Highlight EP13: Mr. He mocked Li Shande in front of everyone | The Litchi Road
Welcome, Mr. He! Welcome, Mr. He! Rise, please. Thank you, Mr. He! Mr. Li, since it’s your trial day today, Mr. He came to observe. It’s just an experiment. With your busy schedule, we dare not trouble you. Mr. Li, how could you say that? The litchi transport is an imperial priority. Thus naturally my priority too. Dear Gaozhou folks. Yes. Our Gaozhou faces a momentous occasion! Mr. Li, an imperial envoy,
has come here. Mr. Li dedicates himself to delivering our fresh litchis to Chang’an, to His Majesty! But everyone knows, Lingnan is 5,000 li away from Chang’an, and litchis spoil in three days. How can they possibly be delivered? Yeah, how? Mr. Li has a solution! He’s going to use our Little East Gate for an experiment. Once successful, Gaozhou litchis will be famous throughout the country! Yeah! Yeah! Great! Yeah! Thank you for your support, Mr. He! I dare not slacken nor fail the Emperor’s trust. Let’s wait and see. May Mr. Li achieve swift success! Good! These days, what has Li Shande been up to? Today, he was at the Litchi Orchard, messing with something. What was it? I don’t know. Use body language. Level. Vertical. Look afar. Circles. What is this? A rattle drum? This. He used this. Do you mean this? Copy it. What is this? Sorcery? What else did he say? Distance. Obstacles. A long distance with obstacles? Circle and square. The sky is round and the earth is flat? You’re driving me crazy! What a useless fool! Go back and keep an eye on him! Report any unusual activity! Sure. This is exhausting! Sure. How useless! Is it too hot? Feeling better? Too hot? Cool down. Li! What were you up to so late? So… did you go up the mountain to see the stars? Poor Li, you can’t sleep so late. You must miss your home. Don’t worry. As long as Li Shande
doesn’t take you away, I’ll never abandon you. This is your home too. Go sleep early. You’ll have to accompany him tomorrow for all those strange tasks. You should sleep too. Li, these days, you must feed them regularly. Less fodder but more frequently. It’s good for digestion. On the day of the test, add a little sugar to the water for their stamina. Mr. Li! Mr. Li! Slow down. Is this fodder enough? Let me see. I think we need three more carts. Once the test starts, we won’t have time for this. Mr. Li! Mr. Li, the road needs to be cleared. Or the horses can’t pass. There are many thick branches. Tomorrow, I’ll bring more people to clear the road. I’ve marked the specific locations on the map. Have some water. Actually, it’s unnecessary. The road from Lingnan to Chang’an is much more complicated. Isn’t it? A few obstacles are good. But I’ll look at your map. Getting water? There’s a well inside. No need to go outside. It’s convenient. Thanks. Just get water in the city. Great! Tong, when the test begins, The Little East Gate will be crowded. We’ll wash the horses, feed them, send messages, and do chores day and night. You’ll take turns on duty. I’ll ask Elder Su for some money as your tips. We’re helping you prepare not for money. I know. Or the money will be paid to the courier stations. You’re doing their work, so you should take the money. That’s it. Thank you. No biggie. Dinner’s ready! Leave it to me. Alright. Time to eat! Time to eat! Li, come to eat! Let’s eat! There’s plenty for everyone! Mr. Li’s. This is for Mr. Li. Come over, Mr. Li! Mr. Li’s. Help yourself. I’m in no rush. Here. This is for everyone. I’m in no rush. Here is yours. Here, kiddo. Yours. This is yours. What is this? Spicy artemisia. You can’t eat this! This is poisonous! Spicy artemisia is toxic! Stop now! Mr. Li, we’ve been eating this for decades. We’re fine. That’s nonsense! It just hasn’t hit you yet! This is poisonous! It looks like mustard. But it’s poisonous spicy artemisia! This is bad for your health! Mr. Li… Stop now! We eat whatever we have. We don’t really care. Right. This is what we have. Better than going hungry. Exactly! Tong, we got the money. Buy some rice, noodles and eggs for everyone first. Health is most important. You can’t keep this up long-term. Then I’ll get you something else. No need. The kid can have the edible. Here. It’s fine. Anyone need more? We’ll share. There’s more for you! Mr. Li! Why are you here? I’m waiting for you. For what? It seems you don’t want to see me. But I’ve waited so long. Shouldn’t you invite me in? I’m busy tonight. I only need a moment. If you don’t agree, you’ll be making an enemy of me. You’ve taken good care of these flowers. Are you just here to see the flowers? Of course not. Ma’am, please. I heard you’re helping a deserter seek justice, so I came to ask you face-to-face. Why are you spreading such rumors? I’m not. That’s the truth. How can you be sure? You met the deserter? Not really. I heard it from a porter. You believe what a porter says? I choose to trust him. How do you prove what he said is true? Then how do you prove what he said is false? Fine. Take me to meet that porter. I’ll get to the bottom of it. He’s a porter. I have no idea where work has taken him right now. Since he wants to seek justice, he must have left you a way to contact him. Wait. What exactly do you want? I want to confirm a few things. First, are you sure those pirates robbed a ship carrying medicines? Second, are you sure
the dagger he intercepted was a silver one with an auspicious pattern and set with a ruby? Third, are you sure that happened ten years ago? Li Shande, I’m Mr. He’s adoptive daughter. I know you have some reservations about me. But this is different. It concerns my father’s reputation! How about we make a deal? You don’t need to help him seek justice. I’ll arrange for his amnesty. Just one request. If I succeed, take me to meet him. I’ll see that dagger with my own eyes and confirm who its owner was. Deal? Once I’m done, I’ll come to see you. Elder Su! Have a seat! Elder Su, is this to recruit a rider? It’s more like a fight! Only the winner can stay. A round-robin competition. This is fair. So, is there anyone capable? In Lingnan, there are few horses. All goods are transported
by oxen and donkeys. It’s really hard to find a good rider. Elder Su, I already have one rider lined up. Can you help me find just one more? With two riders, I can get them to lead the charge. It’s hard. Even just one. Can you think of another idea? I’m worried there might be no more riders after this. Elder Su, I have a brilliant idea. Can we add a line to that notice? For riders who can ride
a thousand-li steed, price is negotiable. You’ve lost 13 matches! Are you insane? Thirteen matches! You’ve forgotten the price of losing? Lan! Lan! Lan! Lan, trust me, I’ll definitely win the next match! As long as you lend me some money, I can turn it around, Lan. I run a cockfight den, but I have principles. If I lend you money, you’ll end up losing everything. If you keep losing, your family will suffer because of you, wandering and homeless, even facing death. By then, it’ll be too late for regrets! You have no second chance. Can you bear the result? You should go. Hold on. I knew it! Lan is just too kind-hearted. After all these years, whenever he encounters someone
addicted to gambling, he definitely steps in. Didn’t Lan say it himself? Although we run a cockfight den, and winning and losing are inevitable, gambling isn’t a good thing. There should be a limit. If anyone gets addicted, we’ll just let him stop them. Lan doesn’t care about fame or fortune. Wins and losses aren’t important to him. Cai, you’ve known Lan the longest. What has Lan really been through? None of your business.
Don’t ask about it. Welcome! Come on in! Lan! Rooster Poppa! You’re free today. Want a match? Not really! I’m busy today. Come here! How’s the chicken I asked you to train? I need more time. I just got its spirit adjusted and stripped away its arrogance. I’m waiting for it to have a dull demeanor, so it can go to battle. Why does it need to have a dull demeanor? To fool its opponents. It’ll be calm instead. No matter how strong the opponent is, it’ll appear dull but actually calm to be unstoppable! Sounds profound. I’ll leave it to you. Actually, I came here today for another thing. Can you help me ride a horse once? A horse? Rooster Poppa, I haven’t ridden a horse for years. My riding skills have gone rusty. It doesn’t actually require excellent riding skills. You know a Litchi Envoy is in the city now. He insists on recruiting riders at the Little East Gate for a test run. I hope you can gather a few men to answer the call. Then you all just need to make it look like you’re racing hard but actually ride slowly. Keep the pace down until the litchis change color. Then it’s done. Rooster Poppa… Where’s the wine I brought for Lan? Bring it over! I can’t take this. I’m not used to it. If you want to drink it, just take a sip. If you don’t want it, just keep it for me. Lan, in a few days, I’ll introduce several talented and beautiful Hu women to you. You’ll be satisfied. Hu women will break my heart. I have quit them. Really? No alcohol and women? Abstain from them? Lan, I underestimated you. But it’s true. Alcohol and women don’t matter. Only money and gold truly count. So, if you agree to do me this favor, all the rent and leasing fees
for this street will be yours. The profits can be substantial. [Inspector’s Mansion] Mr. Zhao. Amita. Mr. Zhao, where’s my adoptive father? At the cockfight den. What? Is it urgent? Not really. Please seat yourself. Mr. Zhao, did the Litchi Envoy come a few days ago to plead for a deserter? I have no idea. You’re the one
orchestrating things in this mansion. Nothing can escape your eyes. How come you don’t know that? I’m flattered. I was away for work. I was absent. There are just too many things
to deal with. I’m totally occupied! Oh, it’s getting late. I need to deliver official documents. I should go. Just a while. There’s fresh coconut juice. They were just opened. Mr. He. Zhao. Amita asked about the deserter. Amita! Father! Have a seat. Seat yourself. Why didn’t you tell me you would come? I could’ve prepared some of your favorite dishes. I got news from Sassanid. The glass is ready. But it’s not the right season for shipping. Let’s wait a few days. It isn’t urgent. The most important thing is for you to be re-elected as the guild leader. We can deal with other things later. Speaking of that, Su Liang invested in the litchi transport trial. He’s always had his eye on my position. If this trial succeeds, he’ll be a real threat to me. No way! It won’t succeed! Don’t worry. I somehow feel it won’t be a problem for Li Shande. He’s quite stubborn. Even if this trial fails, he’ll just try again. We should prepare for both outcomes. I’ve symbolically given him two horses as a show of support. And you just need to go through the motions. That way, even if the litchis are delivered
to Chang’an, you’ll still have some credit in front of His Majesty. And I’ll have some leeway with the guild. No! I’m telling you, Li Shande is no ordinary person. He even came to me and talked non-stop about a soldier’s pardon. If I agree to that, what’s to stop him
from pushing for more? He’ll keep pushing his luck. I can’t accept that! I’ve heard about it too. The Litchi Envoy is indeed seeking justice for a deserter. Ma Guiyun also came to see me. He claimed my own father’s men robbed a ship carrying medicines ten years ago. It has stirred up quite a storm
in the city. Everyone knows about it. It’s bad for you and tarnishes
my own father’s reputation. Just as you said, I can’t afford to lose my position
as guild leader. Father, you’ve just received the Military Fish Tally. You have important things to do. It will be best to quell this rumor as soon as possible. So how do we put this rumor to rest? Father, I’ve kept a secret from you. Before coming here, I met Li Shande. We reached an agreement. We can use your pardon to lure out that soldier. Otherwise, we can’t find him at all. So, you two have already made a deal? I just discussed the terms with him, but the final decision is still yours. I’m tired today. I won’t keep you for dinner. You can go. [Inspector’s Mansion]
Ma’am, why do you insist on helping pardon that soldier? Because I need to find out who betrayed my father and robbed that ship carrying medicines. [Inspector’s Mansion] For riders who can ride
a thousand-li steed, price is negotiable. So, how much? Can you do that? I’ll give it a try. If you can ride a thousand-li steed, your pay will be 10% more than others. 10% more for one more day. Deal? It’s too complicated. No need to increase the pay. But today, give me half as the deposit. He’s talking big. Be careful he’ll push it and grow greedier! What are you talking about? Let me tell you, my brother was known as Traceless when he rode. Do you know what that means? In the blink of an eye, he vanished without a trace. You’re a professional rider? I run a cockfight den. This is a crossover. Why aren’t you riding? I feel that a fine steed has its will. It should gallop freely instead of being restrained. My hands itch for riding now, so I want to try. You can do your best. If you really can ride the steed, we’ll go with your terms for the pay. Naiyi, bring Daily over! Sure! Be careful. Good horses are common. Scouts are rare. Sir, I’ll give you a kind reminder. This is a wild horse. If you overestimate yourself, you might end up in black and blue. I won’t cover your medical expenses. Mind your words! Thanks. Just you watch! Mr. Li, he rode away. Really? Wonderful! Awesome! What a stroke of luck! Feng! Can you see this, Feng? Coming! – Amazing!
– Unbelievable! Impressive! Good as ever! May I know your name? My brothers call me Lan, from Gaozhou. Lan! This is good. We can count on him! Lan, you’ve saved me from a real predicament! My close brothers are also good riders. Can they try your fine horses? Of course! The more, the better! You all have my respect! Thank you so much!