Original subtitles

I had a dream a few days ago.

I dreamt He Shan had come back.

He told me it was the last time.

He'd ever come back.

When I woke up, I received a text message

saying he'd died somewhere faraway.

You think...

he really did...

die?

That man left over a decade ago.

Not once did you get any news.

If you ask me, he died a long time ago.

You really think so?

Better that way.

Why did your boss

tell us to go up the mountain this early?

For the mountain call.

Mountain call?

What's that?

The Mountain Deity has been asleep all winter.

It's time to wake him up

and warn the snakes, insects and spirits

we're coming up the mountain to pick tea.

We'll ask the deity to keep us safe and sound

and give us a good harvest.

Sprout, sprout!

Little rascal.

Gallivanting again?

Took your time!

Had an interview.

- Then I... - Interview?

Come work for me.

I'd hire you on the spot.

Tea and War

This is good.

I'm live streaming today.

Tell me the story.

A century ago a British man called Robert Fortune

stole 10,000 tea seeds from Wuyi Mountain.

He took eight local tea masters...

I marked the pages.

It also says tea masters should avoid.

Chives, garlic, ginger.

When washing, avoid soap or shower gel.

Smoking is definitely not advised.

Have one.

Coming.

Where's my mum today?

The south side.

Field two on hill three.

Stop looking for work. Work for me.

Free lodging. 5,000 a month. Bargain!

No?

6,000?

6,000 yuan.

When I was in primary school, our timetable said

classes were morning and afternoon.

Each class lasted 40 minutes.

I wonder

how long a tree lives for.

A tree stands in the same place

from Its birth to Its death.

It doesn't move.

For generations,

our ancestors followed the tradition of choosing a tree

for every newborn child.

Tradition held the tree would

only be cut down when the person died.

My dad asked me if I went up the mountain by myself

could I find our trees?

I peered up at the forest and said:

Yes, I can.

I know why you want

to stay in Hangzhou.

You've looked for him for 10 years.

The factory in Hangzhou he worked at has closed.

There's no trace of him.

He abandoned us.

Why bother looking for him?

My dad's tree is still there.

I went there myself.

Mum.

As long as his tree's standing,

I'll can find him.

I got a text message

saying your dad was dead.

What message?

Show me.

I deleted it.

You're lying.

I found out recently Dad was

driving a cargo boat with a man called Liang.

Who told you that?

Was it your Deaf Uncle?

Did you know?

Mum.

Listen to me!

Stay away from Deaf Uncle.

Got it?

Dead or alive, it's in the past.

If you like Hangzhou and want to stay here, that's fine.

I'll sell our house back home and come live

with you here.

If it's not enough, I'll find a way.

No need.

What?

No need.

To settle in Hangzhou

you'll need a job, find a girlfriend and get married.

I'll need to buy a wedding gift and a flat.

They don't come free.

"No need..."

Sometimes I dream...

of the day you find...

a nice wife.

You'll bring her home to meet me.

I'll go up to her with you in hand and tell her:

"Thank your parents for raising such a lovely girl."

"I'm counting on you

to look after my son, Mulian."

I'd happily die right now,

knowing one day that might happen.

Stop that nonsense.

It's so childish.

I had a job interview today.

One company's already interested.

Soon you'll be rolling in it.

You're so sweet.

If we really do settle in Hangzhou,

we can't live off your job alone.

Why not?

It's not enough.

I've been thinking.

When the time comes, I'll do the tea-picking.

And get a second job.

I could work as a housekeeper for a local family.

For example...

I could live at Master Qian's.

Why would you live there?

What do you think of...

Master Qian?

What about him?

I mean...

What if...

What if Master Qian...

were to become your new dad?

Mum!

I'm an adult now.

I can provide for you.

Dear friends, you're now watching Master Qian

manually frying West Lake Longjing tea.

Thanks to our fans for sending flowers.

"Master Qian, you're the best!"

"Master Qian's the G.O.A.T."

They're egging you on, Dad.

Thanks!

Thanks.

A friend asked me why Master Qian's tea

wins the championship every year.

That's because we don't use electric pots.

We use a wood-fired wok instead.

I'll take a screenshot.

The first three will receive

some West Lake Longjing tea prepared by Master Qian.

I'll tell you more about "Tea and War".

And the tea thief...

Want to hear more?

Do you?

If you want to hear more press “1” on your screen.

Cheers!

Let's drink!

Welcome to the company.

Work hard!

We're all one big family now.

Manager Wang.

A toast to you.

It's thanks to you that

I'm where I am today.

Brother!

I just have to say the word and those old folks

would sell me their kidneys.

You told me...

your dream was to find your dad.

So today, if I can be so bold,

I can be your dad.

I can teach you how to get on in this life.

To survive.

To make money.

And how...

Down the hatch!

Come on, Mulian. Down it.

Mulian came to see me.

I know.

Does he know about us?

I don't know if he knows or not.

You're afraid?

Why would I be afraid?

Why would I be?

I...

I would if I were you.

Of your mother and daughter.

How could you not be?

Let's follow this beam of light

and go live on Mars.

What do you say?

Sounds good.

Forget my mum.

Forget your son.

Or my daughter.

Stuff them.

It's just us two.

It also gets rid of body moisture.

After that you'll feel great.

You sure?

If you don't believe me look at me.

Chunmei?

How did it make you feel?

Nice and warm.

Exactly!

Like all the cold has left your body?

Yeah.

It's good for us tea-pickers.

We're exposed to a lot of mist.

It's 100% herbal medicine...

My brother sells foot patches.

He left home years ago.

He said in a year you can make at least

six to eight-digit figures.

That much?

Girls, I'm back.

I'll show you his WeChat posts.

He posts this stuff daily.

He has a luxury car.

A fancy villa...

Bet he downloaded the pictures.

Tell her if that's my brother.

It is her brother.

But he looks smarter now.

He does look smart.

Unlike my husband, who makes next to nothing,

but expects me to slave away.

It's late.

Been on a date?

A date?

With who?

Just chatting.

We're like sisters here.

Just tell us.

I can give you advice.

You spying on me?

Don't be nosy.

Fine, don't tell me.

A bug!

On your shoulder!

Get rid of it!

Oh, it's a tea caterpillar.

It's huge.

Gross.

It's really fat.

Get rid of it!

What are these patches?

I want one too.

I want one too!

A tea caterpillar!

A tea caterpillar!

That's so gross.

I want a patch too.

Give me one.

What does it do again?

It stimulates blood circulation.

More importantly, sell these with my brother

and you'll make a fortune.

More profitable than picking tea.

A tea flower floating in a cup of tea.

The tea flower blooms for all to see.

Guess what?

Taihua went up the mountain last night for some hanky panky.

With who?

Who else?

Master Qian, of course.

Mulian doesn't want me to marry.

What can I do?

It's the 21st century.

Why is he so old fashioned?

I blame that bastard, Heshan.

Ever since our wedding day, at night in bed,

I had to beg him.

He wasn't into me.

How do you mean?

I told you he wasn't interested.

Say no more.

He ruined my life and my son's life too.

Mulian wants to find him.

Excuse me, where is the dock?

Over there.

Got it.

This belonged to your dad.

He carved one every year on your birthday.

This lotus...

was left to me by my dad.

He hasn't forgotten us.

Also...

Mr Liang says...

he joined a monastery.

And...

I'm waiting for more info.

He really...

hasn't changed at all.

I have no idea what he's trying to do.

Or where he plans to go.

Or what he's up to.

He's not like you and me.

That's funny. Mr Liang said the exact same thing.

What's that sound?

That's the evening bell at Jingci Temple.

For me?

Where did you get it?

I earned it.

You found a job?

I'll keep it for you.

Our life's taking a turn for the better.

Hold on to it. Don't drop it.

Living the good life, are you?

Take your money.

Take it.

Take it.

Don't ever come back.

Mrs Qian.

What's up?

What's the matter?

I'll tell you think about it.

We're a wealthy family.

I know you're seeing my son.

Well, I won't stand for it.

Over my dead body.

That nasty witch!

Her son's a widower.

Why can't he remarry?

Just drop it.

Plenty of men would marry Taihua.

She's a real catch.

Plenty of men would marry her.

Exactly.

Stop it.

Is this your doing, Baiwei?

You accusing me of ratting on her?

Taihua.

I'm not one to rat on people.

It has to be you.

It was you.

You ratted on her.

You ratted on her.

Who says it was me?

Who says it was me?

Stop all this arguing!

It's pointless.

Taihua.

Your phone.

What for?

To call Qian.

Are you crazy?

If you won't, I will.

Where is it?

Stop it.

Give me your phone.

I'm calling him.

Stop fighting.

What?

Don't call him.

I don't want you to.

This tea farm's a dump.

I'm not coming back.

We're off to live the good life.

Folks!

As the old saying goes:

"It takes a hundred years of good karma

to get the chance to share a bed with someone."

How many years of karma did we need

to be together on this bus?

Ten years? That's not enough.

1000 years!

1000 years.

Was it you who said that?

Yeah.

What do you mean?

That we share the same bed?

Can I ask you a discreet question?

Is your wife here today?

I don't have a wife.

Tell everyone you don't have a wife.

But I have a husband.

Let me introduce myself.

My name's Wan Qing.

Wan Qing is me.

I am Wan Qing.

Today I'm going to take you on a fun-packed day.

I also hope that from today on,

I can help you get everything you want.

Open new doors for you.

Give you a fresh start.

Give you a wealthy, long life.

We can climb the highest mountains, cross the wildest rivers

if we work together as one.

Whatever requests or questions you have today,

I'll go to the ends of the earth to help you.

Yeah!

We come from different places,

but fate brought us together.

I'm from a small village in Liaoning Province.

How about you?

I'm from Hubei.

Hubei.

I'm from Chongqing.

Chongqing? The hotpot there is great.

You both look radiant.

Your names?

This is Taihua. I'm Jinlan.

Taihua.

What a lovely name.

Taihua (moss flowers) may be tiny, but they bloom like peonies.

Sister.

I hope your future is as beautiful as a peony in bloom.

Sound good?

Thank you!

How about you two?

I'm your lucky star.

Hello everyone!

I'm Lele from Henan Province.

Hello everyone. I'm Chen Xiaoyuan.

I'm Meiling.

I'm Youjin.

You can call me Smiles.

I'm Zhang Hongyi from Heilongjiang Province.

I was a taxi driver for 11 years.

Miss Yu was a regular client.

She told me about this career.

Tianhao told me about this.

I'm still single.

This business isn't just about money.

You may find love too.

If you believe it.

Junjie, my boyfriend, brought me here.

Look how proud she is.

He brought me here.

We hadn't seen each other since primary school.

Thanks to social media, we got in touch again.

Your fresh start begins here.

Connections, opportunity, career.

We'll make you blossom.

Hui, from the dance group, brought me here.

I worked in manufacturing.

Choose us and Secure your Future!

I've come to the right place.

Together now: What path are we on?

The path to wealth!

My lady.

Here I am surrounded by illusions and dreams.

Finding the Buddhist scriptures in the West is where my task lies.

Holy Master!

Must you really leave?

The road West may be perilous,

but we have a common goal.

Our unbreakable team spirit means

one man alone can achieve very little.

But I have three disciples.

I know the Monkey King is one of them.

How did he succeed?

The Monkey King's success boils down to just two words:

Good connections.

He knows the Goddess of Mercy.

And me, his Buddhist Master.

And he's close to the Jade Emperor.

With such connections how could he not succeed?

What about your second disciple, Pigsy?

He's so lazy, greedy and lustful.

How did he succeed?

That little pig runs a mile at the sight of danger.

He takes flight at the thought of trouble.

But he is lucky to be part of a formidable team.

How could he not succeed?

True.

Some people follow bees to nectar,

and others follow flies to the toilets...

Spend your life with beggars

and in old age you'll still be a beggar.

So, my dear family.

Do you want to be part of a formidable team?

Yes!

Want to do the right thing?

Yes!

Want to follow the right people?

Yes!

Do you want to succeed?

Yes!

My wife and I wish all our family here today

a life of riches,

a life of wealth, a life of prosperity,

a life of affluence.

Dear family, how are we today?

Good!

Good morning!

My brother. It's my brother.

It's my brother, Wanli.

I'm proud to announce one of us has become the New Boss.

Let's hear a round of applause

for Butterfly International's New Boss, Ye Hong.

So all that money's hers?

She's the one my brother mentioned.

It's 10.8 million yuan!

Now, according to custom,

go into the money pool and take your 10.8 million yuan.

Ye Hong!

So much money.

The roc will one day rise up with the wind,

soaring ninety thousand miles into the sky.

I'm Dong Wanli.

Good morning everybody!

Good morning!

This is the happiest of days,

because my sister came.

She's right here.

Sis, come up here.

On stage.

My sister's a bit shy.

Let's give her a cheer!

Yeah.

Sis, let me ask you.

Seeing me here...

Are you happy? Do you feel good?

I...

I'm so happy. I feel great.

My dear family.

My sister didn't come alone today.

She came to support me, to find wealth and good health.

She also brought along her best friend.

Who is she, sis?

That's right.

She's my best friend forever.

Taihua.

Come up on stage then!

Taihua.

Taihua!

This is my beautiful friend, Taihua.

Let's ask you some questions too.

Did you come here today

because you're my sister's best friend?

Yes.

Actually, my sister didn't bring you here

simply to embark on a new career.

More important than that,

she sees you as the most important person in her life.

Am I right?

Here's a question.

The Monkey King.

How did he join Tripitaka on his quest?

Through connections.

Exactly. Connections.

And how did Tripitaka obtain the Buddhist sutras?

Teamwork.

Very good. Teamwork.

So here's the question.

Where are our connections?

Butterfly International.

And where's our team?

Butterfly International.

Our family is right here beside us.

Our family and friends

are the ones we trust the most, right?

Right.

Hold this, sis.

So my dear family.

Reach out to the

three most important people in your life.

Share your joy with them.

Your changes and your happiness.

And you could lay your hands on 10.8 million.

You heard me.

My dear family.

That's exactly what I said.

Ten million 800 thousand in hard cash.

What do you say to that?

Yay!

Can we do it?

Yes, we can!

It's a con!

A pyramid scam.

Nothing but a scam.

Who are you?

He's soliciting new recruits.

No way!

My friend.

If you have concerns you're welcome to leave.

We're not forcing you to stay.

We're not forcing you to do anything.

We won't charge you anything either.

On the contrary, today we are going to offer

every single one of you a pack of herbal foot patches.

Completely for free.

Leave!

Get out!

Sis.

Are you here of your own free will?

I am.

Exactly.

Pyramid schemes don't just force you to sign new recruits.

You have to carry on recruiting forever.

The more, the better.

But Butterfly International is an international platform.

Our rule is that

one person can only share this with three others.

An ID card can only be used once.

Would you say that's a pyramid scheme?

Taihua?

Is it a pyramid scheme?

Taihua?

No, it's not.

Tonight I'm going to tell you about

the four pillars to a successful elderly health product business.

One: Be there for them.

Treat them better than your own mum.

When you see them shout out:

"Mum, Dad!"

"How are you?"

Gran.

Eight hours a day.

Be there 24-7.

Wash their clothes. Cook for them.

Keep them warm.

Bathe their feet.

We do what their children won't do for them.

In time, they won't go to their children.

But to you.

Two: Sweet talk.

When they start feeling close to you,

bring them to our health center

and promise them a free gift.

Grab the money!

Get ready!

Grab it now!

They're doing finger exercises.

Come and watch.

Scare the life out of them.

Bring them here and tell them about

their heart, kidneys, cholesterol, blood sugar,

hip, leg and joint problems.

Blood pressure's a bit high.

Till they're confused.

Four: Guilt-trip them.

My late husband died of a heart attack.

Auntie!

I know what it's like to

lose a loved one.

My sister inherited a heart condition.

Nothing worked.

Our center changed that.

Just one month on this machine and she can run again.

You must make them feel empathy and guilt

if they don't buy our products.

My child.

Don't be sad.

From now on, I'll be your mother.

Mum!

You're all witnesses.

You're now my real mum!

Mum!

I bet all of you here today is the most hard working

and responsible person you know.

You have a dream but need to take that extra step.

But it's possible

you just lacked a bit of luck.

One tiny opportunity.

A way forward.

And a different approach.

I hope that Butterfly International can help all of you

hard working, clever, ambitious folks

find a way forward.

Effort alone won't bring success.

But good choices can help you get more from less.

Good choices are always worth more than effort.

Folks.

You may fail.

You may fall.

Be ignored.

You may be laughed at, looked down on or betrayed.

You may become penniless.

Get sick,

become destitute or be at a dead end.

You could go crazy.

But right here.

Right now.

We never give in to fate.

We never give in to fate.

So folks...

Answer me.

We may go crazy.

But...

We never give in to fate!

Over here.

We may go crazy but...

We never give in to fate.

We may go crazy but...

We never give in to fate!

I can't hear you!

We may go crazy.

But we never give in to fate!

We may go crazy.

But we never give in to fate!

Over here.

We may go crazy.

But we never give in to fate!

We may go crazy.

But we never give in to fate!

The platform has five grades and three tiers.

One pack of foot patches has a market price of 998 yuan.

By purchasing a whole set of six packs

you can become a member for only 3800 yuan.

You can use them yourself or sell them.

If my parents both buy one, do I get promoted?

Even your boyfriend could get promoted.

Really?

By buying just 21 packs and investing 79,800 yuan,

you can become Business Controller,

be eligible to form your own team,

and own a virtual shop on our platform.

You'll become a benefactor.

Know how hard I worked to get this money?

Borrowed money on my phone...

Will you just give up and let

your wife and child suffer for the rest of their lives?

I bought it too.

Why would I trick you?

You no longer have to sacrifice yourself for your family.

You have money and connections.

You can fend for yourself.

You're no longer just a wife.

Or a mother.

You'll be an independent individual.

Independent in your own right.

Once you get three people to join, you start making money.

If they each recruit three, that makes nine.

If they continue to recruit, that makes 27.

And so on.

When your volume reaches 600,

you take the 10.8 million and become the New Boss.

That's it.

Our platform has broken conventional sharing economy models.

One big family!

Mum!

One big family!

Li Guixiang.

One family!

Mum!

Get off her!

Hey!

Mum.

Let's go home.

No.

You're just worried I'll live too long.

Mum.

You crooks!

Stealing her pension.

I'll sue you.

We're not crooks.

What are you then?

Scamming pensioners.

Where's your conscience?

You lead such busy lives.

But you can't blame us for doing what

you don't have time to do.

Right?

Some nerve!

You can do what I can't?

That's my mother!

I didn't do it.

Mum fell down.

I didn't do it.

Get off her, you crook.

Dressed like a dog's dinner!

Mum, what's wrong?

Do your parents know?

Okay, folks.

Let's congratulate everyone for our bravery.

You did well.

Really well.

Uncle, Auntie, you have to promise me, your son,

that you won't get angry about anything in future.

OK?

Yes!

Promise me!

Yes!

Then we'll do a deep breathing exercise.

Do you remember what we taught you before.

Come on, come on, follow me.

I didn't get any of that.

All I got was "teamwork", "sharing" and "buying".

That's perfectly normal.

All you need to remember is you join and share.

Then you start making money.

Simple, right?

I'll buy one then.

What?

One?

You need to buy at least 21.

That's 79,800 yuan!

I know you.

I know all about

the money you set aside to buy Mulian a house.

I'll graduate from college this year.

I had dozens of interviews but still haven't got a job.

I'm not pretty and I don't have much schooling.

I work as a waitress.

People often look down on me.

My store had to close down.

I didn't want to burden my son.

I was diagnosed with colon cancer last year.

You've probably all noticed.

It's a wig.

My mum died.

I can't be a dutiful son anymore.

My husband wants me at home.

But why can't women have their own careers?

Mum, I've got a job now.

I can make my own living.

I want to find a man who can protect me

and have a happy family with him.

I want him to buy a flat soon.

Then he can marry and give me a little grandson.

I want my children to know

I'll be there for them till my very last breath.

I hope my mum will look down from heaven and see

her son's success.

I managed to purchase 21.

21.

I managed to buy 42.

Amazing!

Amazing!

Hi everyone!

I'm Wan Qing's husband.

Next to us is our son.

I'd like to thank Wan Qing.

I want to thank

my wife for bringing our whole family into this career.

I came here today to apologize to my mum.

When she got breast cancer,

our family spent all our money.

We were drowning in debt.

I hated her.

I hated her for not being healthy like other mums.

I hated that our family was poor.

My classmates looked down on me.

I was bullied.

But now that's all changed.

I'm proud of my mum.

She kept our family afloat.

I want to thank her for raising me.

Thanks, Butterfly International.

Thanks, everyone.

Who are you?

Who are you?

Who are you?

Who are you?

I'm a person!

I'm Wu Taihua. A lonely, helpless woman.

A poor, abandoned woman.

A woman kicked out of her family.

A woman looked down on by others.

I'm nothing but dog shit. Useless trash.

No one wants me.

No one likes me.

No one loves me.

From now on, we all love you.

Don't stop.

What kind of Wu Taihua do you want to be?

What kind of Wu Taihua do you want to be?

I want to be a Wu Taihua who's respected.

A braver version of myself.

That's it.

Carry on.

I want to be stronger.

Excellent. Carry on!

I want to be independent.

Very good.

Your new life starts today.

I want to be an independent, confident Wu Taihua.

I want to be an independent, confident Wu Taihua.

I want to be an independent, confident Wu Taihua.

Mum.

I'm really...

I'm lost for words.

I hardly recognize you.

Because I put on some makeup?

It's not that.

Don't you think I look younger with makeup?

Don't you think I look younger with makeup?

It's a bit weird.

In what way?

You're just not used to it.

Your mum's now an independent, new age woman.

Right?

I suppose.

Confident and independent.

Mum?

A while back,

I went to see Deaf Uncle.

And...

He told me everything.

I now realize these past years you...

had a tough time.

Let's not talk about that.

It's in the past.

Come on.

Have some tea.

I've now embarked on a new career in Hangzhou.

I've been busy lately.

I've neglected you.

How are you doing?

The job I had wasn't really for me.

So I quit.

I'm still looking.

Stop looking.

Come and join my team.

The business I'm in is great.

Look.

I'm selling herbal foot patches.

Foot patches?

Try one and see.

Leave it. I don't need one.

Listen to me.

This is great.

It enhances immunity, reduces body moisture

and improves sleep.

Makes you stronger.

Try it.

One patch a day.

It'll cure foot or back pain.

It can cure anything.

Come on.

- Let me put it on. - I can do it.

Come on. Let me do it.

You don't know how.

See? It goes in the center.

I put it on every day now.

I feel fine now.

Miss?

What is it? It looks amazing.

Foot patches.

I'm running out. Take it.

I don't need it.

I won't charge you anything.

Take them.

I won't say more.

The product speaks for itself.

Take them.

Thank you.

No problem.

Let me add you on WeChat.

I'm renting this new flat.

Give that to me.

Go and sit inside.

Take a seat.

Come on.

My training finished late last night.

I didn't have time to tidy up.

Sit over here.

Have some water.

Did you lie to the rowing lady just now?

Of course not.

I was helping her.

Here.

Have some fruit.

How's the patch?

I don't feel anything.

Give it time.

You went to Sanya recently?

Sanya?

No.

I saw photos you posted on social media.

Was that fake?

That was a marketing ploy.

What's real or fake anyway?

I need the toilet.

I thought it was a scam at first too.

After I finished studying

I realized I was out of touch.

You can't sell things without packaging and advertising.

It's all about building a persona these days.

You're a university student.

You know that better than me.

You sure it's not a scam?

That health product company I worked for before

was scamming older people.

Recently it had to close down.

Mine isn't like that.

We're a decent company.

A big platform.

Guess what?

Our ads all over the high-speed trains and stations.

Not to mention that our New Boss

takes part in international forums every year.

They can scam people too.

On my way over I looked it up.

Butterfly International?

On the surface they sell products.

But it's a pyramid scheme.

That's illegal.

Understand?

If it's illegal, why not arrest me?

They've brainwashed you.

Listen to me.

What we do is direct selling.

It's no pyramid scheme.

Direct sales involves products.

Pyramid schemes don't.

It's legal.

How much did you buy?

Since you're here, help me lift these.

Give me a hand.

Come on.

How much did you spend?

How much did you spend?

Mum!

I sold our house back home.

You sold the house?

You sold it to buy this?

Are you crazy?

I'm now a brand new person.

An independent,

self-reliant, strong and successful woman.

I'm no longer the misunderstood,

downtrodden Taihua that everyone looked down on.

No way.

Not anymore.

Moss flowers may be tiny, but they bloom like peonies.

I'm a moss flower.

And I'm blooming like a peony.

This is all a big scam!

You've been scammed!

Please, believe me.

You won't get that money back.

When I become New Boss,

I'll have so much money we won't know what to do with it.

Enough for several lifetimes.

Mum!

It won't happen.

Trust me. It simply won't happen.

How could it?

Of course it can.

I'll show you.

Hear me out.

Come on.

It's an advanced business model.

It's called a sharing economy.

It's not like conventional industries.

It's like the virtual economy, blockchains,

or the metaverse.

This weekend

at the West Lake in Hangzhou they're holding

a sales conference.

With a trainer.

Come see for yourself.

The trainer can explain things better.

Hello! Good morning!

I'm very pleased to welcome new members into our family.

A happy family leads to a happy life and career.

Let's have a round of applause

to welcome our new family members.

Me and my sister were left to fend for ourselves.

I thought if I worked hard to earn money,

if I died, she'd still have a decent life.

The more I worked, the healthier I felt.

Strong as an ox.

What I didn't expect

was my only sister suffered from

a genetic heart problem.

I thought the gods were so unfair.

But I said to her:

"We can't just give in to fate."

So I took her everywhere to seek medical help.

And pray for her.

Until I found Butterfly International.

Are these foot patches profitable?

You have no idea?

As a concept, the quantum capsules were better.

But you won't get rich selling a product like that.

It's all about the model.

What model?

First day here?

Follow my lead.

I'll train you.

Ten years ago my husband left home.

He abandoned us.

Me and my son had to fend for ourselves.

People looked down on me.

It was awful.

I don't want to think about it.

But now,

I've finally found my true self.

I've finally become a better version of myself.

I'm no longer some downtrodden

hillbilly people look down on.

What's up?

Did you know about this?

She's scamming them right now.

Sales pitches are always a bit over the top.

It's marketing.

Like me selling my tea.

This is a pyramid scheme.

A pyramid scheme.

Have you fallen for it too?

Mulian.

Don't be so sensitive.

What's most important to us both right now?

Your mother's happiness.

That's what matters.

Right?

Right?

Well said!

I don't want to get into your mother's bad books.

I've put her through so much.

Just listen to her talk!

Like she's been possessed.

We need to wake her up.

Is that the police?

Mum!

Mum!

Mum!

Mum!

I'm not your mother.

I was trying to save you.

Did I break the law?

I rescued you.

Did they arrest me?

Handcuff me?

What do you want?

Want me to grovel?

It's a pyramid scheme.

You're in a pyramid scheme.

Trust me! I'm begging you.

Think you're so great?

What did they teach you in college?

You called the cops!

On your own mother!

Has college taught you nothing?

Mum!

Go! Out of my sight.

It's a pyramid scheme!

Mulian!

You've been conned into a pyramid scheme!

How do you not see that?

A pyramid scheme!

Mulian.

Listen to me.

Even if I don't make a single penny, it makes me damn happy.

If it makes me happy, then it's worth it.

So what if it's a scam?

So what if it's a con?

So what?

At least I'm happy!

At least I'm fucking happy!

So happy!

Wake up, Mum!

Wake up!

You have no idea.

You won't get that money back.

After all these years,

I've finally become the person I was meant to be.

I'm the person I was meant to be.

Did you know that?

I've finally become the person I was meant to be.

Don't any of you get it?

I bought happiness with that money.

Is that not okay?

I found my true self with that money.

What's wrong with that?

You're despicable.

Just like that pervert father of yours.

Selfish.

Self-indulgent.

Bastards the both of you!

Cowards!

You're nothing but a little coward.

Wake up, Mum!

As police officers,

we base things on evidence and procedures.

The video and audio you provided

don't constitute evidence.

The law can solve loopholes in society.

But it can't solve the loopholes of human nature.

Spend time with your mother.

Don't be so rash.

Howdy! Good morning!

We have a very special new family member here today.

When he first found out his mum had chosen this new career,

he was skeptical.

Totally against it.

But he's now a believer and has joined us.

A big warm round of applause

to welcome him into our great family.

Mulian.

Come up.

Say hello to everyone, young man.

Can you tell us why you finally decided

to believe in your mum and the career she's chosen?

I used the foot patches she gave me.

Well said.

Could you perhaps

share with us the specific effects of the product?

I'm sleeping better.

I'm in better spirits.

The product speaks for itself.

Applause!

What a great summary!

A while back you tried

to stop your mum from doing this job.

You hit a colleague and tried to lock her up.

Is that true?

Do you want to use this opportunity

to apologize to your mum?

How about this?

Let's get his mum up on stage.

Yeah.

Go on.

Come on.

Say sorry.

Hurry.

Mulian.

Go on.

Don't be stubborn.

Say you're sorry.

Mum.

I'm sorry.

Mulian.

Don't disown your own mum!

As long as you trust in Butterfly International

sooner or later you'll gain

the trust and love of all your loved ones.

Let's give them a huge round of applause.

Butterfly International gave me a career.

It gave me love.

I'm a winner now!

Working for others means nothing but a poor life.

Finding your own path to wealth

is key to being a better person.

Any child raised by a single mother is full of courage,

skill, and the ability to succeed.

Butterfly International

has helped me spread my wings and fly!

Yeah!

I used to pick tea.

Now, I drink tea.

Yeah!

If I can succeed, then so can you!

Success!

Good morning, folks!

Good morning!

Welcome to Xicheng, where dreams are born.

A warm welcome to Butterfly International headquarters

for our comprehensive upgrading training.

Point One:

Remember the Recruitment Formula.

Those closest to you first.

Your blood relations or your husband or wife,

boyfriend or girlfriend.

Next, your colleagues or friends back home.

Then the people you drink or play cards with.

Next, your classmates.

From primary school to university.

And finally people you've met while traveling

or online.

Family before non-family.

Friends before strangers.

Close relatives over distant.

Horizontal over vertical.

Each potential recruit

should be contacted in three stages.

First call: Show them you care.

Focus all your attention and listen carefully.

Whatever they say you must answer:

"You're right."

Praise and flatter them.

Second call:

Project success.

Who are we looking for?

Achievers.

Show them you're an achiever.

Project confidence.

Success!

Third call:

Entice them.

You want them to take the initiative and ask to join.

To ask you to give them a chance.

Today it's a bright and sunny afternoon.

You're rowing a boat

holding the ten most important people in your life

on a trip out to sea.

Suddenly, the boat hits a reef.

For everyone's safety,

you have to get rid of four passengers in order to carry on.

As the owner of the boat, you have to make a split decision.

You finally reach an island.

You must learn to survive.

You only have enough food for four people.

You must get rid of two more.

The remaining four have finally been rescued.

But the bad news is

the rescue boat can only take two people.

Delete it.

Good. You've made your choice.

That's your most important goal.

Look at me.

I want to see your determination.

Muster all your courage.

You need to know what you'll do.

What's your goal?

Nothing will stop me.

I'll take the one I love most to the happiest place.

You can't decide?

Won't you do it for your mum?

Want your mum to live like this forever?

You can't give her a better life.

Do you really want her to...

worry about you,

exhaust herself...

and work for you?

Without ever repaying her?

Is that the son you want to be?

Delete it.

Yeah, that's him.

Delete it.

Delete it.

Delete it.

Good. You've made your choice.

Find your courage.

You can do it.

You're almost there.

Delete it.

Delete it.

Delete it!

Delete it!

Come on!

Strike that name out till you can't see it.

Make it disappear forever.

You must make sacrifices for those you love the most.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU FOR DAYS.

YOU STOPPED SENDING VIDEO RECORDINGS?

NO...

NO... WORRIES.

Listen carefully.

You won't get another cent.

That's it.

You'll be the New Boss tomorrow.

Spare a few cents.

I've called you Mum for ages.

I should get compensation.

Give me a share and we'll part amicably.

Once this is over, I'll also have to clean up your mess.

Mum!

Mum!

I want you to know I have so much to say to you.

You had breast cancer.

You've done so much for me.

Thank you!

And Butterfly International.

Thank you, Mum!

You psycho!

Listen to me, Wan Qing.

Don't mess with me.

Wan Qing!

There's no money for you.

Manager Wan.

Thank you so much.

Thank you for believing in me.

No need for all that, Taihua.

Take a seat.

Please sit.

I like to give things I treasure to the people I like.

Oh no.

I can't take that, Director Wan.

Don't worry.

We've been reconciled.

Our bond is stronger than ever.

Mulian.

Remember.

When you're back you, must recruit your classmates.

From college and high school.

And primary school.

We should share our health and wealth with them, right?

Yes, Mum.

Come over here, Taihua.

Look at yourself.

You've changed so much.

You're completely different

to the person you were when you got here.

So many women aspire to be the way you are now.

It's so beautiful.

It's far too valuable.

Not at all.

It's about time you had a bracelet like this.

It gives you such elegance.

Look.

That's what a modern, confident and independent woman should look like.

Right?

Cheers!

Manager Luo.

I'm so happy.

More than I can say.

We'll always be close.

Good.

Have another glass.

I won't call you boss today.

Not today or any other day. Call me brother.

You're my brother. How's that?

Damn right.

Brother!

All this time...

This whole journey...

It's been a tough time.

To be honest with you,

I honestly don't know if I can do this anymore.

I'm exhausted.

We all are.

I want to ask you...

Does the 10.8 million yuan actually exist?

Wan Qing.

The most important thing is you got there.

Got where?

You've become the New Boss of course.

Got where?

From now on, the two of us will be tight.

Together with our brother here.

Don't take advantage of me. I'm not falling for that.

Shy all of a sudden?

We're all family here. No need to be shy.

I'm not really drunk, you know.

Here's to you!

Do a cross-armed toast!

To make my brother happy, I'll oblige.

Good.

I'll drink with you.

Drink up!

Cheers! We don't need to cross arms.

We don't need to cross arms.

Not appropriate.

Okay.

How's that?

I've really drunk too much.

Nothing wrong with that.

So now...

I'm going to make a call.

And chat to Luo's friend. I'll be right back.

Do it here.

Be right back.

Hurry up!

No worries.

We can drink then.

Come on, sister, I'll pour you over and sit on your seat.

Why am I the only one drinking here?

My mind's a bit fuzzy now.

I'll drink to you, as your brother.

Today,

I'm going to tell you the last secret of our business.

Want to hear it?

You...

Stop it!

Stop teasing me!

Of course I want to hear it.

Or you could just tell me

how you're going to give me the 10.8 million.

Bank transfer?

No one's asked for my bank details yet!

Sister.

I know you've doubted me.

Am I right?

You suspected this was all a pyramid scheme.

Today I must tell you the truth.

This is all a pyramid scheme.

It's a pyramid scheme.

Hang on a second...

I'm not sure if I'm drunk or you are.

You must be joking, right?

Wu!

Wu got me into the business. I trust him.

Wu.

Wu's not coming back.

What do you mean?

Wu's not coming back?

Don't you get it?

Accept the reality.

Accept it.

Your wine here...

Easy now.

...is a 1987 vintage.

Don't...

You played me!

You'll regret it.

I'll finish you.

Hello? Police?

Open up, Wanli.

Open up, Wanli.

Open up.

Taihua and I heard something was wrong.

What on earth happened?

It's chaos out there.

Why all the smoking?

- I'm sorry sis! - What's wrong, Wanli?

I was swindled.

They beat me up.

I won't get my money back.

What should I do then? I called loads of people.

You'll kill yourself like this.

We walked over so many

relatives, friends and loved ones climbing up.

Suppose you tell them it was all a big con.

Would they believe you?

They'd just think you don't want them to make it.

Want it all for yourself.

Even if they believe you,

how would you face them?

They'll know you played them all along.

Some got divorced.

Some owe massive debts.

What should I do then?

What do I do?

It's not that complicated.

Look at it this way. You paid back your tuition fees.

Becoming New Boss is just the start of a great career.

A woman from Chongqing has jumped

off the top of a hotel in Xicheng to her instant death.

The police investigation

has led to the discovery of a huge pyramid scheme.

The woman was lured by her brother,

who promised her a fortune.

On the surface the company sold herbal foot patches.

It was actually recruiting members

by promising a huge cash reward.

The victims of the scam were

mainly friends, family or acquaintances.

Eventually, the scam turned them against each other.

Key evidence was provided by one of the victims

helping police break up the scheme.

The investigation involved a total of 1,332 people.

Thousands of materials were confiscated.

After a judicial investigation, evidence was collected

and most of those involved were sent home with a warning.

The main culprits of the scheme have now been arrested.

The investigation is ongoing.

We will continue to bring you the latest news...

Your stomach's rumbling.

The Tea Master asked me

why my mum no longer came to help.

I told him...

my mum was ill,

and didn't know when she'd get better.

The Master told me not to worry.

He said my mum has a kind heart

so the heavens will protect her.

My mum might be lost.

So she needs my help more than ever.

My mum once said,

the day before I was born, outside the hospital,

my dad held her as he paced back and forth.

There was a pond full of rubbish.

It was dry.

The sludge at the bottom stank.

Suddenly, Dad said:

"Look!"

"What's that?"

Mum noticed amongst the sludge and rubbish,

there was a lotus flower.

Its seeds protruding from the pod.

It was pure white and perfect.

Dad said:

"Who'd have thought a flower could grow here,

amongst all this sludge?"

"It's been feeding on the sludge."

"We should call our child Mulian (lotus)."

Mum!

Time to eat.

Woken up?

Yeah.

Where are we?

You asked me to bring us here.

Your hometown.

Why bring us here?

I want to take her up the mountain.

You think it might wake her up?

We can try.

If you need anything, give me a call.

Master Qian.

Thank you!

When I was little, I once left home

to try and find my tree.

But I got lost.

It was Mum who found me.

I wanted to take her up the mountain.

She once woke the mountain.

I think the mountain can wake her up now.

When I passed my father's tree, I didn't stop.

I simply walked on.

I took Mum with me,

until we finally reached my own tree.

Somehow,

I fell asleep.

In the dream, I thought I was in hell.

There was a woman crying.

I wondered if it was Mum.

I cried with her.

Until I woke up.

I saw the trees.

Not only our trees.

But our ancestors' trees.

I saw the boundless forest, the earth, and the stars

protecting us.

Protecting me and my mum.

Protecting us so we could carry on living.

Mum!

Mum!

Mum!

Taihua!

Mum.

The heavy rain, like love, falls silent and still,

Caressing away the mud on your body.

You were born pure, aiming for the skies;

You leave cleansed as you return to earth.

Moss grows in places untouched by light,

quietly sprouting and without self-pity.

As night falls you and I are far apart.

I rush towards you as day breaks.

Youth is born in places the sun cannot reach,

Moss flowers and rice grains bloom like peonies.

You were born pure, aiming for the skies;

You leave cleansed as you return to earth.

When I shout out to the mountains in desperation,

What wakes up is you in a world of plants and trees.

The heavy rain, like love, falls silent and still,

Caressing away the mud on your body.

Are you the young man from the meditation hall?

Looking for your father, He Shan?

Yes.

Someone here knows him.

Hang on. I'll fetch him for you.

Mountains and Water Volume II