Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available.]

Chef Fang

Episode 4

Alright. Thank you, sir.

You're making a bundle, aren’t you?

Your cooking is divine.

We're too full to move.

Bye.

Have a nice day.

Mrs. Shen,

you’re amazing!

You're a real

master chef.

Let’s go, honey.

Take care,

Mrs. Shen.

Father, mother.

We’re back, mother.

Hi, dear.

How are you? Are you tired?

Not at all.

I’m your child, mother.

Mother,

I’m fine.

What would you like to eat?

I can cook for you.

Yishao,

I've made up my mind.

You deserve a maid.

She’ll do all the chores.

No need.

I’m not fragile.

Besides, I can also exercise

while doing the chores.

Uh...

So...

We should

listen to Yishao.

Thank you, father.

Mother,

it’s chilly today.

Let me boil some rice wine with shrimps.

It’s sweet and tasty.

OK.

OK. Thanks.

Why did you refuse

to have a maid?

I can handle everything. A maid is unnecessary.

Also, I have you to help me.

No way.

I’m used to being attended.

By Qing?

Yes.

It hurts!

Darling.

Why did you hit me again?

You sneaked up on me.

I thought it was a thief.

Are we good now?

If you dare go to the brothel again,

I’ll gut you!

You’re so unreasonable.

If others know I stop going to brothels

after getting married,

they’ll laugh at me.

My mother used to work there.

What?

She was one of those girls?

How come your father married her?

Didn’t you like Qing?

I’ll never marry her.

No gentlemen would.

It was nothing but a fling.

My mother was famous.

She had tons of rich and powerful suitors

but she refused to leave with them.

In the end,

she married my down and out father.

Wait,

wasn’t Mr. Fang

wealthy?

My mother said

if ten men liked you,

choose the one

who was sincere.

Having money or not didn’t matter

as long as his love for you was real.

Your father was special.

What did he see in your mother?

You’re slow.

My father also said

even though she had many suitors,

she chose him.

Of course

he had to marry her.

Mr. Fang was a strange man.

After your mother passed away,

did your father meet others?

He couldn’t.

My father

missed her too much and passed away.

Wait.

Mr. Fang

is in good shape.

Oh, I see.

You're his adopted daughter, aren’t you?

No wonder he married you to me.

Hey, you know,

I didn’t do anything wild in the brothel.

I simply

drank and chatted with them.

That's easy.

I can drink with you.

Really?

You know what,

I want to drink now.

Wait here.

Go back inside.

It's cold here.

Do you know I want a big kitchen

You give me a home

One more set of tableware for our kid

That’s all I want

A feast isn’t any better than homemade noodles

Life doesn’t need to be extravagant

Endure the loneliness, add in seasoning

That’s my belief

Tell me

In this dish called love

How many grams of lovesickness is needed

When should it be boiled with sincere

I was too focused on keep mosquitoes away

to remember this.

Mint leaf!

It can

spice it up.

Simplicity is better than worries

Keep it fresh no matter how long it’s stewed

Where exactly are you

Here comes the wine!

It's freezing.

Let’s eat in bed.

Here.

Cover yourself.

It's warm now.

What is it? So spicy.

Spicy river snails.

Fried with pickled peppers.

Hot and delicious.

The best Huadiao Wine?

You like this?

Good!

So hot.

Is it good?

Yeah!

Spicy and tasty!

This is also my mother's favorite.

She said she was like a river snail.

How so?

Hard outside

yet soft inside.

It hides in the shell when it’s alive.

After it dies,

it’s taken out completely.

Does that mean

your mother was living unhappily?

She was happy most of the time.

But whenever she was upset,

she’d eat this.

If your father loved her so much,

why did he still go to brothels?

My father was a regular there,

but after my mother left,

he only drank in silence.

Here.

So hot!

I think

your father had it coming.

When your mother was alive,

he didn’t cherish her.

Then he regretted it after she left.

You have a moral sense.

Of course.

A man can drink

but he must know his limit.

Didn’t you always act crazy after getting drunk?

Oh, I see.

That was a show.

Listen,

when you see me like that again,

don’t expose me.

Here.

Cheers.

Good morning.

Father, mother.

We're going to the restaurant.

Master,

come.

Let’s go.

Where to?

Hurry up.

I want to know if I’ll soon have a grandson.

Why are you checking their bed?

Wow!

Look at it!

Yeah, yeah. I saw it.

Great!

Did you

smell chili?

Speed up, lazybones!

Hurry. The guests are waiting.

Hold on. The soup is also ready.

Let me, let me.

Stop laughing.

I’ll let him pay.

Yeah. He has to pay the price.

Give me more.

Darling,

you also dislike him?

Yes.

Honey,

do you know

people’s share of fortune and good luck

is fixated?

He reeled in too much at one go.

It's time to teach him a lesson.

It’ll be

good for him.

What do you mean?

My father said

people's good days

would only last about two decades.

If you splurged,

you’d never get back on your feet again.

Silly,

you can’t save good fortune.

Of course I can.

It’s made of impure silver. Why did you wear it?

It’s used to make pedals.

I’ll make you a gold one.

Really?

You bet.

You're my wife.

Silver isn’t good enough for you.

Although it’s cheap,

my father handmade it for my mother.

Your father was crafty.

He was.

But why did he use impure silver?

Gold is much better.

Your father

was a lousy husband.

He was going to buy a gold one.

My mother was gorgeous.

All her things were the best of the best.

Others girls always bought silver ornaments

or cheap ones made of gold,

but my mother was different.

She’d only buy the best

and wear it her entire life.

She was quite unique.

My father was an alcoholic and a gambler.

He had no money.

But that day,

he won a huge sum.

He was so excited

and bought her an exquisite gold hairpin.

Gambling

- Big! - Big!

Small! Small!

Small! Small!

Small!

You’ll lose!

Place your bets. Place your bets.

Small.

Small!

OK.

Begin.

Big!

Small!

Big!

I won this time.

Continue.

Gambling

So? You must've won a ton.

I got lucky today.

Let's go drinking.

Let’s go.

Silverware Store

You’re back.

Yeah.

Look.

Darling,

have you heard that

people’s share of good fortune is fixated?

OK,

let me explain it to you.

It’s said that

people's good days

will only last

about two decades.

If everything goes well,

we can live

up to 60 or 70 years old.

So if we

use our good fortune wisely,

we’ll live a smooth life.

But some people

squander it,

and soon, they have nothing left.

Well,

I can

buy you the gold one once a year,

but buy you

the silver one every day

for the

rest of your life.

Then what happened?

Was your mother still mad?

My father had no strengths,

but he was good with words

and crafty.

He was honey-tongued.

And

what happened afterwards?

Did he buy it every day?

Of course not.

That was the only one.

So he just talked the talked.

But

I’m glad he gave her that.

How so?

Later, my family was in trouble,

and my mother had to pawn all the valuables

except for this silver pendant.

She told me repeatedly

how she wished to pawn less gold

and keep more of this.

That way,

I’d have

more family heirlooms

to remember them by.

Your parents are a fun couple.

So, darling,

when you reach the top,

you can look at this pendant.

So can you when you hit the bottom.

Save some good fortune

when you're on a winning streak

for rainy days.

I will.

Darling,

let me clean it up.

Then we’ll teach that owner a lesson.

OK.

Honey,

you know,

he bought low and sold high!

One plate of fried vegetables with seafood

is sold at 10 taels.

10 taels?

Enough to buy a truckload of ingredients.

That’s outrageous!

Unbelievable!

Let’s go.

He has to pay the price.

OK.

Mrs. Shen,

this dish is insanely good.

Mrs. Shen.

Mr. Shen.

Where’s your boss?

He went home to rest.

He was here just now.

He must be putting away the money.

Let’s see how much he’s earned.

Sir?

Sir?

Sir?

Did he go out?

No way. The door is unlocked.

He must be inside.

Or it wouldn’t be bolted from the inside.

Is he asleep?

Sir?

Sir?

Sir?

What’s with the yelling?

Chef Jia,

someone wants to book the restaurant.

I came to report.

Sir?

Stop.

He isn’t in.

Chicken.

Dead, dead...

What?

He’s dead?

No!

Kind sir!

Stop crying!

Go report it to the authority.

Why did you

come here?

My wife

isn’t feeling well,

so we came to

ask for a day off

and we’ll come to work tomorrow.

Feeling unwell?

Mrs. Shen looks fine

and energetic.

She doesn't seem to be sick at all.

What do you know?

She’s been cooking nonstop lately.

What’s wrong with taking a break?

Hey, you,

Chef Jia,

were you still sleeping just now?

Don’t you have work to do?

Like I wanted to.

I was

preparing the ingredients all night.

Or you’d have nothing to use.

This way, sir.

Hongbin Restaurant

Inside.

What happened?

Young Master,

my lady.

There you are.

Shen Jie.

I’m glad you came.

The owner of the restaurant died.

I came

right after I heard it.

Have a look yourself.

The side door is open.

You two go in through the side door.

Yes.

Shen Jie,

Yishao and I are going back.

We don’t want to

interfere with your investigation.

What happened?

I heard someone died inside.

They say it was the owner.

Mr. and Mrs. Shen are out.

The peace in Dongxiang is broken.

Damn it!

We saw a dead body!

It is true

that someone killed him?

It must be.

Didn’t you see there were scissors in his chest?

Who killed him so cold-bloodedly?

Scissors?

Father.

You scared me to death!

Why didn’t you make a sound?

Man up!

Yishao,

did I scare you, too?

Mr. Liu.

Master.

Tell the kitchen

to make some ginseng tea with pearl powder

for Yishao.

Yes.

My life is miserable.

They both favor her more.

Look,

don’t go out lately.

Study with Yishao.

Got it?

Don’t forget to have the tea.

Yes.

Is father going to investigate the murder?

Yes.

The last murder case in town

was a long time ago.

Darling,

are you hungry?

I can make some food for you.

Not as flat

as I thought.

Sure.

What are you gazing at?

You want to die?

Ouch!

I’m about to explode.

Darling,

have some tea.

Osmanthus?

Smells good.

I also added hawthorn to help with digestion.

There’s honey in the jar.

You can add some if it's too sour.

What are these?

Almonds.

I’ll make you almond candies tomorrow.

Yuck.

They will taste better after being processed.

Let me help you.

No.

Your talents should be used on bigger things

not on trivial matters like this.

Why don’t you read a book?

No.

I’d rather look at you.

Shen Mansion

I’m done.

You can take your time.

He’s finally left.

I dared not to breathe just now.

Son,

you’d better

stay at home and study lately.

Your father is in a bad mood.

Don’t step on his nerve.

Alright. I know.

Slowly.

My lady,

is this OK?

Has it been iced?

Yes.

OK.

Put it on the cutting board.

Bring me the osmanthus, Lian.

Yes.

Sprinkle it.

Confucius said, “Gentlemen don’t get mad when they are misunderstood...”

Darling.

What took you so long?

Are you tired?

Have some tea and rest a bit.

So sweet.

It tastes better with tea.

Try it.

Darling,

have you read all these books?

Most of them.

Impressive!

I wish I could do the same.

Why don’t you copy the texts for me?

OK.

Where are they?

This one.

And this.

Darling,

what is

I play my lute and croon carefree.

this character?

Sitting among bamboos alone, I play my lute and croon carefree.

Seriously?

You wrote this?

Yes.

It's hard.

Thank goodness you didn’t marry a scholar,

or he’d kill himself!

Mother.

Mother,

have some tea.

Dear,

are you busy today?

No.

Then let’s go to Changle Nunnery together.

Changle Nunnery

where nuns live?

I won’t go.

Why not?

Nuns are a bad sign.

How rude!

Abbess Jingyi is highly respected.

Mother,

why are we going there?

Oh,

nothing special.

Simply to

pray to the Buddha.

Mother,

we have halls for praying at home.

Don’t you have enough to pray to?

Why do you have to go to the Nunnery?

Is the Buddha there better than those at home?

No, no, no.

Please forgive him.

He didn’t mean it.

Son,

watch your language.

Don’t offend the Buddha.

Mother,

when will you leave?

We’ll go with you.

OK. Good.

Dear,

can you do me a favor?

As many as you want.

Please make some vegetarian dishes.

OK.

Are they for charity?

Yes.

Use the big pot to make more.

No problem.

I’m on it.

What took you so long

to show mother out?

I’m going to cook the dishes for the Nunnery.

The Nunnery?

Are you really going there?

Goodness!

Are you alright?

Aren’t you happy we’re going out?

Either stay at home

or go to the Nunnery.

Why am I punished like this?

Mother wants to go there

with us.

Do you want to be an unfilial son?

She just wants to pray, doesn’t she?

We have Buddhas at home.

Manjusri,

Ksitigarbha,

Samantabhadra,

Lord Lao Zi,

Tathagata,

we have them all.

Who else does she want?

Darling,

does mother want to ask for Buddha’s blessing

so that father can solve the case soon?

That’s not her concern.

Then why does she have to go there

with so much food?

Yes.

Iron Buddha Temple in the west

and Temple of Maitreya in the south

are more popular than that Nunnery.

Which Buddha is in the Nunnery?

Buddha for reproduction.

Buddha for reproduction?

Is mother pregnant?

Are you crazy?

She’s in her 40s.

So what?

I've seen a woman

giving birth in her 60s.

I don’t believe that.

Come.

Lian.

My lady.

Lian,

buy some plums for me.

Yes.

Wait,

ask mother if she wants some.

You can buy more if she says yes.

Listen to her.

Ask her if she wants sweet or sour ones.

Yes, I will.

My lady.

Yes?

Mrs. Shen wants to eat plums

and sent me to ask you

if you want any.

And do you want sweet or sour ones?

Sour ones?

Wait,

buy as many as you can.

I want the sourest.

OK. I see.

Mr. Liu.

Mr. Liu.

Yes, madam.

Ask my husband to come back immediately.

OK.

This is great!

Excuse me.

I’d like a basket of plums.

The sourest ones.

The sourest?

You don’t have any?

I do, I do.

My lady,

I’m back with the plums.

Did you bring some to mother?

I did.

Did she ask for sour ones or sweet ones?

She said

to buy the sourest.

Lian, go check on her

and see if she feels nauseous.

Get all the details.

Be quick. Got it?

Yes.