Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available.]

Chef Fang

Episode 14

Your Honor, look.

There’re marks on their necks.

But we’re not sure of the cause of death.

Look. Here and here.

There are still unknowns.

Yong, I think it’s weird.

You think so? I think it’s weird, too.

Is it the first time you see a corpse, right?

No. I just feel a bit weird.

They don’t look like common girls.

Yeah. Right. It truly looks weird.

Lian is about their age,

but she looks totally different from these two.

They do look weird. Maybe there’s something odd.

What’s it?

It seems they weren’t killed by the human traders.

It might be someone who killed them

and put the blame on the human traders.

Do you have any clues?

Your Honor, please look at their back.

So many scars. Who beats a child like this?

It’s so cruel.

They were courtesans.

That’s why it looks weird.

Courtesans?

Yeah.

In their first days as courtesans,

no matter they’re obedient or not,

they would be whipped every day.

It lasts about one month.

It’s called to remove the disobedience.

I heard about it from those in Fragrance Garden.

They were from the whorehouse.

Please look at the marks on the neck.

You mean they weren’t drowned,

but strangled?

No. There’s water in their lungs.

They were indeed drowned.

I just checked their heads.

They had bruises on the head.

It’s probably because

someone pressed their heads in the water.

The marks on the neck appeared after their death.

Maybe someone forged it as they were strangled.

It truly looks like abuse in the whorehouse.

They accidentally killed them

right on time for the abducting case.

Then they made the human traders scapegoats.

We can’t know which whorehouse it is.

Why are you looking at me? I have no idea.

You wanna kill me?

Your Honor, how about this?

The people reporting the case aren’t innocent.

Even if they are,

they must know which whorehouse it is.

Jie, take men to investigate immediately.

Yes.

Look closely. You know the people in the picture?

No, I have no idea.

Let’s go.

Where are they?

In the brothel over there.

Let’s go.

Fang Garden

Mr. Shen, we catch them.

Take them to the cell.

Yes. Go.

Hurry.

Hurry.

Move.

You abuse and compel girls to engage in prostitution.

You killed the poor girls

and framed their death to others.

Now, confess to your crime.

Mercy, officers. Please spare my life.

Yong, are you still thinking about the case?

They criminals were caught already.

Why are you still downhearted?

We did find the killers,

but we hadn’t caught the human traders.

Maybe we can hand over the lock to father.

It might be helpful.

No.

Why?

Your master gave the lock to me.

He is elusive and we know nothing about him.

If we give the lock to father,

he might doubt your master.

It’ll be difficult to explain.

You’re right.

Let’s forget it. Yishao.

We’ve been tired after a day’s hard working.

Would we go to bed now?

Yong, you are playing the field again.

I’m not playing.

I just said “go to bed”.

It’s you who think too much.

This is glutinous rice balls. Try it.

How’s it?

Delicious, sweet, soft and fluffy.

Father.

Jie, have you had breakfast?

Not yet.

Don’t just stand there. Come on. Have some.

No. Thanks.

Didn’t you hear father? Just come and eat some.

Sit down.

Thank you, Yong.

They’re truly good. I’m already thrilled.

I’m sure we will catch the suspects today.

Try this one.

Father, you’re going the make the arrest today?

Yes.

In recent days, Jie has looked in all pawnshops.

Someone did pawn the silverwares.

All belong to children.

Who is that?

A stammer teenager at 16, 17.

According to the shop manager,

he should be a native from his accent.

Did you catch him?

I arranged men to inquire.

There is a little stammer

from the village in the north of the city.

His parents died and he lives alone.

He’s naughty and often steals.

Because of his miserable and helpless life,

villagers don’t report him in.

By the way,

he’s also been doing chores in Dongxiang.

What a poor kid.

How would he have something to do with the case?

Furthermore, he is the local.

Does it mean

he went to the near cities to commit crimes?

Is it because he had no choice

and was used by people to earn a living?

That’s unable to find out.

Yong, since you’re so interested in it,

come with us later.

That’s great.

You can also come.

Father, eat some more.

OK.

Yong, have you been here before?

Why should I?

It’s not a famous place.

Wanggang Village is remote.

There are about 100 households here.

It’s close to the Wenjiehu Lake.

Half of the villagers make a living from farming

and the other half from fishing.

Look. That’s it.

Father, officers are coming.

Hurry, come in.

Excuse me?

Great.

We’ve alarmed them before getting any clue.

Kids are always like that,

surprised after seeing people from the government.

He seems like a sentry.

Yong, what do you mean by sentry?

I often did this when I was a child.

Get a boy stand at the gate.

When he sees my father coming,

he will call codes to me.

All your cleverness

was used in crooked ways.

Wanggang Village

Officers are coming.

Kid, come here.

Are you alright?

Kid, I’d like to ask you something.

Is there a little stammer lived in your village?

About 16 or 17 years old.

I don’t know.

Kid.

Where’re your parents?

What do you want?

I just want to ask whether your parents know

you play with Little Stammer.

No. No question.

Then tell me, where is Little Stammer now?

He asked you to be a sentry for him?

I can’t betray my bro.

You just said bro.

You are just a little kid.

If Little Stammer committed a crime,

would you be imprisoned with him?

It’s no big deal being imprisoned.

It’s just eating some dry steamed corn bread,

drinking some icy water,

getting beaten from time to time.

How about this? You tell us

where Little Stammer is.

We won’t tell him you told us.

Really? Then promise.

We promise.

He lives in the straw shed in the bamboo grove.

He asked me to watch at the village entrance

and say “officers coming” when I saw swordsmen.

Each time I tell him this, he’ll treat me a drumstick.

He raises some layer chickens in his house.

Good for nothing.

You were bought out just with a drumstick.

Come on. Here you are.

Go and play.

Smells good.

In my opinion,

he just shouted like that,

and Little Stammer must have run away.

His home is here.

He would come back some time.

Let’s go to the forest and take a look.

He’s just a child and he wouldn’t run too far.

Your Honor.

OK. Knock on the door.

Anybody in? Anybody home?

Yong, this child is good at leading a good life.

He’s a teenager.

Don’t call him a child.

You called him so.

Split up.

Your Honor, nobody in.

The water is hot.

He hasn’t left for too long.

Your Honor, we found nothing.

Keep looking.

Yes.

You two just stay in the yard.

It may have some snakes in the forest.

Let them go and check. We stay here.

It’s a beautiful yard.

Look.

It’s verisimilar.

Funny, right?

You are annoying.

Have you seen someone?

No.

Your Honor.

Found anything?

Nothing.

Your Honor, we didn’t find anything.

Since we found nothing,

let’s go back.

We will come back in a few days.

Yes.

We just leave like this?

Hush.

Ask them to split up

and hide in the forest. Don’t expose your positions.

Yes.

We’ll wait for Little Stammer.

Your Honor.

There’s no sign of Little Stammer anywhere.

Copy it.

Yong,

I believe Little Stammer is not a human trader.

Why do you say so?

Listen.

He grows crops and grapes.

He lives a life in perfect order.

It just means that he pays attention to hygiene.

It has nothing to do with if he is the trader.

That’s different.

I just believe

people who can live such an orderly life

won’t do things against reason and nature.

Moreover, Little Stammer is a kid

who has lost his parents.

He must know

how poor a kid who loses his parents would be.

Your Honor, the wind rises. Will we…

What are you looking at?

I’m your husband. Can’t I hug you?

Does Little Stammer

dare not come back?

Maybe he’s scared, so he dares not come back.

Yong, I think Little Stammer must know something.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so afraid of officers.

It’s not true.

It seems he’s scared of people with swords.

Do you remember

what Little Stammer said to the kid?

He asked the kid to shout “officers coming”

once seeing a people with swords.

But is there anything wrong with the words?

Not everyone with a sword is an officer.

Right. If it’s an evildoer,

when the kid shouts “officers coming”,

the evildoer will restrain himself.

That Little Stammer is cunning.

Yong, you are so smart.

Yishao,

give me a kiss, OK?

No. There are so many people here.

Don’t be shy. You are my wife.

It’s normal.

Come on.

Where are we going?

Nobody is here. Now, give me a kiss.

Yong, what’s that?

It doesn’t matter. Let me kiss you first.

I truly heard some sound.

Don’t be afraid.

Wait a second.

Yishao, does it sound like…

A layer chicken.

Over there.

Where’s my chicken?

Huahua. Huahua.

Cuckoo. Cuckoo.

We caught him.

Who are you?

Please spare me.

Listen. Are you Little Stammer?

Yes. What’s wrong? Who are you?

This is the Magistrate of Dongxiang.

He has questions for you.

Officer.

The chicken lays an egg.

It’s mine.

We won’t take your chicken and egg.

Take him back.

Yes.

Go.

Kneel.

You can stand up.

You’re an honorable man. How wise!

Don’t flatter me.

Tell us. Why are you hiding?

I thought you were debt collectors.

What’s your name?

Zhao Shu. They all call me Little Stammer.

Are you a resident in Dongxiang?

Yes.

Have you ever gone to the pawnshop lately?

Say it. Where are the pawn tickets from?

I picked up.

Picked up?

Pull him out. Cane.

Yes.

Don’t. I’ll tell you everything.

Where are the locks from?

Your Honor. I really can’t tell you.

I’ll be killed if I tell you.

You’ll be killed now if you don’t.

In the neighboring cities lately,

there have been abduction cases,

you know?

Just tell us if you know something.

So many kids get involved.

Aren’t you afraid of Heaven’s wrath?

I didn’t do it.

Then who did it?

Several non-natives.

One more chance.

Where are the locks from?

I gambled with them.

One guy lost but he has no money.

Nonsense. Where are the non-natives from?

What gambling? Where did you see them?

What do they look like?

Tell us the details.

Don’t speak like that.

Little Stammer, put it in your mouth.

What for?

Medicine to stop the stammer.

Put it in your mouth and then you won’t stammer.

Have a try.

Yishao, is it true?

No, I lied.

Say it.

There are three men from another village.

The one I gambled with is Wang San.

Amazing. He really doesn’t stammer.

Amazing. My Lady, are you a physician?

Cut the nonsense. She’s my wife.

I see.

You were hunting yesterday

and then you found me, right?

Yong, what does he mean by hunting?

Hunting wild animals?

Then Yong, let’s hunt tomorrow.

Yishao, it’s a vulgar language men always speak.

Girls can’t speak like that.

You have good luck.

Be serious. Otherwise, you’ll get the cane.

Have you ever asked them

where they get the locks?

No.

You are lying.

Shen Jie.

Take some men to the village

and find Wang San.

Check where the kids are passingly.

Yes.

You can’t go there.

Why?

You just can’t.

Let’s go.

Don’t. The kids were hidden by them.

You’ll alert them if you go there now.

In that case, you know they were human traders?

Yes.

Then why don’t you tell the truth?

I went to the wager mart recently. Several people…

They…

Come on. Open. Open.

One. Three. Four. Small.

Go on. Go on.

Don’t push. Get out.

Buy off hand.

Bro. I have something you’d be interested in.

Do you want to earn money?

Don’t hesitate. Take it.

It won’t kill you.

Help me buy some food.

After the sun sets, help me send them to…

You hear me?

Hurry.

Why are you so late?

I bought a lot.

Give it to me.

Leave.

What are you looking at? Go away.

What happened later?

A few days ago, Wang San and I gambled again.

He lost a lot.

Then he gave me the locks after he played out.

He asked me to pawn the locks. Then I went.

Is it the pawnshop you went to the other day?

Yes. But when I got back,

I found there’s something wrong.

Where were the locks from?

Were they really human traders?

Were the locks from the kids?

If they were human traders,

I would be an accomplice.

I was afraid the officers would find me.

I was also afraid they would kill me as a witness.

So I let the kids help me stand sentry.

If they saw

someone with a sword come, they would shout.

You just said not to alert them.

What’s your original plan?

I didn’t think too much. I just wanted to search

and make sure all kids are there.

If I find them, I would free them in secret.

Since you know they are human traders,

why didn’t you report?

Forget it.

Nobody would believe me.

You may even catch me.

Do you know where the human traders

hide the kids?

They were in Wang San’s house before.

I don’t know where they’ve moved them.

I guess it won’t be too far.

Your Honor,

how about we lay ambush around

and wait for them to come back?

No.

Why?

They are very cunning.

They have three. They act separately.

They have some secret signals and they will change shifts.

I have watched them for a long time.

You are not stupid.

Of course.

If you go there to ambush,

you may catch one or two of them,

but you can’t find the kids.

If you can’t find the kids,

you can’t convict them.

In addition,

if they heard something,

they may kill the kids.

Then what should we do?

Do you trust me?

What do you mean?

If you trust me,

I’ll find a way to lure them out.

How?

I’ll tell them that officers talked to me

and asked me if they were human traders.

Then I’ll tell them

I’ll want to join them.

What if they don’t believe and kill you?

Hush. No more jinx.

I won’t be that unlucky.

That’s not jinx. It’s truly dangerous.

I haven’t finished.

If I go there,

you have to go with me to the nearby.

If they want to kill me, I will shout.

Then you can come and save me.

If they don’t kill me,

I will follow them.

Then we’ll know

where the kids are hidden.

Your Honor, he’s very cunning. We can’t trust him.

I trust him.

Come. Have some water.

When it gets dark, I will go and find them.

I’ll arrange guards to follow you. Be careful.

Shout if anything happens.

Don’t worry. I’m not that stupid.

Jie, do you have something like a heart protector?

He can wear it.

It will be helpful in case he’s in danger.

Here you are. Take it.

You give it to me. What about you?

They can’t hurt me.

Alright. It’s late.

Let’s go.

You may have no time for dinner.

Take this.

Then what about you?

We take it.

You are so lucky.

There’re extra snacks during investigation.

If you can help us to catch the human traders,

we will offer you enough.

You promise. You’ll provide meals for me.

Which way?

That way.

That house. I’ll go first.

Be careful.

San, it’s me.

It’s you. Come up. Come on.

Let’s go there and have a look

He doesn’t look like an honest man. He’s cunning.

We can’t let him go.

Your Honor. Should we…

No hurry.

Yong.

Mulberry wine?

Mulberry is the berry of the mulberry tree.

It is sweet and cold with long aftertaste.

Mulberry of high quality

has a taste of light astringent.

Some people like to remove the taste with honey.

But I like to remain it.

Why?

Wine is like life. My father taught me this.

Mulberry wine rhymes with lifelong.

Yong,

you trust Little Stammer

because he is like you, right?

You trust him like I trust you.

Look, father trusts him as well.

Don’t doubt him if you trust him.

Don’t trust him if you doubt him.

It’s the same as mulberry wine.

If you trust him, give him your lifelong trust.

See? This is what a wife should be like.