MULTI SUB【The Litchi Road】EP07 | Li Shande comes up with a new way to keep litchi fresh
[The Litchi Road] [Weaving a Flower Basket] So this thread above that one? No, this one above this one. No. That was for the previous step. Now it’s this one above this one. Why don’t you go to sleep, Xiu? I will do it. No! It’s not finished yet. Go to sleep. When you wake up, you’ll see a flower basket waiting for you. Come on. Tuck yourself in. Alright. Put your hands in there. Cover up. Close your eyes. It’s a lot of work for you
to do it by yourself. I want to keep you company. You can keep me company
with your eyes closed. I paid so much tuition to your embroidery school. Now I’m the one doing the homework. Close your eyes. I’m keeping an eye on you. What about yours? Mine is prettier. So beautiful! The weaving is even. The shape is neat. It’s pretty! How did you do it? Teach us. Yeah! Teach us! Xiu, it’s such an exquisite basket. Did you really weave it yourself? This morning when my mother went to the market, she saw your father
buying a flower basket at the next stall. No way! This is… Is this really woven by yourself? Give it back! She definitely bought it. My mother said that your father’s
great bargaining skills even drew a crowd! Don’t talk about my father like that! Did you guys weave your flower baskets then? Give it back! My flower basket was woven by my mother. Yeah, mine too. Mine too. Won’t your mother weave a flower basket for you? I heard her mother died of illness. This basket must have been bought by her father. Xiu’s father’s good at bargaining. He bought a basket to save the trouble. Don’t talk about my father like that! Don’t snatch it! Xiu! Give it back! Come on. You’re still smiling? Why are you looking at me? Who else should I look at? What does it taste like? Salty. Salty. How many girls hit you? Six. Six? Six girls hit you
and you’re still smiling? Who won? I won. Six, and you won? How badly were they beaten up? Father, I wish you saw them. Some of them had swollen eyes. Swollen eyes? Why… why did you guys fight? Because of the flower basket. They were jealous
that mine was prettier. They trampled the basket you wove and said you didn’t weave it yourself. I was so angry! It’s… it’s just a basket! Well, I will weave you another one. Really? Woven by your own hands? By my own hands. Remember, don’t fight anymore. Okay? Okay! It’s a deal. It’s a deal? Whose temper do you take after? Whose temper? Mother’s. Then it’s a deal. Here, seal it with blood. [Episode 7] Ma’am, Mr. Zheng requests to see you. You came just in time. I have a life-or-death matter
to discuss with you. I know. Li Shande’s going to get killed. With that stubborn, inflexible mule temper of his, trouble’s bound to happen
sooner or later. He brought it on himself. Let him fend for himself. Not him. He has nine lives. He’s safe for now. I’ll send a message to Zhao Xinmin, telling him Li Shande isn’t working
for the Left Chancellor. So he won’t have concerns. You said it was a life-or-death matter. Whose life are we talking about? Your life. You can’t save it. This is a good joke. How could it… Why so sudden? The Right Chancellor sent
a new envoy to Lingnan. As soon as he sees you, he will see through your identity. See through my identity? Fortunately, the journey is long. We still have time to maneuver. The new envoy left Chang’an over 20 days ago. So he should arrive soon. Stop him! I’ve already dispatched
masters of martial arts. They intercepted him
near the Xiang River. Unfortunately, he was also
highly skilled in martial arts. He escaped death several times. After that, he changed his route and concealed his tracks. I’ve arranged a team to ambush him at the essential passes into Lingnan. This is our last chance and your last chance of survival. You must seize this chance. Ensure nothing goes wrong. Don’t spare the troops or the money. Attack front and back,
strike left and right. He can not fight against a hundred men. Zheng Ping’an, the Left Chancellor
and the Jing’an Office asked the Konglang Agency to aid you. We will do our utmost. If you want to live, you must get the letter of fealty and leave Lingnan tomorrow. Otherwise, once this new envoy sets foot in the Inspector’s Mansion, your head and your neck will part company. Let me see. What’s going on? Sir. This is strange. He was full of energy half a day ago. How did he collapse in half a day? Master went out. He came back and started burning up. Probably caught a chill. Nonsense! Can you catch a chill here? This is heatstroke. I know you’re worried about my life. You’re so worried
that you have a fever. If you stay away from me, I might feel better. You feel hot? Okay then. Get some air! Get rid of that quilt! This will cool you down. The quilt makes it worse. Gou, go pull up all the window curtains. Let the air flow. He’s having a fever. Here, move a bit. Come on. I understand. Though I don’t want to die, I’m not a coward. But we can’t let fear get the better of us just because we’re going to die, right? Feeling better? When I was little,
I had my fortune told. The fortune-teller said I would be snatched from the jaws of death. I won’t die. And I even have a gift. I can transfer this bad luck of mine onto someone else. Why are you laughing? You could either
wish me a quick recovery or just get out of here. I’m comforting you. Is this comforting? Transferring bad luck to someone else? Other people want to live too! Why are you so agitated? If the bad luck were to be transferred, you can’t blame me for that, right? You can only say this person was born under an unlucky star. That he’s unlucky and doomed to die at an early age. Who’s unlucky? Who’s doomed to die at an early age? Get out! Well, this doesn’t seem like a fever. You are possessed by a spirit. And you won’t listen to advice! Sir, just stop trying to comfort him. Fine, I’ll go buy him medicine. Take good care of him. Master, though Mr. Li is slow and insensitive, he cares about you. He’s been working on litchi experiments behind closed doors, forgetting food and sleep. Yet he specially goes to buy medicine for you. He is a good man. Gou. Coming. Come here. Master. You, get out too! [Silin Pharmacy] They open late. They probably will come soon. You weave such beautiful baskets! Are you from Chang’an? Want to buy a flower basket? Judging by your accent, you’re also from Chang’an? It’s hard to change one’s accent. I’m from Chang’an. Why did you come to this place? My husband used to be an official
in the Ministry of Revenue. He offended the Right Chancellor so our whole family was exiled here. He passed away years ago. I don’t know other skills. I only manage to scrape by doing this. Can you show me
how you looped that thread? Why would a grown man
want to learn this? I’ll come another day to learn. You miscalculated. Good observation. You did sums in your head faster than my abacus. It’s a simple calculation. Not worth mentioning. Sir, we’re out of solomonseal. So we can’t fill this prescription. I… I forgot. Sir, all the solomonseal was sold to the Hu merchants days ago. All of it? Yes. They are in the incense trade. Incense materials
are sensitive to moisture. A few slices of solomonseal
beside them can prevent dampness. They stock lots of incense materials. So they bought all the solomonseal. Shall I switch it to glehnia root for you? What about the price? It’s the same price. Okay. This urn is double-layered? Yes. Where did you get this kind of urn? I have never seen it in Lingnan before. They said only Hu merchants have them. Yesterday when I delivered the solomonseal, I saw them using this
for incense materials. It’s great for preventing them from spoiling or evaporating. So I thought it would be suitable for storing moisture-sensitive herbs too. Do they have more urns like this one? Many! But I heard
they’re about to dispose of them. Where? Where is Elder Su? At the back. Elder Su, I got news! Someone is selling the goods. They are? Yes. Have you confirmed it’s our goods? It’s our benzoin resin. Who’s selling? Amita. [Polynan Trading] Early next month the Hu Merchants Guild will elect a new guild leader. All Hu merchants will gather then. Whoever brings the best business has a chance to be elected as the new leader. I hope you guys can seize this chance. No matter who makes a splash, they won’t shake Amita’s position. [Amita, Leader of Hu Merchants Guild]
During Amita’s years as the leader, our guild’s scale has more than doubled. The variety of goods
has also greatly increased. These are achievements known to all. I root for her to serve the second term. In earlier years when Elder Su was the leader, we were friends with Tang people. We never had to obey their orders to do business. But in the past few years, the guild has changed its direction. But we are doing business on Tang’s territory. How can we do that without interacting with Tang people? The guild’s purpose is to protect Hu merchants’ interests. This direction should never change. Ma’am, you speak like a bird’s beautiful chirping. Elder Su, what brings you here? An evil air. A demonic wind. A breeze of theft. A gale of robbery. Your tone seems changed though. I remember you always said,
“Harmony brings wealth.” How come you’ve become so hostile after years apart? Years apart, and you are beyond recognition. You’ve changed at breakneck speed. Since all our old friends are here, just tell me. Why did you steal my benzoin resin? You can have wrong choice of words but don’t make a wrong accusation. You say I stole your incense materials? Got proof? Ma’am! Ma’am! Elder Su intercepted our incense materials. He insists they are his. Just tell me this. Why did your incense materials
appear on the market right after mine went missing? I mean, what are the odds? Elder Su, the last time you were in this trade
was years ago. The incense trade is no longer your monopoly. My incense materials were stored
in double-layered urns. In Lingnan, double-layered urns are my trademark. Amita, dare you open the crates? Whether it’s my goods or not will be crystal clear. Obvious at a glance. The truth will be revealed! Ma’am. Get our goods. [Storehouse] Double-layer urn. Double-layer urn. Put litchis in the inner layer and pour water into the outside layer. The integrated structure
allows it to shake without tipping over. This is a good urn! Good urn! Good urn! Who is it? What are you doing? I want to buy urns. My urns aren’t for sale. Just go. Let me introduce myself. I am the Litchi Commissioner
appointed by His Majesty. I’m responsible for litchi transport. What? Litchi Commissioner? What’s that to do with me? Litchi Commissioner! I don’t care who you are! My urns are not for sale. Look. Next time you want to flaunt official power, find out who you’re talking to first. Or you might lose your job and regret it! I do wish I could lose this job. You’re provoking me? No, no. You think I can’t dismiss you? Who’s disturbing my nap? Wait here. Commandant Yang, it’s him. I am the Litchi Commissioner
appointed by His Majesty! You shut up. Look at him, dressed like a ninth-rank official but flaunting it
like he’s the chancellor. Come on. Mr. Li. Commandant Yang. It’s fate that you cross my path again. Elder Su, look closely now. This is not your double-layered urn. Not my urn, but it is my benzoin resin! Ships have traveled a thousand li, yet the fragrance doesn’t fade and it can maintain eighty percent of its quality. In Lingnan I am the only one who has the skills to do it. Amita, it was you who swapped my double-layered urns and stole my benzoin resin. I respect you because you’re a senior. I allowed you to open the crates
and inspect the goods. It would be truly disappointing if you shamelessly framed me. Since it’s come to this, I have no option but to hurt your feelings. What can you do to me? I won’t sell these urns to you. What can you do about it? I’ll pay more. Okay. Ten guan per urn. You’re going on the scamp! Take it or leave it. Well… I’m not selling! Don’t be so angry. So you were humiliated just once. Think about how you treated me last time. I went collect the debt with an IOU. When I was about
to get the litchi orchard, you showed up and waved your little hands. It turned into a royal orchard and turned my IOU into a worthless scrap of paper. You didn’t care about my feelings, either. I told you. If you want to collect the debt, go find His Majesty in Chang’an. That’s easy for you to say! Collect the debt from His Majesty? Do I have a death wish? I’d rather smash the urns than sell you a single one! You used a transit document to claim your ship at the port. May I ask where you got the transit document? The Inspector’s Mansion has only issued
one blank transit document recently and that was to the Litchi Commissioner for litchi transport so he can pass checkpoints
without being stopped and is exempt from taxes. Elder Su, you conspired privately with the Litchi Commissioner. You once served as head of the Hu Merchants Guild. You should know Hu merchants who break the rules shall be expelled from Lingnan. Today you broke the rules yourself. Shouldn’t you lead by example? You won’t sell?
I don’t want them anymore! I announce… The Imperial Edict of Dispatch. I hereby announce that all double-layered urns in the warehouse are requisitioned as imperial urns
for transporting litchis, effective immediately. These have become imperial litchi urns. You spit on His Majesty. You spit on His Majesty! Okay. I’m standing right here. Smash one more double-layered urn and that’s defying His Majesty! His Majesty! I sold half my family property to return to Lingnan. I only wanted to do my own business. I posed no threat to you. But you want to lead me by the nose and choke my neck. You leave me no way out and make me your meat on the chopping block. You are young and beautiful. Yet so coldblooded and utterly rotten. You, as the head, are the sorrow and disgrace of Hu merchants. We see no light in the future of Hu merchants! Elder Su, this is not a place for your insolence. Ma’am. The Litchi Commissioner found the urns and requisitioned them for imperial use. Litchi Commissioner? What should we do now? Su Liang! Do as Elder Su says. Do you truly intend to do business honestly? Of course. Su Liang’s goods are not lost. What did you say? Have you forgotten? Your goods were unloaded and stored in the warehouse
in the west suburb. My goods were unloaded from the ship and stored in a warehouse
in the west suburb. I… I forgot. My subordinates mentioned a warehouse in the west suburb. I forgot utterly. This is a misunderstanding. Please accept my apologies. Elder Su, perfect timing.
Since the misunderstanding is cleared and the Guild’s five founding elders are all present, let us all welcome Elder Su’s return! Thank you. Welcome back. – Welcome back.
– Welcome back! What are you doing here? Amita, don’t let Su Liang bother you. Even if he’s back he absolutely cannot shake your position as the guild leader. Don’t “Amita” me. You don’t deserve it. Ma’am. Apologies. You think I care about Su Liang? I’m merely curious about that Litchi Commissioner. I tried to acquire a litchi orchard but he turned it into an imperial one. He’s sabotaged many of my plans. Such a person should be thrown into the sea
for sharks. Who cares if he’s the Litchi Commissioner? We aren’t afraid of his title. Kill him so he can never stand in your way! Then I’ll let you handle it. Me? I was… just making a suggestion. When did we Hu merchants become so barbaric? It’s all my fault. Allow me to host a banquet to apologize. Would you honor me with this opportunity? Mr. Hadi, Ma’am is in poor spirits today. Maybe return another time. Mr. Hadi, this way. Another day then. When you’re in better spirits, I will host a banquet. Goodbye. Ma’am, Hadi is really annoying and infuriating. I mean, how can he be so confident to think he’s worthy of being your husband? Enough. The election will be held next month. These old merchants all harbor ill intentions. Today Su Liang is back to the guild. I need someone like Hadi as my weather vane. It’s so late already. Mr. Li hasn’t returned. Perhaps I’ll go buy medicine for you. Wait a little longer. He should be back soon. You’re welcome. Today I stumbled upon the secret by accident. I never imagined the esteemed leader of the Hu Merchants Guild would engage in banditry. Can’t you report her to the government? Here’s something you don’t know. Amita’s father Havoc was originally a pirate. Now her adoptive father He Youguang, the Inspector here, is a follower of the Right Chancellor. Hu merchants
will face a lot of challenges. Isn’t this collusion
between officials and merchants? Elder Su, though I helped you by chance today, it still counts as help, right? Sure! So could you let me have all those double-layered urns? You like them? Take them! Thank you, Elder Su. Your kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain. My repayment is as light as a goose feather! It’s nothing. So insignificant! Are you being polite or do you really mean it? I really mean it! If you really mean it, could you give me some more money? Not “give”! Invest. You invest! Invest? What’s “invest”? You and I clicked immediately. Come on. Dig in! How have you fared as the guild leader in the past few years? Those old foxes are all cunning and shrewd. Hard to handle, right? Father, thanks to your support and mentorship, I learned so many business tactics which helped me get the Guild under control. Good. Good. Remember, if any of them give you a hard time, tell me, and I will pull out their teeth! They don’t have the guts. Actually, I’ve been planning something, too. If it succeeds, I can legitimately command the Lingnan naval forces. At that time, as long as their cargo goes by sea, they’ll all have to do as we say. The whole land of Lingnan will be like our garden. Then I’ll stay by your side and help you tend the garden. Good. I love that. Su Liang, the previous guild leader, has returned to Lingnan. Ignore him. That old fox is no threat. Back then I was applying strict measures
as a new official. He looked down on me and wouldn’t let me share his business. So I barred his ships from port. Guess what happened? His incense material ships drifted at sea. But later a typhoon came. That old fool panicked and wanted to yield. Too late. I heard he lost more than half his fortune that time and had to go back to his hometown. Now the entire sea belongs to us. Why would you fear him? Sir, you’re back. Gou. The medicine… Ping’an, feeling better? I bought the medicine… But something just came up and I left it at the pharmacy. I’ll fetch it first thing tomorrow! You bought the medicine? Yeah. You didn’t bring it back. Something came up. I can finally relate to my sister when she died. Why bring up your sister? Can’t I? Why bring her up? You don’t want to admit you made a mistake? My sister gave her life but you still haven’t learned your lesson? You’re really sick. Why this irrational anger? Fine, take some rest. Come back. If you really could transport litchis to Chang’an, why would I stop you? Don’t I want you to live? Your specialization in mathematics makes you think
you can foresee everything. But did you foresee that you’d be transporting litchis? Did you foresee
that my sister would die? Did you foresee me getting sick so seriously? What makes your efforts fail are often those things beyond calculation, Li Shande! I wanted you to leave Lingnan because I feared you staying would be repeating the same mistake. In the end, your legacy for Xiu to inherit won’t be wealth, but debts. I want to stay? Is it my choice to stay? Did I want this assignment? Is it me who wants to have fresh litchis? Don’t I want to return to see Xiu? Don’t I want to watch my little girl grow up, get married, and live happily? She must be waiting every day in the courtyard for the osmanthus tree to bloom. She doesn’t know that tree is dead! It will never bloom. She doesn’t know her father is a dead man walking.
He won’t live through the sixth month! You think I want to stay? Yes, I achieve nothing. I only know gardening. I couldn’t save Jinniang. My peers deceived me into taking this assignment. Did I want it to happen? I stay only because I saw a tiny sliver of hope! I want to grasp that hope so I can live to see Xiu again! And you get angry with me? Where is your hope? Can you see it? Can you touch it? I’m already terminally ill. What if I die tomorrow? You just have a fever! What if a mosquito bites me, and I die? Do you think you can live to leave Lingnan then? If we both die here, what should Xiu do? Alone and helpless, with no one to rely on. If she is sold into servitude tomorrow, what should we tell my sister by then? Stop arguing. What’s it to you? There’s a live one here! Speak! Where did he go? After him! Who is it? “The moon shines bright. And thieves come by night”. He’s one of us. Open up! The interception failed. The new envoy
entered Lingnan territory after all. I came to inform you and hope you make a decision
as soon as possible. Weren’t elite troops sent? How did he fight his way out alone? Judging by his methods, he seems military-trained. Decisive in killing, every move lethal. Konglang sent expensive assassins to ambush him several times. He still fought a way out. When my men arrived, only the corpses of the assassins
remained. If so, I will surely be exposed. You still stand a chance. Please enlighten me. I galloped back the whole way. None of our scouts along the route spotted his trail. He must have taken mountain paths to evade pursuit. That means you should still have time to fulfill
the Left Chancellor’s request. None of you are his match. Wouldn’t I be courting death? What if I give up? If you abort the mission midway, Consultant Konglang will not let you leave Lingnan alive. Master! We’re here to see Mr. Zhao. Mr. Ma. This way. Guiyun. Come here! Xinmin. Forgive me for visiting so early. It’s me. No need for formalities. What brings you here so early in the morning? The “trade”, of course! Be patient. No need to rush. Here’s the thing. I stay at the same courier station as the Litchi Commissioner. I observe him every day. He just works on those litchis. He’s lost in thoughts day and night without any appetite. He seems genuinely serious about the transporting litchis thing. He’s not the Left Chancellor’s follower. Since you’ve observed so carefully, our worry is much ado about nothing. Come on. Here. Have a piece. Try it. I don’t feel like eating. It’s fine. It’s Lingnan’s special snack. We’re at Lingnan, not Chang’an. No matter how important the issue is, it must wait until after morning tea. Gou, have a piece too. He’ll pass. Since doubts are cleared, let’s trade. I’ve brought it with me. No, listen to me. He tore it up. Tore… Tore it up? How could he tear it? Write another copy then. He’s not here. Not here? Where did he go? Look. This rooster’s strong as an ox! Guiyun, spare yourself the trip. He’s addicted to cockfighting. Once he enters the den, even if the sky falls he won’t talk about work with you. Outrageous! Does Mr. He believe the Military Fish Tally
that commands the troops is less important than a rooster? A genuine Red-Crested General! Impressive. Forget raising it, I’ll charge them for just looking at my rooster. Of course, the Military Fish Tally
is more important. However, once Mr. He enters the cockfight den, he’s not Mr. He the Inspector anymore. Then who is he? Gentlemen, place your bet! Great! He becomes a Rooster Poppa. What’s a poppa? It means dad. Rooster Dad? [Inspector’s Mansion] [The Litchi Road] Mr. He. Guiyun. Come on. Sir! Sir! Sir! No matter how urgent this is, our trade is more important! Then I’ll have
the other Right Chancellor’s envoy wait. Right Chancellor’s envoy? Let’s go take a look. Guiyun? Truth cannot be falsified. ♪Though I’m on a branch
in Lingnan’s land♪ ♪My red hue dyes the sky so grand♪ ♪My fairy aura floats to Chang’an town♪ ♪Driving mortals wild♪ ♪Their heads spin round♪ ♪Toiling day and night without a break♪ ♪Just to taste this fruit so rare♪ ♪All crave a bite of this fare♪ ♪Through mountains, lakes,
and rivers wide♪ ♪I journey in dreams far and wide♪ ♪Endless schemes and deceit I hear♪ ♪Absurd pretense so insincere♪ ♪I, too, wished to see
golden tiles glow♪ ♪In this bustling mortal world below♪ ♪But all I saw was a man’s plight♪ ♪Weeping through the lonely night♪ ♪Day by day, bit by bit♪ ♪Bit by bit, fit by fit♪ ♪I was Lingnan’s carefree sprite♪ ♪Dancing with the moon
and sky so bright♪ ♪Pursued by crowds with no respite♪ ♪Witnessing greed in human sight♪ ♪I was Lingnan’s carefree sprite♪ ♪Longing for a sleep in the woods
on a moonlit night♪ ♪Savoring breeze and lute’s sweet sound♪ ♪Free at heart, with peace profound♪ ♪Day by day, bit by bit♪ ♪Bit by bit, fit by fit♪ ♪Day by day, bit by bit♪ ♪Fit by fit, day by day♪ ♪I was Lingnan’s carefree sprite♪ ♪Swinging on green boughs in sunlight♪ ♪Till Chang’an called me to its gate♪ ♪And set my fate to twist and gyrate♪