Heart of Greed

Following the death of Sheung Wan’s abalone tycoon TONG YAN-KAI, his descendants are to launch a legal battle for an estimated fortune of HK$600 million. TONG CHI-YAT is on the side of his stepmother WONG SAU-KAM, who is against his siblings CHI-ON, CHI-FOON and CHI-YAN.

The whole family has held a dinner for HAU to celebrate her birthday and her recovery, during which everyone has got a chance to try the “double head abalones”. Now that KAI has a bite of the “double head abalones”, his lifelong dream is finally fulfilled.

KAI has won a voucher for a free tour in the lucky draw. To enjoy a holiday with KAM, KAI offers to pay top-up fees for a cruise to Dubai, in the hope that HAU, who is prone to seasickness, will choose not to join them. KAM has changed her mind and would like to go on a shopping trip to Europe.

In an attempt to approach KEI, YAN decides to take part in the cross-harbor swimming competition. Unfortunately she is injured by a jellyfish midway through the race and needs to be sent to hospital for treatment at once. KAI tries to get KAM to apologize to HAU, but in vain.

HAU decides to hold her 35th wedding anniversary celebration in Hong Kong. The family of nine have a buffet dinner, following which ON and his siblings present HAU with a specially made music video. HAU gets so surprised and is deeply moved by her children’s thoughtfulness. HAU and YAN head for the United Kingdom to look for information on universities.

SUM is devastated by the insults flung at her. To prove her integrity, she not only pawns everything she has to repay part of the loan but also writes ON an IOU. KAM and LEI have hardly been on speaking terms since the dispute over the shop rentals. KAI would like to put KAM’s name on the title deeds of two bigger shop premises but offers it as a suggestion from LEI.

KAI wants to settle the argument between KAM and LEI through the help of PO but ends up offending him unwittingly. PO gets so angry with KAI that he decides to resign. PO is going to work for another sea-products shop and has successfully convinced his colleague KAT to join him in making a career move.

The goods left by TAK do not sell well, and to lend a hand to SUM, ON tries to learn some simple Filipino words from his Filipino friends so that he can help promote the sale among the Filipino community. HAU learns from her maid and the restaurant staff that the TONGS were caught up in a series of family conflicts while she was away.

PO asks KAM, who was not around when he was told off by HAU, out for tea. During their tea gathering, PO distorts what HAU says by claiming that she is going to give KAM a lesson. The Charity Race Walking Cup is approaching, so ON offers to be the trainer for the whole family, during which he happens to discover the secret relationship between YAT and LAI.

KAI has written a letter to ON describing how sad he is about the embezzlement. PO keeps on attacking ON for what he has done, thus adversely affecting the domestic harmony. YAN is busy preparing for her A-level examinations but is so deeply disturbed by the recent family conflict that she suffers from insomnia almost every day.

PO attacks ON again, which irks YAT no end. YAT cannot bear to see ON suffer and eventually reveals that it is he who has taken HK$700,000 and that the money is used to help a female friend of his who is in financial need. Although ON has proved his innocence, he still gets blamed by HAU. ON wants to say sorry to HAU asking SUM for help to finish an apology letter.

KAM goes to confide in PO, during which they bump into YAT and LAI. LAI looks very familiar to KAM. Out of curiosity, KAM decides to take a photo of LAI with her mobile phone. Later KAM finds out that LAI is the wife of a local business tycoon.

KAI asks YAT to put his wedding on hold but YAT insists on marrying LAI without any delay. YAT reveals his plan to hold a marriage ceremony in the United States, which irks KAI beyond measure. Filled with anger, KAI gives YAT a severe dressing-down and kicks him out of the family home. Tong Ki’s abalones have been illegally replaced.

ON seizes every opportunity to eat with SUM. He believes that his relationship with SUM is going really well. In order to punish KAM, HAU puts her at the far end of the dining table and deters her from taking part in all kinds of family activities. ON comes to discover that it is not he but LEUNG who is SUM’s real Prince Charming.

The TONGS are about to meet LAI’s family but HAU has decided to exclude KAM from the dinner and needs her to stay at home. The two families have had a nice chat and the dinner ends in a very good atmosphere. Filled with nostalgia, KAM asks KAI to have a tram ride with her, during which she blames KAI for not having stood by her when she is in need.

KAI offers to give MEI over HK$2,000,000 as LAI’s betrothal gifts but MEI refuses to give in. MEI asks for three shop premises from the TONGS and emphasizes that she will not attend LAI’s wedding if her request is not granted. The TONGS and the CHEUKS have got into a serious argument.

YAT and LAI make a formal apology to PO. PO accepts their explanation and finally offers forgiveness to the couple. KAI and HAU go out for tea together, during which KAI suddenly claims that he has a terrible stomachache and asks to leave at once. KAI is in fact pretending to be sick so as to avoid a woman called UT-YING. ON bumps into SUM’s father FUNG again in the street.

The wealthy tycoon from South Africa CHAN KWOK-LIT decides to come to Hong Kong to see ON. KAI and LEI are so disturbed by the sudden appearance of UT-YING. After some consideration, they decide to have a talk with the woman. The TONGS are going to have dinner with LIT but KAI refuses to join them.

PO keeps pestering KAI for an explanation. KAI cannot put up with his endless questioning and finally reveals the truth – KAI is in fact ON’s biological father. PO tries to approach UT-YING, who actually wants nothing but a chance to see ON face to face. Knowing that UT-YING has not come for money, PO decides to grab this opportunity and swindle KAI out of HK$550,000.

The disclosure of ON’s identity has enraged KAM beyond all belief. KAM asks to split up with KAI but is stopped by HAU. HAU announces to the TONGS that she is heading for the United Kingdom to take a rest and that she will leave all the family issues with KAM in the coming days.

SUM is worried that LEUNG may go to see his ex-girlfriend in secret. Later SUM finds out that it is just a misunderstanding and LEUNG has made his apology by sending her a bouquet of flowers. HAU reveals to KAM that her cancer is found to have recurred.

Although SUM has been trying hard to catch up in each of her saxophone lessons, she is advised to withdraw due to her lack of talent. ON reveals that he is an expert at playing the saxophone, so SUM asks to be his apprentice at once hoping that she can manage to play a song for LEUNG on his birthday. SUM’s brother SHEUNG TSOI-TAK comes back home suddenly.

HAU has completed the initial course of chemotherapy and is sent back home for recuperation. The CHEUKS have come to pay HAU a visit, during which MEI secretly urges LAI to move back with her. MEI points out that HAU has been suffering from a serious disease, which is believed to be a bad omen for the rest of the family and is very likely to constitute a threat to the health of LAI’s baby.

LAI would like to attend the funeral of her ex-father-in-law but is stopped by HAU. HAU points out to LAI that she should recognize and respect the feelings of everyone in the family. HA realizes that she has fallen in love with LEUNG but her dream is soon shattered when she hears that he has already made up with SUM. HAU falls down in a faint suddenly.

YAT brings HAU to a shop premise, which is the proposed location of the to-be-established Tong Ki Abalone Restaurant. YAT has complete confidence in running the restaurant. KAI and FOON are told by their family doctor that KAM is found to have symptoms of depression.

The abalone restaurant is unlikely to be ready for opening on HAU’s birthday, which irks YAT a bit. PO tells YAT that LAI has met her ex-husband in secret. YAT goes to ask LAI for an explanation, which causes her to pick a quarrel with PO afterwards. HAU calls LEI up asking her to dismiss PO from his posts at both Tong Ki and the abalone restaurant.

TAK reveals to ON that he has been hired as a ballroom dancing teacher. He asks ON for some pocket money, but is rejected. LEUNG brings HA to his new home to have a look. Having noticed SUM’s message on the wall, HA decides to leave a few words on the wall too.

ON asks after LEUNG but SUM reveals that LEUNG has been so busy with work and that they have not seen each other for quite a while. SUM’s reply has shocked and worried ON deeply. HAU is sent to hospital again. PO informs KAM of HAU’s latest situation and KAM is over the moon to hear that HAU is already on the verge of death.

SUM is shocked to discover that LEUNG is not at home. She calls LEUNG up and cannot help crying when speaking to him. But LEUNG is too busy flirting with HA that he does not realize that there is anything wrong with SUM. In order to keep his secret, LEUNG goes on to lie to SUM.

KAM points out during the dinner that she and KAI have decided to postpone their wedding until three years later. The news comes as a huge relief to everyone in the family. KAM is in fact desperate for a legal marriage and wants to tie the knot with KAI as soon as possible. She is so badly in need of PO’s support that she decides to bribe PO in secret.

Under the influence of SUM, LEUNG has sought to improve his relationship with his mother. HA asks LEUNG out for a chat, during which she reveals that she has already got into a new relationship. LEUNG is so pleased for HA and extends his most sincere greetings to her.

HA means to let SUM find out the truth. SUM is plunged into despair and asks to break up with LEUNG through SMS text messaging. After consultation with a solicitor, TAK comes to find out that KAM will have to remain KAI’s legal wife for at least two years if she wants to claim a larger share of the family fortune.

After two years of peace, KAI suffers a stroke again and is sent to hospital for treatment. KAM grabs the opportunity and reveals to the TONGS that she has been married to KAI for two years. KAM and TAK have a pact with renowned solicitor TAI KIN-HEI.

SUM is going to be confronted with HEI, an extremely experienced lawyer who has defeated LEUNG four times in a row. SUM feels a lot of pressure and has completely lost confidence in herself. But with the help and support of LEUNG, SUM has finally won the case.

KAI is sent to hospital again. KAM and PO come to pay KAI a visit, during which KAM offers to withdraw her request for a divorce. SUM would like to represent a mentally-retarded defendant, to which LEUNG is utterly opposed.

SUM is astonished to hear that LEUNG is involved in a car accident. She hurries to the hospital at once but by the time she arrives, LEUNG has already passed away. Among the things left behind by LEUNG, SUM has found a sea shell, on which the words “Please Forgive Me” are carved. SUM breaks down again as she catches sight of the sea shell.

YAT would like to set up a number of chain restaurants, which is however opposed by LEI. KAI suffers a stroke again and KAM arrives at the hospital soon afterwards. Not long after, LEI, ON, YAT, FOON and YAN also come along but all of them are driven out of the ward by KAM right away.

Desperate for the family fortune, KAM decides to bring the matter to court. Knowing that KAM has resorted to legal action, ON turns to SUM for help. SUM has brought together a team of legal professionals, all of whom are LEUNG’s ex-colleagues, to work alongside her in the legal battle against KAM.

YAT states in court that KAI was in a state of confusion after suffering a stroke. According to YAT, KAI had mixed up two traditional Chinese festivals and asked to have a bite of a mooncake during the Dragon Boat Festival.