Rosy Business

Accompanied by his female chef HONG PO-KEI, the Prince is delivering a batch of royal rice to the city of Wuxi. On the way, they are under siege by a group of famine victims but KEI manages to convince their leader CHAI KAU to give way by offering them some rice in exchange.

YEE and PANG KIU ask MAN to call the police without causing any disturbance to the Prince and the feast. KEI gets caught and is brought to the front of the Prince. The Prince states that he will have KEI executed upon confirmation of her identity. KIU begs the Prince to release KEI. He emphasizes that KEI’s father was a good official and that he did not open the Royal Rice Store for his own benefit but only for the sake of thousands of famine victims.

The Yellow-breasted Buntings have posed a threat to the grain harvest. For this reason, MAN has launched a “Kill the Birds” Campaign and asks all the Wuxi citizens to join it. KEI urges MAN to stop the campaign at once, for wiping out the birds will cause damage to the ecosystem and lead to pest outbreaks eventually.

Members of the TSEUNGs are debating whether or not to pay the ransom. As everyone is at a loss of what to do, HANG tells the TSEUNGs not to worry and that he will get all his followers to save MO. KIU is on a business trip and is astonished to learn that MO has been kidnapped. He decides to go back to Wuxi and as he is about to set off, he gets a letter from KEI.

KIU returns to Wuxi and decides to pay the ransom. KEI tries to stop him but in vain. KEI bribes HANG’s mistress HOI-TONG and finally manages to save KAU. KAU returns to the warehouse and spreads the message that he has had dinner with KIU and that KIU has made it clear that he will not pay the ransom no matter what.

MAN makes a formal apology to KIU but KIU is still very angry and refuses to forgive him. During the breakfast, MAN discloses his plan to start a new business in Beijing, which, to everyone’s surprise, is supported by KIU. The TSEUNGs hold a party for MO to celebrate his safe return, during which MAN tries to befriend KAU and KIU is pleased to see such a scene.

Not wanting to be oppressed by HANG, KIU takes KAU’s advice and decides to go for land transport as an alternative means. As instructed by KIU, CHING is to manage and oversee the whole delivery process. To avoid the bandits, CHING makes full use of every minute and refuses to take a rest even when it rains hard. CHING stumbles along the way and breaks his arm.

KAU has finally convinced TIN to send the rice back to Wuxi. KAU who has done a real good job comes back to Hing Fung Lin in great honour. KEI announces his promotion to the post of Foreman during the celebration party but KAU does not seem to be very happy at all. CHING is shocked to see YAU MAN at home.

YEE reveals to PANG KIU that KIU did not marry her for love, but PANG KIU does not believe her at all. YEE and PANG KIU bring FONG to the front of the Guanyin statue and make her describe how KIU was forced to marry PANG KIU all those years ago.

KEI is grateful to YUE for her timely support. YUE says she understands that taking care of the whole family is too big a burden to be borne by KEI. TONG appreciates KAU’s courage and honesty and begins to flirt with him. KEI tries to update the unconscious KIU on how their family is getting on. She says she is pleased to see a brand new CHING, who wastes no more time fooling around and works really hard to help with the family business.

While KAU is besieged by HANG’s followers, KEI gets into the hut where KAU has been hiding himself. She makes it clear that no one can harm KAU and that she will try her very best to protect him no matter what. HANG arrives and starts the negotiation with KEI. KEI tries to prove KAU’s innocence with substantial evidence and HANG is finally convinced.

CHING gives in to FONG’s request and agrees to accompany her back to her hometown. To protect YAU MAN and her mother from further harm, CHING asks them to go with him as well. It is getting sizzling hot in Wuxi and KEI discovers that there are lots of locusts flying around. Having read KIU’s diary, KEI realizes that a great disaster may strike soon.

MAN has got all the credit for leading the city out of the locust crisis. Thinking that it is too unfair to KEI and CHING, YAU MAN would like to tell KIU the truth but is stopped by KEI and CHING in the nick of time. HANG does not have any reaction to the anonymous letter. KAU finds it a bit discouraging and decides to write him another one.

To prevent MAN from being expelled from the family, YEE offers to give him a lecture by beating him repeatedly with a thick stick and finally manages to make KIU change his mind. PANG KIU remains steadfast in her belief that KIU has never loved her. KIU would like to give her an explanation but this does not help much.

MAN hates KAU so much that he is resolved to seek revenge. TONG goes to see KAU again revealing how she is kicked out of her family home. KAU sympathizes with her and offers her further help. HANG shows up suddenly and tries to bribe KAU with a lot of money hoping that he will not snatch away too many business deals.

KIU learns from Magistrate LAM that the Taiping troops have been attacking Hangzhou. He gets so worried when he knows that MO and PANG KIU have lost contact with the family. KEI needs HANG and his gang to help look for MO and PANG KIU while she herself has sent a team of security guards to rescue them. KAU has disappeared for nine solid days.

MAN blames HING for spreading the rumor that he has murdered KAU, thus causing a great hubbub in the TSEUNG’s Mansion. To everyone’s surprise, KEI defends MAN and forbids anyone in the family from mentioning it again. Knowing that KAU is still alive, TIN decides to bring him back to the hideout for treatment.

KEI does a check on the family’s assets. She locks everything inside the audit room and passes the key to MAN. The following morning MAN discovers that all the assets and relative documents have gone. KEI, CHING and the rest of the family have been hiding themselves in the basement of the church.

KEI reveals to MAN that KAU is still alive and that she has a feeling that the family is being watched. Knowing that KAU is going to take revenge on MAN, YEE forbids her son to get out of the mansion. MAN asks his servant to arrange for him to flee from Wuxi.

KAU is going to take revenge on MAN. KEI and CHING have noticed that and do their best to stop him at once. YEE who is desperate to save her son takes KEI hostage with a gun. General CHIU from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom wants to have 30% of rice yield from the rice retailers as military food. He appoints his childhood friend HANG as the Captain of the Wuxi Civil Guards while KAU will take up the post of Deputy Captain.

CHING has finally decided to take over the family business. The TSEUNGs are very happy about this and hold a celebration party for him later on. YEE sneaks into KEI’s bedroom and does something to her diary. A group of troops led by General CHIU suddenly arrive at the TSEUNG’s Mansion for a thorough search. General CHIU needs KEI to explain her relationship with the Prince and finally decides to have her detained in custody.

KAU reveals the truth to everyone. Having realized how well-liked and respected KEI is, General CHIU finally decides to release her. Upon the instruction of General CHIU, KAU heads for HANG’s house to confiscate his fortune, the process of which gives him a huge sense of pride and enjoyment. HANG is made to look after tuberculosis patients as punishment.KAU reveals the truth to everyone. Having realized how well-liked and respected KEI is, General CHIU finally decides to release her. Upon the instruction of General CHIU, KAU heads for HANG’s house to confiscate his fortune, the process of which gives him a huge sense of pride and enjoyment. HANG is made to look after tuberculosis patients as punishment.

KAU runs into HANG who has just crawled out from the wreckage. He asks HANG about KEI’s whereabouts and HANG means to mislead him by advising him to go find KEI at the hut where tuberculosis patients are grouped together. Against all odds, KAU finally manages to find the unconscious KEI.

The Prince is amazed at how united Wuxi citizens are in supporting KEI. He is deeply touched by their sincerity and finally agrees to their request. Knowing that the Prince has lost a number of battles and is no longer respected inside the palace, Magistrate LAM warns him to mind his own business and not to get involved in KEI’s case.