The Day of Days

In spite of the continuous upheaval in China during the 1930s, Guangzhou is still under the fa_ade of peace and prosperity. Running the business of Hip Wo Hong, the Tong's family is one of the four big firms in Guangzhou. Their matriarch is Tong Nga-Wun, the eldest daughter of the Tong's family, who is very skillful in taking advantage of various situations. Bringing along her assistant Wong Wing-Chai, Nga-Wun goes to Sheung Pun Lau, a restaurant run by her family, to conduct an on-site inspection. After seeing that her aunt Yuk-Hing, uncle Pak-Nin and her cousin Siu-Yip, who are all in charge of management, have been muddling along, Nga-Wun cannot help lecturing them. Nga-Wun then goes to meet with Brother Lung, the leader of Cheung Tai Gang, who plans to forcibly double their protection fee, but Nga-Wun instantly rejects him, incurring the displeasure of Brother Lung. Wing Cheong Shing is a small coolie gang, running a pulled rickshaw and coolie house. And its leader So Fei is gloomy about how to raise money to pay off their tax debt owed to the municipal government, however, So Fei's mother Mak Tai-Ching is unable to help him deal with the tribulations. So Fei's younger sister, So Fun, brings back all the coolies, telling So Fei that they have gotten into trouble again. Being told by adviser Chan Yat-Chiu that Brother Lung and the Tong's family had a falling-out, So Fei is planning to meet up with Nga-Wun in order to take over the territory that once was under control of Brother Lung. On the other hand, simple and honest Sung Lai-Wo has always lived with the Tong's family, and his only hobby is to watch movies in the theatre. In celebration of their 100th anniversary, Hip Wo Hong is hosting a Centenary Charity Premiere, during which someone schemes to forcibly take possession of the film stock. At such a critical moment, Lai-Wo is entrusted to find duplicate film in the warehouse.