the door is over there. Why the window?

Here, master. Take a seat.

Try it.

Wait a second.

Courtesy demands reciprocity, right?

I’d give the present before I enjoy the meal.

This is a centenarian lock for a baby.

Geezer, you are so thoughtful.

We are thinking of having a baby.

It’s not for you.

Not for us?

Then why did you give it to me?

It has something to do with the missing cases.

What does the lock have to do with the case?

Fluffy and glutinous.

The flavors are mixed. Amazing.

Geezer, I’m asking you. Can you…

I’m talking to you.

What does the lock have to do with the case?

Wait. Let me eat first.

Speak first.

Eat first.

You can just eat.

Why are you fighting? Mind the bowls and dishes.

Little girl.

It’s him who doesn’t allow me to eat.

You can’t blame me for it.

You’re not a food bucket. Tell me first.

Dishes are tasty. It’s a waste if I don’t eat.

Eat first.

I feel so comfortable now.

Truth is life is but a span.

One needs to eat when there is delicious food.

Otherwise, there is even no soup.

Then no soup. Too much nonsense.

Are you little bloke ill-affected?

Fine. I’ll practice with you today.

Kid, it seems you are steady.

Your basic skills are solid.

Kid, why not based on the fist manual?

I’m not a wooden man.

I won’t just do as what the manual says.

I’m not that silly.

Kid, smartness is good,

but the manual is useful.

Geezer, it’s hard to see you are so quick in action

at your age.

If I kicked you harder,

you may die or get injured.

Continue.

Wait a second.

I just ate one meal.

Now my stomach is empty.

I can’t continue.

Moreover,

the cooking skill of Yishao

can’t be wasted.

Anyhow, you lost.

You lost.

You lost to a geezer.

You…

Yong, stop that now.

You just have the meal. Don’t hurt your chest.

Come and eat some fruits.

Master, please come and eat with us.

Waxberry? I don’t eat that.

I don’t like it.

What do you like? I’ll buy some for you.

Little girl, you’re so sweet.

She is not a little girl now.

She’s my wife.

It’s great to be young.

At my age,

it’s hard to have a wife.

Geezer, you are somehow an ascetic.

How do you think of looking for a wife?

What’s the matter?

You think you look sharp?

I’m telling you.

Back to the old days,

I was known as the most handsome man.

There were lots of girls who wanted to marry me.

I was just afraid if I chose one,

the others I didn’t pick

would feel sad.

So I chose to be a Taoist.

Don’t brag.

Master, you never married in your life?

I can’t now. They’re far too ugly for me.

No one is in my league.

There is someone.

There is?

She’s in our house.

Really?

If it’s true, would you mind introduce her to me?

If she’s available,

I’ll marry her at once.

Geezer, I didn’t expect you’re so straightforward.

That’s true.

Yong, who’s she? Come on and tell us.

That one.

That’s a flower.

Is that a flower spirit?

You naughty kid.

How dare you?

How can you match me with a flower?

Come on.

Smile.

Heiheihei.

Yishao, look.

Is he perfect for the chrysanthemum?

What a naughty kid!

Let’s be serious.

It’s late now.

You have business to do,

right? Then I’ll leave now.

Master, you’re not staying for dinner?

You can stay.

We have nothing else to do today.

Who told you that?

I didn’t give you the lock for nothing.

Get started with the case.

Geezer,

about the silver lock,

what does it have to do with the murder case?

You are cunning, aren’t you?

Find it out for yourself.

Goodbye.

Murder case?

Does he mean the kid wearing the lock,

or the person abducting the children, or else?

Why didn’t he say it clearly?

In the jewel case mother gave me the other day,

there is also a lock like this.

That’s mine.

Did every child wear it?

I didn’t wear it when I was a child.

This kind of lock is always for a boy.

People always say it’s harder to raise a boy.

My grandpa, my father and me are all the only son.

My mom was afraid I could die young,

and that I would be haunted by demons,

so I had one.

It’s also called a longevity lock.

It’s a custom in this area.

It must look lovely on a kid.

Perhaps I also wore one when I was a child.

And then it was pawned.

You want one?

If you want, I’ll buy you.

Do you prefer longevity or evil exorcising?

Or a golden one. But you’ll have to wait.

I can use yours if I wanna one.

No one would buy jewelries every month.

Your Honor, you want me?

Any update about the case?

Besides the two corpses from the river,

there is no clue.

We are ordered to solve it in 15 days,

but we have no clue right now.

We can keep checking the two corpses

to find some clues.

OK. Arrange it.

Yes.

Your Honor.

I believe Yong

is particularly interested in solving cases.

Can we ask him to investigate with us?

He may find some clues

that we didn’t find before.

Alright.

Yishao,

in Dongxiang, many kids

wear this kind of lock,

so it means many abducted kids

also wear the lock, right?

Right.

Many people in Dongxiang live on business.

They are rich.

The same as those in near cities and counties.

It’s a custom to give the children

silverwares like bracelets.

Yeah. Including round-shaped breast protector.

After abducting the children,

if they want to sell them,

they can’t sell these silverwares.

So they have to find a silverware shop

or a pawnshop,

right?

For a human trafficker, pawnshop is better.

Yong, you are so clever.

You’re as clever as expected.

Father.

Father.

Jie.

Arrange people to the pawnshops to ask about

if anyone pawns silverwares recently?

Question them in details.

If no information in pawnshops,

then go to silverwares stores.

Yes.

We’ll have an autopsy in the authority.

The corpses of the two girls?

Yeah. I hope you can go with me, will you?

Father, he will.

Father, you work on the case. I’ll cook dinner.

I’ll bring it to you later.

OK.

Go on.

You are great.

Lian, Shitou.

Coming.

Listen, here’s your job.

One put the sauce on the bread.

The other put the ass meat between two bread pieces.

Then put some egg and shallot.

OK.

The constables are busy with the case.

They may have no time for meals.

We need to prepare them something

delicious and convenient to take.

My Lady, can we keep two for us?

Don’t worry. We will prepare enough. Just hurry.

Father, did you hear

that there’s a new case in Dongxiang?

Yes.

They can do anything rather than

abducting children.

They will be punished.

Maybe they are utterly evil.

The kids are so poor.

Dongxiang is not in peace recently.

Cases happened one after another.

I wonder if Shen Yong can solve the case.

Father, we misjudged this time.

If we had known it, we wouldn’t have…

Why did you mention him?

Come on. Enjoy the lunch.

He has changed now.

Speaking of him, everyone in Dongxiang

is proud like he’s a hero.

Am I right, Yao?

You’re right. But rumors are rumors.

If Shen Yong can solve the case,

I’ll look up to him.

Yes. We can’t believe the rumors.

Come on. Let’s have lunch.

Father, eat some more.

Father,

I hear that some of the constables

are going out. Are they going to the pawnshops?

Yes.

Yong.

If something passes through your mind,

tell me immediately, you know?

Father, will we really go to the autopsy?

Yes.

What’s wrong? Are you scared?

No, I’m not scared.

Have you seen people dying for unclear reason?

They are all poor people.

After lunch, go and take a look first.

Show some respect, OK?

Then come and tell me

whether there is something wrong.

Merciful Buddha.

My father asked me to take a look. I didn’t want to.

If you want to revenge, go find my father, not me.

Merciful Buddha. Merciful Buddha.

Be a man.

How can I be scared by two dead?

Your Honor, the medical examiner’s here.

Alright.

Your Honor.

You go first. I’ll come after lunch.

Alright. Let’s go.

Young Master, why are you here?

Don’t touch it. It’s unlucky.

My father asked me to come.

You can’t check a corpse at the place of downwind.

Where should I?

Look.

Check where your father is eating.

Stand in the same direction with his.

I got it.

They’ve only been dead for two days.

If it’s for five or six days,

it’ll be not only smelly but also toxic.

Any clues?

Scary.

What?

Soaked.

And?

It looks weird.

What do you mean by weird?

I can’t tell. I just feel it’s weird.

You may proceed.

Yes.

Jie,

why are there red spots on the corpses?

It’s called livor mortis. All corpses have it.

Generally speaking,

they are on the dependent portions of the body.

These two were lying prone after death.

I believe there’ll be some as well.

Since they died for unclear reason,

it’s poor to be investigated after death.

If we don’t investigate,

they would die for nothing

Yong.

Yong.

Yong.

What are you doing here? Get back.

Take a look.

It’s dead.

You are so timid. You may have a nightmare.

I won’t be scared. Mother said

it’s like being asleep when a person dies.

She lied to you.

I saw it just now. It’s truly scary.

You can go to the study and wait for me.

Or I’ll ask Lian or Shitou to bring you back home.

Yong.

Those are the corpses of the two girls.

Right. Leave here quickly.

It’s ominous for a girl.

We’ve married. I’m not a girl.

We didn’t consummate.

I don’t care. I’ll get in.

Just leave.

No. I want to get in.

Don’t get in.

Yong, what are you doing?

Nothing.

Come in and continue.

OK. I’ll be right there. Just leave.

No.

Yishao, stay outside.

It may scare you.

Father, I’ve seen the dead before.

OK. Don’t cry if you are really scared.

Wait.

For what? Father already agreed.

Just wait.

Give me your hand.

Where did you learn it?

Mother taught me. To exorcise evil spirits.