Highlight EP19: The murderer of her father turned out to be her adoptive father | The Litchi Road
My father was your sworn brother. Why did you have to kill him? If I’d really killed your father, why wouldn’t I have killed you too? Why’d I have raised you all this time? Were it just to wait for you to grow up and bring up these old grievances? Think about it. Use your brain! Who taught you how to behave in person? Who patiently taught you how to do business? Who made you the Leader of the Hu Merchants Guild? I’ve provided you with a life of luxury for ten years, and you’re still not satisfied? What more do you want? Why didn’t you just kill me back then? Now that I know the truth, I want you to pay for my father’s death! What did you say? How dare you talk to me like this? Pay for it? Are you going to kill me? You want to kill me? What do you think you are? This is the last warning. I can love you, and destroy you too. Go! He Youguang! He Youguang, today, it’s either you die or I die! Then you can go to hell! Kill her! Arrows! Shoot her! Everyone, shoot! Go there. Don’t panic, Uncle Feng. We came to ask about someone named Tu. You introduced him to sell those 2,000 shares to my father, right? Didn’t you say you didn’t want to bring up the past? Why ask about it now? Because I heard Tu’s alive. Who said that? The Whale-riding Tower fire burned him to death too. If you lie, I’ll throw you into the water now. I truly don’t know. Stop scaring him. Come here. Uncle Feng, ignore his nonsense. We won’t hurt you. Uncle Feng, tell me the truth. I’ll pay for your treatment. Here we go. There are opportunities
but also scammers. Stay alert. I came to Lingnan [Tu]
to find my distant cousin for shelter. I heard he earned good money here. Really? What’s his name? Zhen Haidong. Mr. Zhen! His business spans several streets. I’ll take you. No charge this time. Thank you. What’s your name? Call me Tu. Okay, Tu. A money-making opportunity came up recently. Consider it. What did you say to me? Lingnan has too many scammers. Always the same trick with the same opening line: “A money-making opportunity came up.” This is different. Absolutely reliable. That’ll be their second line. Come closer. Listen. I’m the broker of something called “Sea Sail Share”. It’s a money-maker. Buy one share now and get one share of the total profit when the fleet succeeds. But what if the fleet fails? I’ll lose everything. Impossible. Know whose fleet this is? Whose? Havoc. Biggest power in the South Seas. The ocean’s his backyard. Any fleet could fail, but not his. So isn’t the Sea Sail Share worth buying? If it’s Havoc’s fleet, it’s worth a try. Exactly. But you don’t get to pick and choose anymore. People are fighting over them. Earn this commission and I can leave this hard labor. I can return to my tribe and brag every day. I hold 2,000 shares. Two thousand? For such coveted shares, who’d sell so many? Is this reliable? The seller is a dignitary who acts mysteriously. Ask no questions. It’s guaranteed reliable. Isn’t Mr. Zhen your distant cousin? Introduce him to me. He’ll surely get onboard with this sure deal. When he profits, he’ll give you a cut. You’ll get rich. You can return home gloriously and honor your ancestors. It hurts! Help me! You bastard! Rumor has it that Havoc died last night in the Whale-riding Tower fire. He left after recovering. What good is blaming him? He asked me not to tell anyone that I saw him or that he was still alive. He said he’d be in danger. You never saw him again? Once. He paid me to deliver medicine to the Dayu Mountains and I did. That’s all. Haven’t seen him since. Where did you meet? A small tavern. You went to ask yourself? I did. Lan knows many people here with wide connections. If he can’t find anything, neither can I. Lan and He Youguang know each other. Is he trustworthy? Just a facade of niceness. Lan’s father owned several streets of business. But all were seized By He Youguang. You think Lan would accept that? Besides, he also wants to find Tu to uncover how his father went bankrupt. It’s very complicated. It’s useless to tell you, and it’s better if you don’t know. You already did a good job
finding this much. He mentioned a tavern. What’s it called? Um… Dukangli. Where are you going? To find more clues. Cocklebur? Notice the difference? Huh? What difference? This one is large with pointed tips curving upward. Lingnan cockleburs are often smaller. I saw this type only once. Where? The litchi orchard. On a great priestess from the Dayu Mountains. So the cockleburs are likely unique to the Dayu Mountains. I found it near the tavern, which means someone
from the Dayu Mountains visited there. We find more large cockleburs, and we find Tu. Mr. Li. Many large cockleburs here. We’re at the city outskirts now. There are few people living here. Check ahead. Go take a look. You actually found him. Who is it? We’re peddlers. Do you sell needles and thread? Where are your parents? Uncle’s out. You can’t see, right? No. But I’m used to it. Are you peddling now? We’ve needed
needles and thread for ages. Well… Yes. This peddler didn’t bring enough goods. He’ll fetch some. He’ll buy some. He has a way. Give him a moment. Fetch now. He’ll be back soon. Oh, my. Well… See? I told you! Needles! – Needles and thread.
– They’re here. Here! Needles and thread! Not just them! Anything you need! Here. Have some rice cakes. Thank you. Delicious. How much should I pay you? They’re free. [Two thousand shares] Well? It should be Tu. The girl’s uncle. He’s gone fishing and will return in three days. We can’t alert him. What if he returns early? If the girl mentions two strangers asking, he’ll grow suspicious. He might flee early. Know any embroidery workshops? Workshops? My former tenant runs one. Perfect. Let’s go. Forget something? No. I came back to ask if you truly want to join a workshop. Very much. But I must talk to Uncle when he gets home. Here’s the thing. This gentleman knows a workshop owner. He’ll ask if they’ll accept you. Really? Yes. I’ll return in three days. So… If your uncle returns early, don’t tell him yet. This might not work out. If it fails, false hope hurts. Surprise him when it’s confirmed. Agreed? Why are you so kind to me? I told you. My daughter is your age. Here. Take the handkerchief embroidered by her as our pledge. Deal? Okay. It’s a deal! You found Tu? We’ve located his home and confirmed he’s alive. Told you so! Told you so! Did you see him? Not personally. He’s gone fishing and will return in three days. We’ll have to wait patiently to see if we can find the shortcut. We’ll find it. Right, Aunt? I’m never wrong. Alright. Tonight, Jun and Hao are going to dance the Vow Dance. Let’s celebrate together! Celebrate! Sir, enjoy. Congratulations! Thank you, Mr. Li. Thanks. Try this. Try this. Elder Su, I have indigestion. You have it. You’ve never tried it. Come on. I’ll drink a toast. A toast to all! Um… Great! I’d like to make a toast. We gather in Lingnan, striving for the litchi transport tirelessly. I never properly thanked you. I’m truly sorry. The task of litchi transport decides my family’s fate. I must exhaust all efforts to overcome this trial. I always remember your help. I am deeply grateful. When the litchis reach Chang’an, I won’t forget your great kindness. But today, most importantly, we wish Jun and Hao many children and healthy ones! Healthy! Bottoms up! Bravo! Bottoms up! Bottoms up! Thank you, Mr. Li. Congratulations! Mr. Li, I am a humble Hu merchant once framed by villains. I could’ve met my doom. By heaven’s will, I met you. Thus I revived from ashes. To me you are noble, respected, and peerless. You’re like rare incense refreshing the soul. I’ve been in trading for years, but I’ve never met anyone as pure as you. If the litchi transport succeeds, I’ll boast to my descendants that my contribution has surpassed all! I’ll be getting too big for my boots. This cup of wine, let’s drink to the dregs together! Drink to the dregs together! Same here! With the wine, let me level with you. Compared to clever people, you’re a great fool. So foolish that I couldn’t bear to cheat you. Yet although you’re a fool, you’re brilliant beyond measure! Ingenious tricks abound. Your talent is matchless. I can’t flatter like other officials do. I studied calculation. Calculating is the only thing I know. You flatter me. Frankly, I want to tell you a secret. Initially, I just wanted to trade for “a pangolin”. Litchi transport? Not my concern! But then I smelled… I smelled profit. I saw the chance and I got greedy. So I decided to assist you. I hope I don’t become a joke. And please, don’t look down on me. Never. Elder Su, without your help and loan at that time, I’d have jumped into the river. I hold dear to your kindness, and I’ll remember forever! Forever. Drink to the dregs together! To the dregs! Here! Drink! Drink! Drink! Drink! Yes! Yes! ♪Sitting in a row, eating fruit♪ ♪One for you, one for me♪ ♪Everyone frowning tightly♪ ♪One for me, one for you♪ ♪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♪ ♪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♪ ♪Swinging on green boughs in sunlight♪ See that? What are you looking at? ♪Till Chang’an called me to its gate♪ ♪And set my fate to twist and gyrate♪ It’s rare to see him so happy. Men at his age, many are burdened by family. Only when he’s drunk can he be so uninhibited and carefree. City men’s hearts are more complex than ours. I worry that you might get too close to them. It might bring unforeseen disaster. No. Li Shande won’t harm me. He’s different from other city men. I see his sincerity. I know that he genuinely wants to help us. But their world has too many constraints. There are many things that he can’t control. If that day comes, your orchard won’t remain as it is now.