The Last Steep Ascent

Leading a secluded life on a remote mountain with his wife KOO SUN-YUET, MIU TIN has taken fifty years to hand carve a few-thousand-step stair-path. Named by their children as the "Flight of Love", it is for his wife's convenience to travel up and down the mountain. Flashback: As a medicinal plant farmer in Two Oxen village, Canton, MIU TIN grew up with CHENG KIU, KWAN KWONG-TAT and LIU SAM-KAN, sharing a fraternity relationship with each other. Ever since his childhood, MIU TIN had already followed his father GRANDPA MIU to gather medicinal herbs on the mountains, getting very familiar with the nature of the species. So in 1934, MIU TIN and the villagers have coordinated their efforts, cultivating valuable medicinal herbs. All of the sudden, the village chief, bringing along his only daughter LAI HO, proposes marriage to MIU TIN. Having learned about LAI HO's real love affection to the poor teacher LAU KA-MING, MIU TIN comes up with a solution. With the intention to stay in mourning for his late parents in the village, MIU TIN entrusts CHENG KIU in transporting and selling the medicinal herbs in the town. However, having learned from the will of his late father that it is not necessary for him to continue bereaving; he then leads all male villagers to deliver the herbs to Canton for sale. SUN-YUET's son SZE-HANG is not willing to go to school because his classmates made fun of the loss of his two front teeth. So SUN-YUET convinces him that the new teeth will soon grow back should the tooth gap be touched by a bride, which is similar to her own experience when she was a bride-to-be. At that time, a boy had stopped her and asked her to touch the gap between his lost teeth.

MEI-KUEN asks SUN-YUET to take over the position of matriarch, but is turned down due to her focus on raising the children. Experiencing physical discomfort, MEI KUEN suspects that she is near death. In order to take shelter from the rain, MIU TIN and the others move the medicinal herbs into an abandoned temple. Later he heads to town with CHENG KIU, KWONG-TAT and SAM-KAN, seeking potential buyers, while the others stay to safeguard the goods. Returning from Foshan, HO SAI-CHEUNG, the eldest son of MEI-KUEN, immediately goes to Ho Ching Tong Pharmacy, which he owns. Meanwhile, MIU TIN and others attempt to sell their medicinal herbs to Ho Ching Tong Pharmacy, but to no avail since KWONG-TAT discovers the rip-off of the Pharmacy manager, HO KWAN-YIU. Upon his return to home, SAI-CHEUNG seems to be absent-minded while SUN-YUET relays some household errands to him. After several vain attempts to sell the medicinal herbs, MIU TIN finally bites the bullet to approach Ho Ching Tong Pharmacy. Unexpectedly he is wantonly insulted by the assistant manger, KWAN-YIU's son SAI-HO. Feeling that he cannot take it anymore, CHENG KIU beats up SAI-HO.

Having taken CHENG KIU under custody for attacking SAI-HO, the captain of the Police Bureau not only demands bail but also requests a surety before releasing him. SAI-CHEUNG mentions what happened in the Ho Ching Tong Pharmacy to his younger brother SAI-LEUNG. While stating that KWAN-YIU has gone too far, he also reveals the reason why he is the thorn in KWAN-YIU's eyes. Running away from home, SZE-HANG accidentally trips and breaks his legs, fortunately, he is then carried home by MIU TIN. Having helped an old man YEUNG GOR set up his peanut stall, MIU TIN makes him as their surety afterwards. In view of SAI-HO’s deteriorated injuries, CHENG KIU is again taken under the police custody. With the discovery of BOSS CHU handing over the rake-off to KWAN-YIU, MIU TIN successfully threatens KWAN-YIU in exchange of CHENG KIU's acquittal. However in response to SAI-CHEUNG's attempt of disclosure, KWAN-YIU easily gets away with the alleged scandals of receiving the rake-off as well as ripping off sellers. Counter arguing that he felt disrespected, he asks for ten days' leave, walking off in a huff. By the time they return to the abandoned temple, MIU TIN and CHENG KIU discover that their medicinal herbs are infested with mold.

In order to make a living, MIU TIN and others perform hard labour at the dock. SAI-CHEUNG offers to purchase the medicinal herbs while meeting up with MIU TIN, who informs him about the details. He then proposes paying him three thousand as soon as MIU TIN signs a bill in acknowledgement of the debt. Bumping into SAI-CHEUNG while he is going out with his wife and children, MIU TIN recognizes that SUN-YUET is the bride who touched his tooth gap. Upon his return to Two Oxen village, MIU TIN distributes the interest profits to the villagers. Later he and CHENG KIU find out a young lady is paying tribute at her parents' tomb. It turns out her name is TIN OI-TAI, whose father was cheated and transported to San Francisco. After her parents have passed away, she escorts their cremated remains back to her hometown. Accompanying CHENG KIU to pay tribute to his late wife, MIU TIN runs into OI-TAI, who is assessing the gravesite with CHUNG KAM. He even asks for a price reduction of the gravesite for her. The two then board the train together as MIU TIN is going to town, while OI-TAI is heading back to Foshan. Having got out of the train, OI-TAI sees SAI-CHEUNG, who is waiting for her and gives her a pearl necklace.

SAI-CHEUNG has successfully convinced OI-TAI to move to Canton. While PO-LAW and SAI-MAN seek SUN-YUET’s assistance in persuading MEI-KUEN, MEI-KUEN firmly stands her ground on disapproving PO-LAW from taking her daughter away, claiming that PO-LAW has already promised to stay at HO’s family after marrying SAI-MAN. In the end, upon SUN-YUET’s successful persuasion, unexpectedly, PO-LAW receives a telegraph from his father in Malaysia, urging him to bring back cash so as to save his rubber plantation. Working as a handy man in the Chai-man Pharmacy, MIU TIN is held in high regard by the owner, CHAI-MAN, who even reserves the position of the manager for him. SAI-CHEUNG goes sight-seeing with OI-TAI in the Mount Xiqiao on Sunday. However, on their way back, they get caught up by SUN-YUET and their children on the heels of their vehicle breakdown. Being stormed with his mother's questions the following morning, SAI-CHEUNG makes up something, managing to hoodwink MEI-KUEN and SUN-YUET into believing him. The night before SAI-MAN's wedding, MEI-KUEN asks SUN-YUET to perform the traditional combing rite. Having learned the truth from the daughter of their driver WING, SUN-YUET finally discovers that SAI-CHEUN was lying.

Seeing CHAI-MAN worry about SAI-CHEUNG, YIM-PING thinks he and SAI-CHEUNG are friends as well as rivals, and the two appreciate each other. MIU TIN also reveals that the latter is his benefactor. According to the doctor, SAI-CHEUNG will not get out of the coma. However, after SUN-YUET’s persistent calling, he is finally awakened then dies surrounded by his family members. CHAI-MAN and MIU TIN express grief following the death of SAI-CHEUNG in the mourning hall, during which SUN-YUET comes to realize that MIU TIN is the one whom SZE-HANG constantly refers to as a kind uncle. During CHAI-MAN's negotiation of trading Java rhino horns, MIU TIN notices their counterparts' fraudulent scheme so he informs the police. By accident, the whole scheme has become apparent to KWAN-YIU and his son, who plan to take advantage of the two rogues. In response to MEI-KUEN's persuasion of staying in Canton, KWAN-YIU deliberately claims that he is going to the Foshan branch with his son. As expected, SAI-LEUNG gets deceived by the two rogues who are selling fake rhino horns. Apart from receiving door-to-door complaints from their clients, he is also confronted with a bunch of reporters who request an explanation of his frauds. He then reveals to SUN-YUET that someone who owes his elder brother a favor will be obliged to help out at the Ho Ching Tong Pharmacy.

Feeling unable to cope with the stress, SAI-LEUNG left a note before fleeing home, which leaves MEI-KUEN no choice but to assign SUN-YUET to manage the pharmacy. Going to the Ho Ching Tong Pharmacy in search of SAI-LEUNG, MIU TIN meets up with SUN-YUET, saying that the two rogues who are selling the fake rhino horns should have been arrested prior to this. Relaying the matter to MEI-KUEN, SUN-YUET indicates that it is pre-designed by KWAN-YIU to entrap SAI-LEUNG in committing the crime. Meanwhile, KWAN-YIU pays a visit to HO's Residence, proposing taking over the business of Ho Ching Tong Pharmacy in Canton. Concerning MIU TIN's destitute living conditions, CHENG KIU, KWANG-TAT and SAM-KAN decide to visit him in Canton. On their way, they encounter the car of CHAI-MAN, who then suggests hiring the three, which is accepted by CHENG KIU and SAM-KAN. CHENG KIU runs into the drunken OI-TAI, telling her to return to Two Oxen village. But she continuously wanders about and ends up being sexually assaulted by some hoodlums. Having taken the medicine, MEI-KUEN is sent to the hospital after coughing up blood. Later on, KWAN-YIU and his son assemble HO's clan members to HO's Residence, and suggest splitting the family fortune in public.

SUN-YUET faces the oppression from KWAN-YIU, which is noticed by MIU TIN. Having hurried back home, MEI-KUEN retrieves a letter from behind the ancestral tablet in the ancestral hall, exposing KWAN-YIU's malevolent acts. Overwhelmed by shock, KWAN-YIU suffers a stroke and ends up being sent to the hospital. Kneeling down and begging MEI-KUEN to spare his father, SAI-HO gains her consent on not continuing the matter as long as KWAN-YIU abandons the idea of splitting the family fortune. While pharmaceutical suppliers take the samples to the pharmacy, SUN-YUET is unable to decide whether to purchase anything owing to her lack of knowledge of medicinal herbs. She then seeks MAN-WAH's help in recruiting someone, but to no avail. Having instructed her children to tidy up the study room which they messed up, she discovers the written acknowledgement of debt from MIU TIN to her late husband, giving her the feeling that every cloud has a silver lining. CHENG KIU mentions MIU TIN's awkward situation while chit-chatting with SAM-KAN, which is unintentionally overheard by YIM-PING. So she immediately informs CHAI-MAN, who expresses concern that MIU TIN might leave his pharmacy. Later on MIU TIN goes to find SUN-YUET, who pays a visit to Chai-man Pharmacy looking for him instead. Having seen SUN-YUET, CHAI-MAN intends to have a word with her.

CHI-MAN takes out three thousand in cash and hands it to SUN-YUET, claiming to pay the debt on behalf of MIU TIN. Adding that the business of the Ho Ching Tong Pharmacy is doomed to fail, he points out that it is unnecessary to let the situation there drag down MIU TIN. After all the account books and the clients information of the Ho Ching Tong Pharmacy have been taken away and burned by KWAN-YIU, SU-YUET asks for some duplicate account books from MAN-WAH, who reveals that he has been kept away from them by KWAN-YIU the whole time. While MIU TIN meets up with her and confides that he owes SAI-CHEUNG a favor, SUN-YUET instead claims that she has never heard of it. Later on MIU TIN discusses with CHENG KIU and SAM-KAN about whether he stays or leaves, which is overheard by YIM-PING who informs CHAI-MAN right away. Not wanting him to tender his resignation, CHAI-MAN then tries every means to avoid MIU TIN. Inadvertently, they run into each other. Prior to MIU TIN's resignation, CHAI-MAN cannot help yelling at him and then punches him too. Though MIU TIN promises that he will only stay in the Ho Ching Tong Pharmacy for a year, CHAI-MAN blurts out that he is firing MIU TIN.

In the business negotiations with Mr WU over ginseng, SUN-YUET gives detailed information regarding its origin after viewing it, which surprises SAI-HO greatly. Later on SUN-YUET announces MIU TIN as their new manager. During his inspection in the warehouse, MIU TIN discovers that Uncle CHUEN has jotted down all the incoming and outgoing goods in his notebooks, so he informs SUN-YUET regarding the notebooks. Knowing that they could contact their clients again, SUN-YUET is filled with joy. Having shown two almanacs to SUN-YUET, MIU TIN predicts that there will be a poor medicinal herbs crop due to an arid climate in the second half of the year. He then proposes making buyout offers, and then resells them in the second half of the year so as to gain profits. Noticing that CHENG KIU is viewing the photo of his late wife, MIU TIN suggests that he should return to his hometown to pay respect to her. Upon arrival in his hometown, CHENG KIU gets information from KWONG-TAT that OI-TAI has also returned to Two Oxen village. He then goes to knock on her door, but receives no response. Learning from Madam TAT that OI-TAI has not left home for few days, he is so worried that he climbs into OI-TAI's room via a wooden ladder, seeing her lying in the bed.

After Madam TAT's vain attempt in feeding OI-TAI with traditional Chinese medicine, LAI-HO suggests finding KA-MING's friend - the doctor of western style to give her an injection. The young master of Wing Hong Tong comes to the Ho Ching Tong Pharmacy, accusing them of selling fake medicine, resulting in his father being placed under police custody. According to him, their clients have consumed their medicine made from the thorowax root, which was purchased from the Ho Ching Tong Pharmacy, causing excessive vomiting and diarrhea. Having tried out the said medicine in person, MIU TIN concludes that the thorowax root has most likely been mixed with croton seed powder. Then MEI-KUEN proposes monetary compensation to those victims, which is forestalled by SUN-YUET. While MIU TIN and SUN-YUET sell medicinal herbs to the dealers, all the dealers seize the opportunity to suppress the price. Furthermore, a large group of people surrounds the HO's Residence, asking for the monetary compensation. After MIU TIN becomes acquainted with the situation, it turns out that MEI-KUEN has compensated money to PIK-KEE's gardener. As inquired by SUN-YUET about how much money he had for filing the lawsuit, MIU TIN replies that the sleeplessness will get the better of her should she know the truth. It starts raining in the middle of their conversation when also SU-YUET nods off, so MIU TIN shelters her with an umbrella, letting her sleep for a while.

MIU TIN calls the clients of the Ho Ching Tong Pharmacy, but no one is willing to buy their medicinal herbs. Upon SAI-MAN and PO-LAW's return from Malaysia, MEI-KUEN relies on her daughter to raise funds from PO-LAW's family for a positive cash flow. Though agreed to do so, SAI-MAN gets blamed by PO-LAW in private. In order to overcome the difficulties, MEI-KUEN uses her pin money, whereas SUN-YUET intends to mortgage their residence. Having found this out, MIU TIN goes straightforwardly to CHAI-MAN and proposes selling their medicinal herbs, trying to cash out. Seeing that SUN-YUET seems to be driven to distraction, Uncle CHUEN confesses that there is something he must tell her about. While bargaining with CHAI-MAN, MIU TIN offers to sign off two pieces of written acknowledgement of debt, so CHAI-MAN completes the acquisition of the whole batch of the medicinal herbs on seventy per cent of the original price. On the heels of his arrival at the pharmacy, MIU TIN is informed by SUN-YUET of the sudden alcohol intoxication that Uncle CHUEN suffered previously. He then goes to have a word with the alcohol seller – BONEY, who turns out to have acquired a sudden wealth. Having gone through twists and turns, the truth finally comes into light. By the time everyone is drinking in celebration of it, MIU TIN has lapsed into a dead drunkenness.

Having found out that SUN-YUET and MIU TIN appear to be pretty close with each other, SAI-HO suggests to his father to spread a rumor about the two of them having an affair. MIU TIN unveils to SUN-YUET that KWAN-YIU and his son are most likely behind the ruse of mixing croton seed powder into the thorowax root. So PO-LAW and MEI-KUEN establish a scheme that SUN-YUET will offer a position to PO-LAW in the pharmacy. A German businessman, THOMAS, approaches CHAI-MAN to establish a five-year contract for purchasing Fleece flower root as an ingredient of cough syrup, which is turned down by CHAI-MAN in fear of the high risk. Being discovered by SUN-YUET that he is drinking a strong liquor, MIU TIN shows her a letter from CHENG KIU, saying that a drought is spreading to Two Oxen village. After concluding a cooperation agreement with THOMAS in the Ho Ching Tong Pharmacy, he plans to plant the Fleece flower root in Two Oxen village, which he claims is to avert the risk of failure-to-supply. Later on he intends to go back to his hometown, SUN-YUET also plans to accompany him. Bringing along a plaque, MIU TIN goes to visit CHAI-MAN, which greatly worries the others.

MIU TIN asks YIM-PING to give CHAI-MAN the plaque of "Number One in Canton" on his behalf, which pleases CHAI-MAN. Saying that she is going with MIU TIN to Two Oxen village in discussion on the issue of planting the Fleece flower root, SUN-YUET entrusts MAN-WAH as the substitute manager. At last MEI-KUEN learns about the spreading rumor of SUN-YUET and MIU TIN having an affair, so she rushes to the Railway Station hoping to stop them from going to Two Oxen village. While SUN-YUET and MIU TIN explain the planting plan to the villagers, CHUNG-KAM proposes establishing a Working Committee and requests SUN-YUET to sponsor them with three hundred dollars annually, which is considered as a rip-off by the others. MIU TIN and SUN-YUET go visiting OI-TAI yet fail to get a response, so MIU TIN inquires with CHENG KIU about OI-TAI's current situation. In response to his enquiries, CHENG KIU updates MIU TIN with OI-TAI being hospitalized for the serious illness that she once suffered. Eventually it starts raining, which over joys the villagers. Taking out the rice wine his father brewed for his mother, MIU TIN drinks with SUN-YUET, who inadvertently leans on MIU TIN's shoulder, and falls asleep.

MIU TIN brings SUN-YUET up to the mountain, surveying the planting place for the Fleece flower root, and while taking a break SUN-YUET makes a wild guess why MIU TIN is still unmarried. MIU TIN later suggests to LAI-HO that she should let KA-MING propose their marriage to her father CHUNG KAM, who according to LAI-HO will only approve it once there is much success in KA-MING's career. Following the Physician's diagnosis of confirming OI-TAI's pregnancy, CHENG KIU instead pleads with the Physician to keep it secret. On the following day after CHENG KIU informed OI-TAI about her own pregnancy, OI-TAI sends CHENG KIU out to buy some candied lotus seeds for her on the excuse of taking them with the medicine. Yet upon CHENG KIU's return, she is nowhere to be found. As MIU TIN happens to pass by OI-TAI's home, CHENG KIU reveals to him that she has gone. The letter that OI-TAI left behind reveals her intention of giving CHENG KIU her a pearl necklace, which was once her lifeblood, and inquires whether she reminds him of his late wife, with whom she shares the same name. Getting to the edge of the cliff in search of OI-TAI, CHENG KIU immediately jumps into the sea on the heels of the discovery of her handkerchief. Therefore MIU TIN assembles all the villagers in search of CHENG KIU as well as OI-TAI.

SUN-YUET discloses to MIU TIN her possible connection with the disappearance of OI-TAI, who jumped into the sea, so MIU TIN tries to console her. Without having dinner, CHENG KIU goes out again in search of OI-TAI. In fact, he has already rescued OI-TAI from the sea and had a Physician attend to her. In wake of OI-TAI's persistent suicidal behaviour, he promises to marry her, who is touched by this. With OI-TAI being discovered by LAI-HO as she pays a visit, CHENG KIU has no choice but to ask her to keep the secret. Having discovered that his daughter went missing, CHUNG KAM suspects that she was hiding at KA-MING's home, which is not explicated by LAI-HO upon her arrival in order to cover up for CHENG KIU and OI-TAI. With respect to KWONG-TAT's intention of following MIU TIN back to Canton for work, MIU TIN not only hires him as the Merchandiser of the Ho Ching Tong Pharmacy by staying in the village, but also appoints him the Chairman of the Two Oxen village Working Committee. However, CHENG KIU encourages KWONG-TAT to go to Canton so as to assist MIU TIN. On the following day, CHENG CHIU waits until MIU TIN and SUN-YUET leave, then heads to a cottage. Unexpectedly, OI-TAI's presence is exposed while she opens the door.

MIU TIN asks CHENG KIU whether he intends to bring along OI-TAI and walk away like this. Though CHENG KIU admits that the unborn child is his, MIU TIN indicates that he cannot put aside the feeling towards his late wife. OI-TAI tries to reveal the truth, but is stopped by CHENG KIU. Having the mindset that OI-TAI is actually conceiving the offspring of SAI-CHEUNG, SUN-YUET proposes sending OI-TAI back to HO's Residence. While MIU TIN allows a temporary stay of OI-TAI in his home, SAM-KAN tells others that OI-TAI is CHENG KIU's cousin in a slip of the tongue. SUN-YUET does not know that SZE-HANG and his siblings have taken a day off until she goes to pick them up at school. Later on she feels upset while she learns from her children that MEI-KUEN and SAI-MAN have taken them to the playground for fun. It turns out that MEI-KUEN tried to prevent her grandchildren from hearing any rumor. While MEI-KUEN is in a good mood and eating pork-and-peanut dumplings, SUN-YUET seizes the opportunity to tell her the issues regarding OI-TAI. Having confirmed SUN-YUET's intension, MEI-KUEN insists that she will not meet OI-TAI until she has transferred the real estate to SUN-YUET as well as HO's family assets to SZE-HANG via her lawyer.

After returning to the Ho Ching Tong Pharmacy, MIU TIN is provoked by Uncle CHAN-CHEUNG, who deliberately brings out SUN-YUET as the subject between their conversation. MIU TIN then goes to the office, asking MAN-WAH the reason about everyone's weird behaviour. Though MAN-WAH fails to tell the truth that the others are gossiping about MIU TIN and SUN-YUET , MIU TIN learns from YIM-PING that the rumor about them has been spread to every corner of Canton. Accompanying SUN-YUET to MIU TIN's residence, MEI-KUEN meets up with OI-TAI and raises the issue of taking her home. Requesting OI-TAI to call her godmother, she claims to adopt OI-TAI as her daughter, whose unborn child, according to MEI-KUEN, will follow OI-TAI's surname as TIN. MIU TIN stays behind after work, waiting for SUN-YUET in the Pharmacy. Suspecting the two are meeting somewhere, Uncle CHAN-CHEUNG quietly tails them. Upon SAI-HO's return to Canton, Uncle CHAN-CHEUNG then hands him a notebook that has recorded every movement of MIU TIN and SUN-YUET. Arriving home again, SAI-HO discloses that SAI-CHEUNG used to have an affair with someone called TIN OI-TAI in Foshan.

Having managed to bribe Chief CHUNG KAM, SAI-HO shows off to his father and brings up the issues regarding OI-TAI. Gnashing his teeth in rage, KWAN-YIU swears to make it publicly known, but SAI-HO advises him to be patient. Knowing that Madam HUNG is cooking the bird's nest for OI-TAI to eat, SAI-MAN cannot help getting utterly jealous. MEI-KUEN intends to perform a ritual for her adoption of OI-TAI, so she plans to invite members and relatives from the clan as well as friends to attend. Going downstairs from MIU TIN's home in order to buy some white champaca, OI-TAI runs into CHAN SHING - the hoodlum who raped her. Fortunately CHENG KIU passes by, giving CHAN SHING a good thrashing. PIK-KEE approaches SAI-MAN to probe into things about OI-TAI, yet she unwittingly finds out all the jewelry that SAI-MAN is wearing are in fact counterfeit. In representation of the Ho Ching Tong Pharmacy, MIU TIN attends the Chamber of Pharmacies Dinner, where he learns about CHAI-MAN's eye injury from his representative, YIM-PING, through a private talk. As OI-TAI bumps into CHAN SHING again on the street, he is soon taken into police custody. By bribing the police who then coerce CHAN SHING into giving a confession, SAI-HO eventually gets a grasp of everything about OI-TAI.