TV Version | The litchi transshipment experiment failed! Li Shande moved everyone | The Litchi Road
I’m determined to fight for my life. I’m willing to stake my life to make this business succeed. So I won’t let you down for believing in me. Action! Withdraw! Alright? Are you okay? The urn! Slow down. The urn! Be careful. Lan, go ahead. We can handle this. Can you do it, Li? The horse is back! Help him! Where’s Yazhuang? He’s behind. The horse collapsed
on the mountain road. Hurry, Li! – Li
– Hurry up! Hurry, take it! Take it! All the horses are exhausted. None can stand up. Help him up! Take a break, Li. Thanks, Li. What can we do now? Horses can’t run, but we can! Yeah! – I can run.
– Me too! I can run! You’ve gone five days without rest. Carrying this weight forward is too much. Mr. Li, I usually transport goods in the mountains. I can run. I can run too. I’ve never seen an official so responsible before. You all have really had a tough time. So, I volunteer to help. But I can’t run the whole distance. What are you doing? Hey, what are you doing? What does this have to do with you? Shut up! We need to do a trial. If you break Mr. Li’s urns, it’ll affect the results of the trial and also affect His Majesty’s litchis. You can’t bear the consequences! What? That’s not right. They’re willing to help ease His Majesty’s worries. If you don’t let them help, can you give me your horses? Exactly! Can you lend us horses? Mr. Li, our horses are registered military mounts, responsible for patrolling the borders. We can’t lend them out easily! We can’t have helpers nor horses. How can I continue? Right! I can’t answer that question. I’m only responsible
for serving you well and ensuring safety. Now let me ask you, will you continue this trial? If not, I’ll unlock the Little East Gate and finish my work. What? You’re making things difficult! Move! The Guild Leader’s here! Ma’am. Ma’am. Mr. He said the Assembly is suspended for Mr. Li’s trial. To protect the interests
of the Hu merchants, the Hu Merchants Guild will personally supervise this trial. I didn’t hear about that. Mr. Li, Mr. He said your men and your horses are exhausted. He ordered me to bring you some fine horses. If the trial fails, you can’t use the lack of horses as an excuse. As for the riders, will my team suffice? Are you serious? Your riders have been
running nonstop for days. They have no more strength. If they keep pushing like this, it might lead to a tragedy. Absolutely! The trial continues! – Wonderful!
– Great! – Amazing!
– Let’s do it! Ma’am? Why do you want to be a rider? To compete with you. During the last lap, I was ambushed here. Do you know who it was? Don’t worry. I got you the special pardon. I’ll keep you safe. Follow up! They’ve arrived! They’re coming! They’ve finished! [The sixth trial day] Mr. He is here! Mr. Li, you’re working hard on a rainy day! Mr. He. Look at your transport trial! It’s keeping the whole city up at night. Even during the Lantern Festival, we’ve never had this much excitement! Look, the Hu merchants and all the citizens are eagerly awaiting the result! How is it going? They’re back! They’ve finished! Hurry! Hurry! Unload them! Mr. Li, look how supportive I am of your work. Even my adoptive daughter is riding for you! It’s truly a family effort! Be careful. Let’s go! Father, to ensure interests of the Guild, I came to supervise this trial. You’re quite thoughtful! Let’s see. Mr. Li, urn C is leaking juice! Well… Check it out. Oh no. Mr. He, it’s leaking! We can’t serve this to His Majesty
and Her Highness. Hold on! Take a closer look. These litchis aren’t all picked from the same tree. They’re different in ripeness. On the road, there’s ventilation and bumps. Each urn has its own condition. Li Shande, urn B is leaking. What did you say? This one is leaking too? There’s only one urn left. This trial is doomed! Where’s urn A? Bring urn A here! Urn A! Urn A is here! It’s fine. It’s successful! What? Urn A is fine. Urn A is good. Let’s continue! We can continue! They’re fine! Let’s continue! Amazing! Come on. One, two, three! Come on! Let’s start! Didn’t you say this trial was destined to fail? How come one of the urns survived? And this urn has lasted for so long that he’s almost tasted
all the litchis inside! Why isn’t the trial over yet? The horse is back! He’s back! It’s blocked! The road is blocked! Mr. Li, the road is blocked! The road is blocked! What? It’s blocked? Are you alright? Hurry! Get down! Hurry! Be careful. Where is it blocked? Not far ahead. Be careful. Carry him over here! Mr. Li, the litchis are fine! This is good. The litchis are fine. Great! The litchis are fine. They are fine. Wonderful! Listen, let’s split into two teams now and send out two riders. Yazhuang, follow the planned route and go to the foot of the mountain. Li? Li! Li, come over! When you reach the foot of the mountain, you’ll take over the relay. Understand? Go! Ma’am, you’ll stay on this side. Once you receive the urn, transport it back here, alright? No problem. Let’s go! And you take people to fix the road. Sure. Make sure the trip is safe. Alright, let’s do it! Let’s go there now! Go grab equipment. Clear the way! Move! I’ll go up alone? Come on! Gather baskets and ropes! Let’s begin! Hurry up! Here. Be careful. Go! Is the rope ready yet? Hurry! Good. Use your hands for small rocks! Are there more ropes? Be careful! This is too heavy. Use ropes! Get ropes! Here. Hurry! Prize it up! Come on! More strength! Give me! Harder! Use ropes! – Ropes!
– Here. This won’t work. Put a stone underneath! Use a stone! Go on! Help! Go help her! Alright? Let’s try again! Come on! One, two, three! Move! Move! The horse’s coming! It’s the horse! Yazhuang! Come and help! Hurry up! Take the urn. Come on. Slowly! Hurry and check it out! Hurry! Bring a torch! A torch! Hurry! Is this trial over? If it’s over, then let’s disperse now! Disperse! Disperse now! Mr. Li, the trial is really over? Everyone. Everyone… these days, you all… Li Shande! Mr. Li! Li Shande! ♪Red-skinned fruit weighs the branches♪ ♪Slender boughs bend low♪ ♪Picking fruits tires one out♪ ♪The sickle cuts whole clusters♪ Litchi Envoy! Litchi Envoy! Focus on your work. ♪Two sips rival sugarcane♪ ♪Kiddo, don’t stash them away♪ ♪Tomorrow the litchis will spoil♪ Awake? ♪How to keep♪ ♪them fresh?♪ I should go. Thank you. Li Shande. I’m fine. Get back to your work. Thanks. ♪Two sips rival sugarcane♪ ♪Kiddo, don’t stash them away♪ ♪Tomorrow the litchis will spoil♪ ♪How to keep♪ ♪them fresh?♪ ♪Don’t pluck them at all♪ ♪Don’t pluck them at all♪ ♪Red-skinned fruit weighs the branches♪ ♪Slender boughs bend low♪ Mr. Li, my litchi orchard is still good! Look, the fruit is still fresh! We have a secret method to preserve them longer. What’s it? Don’t pluck them at all! ♪Don’t pluck them at all♪ Oh, heaven, you never fail a determined heart! The last Assembly was paused due to Elder Su’s project. Now Mr. Li’s trial is finished. I believe you must have a judgment right now. Please carefully think about it and vote on it. Should we continue the litchi business? Ma’am, Mr. Li has only conducted one trial. Shouldn’t we give him another chance? The paused Assembly was a chance for him. Mr. Li has racked his brains to think of an idea to get the litchis to Chang’an, but failed. Ma’am! Ma’am, I’m Li Shande. Li Shande’s here. Lan Yu, bring Mr. Li in. Sure. Mr. Li, please. Ma’am, I’ve brought your iris back to life. I’ve fulfilled my promise to you. You came just to deliver the flowers? No, I mean, an iris can survive and thrive in this pot. Litchis can too! Litchis can also survive! Look, in this pot, it’s planted with litchis. A child planted this branch in the soil and took good care of it, so it’s still alive. This branch may be wilted now, but the fruit is as fresh as those
that are just picked. With this method, litchis can be preserved for five to six days. Mr. Li, we all witnessed the failure of your trial. Now you suddenly brought out a pot of litchis and claimed it could buy time? Who’s going to believe that? This litchi branch was cut before the trial. It was planted in the soil during the trial. If you don’t believe it, you can go ask about it. Everyone can prove it! Even if this is true, the litchi branch can barely survive in the soil, let alone being tossed around in the urn. Please listen. Everyone, this branch is weak, but we can find stronger ones! We can look for healthy branches. We can find thick trunks. All we need to do is split them and plant them in the urns with soil. The fruits on the branches can continue to grow! Even if the branch withers, the fruits will still be fresh. Look! It’s fresh with juice. Take a look! So, tell me, how many more days can it be preserved? I call this branch planting in urns. Combined with the previous water-isolation salt-washing method, litchis can be preserved for 11 days! Eleven days! Impossible! Eleven days. Then how many days will it take to get from Lingnan to Chang’an? Following my planned route, it also takes 11 days. Check out my plan! Have a look. Pass it around. Please. [Litchi Transport Route Plan] It’ll be fresh for 11 days. The route costs 11 days. His Majesty and the Noble Consort will soon be able to enjoy fresh litchis! As if already in their mouths. You’re amazing, my bro… Brilliant talent you are. Amazing! Hold on. Something’s not right. What’s wrong? Your plan mentions the transport team will
go over Lushan Mountain into Xunyang County, and cross the Yangtze River
into Qichun County. That’s indeed an excellent route. But the other day,
Xunyang was hit by flooding. The official road is blocked. Who knows when it will be repaired? No way! Flooding in Xunyang? That’s not possible, Elder Fan! I’ve never heard about the flooding! I’ve heard about it too. Not only Xunyang but several towns are also affected by flooding in Jiangzhou. Mr. Li, if there really is flooding, are there alternative routes? The official road is the quickest route. If there’s flooding, we’ll have to take a detour. That needs two more days. In other words, you’ll need at least 13 days. Mr. Li, I admire your honesty in not deceiving us. But your transport plan is just a beautiful illusion. It looks good but unrealistic. Business is business. No businessperson wants a loss. If he can’t solve
the technical problems, why should we keep investing? It’d just be a waste of money! Look at your position! You have no say in this! Mr. Li, is there any other possibility? There is. There is! Just a moment. There are alternatives. Let me think about it. After leaving Lingnan, go north, and we’ll pass the Five Ridges. The Five Ridges are the most rugged and difficult part. It will cost a lot of time. If we can find a new way there, it’ll take two days less. Take two days less. That’s easy for you to say! So many merchants have traveled this road for years. If there was an easier route, it should’ve been discovered! How would you know if you don’t try? We need to try at least. When I first got this assignment in Chang’an, it felt like a dead-end job, right? Litchis would go bad in three days, so it was impossible. But what happened? When I got to Lingnan, I found one solution, then another! One idea after another. Every time I thought it was impossible, I took a step closer to making it possible! I’ve witnessed everything Mr. Li said. Mr. Li is honest and straightforward, never trying to please anyone, let alone deceiving anyone. So, he lays out the truth openly. He knows transporting litchis is no easy task, but he still perseveres. I admire Mr. Li’s character. I also believe he will surely find a better way to turn danger into safety. I’m willing to put my entire fortune in Mr. Li’s hands! I’ll side with him! Everyone, the Right Chancellor entrusted this task to Mr. Li, because he fully trusts Mr. Li. We’re all businesspeople. For us, profit is the key. For one to make money, the judgment
of character is important. When we invest in it, we’re not just investing in a business, but also in the person who runs the business. I’ve finished. I’m just a low-ranking official, earning a little money in Chang’an. After expenses, I barely make ends meet
by the end of the month. But Elder Su just gave me a huge sum of money. It’s totally beyond my imagination. I-I could’ve taken the money back to Chang’an and let my daughter grow up safely. I could’ve only cared about myself. But instead, I used the money to conduct a trial. Honestly, I just want to survive. Of course, my life may mean nothing to you all, but I want to tell everyone that I want to live. Father! I’m determined to fight for my life. I’m willing to stake my life to make this business succeed. So I won’t let you down for believing in me. I won’t! After saying all this, I believe you all have your answers. Let’s vote! Solid bone. Solid bone. Solid bone. Ma’am, the litchi transport project
is approved. Yes! Don’t celebrate yet. A frank warning. The Hu Merchant Guild has a rule: If no progress is made in 30 days, the investment will be withdrawn. Close the two-day gap as soon as possible. I understand. I’ll get busy. Thank you, everyone. Hurry, Li. Get up. Mr. Li. Let me introduce them. Mr. Wei, Mr. Zhao, and Mr. Zhou. They are businessmen and major investors of our guild. They heard of your litchi transport to Chang’an and they’re very interested. Mr. Li. Gentlemen. Mr. Li. Nice to meet you. Mr. Li, we specially requested our leader to bring us for inspection for future collaboration. Can you kindly brief us? I… I’ve said everything I should say at the Guild. I’m inarticulate. I might not be
the right person for this. In business since antiquity, buyers come before sellers. Investors request and the guild must comply. This venture is fully funded by the Guild. Mr. Li should cooperate. Elder Su and Lan Yu are supervising the orchard already. How else should I cooperate? Mr. Li, we’re here to help you undertake this monumental project. See my Hu-style attire? My Great Fortune Trading House improved its design. Vibrant colors blended with Tang elegance. If you can advertise it to the public, sales will soar. I transport litchis. How am I supposed to advertise your clothes? I don’t need attention! Unnecessary! Ma’am, he might misunderstand our collaboration slightly. Can you kindly explain? These investors handle thirty to forty percent of the Guild’s procurement. Your non-cooperation may jeopardize the funding, which might be beyond my control. Gentlemen, we toured the cultivation zone. Now we’re heading to the village… Please move to the middle. The village of the litchi-savvy Dong people. Is this also a litchi tree? Sharp eyes! This is the only millennial tree in the orchard with a significant history. The entire orchard thrives under its shade. Truly sharp eyes! See? The Dong people enjoy litchis joyfully. Imagine when the Noble Consort tastes them, the glory is yours to share! Do you know the purpose of these double-layered urns? This is for… Correct! For transporting incense materials. Cost the Guild fortunes. Mainly thanks to Mr. Li… Mr… Mr. Li! I’m here. Mr. Li. Thanks to Mr. Li and his water-isolation preservation. Thank you for your dedication. You’re welcome. You’re truly professional. Tong? Come here. Tong, get up. Miss Tong is young. But she is the orchard’s chief. She manages everything. She’s a little stubborn. But she’s very devoted. Everything is arranged meticulously. Greet the managers. Excellent! Spirited girl! Let’s continue. Mr. Li, what are those bamboo baskets for? They’re newly-arrived spares for litchi transport. Such a waste! These are common dock cargo baskets. No branding, no custom design. You can’t use these. Mr. Li, pick one style. Don’t worry. We’ll provide free baskets. Yes! The most important thing is to make sure Mr. Zhao’s shop name is visible. So, the litchi urns, the horses, the riders’ attire, and the litchi packaging, all will feature your designs? We’ll arrange everything for you. All costs covered. It’s not about costs! Efficiency matters! These litchis aren’t sweet enough. Sugar-curing them would sweeten them. Are cured litchis even “fresh”? Can we rename it? Let’s call it Great Fortune Fruit. An auspicious name boosts sales! We can hire popular poets to write verses about the Great Fortune Fruit. It’d ensure fame. Or we can paint all the urns red. That would give them excellent symbolism! Festive! And the horses… Stop it right now! This is enough! If you keep messing around, transporting litchis will be a joke! Or perhaps this is exactly what you want? This is not our intent. This is a misunderstanding. They’re merely suggestions. We can talk about them. Right? Litchi transport is our blind spot. You make the call. But promoting fame and capturing public interest is our expertise. Yes. We understand that you’re a professional from the Office of Imperial Parks. You may scorn our tricks. Understandable. But without these tricks, we can’t raise funds. That’s right. Mr. Wei, I’m blunt, but I mean no offense. You’re major Guild investors. But I just want to get this job done. I’m afraid I cannot comply with this collaboration thing. I admire your integrity and dedication. You flatter me. Mr. Li, does your daughter attend an embroidery workshop in Anren Ward’s Willow Lane? Run by an old eunuch surnamed Wang, right? You know him? Yes. How coincidental. His shop is leased from me. When he opened the workshop, he was financially strained, so I funded him. If I reclaim the property and evict him, would that old eunuch end up homeless? Mr. Li, both morally and rationally, you might want to reconsider our collaboration. Tell Zhao Xinmin. I won’t play along. Ma’am, this slap will cost you dearly. Li Shande, you still want to dine here? Let’s go somewhere else. It stinks. Li Shande, what took you so long? I dined with Amita. What’s her scheme this time? We just dined, that’s all. That girl from the Guild came today ransacking and said she’d come again
for inspection. They were never so diligent before. There must be some malicious intent. Villains now invade our doorstep. Be cautious. What? Amita hit a merchant? Yes. Amita acts increasingly recklessly. When her father died in flames, had you not intervened, taking her in, or had you not overruled objections, legitimizing her father’s fleet, and handed it to her, would she have become who she is today? But she shows no gratitude when she makes decisions. Ma Guiyun has been pursuing Amita lately. What is Ma Guiyun? At best, the Right Chancellor’s envoy. Pursuing Amita? He bites off more than he can chew. But still… Ma Guiyun is a petty villain. I fear complications. What complications? Hear me out, sir. I have a plan. Speak. Ma Guiyun has strutted like a peacock lately, pursuing Amita madly. But Amita ignores him. He’s frustrated now. Perfect timing to arrange a beautiful woman to win him over. “For men, love is climbing mountains; for women, it’s opening a door.” We can exploit this chance to recruit Ma Guiyun. But since he fancies Amita, his standards for women are high. Any candidate? Indeed one. Mr. Ma. Miss Lan Yu. Mr. Ma. Seeing that it’s not our Leader, are you disappointed? Not at all. Knowing of this banquet with you present, Miss Lan Yu dressed splendidly. When she dances with you later, it’ll be like paired phoenixes soaring. Miss Lan Yu, does Amita know you come here alone? I’ve long admired you. Sadly, you see none else. Your eyes and your heart hold only Ma’am. Before I came, I confessed to her. She approved, saying you’d stop pestering her. Isn’t she cold-hearted? I didn’t realize it earlier, but you’re sitting together now? Truly a perfect match. I’m so jealous. Guiyun, your future travels with a beauty will be so delightful. Deserves a toast. A grand toast! Mr. Zhao. Cheers. You went to the trouble for me. Is this banquet merely for setting Lan Yu up with me? Just to catch up on each other’s news. Only a catching-up? Of course! Hope you enjoy the banquet. Drink heartily and revel joyously! Lan Yu, dance! Dance! Mr. Zhao. Have you enjoyed yourself? Seems so. Take care of yourself. Mr. Ma. Miss Lan Yu. You’re still stunning without the make-up. And you’re a true hero! Unaware observers might think you were the host tonight. It was a get-together of good friends. You treated me warmly, so I felt at home. No hosts or guests. Mr. Ma, I heard the Pingyun Mountain out of town has enchanting scenery. It’s worth visiting. Shall I accompany you tomorrow? I am lowly and plain. I’m asking what I don’t deserve. Don’t cry! Hold those tears back. I can’t stand to see women’s tears. You said Pingyun Mountain? Alright. Hold those tears back. I’ll be there. Farewell, Mr. Ma. Qilang, how can you be charmed so easily? Lan Yu is merely beautiful. How can you be so weak-willed? Your mission is unfinished, but you’re touring mountains now? Her cheap tricks can’t fool me. I went with the flow. Mr. Zhao invited me to the banquet with motives. I couldn’t act rashly without knowing his motives. I couldn’t sever ties either. So I had to play along to figure out his true intent. Qilang, you’re a true hero! We’re feeling each other out. Every word gets a reply yet leads to nowhere. Our rhetoric leaves room for maneuver. Gou, you’re still too young. Appearances often deceive. Time will tell. It often takes several rounds to know the outcome. I fear your act may become real. You clearly enjoy this game. You probably are relishing the feeling of being admired. After all, being pursued is easier than pursuing others. Love holds profound mysteries. Feigned affection is false. True feelings arise from the heart. What do you know at your age? I may be young. But I’m no fool. You’ve gained more female companions here. Consultant Konglang acts
as a mentor and friend. She’s both graceful and wise. Amita stands bold and spirited. She’s as excellent as any man. Today another showed up. Delicate and charming, a tender beauty evoking affection. You’re blessed with romantic luck. You’ve grown more mature. Starting tomorrow, you don’t have to brush your teeth. Because today, I’m going to knock them out and rip out your tongue which spoke such nonsense. Where did you learn those expressions? Shameless, get lost! What’s happening? My aunt has come. She’s a great witch from the mountains named Chai. She might assist with litchi transport. But… Confucius believed
neither in gods nor ghosts. We cannot place hope on superstitions. My aunt holds great power. She was born with divine gifts. The Dong people
all seek her rituals and guidance for weddings or funerals. Matters handled by her always proceed smoothly. Can she advise on preserving litchis then? Probably not. Deities care not for such trivial matters. Move, get out of here! Get out of here! What are you doing? Saving you, obviously! What are you doing? Hey! You disrupted my ritual! The heavenly gods are watching and they are furious! They will punish you. When have those gods ever spared me? This is poisonous. This is made [Chai]
of Datura flowers and leaves. When dried and burned, it induces hallucinations. This is toxic. Really? Truly. I’ve seen this many times. When we’re ill, a sniff cures us all! Not cure, just an anesthetic effect. It merely masks your symptoms temporarily. Stop inhaling! Do you trust me or this city man? I’ve seen this many times. When we’re sick, a sniff cures us all! Not cure, just an anesthetic effect. It merely masks your symptoms temporarily. Stop inhaling! How come a city man like you knows so much? This is my profession. I’m not leaving. I won’t leave. Our god has given me a revelation. He said this city man would bring changes to us Dong people. But I need to stay and see whether it’s good or bad. You’re from Chang’an? Do you have a house? A mansion? A mansion is expensive. On credit? So, you don’t have savings? How much is your salary? How much did you borrow? When do you plan to pay it back? Do you have any plans? You have a girl? That’s good! Your conditions aren’t great, but you’re honest with me. You’re decent. So, I won’t nitpick about the rest. Well, if you succeed in the litchi transport, will you return to Chang’an or stay in Gaozhou? Chang’an, of course. You can’t! Tong won’t go to Chang’an with you. She doesn’t have to go with me. But… If I succeed in delivering litchis and His Majesty is satisfied, this litchi orchard will become an imperial one! No one will dare to stir up trouble. Tong can stay here afterward. She won’t leave. But then you can’t see each other. You’ll be worlds apart. And that will… Ma’am, you got us wrong. I only care about my daughter. I’ve never had any designs on Miss Tong. We’re friends. I’ve made that clear to her before. Miss Tong is… Stunning. Stunning and exceptionally talented. Right? Yeah. And kindhearted. She’ll find a good man. Aunt, please don’t play matchmaker for us. We’re truly just friends. Are you blaming me for meddling too much? I need to make sure of it. Or you might be fooled. Fine, if you don’t want me to stay, I’ll go back to the Dayu Mountains! I’m leaving! Please don’t! If you let this city man stay in the litchi orchard, I won’t come back again! Ma’am, you said you came
from the Dayu Mountains. Isn’t the Dayu Mountains north of Lingnan? Jiangnan West Circuit is further north? So? Are you looking down
on our poor hometown? Not at all! I’m sorry for being blunt. Ma’am, can I ask you about something? Does standing higher give you a better view? This time of year, Pingyun Mountain is always the most pleasant. It’s said that a person’s fate is like a drop of water, drifting with the wind and each
having its own destiny. Some merge into clear springs, ending up in the nobles’ cups, while others flow into the muddy waters beneath the rocks. Sir, you’re like the spring, while I’m like the muddy water. Miss, don’t say that. We can’t choose our families. But through hard work, we can definitely change our lives. Are you crying? I’m not crying. The fog here is thick. It obscured my vision. Mr. Ma, I’m really happy that you came out for a walk with me. Mr. Ma, you’re eloquent and willing to comfort me. I’m more than happy. If you don’t mind, I can go with you, even to Chang’an! I don’t seek any title. I just hope to be cherished. Miss, do you even believe your own words? Your conviction is strong. If you can’t win my heart today, will you be in trouble later? Mr. Ma, I don’t understand what you are saying. You know. You know what I mean. You shouldn’t dive straight into the topic. We don’t know each other well, so jumping right
to the point isn’t right. We can take our time. Not really. Think about it. You don’t have a target yet. Taking action is useless. One’s eyes never lie. Look closely at me. You’re about to throw up! I know myself very well. We’ve met a few times, but you’ve never focused on me. But yesterday, you suddenly showed interest in me. You must have done it by order. I came out with you today to help you clear your mind and relax. No need to act. Acting is exhausting, you know. Mr. Ma, so you knew all along. I just don’t understand why Mr. Zhao is so concerned about my private life. Um… You don’t have to tell me. If Mr. Zhao asks about it, just say you find me disgusting and can’t accept me. Forced love isn’t happiness. Alright? Thanks, Mr. Ma. During the litchi transport, we have to go through the Dayu Mountains and then head north
into Jiangnan West Circuit. But the Dayu Mountains are treacherous. The winding mountain roads
require two days to traverse. So is there a new route, a shortcut, that could save us that time? Then I can succeed. Can you think of a path that’s helpful? Shande. Alright. Take this for fun. In your dream! The Dayu Mountains isn’t easy to climb over! Aunt, please help him this time. But I really can’t assist with this. The god can help, but he doesn’t believe in it. Ma’am, I believe we’re the same kind of person. Don’t act like you know me so well. Look, Tong is indeed my friend. Yeah. I understand that life is hard for Dong people in the mountains. With no access to medicine, even a minor injury could mean waiting for death. You, as the great priestess, use the religion to provide them with the utmost care and healing. I know the pain in your heart, so I don’t mean to look down on you. I only have admiration, truly. Among city people, you’re not the most eloquent, but your understanding of us Dong people is rare. I’m sincerely asking for your help. Aunt, please do him a favor. There was someone in our tribe named Tu. He was the only one from our tribe who made a living in Gaozhou. One day, Tu returned to the mountains with a brush and paper of city people. Then he drew and sketched. I was curious and asked what he was doing. He told me that when he was a hunter, he discovered a hidden path in the Dayu Mountains. If he could transport what he drew out of Lingnan along that path, He could make a fortune. Then our tribe would live an affluent life. So, that path really exists? Yeah! But he suddenly disappeared. It’s been ten years. There’s no news. We can’t find him. Doesn’t anyone else know about this path? Only he knows. Dong people don’t usually interact with city people, so we have no news about him… Li Shande, where are you going? Elder Su, good news! What good news? Don’t rush. Take your time. What is it? Well, a great priestess
of the Dong people has come to the litchi orchard. A priestess? Yeah, a great priestess! She says there’s a shortcut through the Dayu Mountains. A shortcut? Yes! We can avoid the winding roads and save two days of travel. That’s indeed good news! But there’s a problem. What’s wrong? I don’t know where this path is. That’s not good news. But someone does. Who? A Dong person named Tu. Tu? Where is he? He’s been missing for ten years. And then? That’s all. So what’s good about this news? Can you use your connections to help me find Tu? If our plan works out, that’ll be good news! Did you say Amita’s maid is pursuing you? Yes. Interesting. Well, in Chang’an, I handled the social scene. Now in Lingnan, I’ve stirred up the dating scene. I’m always surrounded by women. It’s quite bothersome! But you look excited. You didn’t have such a good chance in Chang’an. You got me wrong. I just feel I have a talent for handling matters in love. A gentleman should remain composed. But Lan Yu is really quite beautiful. If you’re attracted to her, you can accept her. You won’t have wasted
your trip to Lingnan. You got me wrong again. Although Lan Yu is pretty, I prefer someone who’s pretty and intelligent. Alright. Get down to business. From the clues we’ve gathered, the fire at the Whale-riding Tower should be a premeditated murder. We found out just before it caught fire, Lan’s father happened to get 2,000 shares of the Sea Sail Share. So you’re implying the one who sold those 2,000 shares is the arsonist? Right. The value of the Sea Sail Share is largely based on Havoc’s reputation. Once Havoc died, the Sea Sail Share completely collapsed. Everyone who bought in at a high price lost everything. Lan’s father was also left with nothing but big trouble. Do we have any evidence proving He Youguang started the fire? No, but those 2,000 shares were purchased from a broker named Tu. If we can find him, we might uncover the truth. He died in a fire? Oh no. Doesn’t that mean we can’t find the route
through the Dayu Mountains that Tu discovered? Do you mean Tu died in a fire ten years ago? I’ve never seen it myself though. That’s impossible! Five years ago, he asked a merchant to bring us something. Did you see him in the flesh? I didn’t see him then. But he did send back some medicine for his parents through that merchant. Did he leave any messages? Not that I know of. So who is that merchant? I don’t know. He just delivered the goods and left. I’ve only seen him once. Disappearance and death aren’t too different. We can’t afford the two days. Ma’am, can you offer other clues? Other clues. Clues… I just remembered, that merchant stared at me once he arrived. That was annoying! I criticized him and he explained that he had a squint. Master, you’ve been traveling lately and working hard. You’ve lost some weight. But that’s meaningless. Dead people won’t come back to life. We found a dead man in the end. The only lead has vanished. Ping’an. Ping’an. Mr. Li. I need your help. What’s wrong? Help me find a man in Lingnan. Who? A Dong person named Tu. Find him. From the Dayu Mountains? How do you know it? I’m looking for evidence of He Youguang’s corruption. It’s connected to Tu. Huh? What a coincidence! Did you find him? Yes. Where is he? He died in a fire. When did he die? Ten years ago. It’s outdated. He didn’t die? He escaped the fire but is hiding. He must know something that could get him silenced. This is getting interesting. We’re looking for him, and so is Li Shande. Looks like he’s the key. Ma’am, I have a suggestion. I’m all ears. Can we talk about something else? We need to balance our talks. Sure, what do you want to talk about? I’m not very good with words. I don’t know what to talk about. I have no idea. There’s plenty to talk about! Like? Like music, chess,
calligraphy, and painting. Or poems and romance. Romance! Gou, go out! Master, I didn’t go in at all. Out! We can just talk about romance. – I think…
– But after you finish your business. You can go. I’ll send Luotuo to check on that squint-eyed merchant. But you can’t play Go alone… Master, Mr. He is a regular around here. What if we run into him? Shut up! You can’t say it out loud. It might actually happen. I’m sorry. You’ll be fine. You have the wit to turn the tables! Guiyun! Mr. He. I came to see you. Really? Why did you go out? When I saw you, I suddenly remembered I bought something for you and needed to get it. Guiyun, we’re close friends. I don’t really need a gift. It isn’t important. What’s the matter? About love. Elaborate it. I’ve taken a liking to Amita, so I’ve been seeing her more often. I didn’t expect my charm to reflect on Lan Yu. They’re both your people. I’m having a hard time managing this love triangle. What’s so hard about it? This just shows you’re charming, and they’re attracted! It’s a good thing! If I were you, I would choose Lan Yu. Why? Well, to get married, you need someone who loves you. I know Amita very well! She has a quick temper. She also has martial skills. Her favorite thing is picking fights. She’ll hit anyone! Can you stand her? Lan Yu is different. She’s gentle and pretty. She listens to you. Let me ask you, in your life, do you want to be beaten up or enjoy a life of comfort? I prefer comfort, of course! That’s right! Choose Lan Yu. You came at the right time. Just a moment. Lan! Lan! Lan. Come here! Mr. He. This is Guiyun. Guiyun. Lan. Help me pick out an exceptionally strong gamecock for Guiyun to use. On me. Sure. Good! You should give it a try! I can’t. It’s fun! Mr. He, take care. Lan, can we talk? Please. Can you help me find a man? Mr. He? No. Someone you know. Squint-eyed Feng. Through Squint-eyed Feng, I need to find a broker who dealt
in the Sea Sail Share. Sea Sail Share? Yeah. The broker suddenly flipped 2,000 shares of the Sea Sail Share. Back then, anyone who owned the Sea Sail Share shares could make a fortune. But someone knew in advance that Havoc was going to fall. Or no one would’ve sold them. What do you mean? I mean what I said. Guiyun, you’re Mr. He’s friend. Why do you come to me for help instead of him? What’s your intention? I didn’t come all the way from Chang’an to make friends. I want to figure out some things. I believe you’ll be more invested in this than Mr. He. Why? Because that broker sold those shares to your father. Don’t you want to know who the real seller behind this is? So you, um, what’s the name of the man you want to find? 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. You need those for embroidery? My daughter is about your age. She’s studying embroidery too. Look. See? Her embroidery. I can’t see. May I touch it? Sure. Here. Feel it. What is this flower? Speedwell. Exquisite stitches! Can you tell? I want to learn embroidery too. Though I’m blind, I can feel it with my fingers. You’re cut out for embroidery. They say blind people have sensitive touch. Your work would be delicate. Your slender fingers are made for this. Really? But I can’t leave home. Your parents forbid it? I have no parents. I live with my uncle. I never asked him. Besides, workshops won’t take a blind student. Not true. Know Chang’an? I heard of it. It’s where the Emperor lives. Yes. There are many embroidery workshops there with famous blind embroiderers. True masters! They embroider patterns like loongs, phoenixes, Qilins, and blooming peonies. The patterns are amazing. They’re good! How do they imagine such patterns? With heart. Anything done wholeheartedly succeeds despite the difficulty. Besides your uncle, any other adults? I could speak with them. No. Just Uncle and me. Is he your blood uncle? No. I’ve been blind since birth. I wandered homeless. Once I got lost and somehow stumbled here. Uncle gave me a cake. I told him my story. He let me stay. A good man. So… Do you know his name? No. Did he share his past? No. So does he… have distinguishing features? Features? Right. You can’t see. I touched his face. There were many scars covering nearly all of his face. He probably looks frightening. Burn scars? Likely. They feel like my burn from hot oil. Needles! 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. Are you sure he’ll return today? Has he ever been late before? Never. Uncle always prepares days of food for me before leaving. He never delays. I’ll get you food. Shande waited in Tu’s hut all day. No sign of him. Something went wrong? Could it be Mr. He’s men took Tu? Our spies report that Mr. He’s men also watched the hut. Word must have gotten out. Where is Tu? Ma’am. We caught Tu as he tried to jump ship and flee. Mr. Zhao’s words were suspicious
with unknown intent. Don’t trust him fully. Tu. I am Havoc’s daughter. I’m the current Leader of the Hu Merchant Guild. I swear on my life I won’t harm you. Just tell me the truth about the Whale-riding Tower fire. Your eyes look just like your father’s. Whatever you fear, whoever you fear, speak the truth, and I’ll protect you. I can give you money. Take you far from Lingnan. Ensure you never want for anything. What truth? Tu. Just tell me, was my father’s death an accident or a plot? Guo. Find a physician to treat his wounds. Fetch food. Tu, state your demands. I’ll agree if possible. Rest first. We’ll talk later. Don’t let anyone in. Ma’am. Mr. He’s men are looking for Tu too. Why not hand him to Mr. He? You can confront him directly. I need to hear Tu’s answer first. Ma’am. Well? Port reports: Pirates have been searching coastal waters lately. It’s Amita. Likely someone wants to provoke Amita into fighting with He Youguang. So they leaked the news to her. Amita! I’ll demand Tu from her. No! Amita surely has spies. It’s a sudden event. He Youguang can’t mobilize troops fast. So he’ll only bring a few men. Luotuo and Jin Jiao. Scout the Guild. Aye. Protect Amita at all costs. Amita. Father, what brings you here? I heard you found a man at sea? Didn’t Lan Yu tell you? It’s just a fisherman. A misunderstanding occurred during a fish trade. How could such a trivial matter alarm the Inspector’s Mansion? Is that man called Tu? Why did you bring him to the Guild? We’re also looking for him. Why do you need him? We heard Li Shande is looking for him. That man knows a shortcut out of Lingnan. We can’t let him fall into Li Shande’s hands. Don’t worry, I won’t hand him over to Li Shande. Amita, you may not know. Li Shande is cunning and sly. You’re no match for him. I think it’s better for me to take him away. I’ll keep him locked up
in the Inspector’s Mansion for safety. Father, I can’t give you Tu yet. I heard he used to handle Sea Sail Share. Before the fire, a mysterious person sold 2,000 shares through him, as if foreseeing the fire. I need to find out who this mysterious person is. The fire at the Whale-riding Tower and the collapse of Sea Sail Share were major events that shook Lingnan back then. There are rumors everywhere. We can’t trust hearsay anyway. You have no idea how chaotic it was. Sea Sail Share had big trades every day. If you insist it’s related to the fire
at the Whale-riding Tower, isn’t that absurd? If that’s the case, Father, I can let you take Tu away. Great. But I need to know who this mysterious person is first, so I can feel at ease. Mr. He, we found Tu! Let me go! Let’s go! – Help me! I’ll tell you the truth!
– None of you can leave! He sold 2,000… Shut up! Tell me! He sold 2,000 shares. I saw him going into the Whale-riding Tower with oil. It was he who burned Havoc to death! This lunatic is out of his mind. Do you really believe his words? If it’s really nonsense, why would you draw your sword? He Youguang, I have evidence against you. If you kill me, that evidence will be made public! Go public? I won’t kill him. You have evidence? That’s great! Make it public right now! He Youguang! What are you doing? Amita, you’ve been by my side
since you were 15. I’ve raised you for ten years. You should know how I’ve treated you all this time. I’ve stayed with you even longer than your own father has! Today, will you trust him or me? Make your choice. I was holding onto a glimmer of hope, hoping that the person Tu would accuse wasn’t you! But you went ahead and killed him! You shattered all my hopes. Ever since that dagger, you’ve been deceiving me. You’ve always been lying to me! 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! Ma’am. Is it serious? She’ll be fine. Who are you? People call me Consultant Konglang. We’ve never met. Why are you helping me? Can we make a deal? He Youguang killed your father. But you can’t defeat him alone. Now the whole city is hunting for you. You have nowhere to go except here. I can help you but in exchange, I want evidence of He Youguang’s crimes. Child, it’s alright now. It’s fine. Child. There, there. You can stay in this litchi orchard, or go with me to Dayu Mountains. You won’t be homeless. Child. I promised to take you
to the embroidery workshop. I won’t go back on my word. It’s all my fault. But for me, Tu wouldn’t have died. Uncle once told me this day would come sooner or later. He said he could escape for a moment, but not for a lifetime. Tu not only knew the shortcut at Dayu Mountains, but he also knew other secrets that brought him to his doom. That outcome is his fate. But before he died, I didn’t even get to see him for the last time. So we’ve worked hard for nothing. After all this time, we still can’t find the shortcut at Dayu Mountains. Mr. Li, I can ride to Dayu Mountains and search for the shortcut. Dayu Mountains is surrounded by cliffs on three sides, which block three directions. There’s only a narrow basin leading east that connects to Qianzhou. The roads are cramped, with towering mountains on either side blocking most of the sky. It looks tough at a glance, let alone finding a way. Then we just have to ride hard and take our chances, cutting down two days. The more anxious we are to hurry, the more we should slow down in a place like this. If we’re not careful, we’ll lose everything. If that’s the case, we’re out of options. Slow down. Let me see. Pay attention to this color. Ma’am. Lan… Lan has told me everything. Great. This girl is indeed quite adorable. Does she have a name? No. You don’t even have a name? You’re so clever. Why not call you Hui? Sure! Good! Hui, don’t be afraid. It doesn’t matter if you can’t see. Embroidery relies on one’s heart. Come here. [Yian Embroidery Workshop] Let me see your hands. They’re quite soft. Have you learned embroidery before? I practiced by myself. What have you embroidered? This is what I did. Let me see. Your needlework is pretty good! Y-You did this? You have some skills. Alright, I’ll take her in. Say thank you to your teacher! Thank you, ma’am. Alright. Hui, get up now. Say thank you to Mr. Li. I don’t need thanks. From now on, you can live your life here and learn skills. Sure! This is yours. Mr. Li, this handkerchief is for you. It has a design Uncle drew for me. He said the meaning of this design is hope. This is for me? Alright. Hope! What are you doing? This is a Dong people’s custom. When mourning, we draw the outline of our hometown’s mountains
on the ground, so our souls can find the way home. Tu. Ma’am, look! Have a look! Is this the shape of Dayu Mountains? It really is! This should be a shortcut. Tu has always wanted to go home. If there is no problem with this road, we can save two days then! Then we can start the trial! Great! We can start the trial! Yazhuang. Mr. Li. Mr. Li, time waits for no one. We found the shortcut at Dayu Mountains, but we need someone to run it to see if it’s passable. Right. So I think I’ll set off now to scout the way. Once I make it through, I’ll send you a pigeon post. Then I’ll head north, gathering all my comrades before you set out. That’s a good idea! This is what I wanted to talk about. Once I have news, I’ll set off to catch up with you. Bear in mind. After passing through Dayu Mountains, take Mei Pass Circuit to Chang’an and meet up with the litchi transport team. Don’t worry, Mr. Li. My comrades will wait at the appropriate courier stations. I’ll ride ahead to the closest courier station to Chang’an to cover the last stretch. You’ll return triumphantly with fresh litchis. Thank you! In this relay race, we must ensure
everything goes perfectly. If any expenses arise, I’ll have Elder Su set off early to send money to the money storage along the way for them to collect. Then I’ll go prepare the vouchers. I’ll set off now. Be careful on the road!