Original subtitles

=Yummy Yummy Yummy=

=Episode 9=

Mr. Shen, we're leaving.

Sure. Thanks for the hard work.

Dad.

If you ask me,

to make a tablecloth,

pick this one.

Look how pretty it is.

If we use this...

What?

What do you even know?

Have you got any taste?

Listen, small pieces

are just rags.

Big pieces are perfect for your undies.

Son, look at this one.

Low-key, luxe, and sophisticated.

Got it? Good.

Dad, how can you like this?

This cloth, seriously?

- What's wrong? - Tell me.

It looks exactly

like that foot-wipe towel

you used in the modern days.

You know nothing.

- This is... - Father.

- Jicai. - Jicai.

Who is this?

Why is she so badly hurt?

I'll explain later.

Grab a string of coins for her travel fare.

- Why? - Just do it.

- Milady. - Jicai.

Are you sending me away?

- I... - Why?

I'm not sending you away;

we simply can't keep you.

Please let me stay.

I work fast.

I'm better than those bus boys.

Well...

What's going on?

- No idea. - Who is she?

No clue; she brought her back.

Jicai.

Who's the little girl?

She's quick with chores.

I saw her

at Yunlai Tavern.

Manager Feng was beating her,

so the Vice Prefect and I

figured out a way to free her.

Deyuan, give it to me.

You've had your Slave Deed.

You're free now.

You want to go back to Shu, right?

Take this money

and leave today.

If you stay any longer,

Feng Li might come after you.

But I have no family left.

If I go back,

I've got nowhere to live.

Please let me stay.

I'll work for you.

I don't need wages.

Food is enough for me.

Mom, she doesn't want money.

- Let me stay. - Deyuan...

I really don't want wages.

- I don't need money. - You...

Food is all I need.

- I... - Let me stay.

Jicai.

Jicai, come out.

Jicai,

let's go.

You first.

Jicai,

I think

it's just one more mouth to feed.

Let the girl stay.

She's all alone

and wounded.

Where would she go

if we threw her out now?

Your mom's right.

Good workers like her

are rare these days.

When the diner opens,

we'll need extra hands.

You saved her;

having her in the diner means

- we can trust her. - Yes.

Dad, Mom.

While we were street-vending,

we already clashed with Yunlai.

If we keep her,

we'll offend them even more,

and the fallout could get ugly.

Jicai, the moment you rescued her,

you crossed Yunlai.

Sending her away now

won't make Yunlai back off

or stop picking fights.

I know I've brought trouble.

This was never my business;

I should've

just walked away.

We're not blaming you.

Your dad puts it bluntly,

but what he means is

that now that we've chosen

to settle and do business here,

trouble will find us anyway.

Yong'an isn't lawless territory;

Yunlai can't just harm us in the dark.

Exactly.

Jicai, I'll call the shots.

Let's keep the girl.

But if we keep her,

the trouble only grows.

This isn't like you.

When we first landed here,

you were the most positive

of us all.

Hit a snag

and you'd invent a fix on the spot.

Yunlai hasn't even done anything now,

and you're the one

retreating first?

Yeah, Jicai.

Why the sudden retreat?

I just don't want to care anymore.

She's ancient history to us.

A ghost already.

Her fate was sealed centuries ago.

Whatever we do is pointless.

It's not like that.

Jicai,

the Vice Prefect came by

after finishing with Yunlai.

Where's Deyuan?

You mean the girl you brought back?

She was standing right there.

She heard you all talking,

said she was grateful,

and then walked off.

She just left?

Why didn't you stop her?

I tried,

but I failed.

Besides, she's a young girl,

and I'm a divorced single man.

If I wrestle her back,

- Come on. - how would that look?

People will gossip.

Jicai, you've still got to decide.

Maybe it's better she left.

Didn't I tell you

not to let her go?

This girl...

Why is she like this?

Vice Prefect, forgive us.

Jicai's heart is golden.

She's never been like this.

She's just off today.

Normally, she never turns anyone away,

right?

Let me talk to her.

When you tried to help that girl,

you clenched the stone too hard, right?

It's nothing.

Reach out.

Do you think

I'm cold?

Cold enough

to grip a stone to save a stranger

and cut your own hand.

Does it still hurt?

I feel

I can't even steer my own life.

How can I shoulder someone else's?

We don't belong in this era;

we shouldn't meddle.

Whatever I do won't matter,

yet I...

Yunshui Manor is roomy;

a dozen more could lodge inside.

If anyone storms our gate,

my roof tiles

can shelter you all.

It's about to rain.

If she's caught in it,

she'll catch a fever.

I have to bring her back.

Deyuan!

Deyuan!

Deyuan!

Deyuan!

Deyuan!

Deyuan!

Curfew's near.

Where could she go?

Don't panic; she's injured.

She can't have gone far.

- Deyuan! - Deyuan!

Deyuan!

- Deyuan! - Deyuan!

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

It's fine now.

Come, come.

Let Jicai take a look.

Wounds have been dressed.

I found some fresh clothes for her.

You're so pretty.

Pretty, right?

Look at her.

I'll leave you two to talk.

Milady, what are you doing?

It smells amazing.

Let me help.

You're called Deyuan,

so I made fish balls.

We'll be one full circle after eating it.

From today, you're also my family.

Milady,

I'll sell myself to you.

I'll follow you forever.

(Slave Deed; Zhen Deyuan)

Once our diner opens,

you'll earn honest wages with skill.

No deeds are needed.

But...

But if I work here

without a deed,

how can you trust me?

We'll sign a labor contract,

a work agreement.

You'll be hired

and paid by the hour.

I...

I don't quite follow

the words you're saying,

yet somehow I understand

you're being kind to me.

You're too kind.

You're too kind to me.

Why the tears?

You're helping us; we should be thanking you.

Why thank me at all?

There, there, Deyuan, no more crying.

There, there.

Auntie looks brighter already.

My girl is

the toughest one I know.

I knew she'd come round.

Now that Jicai's mood

is fixed,

everything slips back on track.

Our diner

still has to take its cue

from Jicai in the end.

If I ask her to draft the blueprints tomorrow,

will she even answer me?

Why are you always so clueless?

Alright, the dishes are ready.

Have a seat.

- Sit, Deyuan. - Deyuan, sit.

From this day on,

Deyuan is family.

- Great. - Great.

Welcome!

Perfect!

Deyuan can play with me.

But

what if

Yunlai Tavern

comes looking for trouble?

Don't worry.

I'll handle it.

Thank you, Vice Prefect.

Really?

Since Jicai and the Vice Prefect have said so,

I hereby declare:

Deyuan is officially

one of us.

Let's eat!

- Dig in. - Let's eat.

Pick up your chopsticks.

Dig in.

Here, Yangyang.

Here, Deyuan.

- I'll ladle you soup. - This is tasty.

- Try this. - Thanks.

Try this; it's tasty.

Careful, it's hot.

Thank you, Auntie.

Here, Deyuan.

Thanks, Yangyang.

Deyuan.

Vice Prefect, taste this.

It's good.

Milady,

I'm still craving something else.

Paupers' Joy?

What's Paupers' Joy?

Lard Rice

with a splash of soy.

What's soy?

Lard can go

on rice?

It's just clear sauce

mixed into rice.

It's quick and tasty.

A man of your stature

has surely never gone hungry.

It's to fill one's stomach.

No surprise you've never heard of it.

I've actually starved before,

slept in the streets,

too ashamed

to beg.

But

how could someone

as noble as you experience that?

You must be joking.

Indeed.

Only jesting.

Ever since I met Deyuan,

an idea has been simmering.

Yunlai and Guixiang

both cater to silk-clad guests.

Since we're opening in Yong'an,

why not serve the cotton-clad?

The cotton-clad?

What do you mean?

- Well... - You're saying

you'll cook food that ordinary folk

can actually afford?

Yunlai and Guixiang

serve the wealthy,

but Yong'an is full of common people.

If we offer more tasty and cheap dishes

like Paupers' Joy,

our diner

will be worth far more.

I like Jicai's idea.

Good, inexpensive food

is a real service to the people.

You keep coining

fresh words.

The phrase Auntie just said

is fascinating.

Service to the people.

Whether in commerce

or governance,

we should aim to serve.

Vice Prefect,

you don't really know me.

When it comes to new words,

I can actually

say some, too.

I just don't flaunt it.

Right?

Still, I think

- we have - Eat up.

to change the name.

You can't keep calling it Paupers' Joy.

Joy sounds fine,

but if we keep calling out paupers,

who'd buy that?

Would you?

Right?

Let's rename it

Everyman's Joy.

(Yunlai Tavern) How dare Shen

take Chunyan away from me?

This is outrageous!

By the way,

did you find out

what kind of relationship she has

with the Vice Prefect?

I did.

I asked a relative to inquire

of a guard in the Capital Prefecture.

They said they're distant relatives.

Lady Shen is his cousin.

Cousin?

No wonder so domineering.

I thought Lin Yan was so upright,

but he's just another corrupt official.

Just you wait.

How clueless.

Tidy this up.

We're family.

Why the formalities?

Sorry, Vice Prefect.

We were enjoying the meal so much

that we lost track of time.

Now that curfew's in effect,

you can't return to Yunshui Manor.

You have to stay here for the night.

It's fine.

This is actually quite interesting.

Lady Shen,

could we talk in private?

No problem.

They'll talk in private?

Your family is opening a diner.

Do you have

any other plans for the future?

We want to expand our business

and strive for glory.

I mean

for yourself.

Me?

To be honest,

our family can't leave Yong'an

for the time being.

I used to feel a bit aimless,

but now I've found

some sense of belonging.

I have things I want to do,

like selling affordable meals.

How could Yong'an do

without a business genius like me?

Besides business?

Help my father win

the competition next spring.

Besides helping your father

win the competition,

have you

thought

about your future?

My future?

I can't think that far ahead.

What I mean

is

your marriage.

Your

marriage.

Vice Prefect, are you trying

to break off the engagement?

I'm right?

That's amazing.

You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this.

You were hesitating.

Were you afraid I'd say no?

You really don't need to.

You should've said so earlier!

Come on.

I wake up every morning

planning for this exact moment.

I'm so glad you feel the same way.

That's great.

Wait here a moment.

What?

Why?

She plans for this every day?

(Letter of Engagement Dissolution)

Everyone, please rise.

Today, Shen Shaoguang dissolves her engagement with Lin Yan,

formerly known as Cui Che.

This engagement is hereby invalid.

The Shen family

solemnly

repents

for ever bringing up this engagement.

From this day on,

we shall completely erase all related memories.

Never again shall it be mentioned.

Should anyone bring it up again,

it shall be considered

a violation of human ethics,

a moral collapse,

and will be condemned by all future generations

of the Shen family.

Vice Prefect,

it was our fault from the start.

How could we ever be engaged to someone like you?

Yes, yes, Vice Prefect.

This is entirely our fault.

We should've ended

this engagement long ago.

- Sorry. - Vice Prefect,

it's completely our fault.

We hope you can forgive us in the afterlife.

Father, what are you saying?

We mean

we were wrong.

Let's just forget this engagement

ever happened.

Completely.

(Am I really so awful)

(that they'd go to such lengths to avoid me?)

Vice Prefect?

I didn't mean anything else.

I...

Do you need to use the privy?

The toilet is in the back.

No, that's not it.

Then what do you need?

I just wanted to say

there's a cat in the backyard.

A cat?

- Calico? - It's a Yumian cat.

You call it a Yumian cat?

You call it

Calico?

Kitty,

I got you.

You like cats?

I wanted one when I was a child,

but Father and Mother

already struggled

raising me and Gongcai.

With the diner to run,

another cat felt impossible.

Kitty,

are you just passing by

or planning to stay?

If you want the answer,

perform the cat-betrothal rite.

Betrothal?

I've drafted the deed.

If it eats the gift you set out,

it agrees to be your cat.

(Cat-adoption Contract)

Looks like it has zero objections.

Rites must be observed.

Our cat shall have

what other cats get.

Calico,

you walked

into our diner yourself,

so you can't escape now.

You can just live at home,

with no duties at all.

I will love you dearly.

Henceforth,

you need not roam,

need not catch mice,

and need not keep night-watch.

This contract bears witness

under heaven and earth.

(Cat-adoption Contract)

It licked me.

Did you see that?

I'm just so happy.

You...

You haven't named it yet.

Right.

Names.

What to name it?

I'm terrible at names.

Vice Prefect, you do it.

It's your kitten.

Why push the task on me?

We adopted it together.

How is it suddenly mine alone?

Fine, I'll choose.

I'll choose...

Let's call it Ming.

Ming.

Ming?

The plainer the name,

the luckier the cat.

The Xiao Erya says

Yan means Ming (bright).

That collides with your name.

I'll pick another.

Another...

I'm not good at naming things.

Ming it is.

It's good.

Ming.

Ming, Ming, Ming.

Ming.

Ming.

Ming, Ming.

Ming.

(Capital Prefecture Notice) Yunlai Tavern in Juxian Alley

expanded illicitly

and encroached on the rear alley

and public passage.

It's to be demolished per statute.

In the 4th month,

a bookshop in Juxian Alley caught fire;

Yunlai Tavern failed to report or assist.

The punishments shall be combined.

Excellent.

Excellent!

Let's see

if Yunlai Tavern dares again.

The new Vice Prefect

is here to do his job.

As the saying goes,

what goes around comes around.

- Yes. - Right.

Folks, the Vice Prefect did splendidly.

As the saying goes,

justice lives in every heart.

What are you doing?

Why is it always you?

Sorry.

I didn't notice.

I didn't notice.

These punishments are nothing.

Money can solve everything.

Yunlai could even buy

your whole family's lives.

What did you say?

I heard you've leased a place.

You aren't planning to open a diner

in Juxian Alley, are you?

Manager Feng,

that laugh

is like the sort

that clueless villains

on stage wear.

What did you just say?

Clueless indeed.

You can't even follow me.

You just asked

if we're opening a diner here.

Are you trying to set us up?

I...

Yunlai Tavern won't let it go so easily.

That's right.

Everyone, please bear witness:

If our diner

ever faces dirty tricks,

first suspect Yunlai.

- Yes. - You...

Fair point.

It's him. Remember this face.

Shen Shaoguang!

Fine.

Just you wait.

If your diner ever lasts,

I'll write my surname upside-down!

Just wait and see.

I'll surely

make our diner thrive.

Thrive!

- Just wait. - Just wait.

- You wait. - You all wait!

What a fuming monkey.

Fuming monkey, fuming monkey.

Move aside, move.

Enough already.

Hurry off!

Well said, Jicai.

(Chair)

(Menu)

(Candlestick; Venetian blind)

(Caster; Robot mop; Chair)

Shen?

Just the character Shen?

Yes, only one character.

The Vice Prefect's handwriting.

Who else in Juxian Alley

can have that?

Who else?

A single Shen from you

is enough honor for us.

The thing is, it's free,

isn't it?

Watch your tongue.

That's the Vice Prefect you're talking to!

He's got no manners.

Here's the thing.

It was Jicai's idea.

She'd like you to write the character Shen

so we can enshrine it...

No, we can

print it

on our work-shirts.

That's all.

Work-shirts?

Our clothes.

Our clothes.

Yangyang, hurry.

I made this lollipop myself.

Sorry to trouble you.

Lollipop?

It tastes great.

Sweet sugar on a stick.

(Shen)

Shen's Diner

is officially open today!

Great!

One, two, three.

Go!

May the luck rush in!

(Shen's Diner)

(Miss You in Yong'an)

(Shen's Diner)

Shen's Diner opens today.

Step inside and have a taste!

Welcome, welcome!

Every guest receives

a complimentary Carefree Drink.

A free drink!

(Life is short; Have a Slap-the-Heartbreaker Drink)

(Freshly made)

Come in, come in!

Come on, come in!

Welcome!

Welcome, come in!

- Come in. - Welcome.

Please come in.

Come in.

Welcome.

Please, take a seat anywhere.

Browse at will.

Come in.

Browse at will.

No standing on ceremony.

Come in.

(Huamo, Divine Pancake, Grilled Fish)

(Homework Leads to No. 1)

(No. 6, No. 7, No. 8, No. 9, No. 10)

(Mind-blowingly good)

(Life's big events: eat & drink)

Help yourself.

Step in; sit anywhere.

(May wealth come)

(Welcome)

(Specials: Fragrant Skin, Swift Threads, Carefree Drink, Golden Crisp)

(Liangpi with sesame sauce)

(Couch-potato soda)

(Face-sized chicken cutlet)

(Shen's instant noodles)

(Shaoguang's Food Notes: Laomian)

(Laomian: instant noodles a thousand years ago)

♪Feast begins, joy within♪

♪Heart has love, happiness arrives♪

♪Those you long to see are all here♪

♪Those you miss, come quickly♪

♪Having roamed mountains, lakes, and seas♪

♪Most joyful is still this taste of home fare♪

♪Feast begins, golden cups and fine wine spread under moonlight♪

♪Feast begins, rare delicacies and ocean flavors fill the tables♪

♪Feast begins, smiles must bloom like spring♪

♪You're here, I'm here, the present is worth cherishing♪

♪Feast begins, family matters and endless chatter come again♪

♪Feast begins, happy laughter makes wrinkles bloom joyfully♪

♪Feast begins, together through all days and seasons, we stay♪

♪Sour, sweet, bitter, spicy. Though tastes never change♪

♪Yet life is always worth your warmest embrace♪

♪Feast begins, joy within♪

♪Heart has love, happiness arrives♪

♪Those you long to see are all here♪

♪Those you miss, come quickly♪

♪Having roamed mountains, lakes, and seas♪

♪Most joyful is still this taste of home fare♪

♪Sometimes I sigh too♪

♪What is most worthy of hope♪

♪No matter how grand the future♪

♪It always circles back to the kitchen stove♪

♪Family from afar, join us for a meal♪

♪Traveled south and north, heart is still here♪

♪Time passes far too fast♪

♪Life is only once, we must all welcome it warmly♪

♪Feast begins, golden cups and fine wine spread under moonlight♪

♪Feast begins, rare delicacies and ocean flavors fill the tables♪

♪Feast begins, smiles must bloom like spring♪

♪You're here, I'm here, the present is worth cherishing♪

♪Feast begins, family matters and endless chatter come again♪

♪Feast begins, happy laughter makes wrinkles bloom joyfully♪

♪Feast begins, together through all days and seasons, we stay♪

♪Sour, sweet, bitter, spicy. Though tastes never change♪

♪Yet life is always worth your warmest embrace♪

♪Open your heart, topics get livelier♪

♪Winds and rains come, love even the daily rice and salt♪

♪Feast begins, together through all days and seasons, we stay♪

♪Though tastes never change♪

♪Yet life is always worth your warmest embrace♪

♪Feast begins. Life is always worth your warmest embrace♪