All language subtitles for Gold.Leaf.E02.2021.1080p.Netflix.WEB-DL.DDP.H264-OurTV.

Hi, Great Uncle.

Qing,

what's happening out front?

INSPIRED BY REAL PEOPLE AND HISTORY

Like Mr. Wan said,

we're a rich family.

I know what you're worried about.

The new dollars have just been issued.

If everyone scrambles to exchange now,

you won't get anything.

I don't care if it's new or old money.

Just pay back what you owe us.

It's what you're supposed to do.

You're right.

The order is to do it in half a year.

What if we pay each of you

one-sixth of the money every month?

Yes.

Six months will do.

At least Nikko has proposed a resolvent.

Yes. Forcing them does us no good.

Yes. That's it then.

Mr. Fu-ji,

your daughter promises
to pay back the money.

But I'm different.

I've lent you nearly ten billion.

If you don't give me some land
as security,

I won't leave.

You want security?

Fine.

I'll give you Mt. Daping, okay?

What?

Is that a good idea?

-No way. It's robbery.
-Yes.

ZHANG FU-JI, WAN SHUI-LAI, LI RUI-TAI

Mr. Wan,

the land on Mt. Daping
is my source of prosperity.

Please keep it safe.

Mr. Fu-ji.

You will be able to get it back.

I just need security.

People come here to have tea,

not to collect debts.

UNION BUILDING

I'm sick and tired of this Sunology

that tries to restrain private companies

and develop state-owned businesses.

80%.

80% of businesses in Taiwan
are state-owned,

just like the Communist countries.

After all those meetings,

it's obvious the Government
has different ideas

about the US aid.

I've said it a hundred times.

US aid is not meant to support the greed

and self-containment
of authoritarian regimes.

US aid should be used on public facilities

and helping private enterprises.

I think the Government is afraid

of losing control of the economy

and also losing public power.

Or I've got to speak Chinese
for them to understand?

Shall we have detailed records

or just summarize today's meeting?

KK.

Yes?

Let's write an article.

In Chinese.

People need to understand
the true meaning of US aid.

Come on, sir.

We have to build roads,
build bridges, build the dams,

supply electricity,

and build a fertilizer plant.

Now, we're going to publish a journal?

You're right.

You're right.

Okay.

This is a liberal magazine.

Let's submit our article
to Chinese journals

and use public opinion
to influence the Government.

We're doing this.

I'm going to Master Tu's place.

Go to Jardine in Taipei
to sign the contract.

Take Wen-gui with you.

What if Great Uncle knows it?

I entrusted him with the land.

I'll redeem it soon.

Stay out of it from now on.

Great Uncle is here for you, sir.

What is it, Uncle?

Your Daping Factory was burnt down.

And your best friend died.

I'm here to see

if you're all right.

Thank you very much.

Daping Factory was burnt down,

but I have seven factories left.

You have seven left.

Good for you.

By the way,

I heard they'll reelect the chairman
of the Association.

If you're elected,

you'll get lots of good deals.

Maybe you'll get big orders
from the Government.

Uncle, why do you care
about the election so much?

You've mortgaged
much of our ancestral property.

If you're elected as the chairman,

you can focus on the business.

Just leave

all the ancestral properties
and land to me.

The land that I've mortgaged

is registered in my name.

I'll redeem it soon.

You don't have to worry about it.

Yes.

You're right.

But as for the election,

think about it.

If you need anything, just tell me.

I know I can help.

I'm terribly sorry to hear about this.

Is Mr. Fu-ji okay?

Yes, he's okay.

But he is still busy cleaning up,

so I'm here to sign the contract
on his behalf.

Well,

we really need to talk about this

"40,000 to 1 dollar" situation.

It's total bollocks.

I'm really supposed to talk to Mr. Fu-ji.

The war has been over for years.

Tea production
in India, Ceylon, Indonesia…

It's all back on track.

Tea from India now…

It's much cheaper, much better.

Sir.

I'm not quite sure what you mean, sir.

I'm telling you.

Tea from Taiwan is no longer competitive.

We won't be making an order this season.

I'm sorry.

Uncle David?

I know this is business.

I would like to show you our appreciation

on behalf of my father

for all those years.

For all the XO you've shared with us.

A toast to friendship.

Business is business.

Even friendship has a price.

Jadine used to order at least

two million pounds
of summer tea each year,

but it's only 200,000 pounds this year.

Manager Tang,

Jadine said

it's because tea production

in India, Ceylon, and Indonesia
is back on track.

But we're in debt of 3.3 million.

A bowl of noodles costs 200,000.

You mean Old Taiwan dollars.

But when I said 3.3 million,

I mean New Taiwan dollars.

In New Taiwan dollars?

So it's equal
to 1.3 trillion Old Taiwan dollars?

With the money,
we can buy half a street in Dadaocheng.

The creditors are feeling for our boss.

They've counted the interest out

since last month to help us pay the debt.

Now, with an order of only 200,000 pounds,

what should we do?

So those who came
to collect debts this morning

are from different creditors?

Hi, Miss.

Wen-gui,

you're back at last.

The advance money from Jardine.

I'll count it.

One, two, three, four, five.

One, two, three, four, five.

What? Only 50,000?

But it's the advance from Jardine.

It's not enough. We need over 45,000

to pay the employees.

And this. Look.

The money to fix our machines.

The utility bills are one week overdue.

The "40,000 to 1 dollar" situation

makes my head ache.

And this too.

The boss told me to remit it first

when I get the money.

What's it for?

Financing a friend to run for election.

Where are you going?

Let's move you to a bigger pot.

In three or four years,

maybe a small tea tree like you

can make a cup of nice tea.

But Tu-sheng died.

Nobody makes tea for me anymore.

I'll talk to him tomorrow.

You…

-You loved tea and chatting.
-Wen-gui, let's go.

Let's go.

Without me by your side,

you must be lonely.

Do you have someone to talk to?

You want to talk to me?

You know, Papa?

We're in debt
of 3.3 million New Taiwan dollars.

Every businessman has debts.

A businessman needs to be visionary.

The land in Mt. Daping

has been given to Mr. Wan.

We'll redeem it in no time.

You don't have to worry about it.

So Jardine's two-million order
of summer tea

has been reduced to 200,000.

And we don't have to worry about it?

Indian tea is coming like fury.

I've asked all companies in Taipei,

and nobody wants the tea from Taiwan.

We're so dependent on Jardine Matheson

that we don't know
what to do without them.

Yes, Manager Lin.

The business is slow.

Are we going
to stop building Daping Factory?

We'll stop building it,

and Nikko will lay some employees off,

or we won't be able to survive.

Won't survive?

I've been through a lot.

The Great Depression in 1933.

The earthquake in 1935.

Besides, it's not the first inflation
caused by the Government.

And I've survived all of them.

Won't survive?

Can't you figure something out?

Wen-gui.

You're a college graduate.

What do you think?

Yes, sir.

I'm thinking…

In the meantime,

if we can't export it,

why don't we try our domestic market?

My dad said that

the Tea Manufacturers' Association
is going to reelect the chairman.

If our director gets elected,

we'll get to talk
to the Government directly.

It might be how we'll get orders.

Higher, Rong.

To your right.

Higher.

Is that okay, sir?

Yes.

Good.

Mrs. Chun.

It hurts!

Don't complain.

If you want a happy marriage,

you have to endure the pain.

You need to work the land, cook meals,

do the sewing, and keep the house.

It's how to be a daughter-in-law…

Although you won't be a daughter-in-law,

you're responsible for maintaining

the family business.

"The father of the bride, Zhang Fu-ji,

has a daughter named Zhang Yi-xin,

who is 19 years old and…"

All dowries must be in even numbers.

The chairs are no exception.

Hi, Wen-gui.

Mr. Gu makes the best suits in town.

You look great in them.

-Thank you, sir.
-Sit down.

Okay.

Take it easy.

It's only a rehearsal.

That's a great weight off my mind.

If I had a daughter like her,

I wouldn't want to let her go.

Hi, Mr. Fan.

-Hi, sir.
-You're early.

You're rehearsing?

Councilman Qiu, you're here too.

I'm the chief witness.

-Come on. Since you're here…
-Have a seat.

Have a seat. Let's rehearse.

-Okay.
-Dad, please sit.

Okay.

I'll be standing here.

It has been agreed

that Mr. Fan pays 3,300
for the engagement.

Well, Mr. Fu-ji…

It's but a formality.

We're fine without it.

Mr. Fan and Wen-gui.

I'm so sorry,

but Master Tu died not long ago,

so it will be a simple wedding.

But don't worry.

When their first kid is born,

we'll give a feast
and invite everyone here.

And it will be a hearty and decent feast.

Wen-gui,

may you have a baby soon.

Have you invited those
from the Association?

-Mr. Fu-ji.
-Yes, I have.

-Will they be here?
-Mr. Fu-ji.

To be honest,

I'm here

because I need to talk to you.

About what?

Add some firewood, Ru.

-Shun-mei? Any more mung bean cakes?
-What do you want?

It's mealtime. Why do you want them?

But Great Uncle wants to eat some.

They're in the cupboard.

Don't ask me again.

-You're impossible.
-Okay.

Get the tea ready. Mr. Fan is here.

He's early.

Yes.

I left the gifts inside, sir.

It's to show my apologies.

I'm sorry.

Dad!

Whatever Mr. Fan brought us,
just throw them away!

Hurry up! What's wrong with you?

Get ready to change, Yi-xin.

They're not coming.

Don't worry.

I'll find you a better husband.

Dad.

Dad!

Why did you break off the engagement?

Can you marry her?

Why not?

Can you pay their debt?

It's up to me to decide if I can.

Why didn't you ask me, Dad?

Ask you what?

I'm trying to help you,
but you are refusing to comply?

Why are you insisting on marrying her?

You're a college graduate, aren't you?

What Mr. Fu-ji wants to give me
is not just Nikko,

but the future of the tea from Taiwan.

Future?

What fucking future?

You really want to marry into that family?

I thought I would marry you
into a rich family.

But it turned out
that you were paying their debts.

You don't know the industry at all.

No wonder…

No wonder he's Tea Power

while you're Teapot.

What did you say?

Say it again!

If you didn't tell me the other day,

I really thought

that he's a great businessman.

He's a Teapot after all.

Don't be so stupid, okay?

Pick the vegetables.

Okay.

Go easy on hot pepper.

Miss likes spicy food.

Is she all right?

Keep your mouth shut.

Congratulations, sir.

Your daughter plays the piano well.

Stop talking.

Here, sir.

Manager Lin said that

Mr. Wang wants you

to pay him for the raw tea
from the last six months.

We still need to prepare tea leaves, sir.

We need a new chief tea master.

Do you have a candidate?

Well, I'll ask around.

Yes, go ahead.

Mr. Qiu,

I need to feed 70% of the people in Beipu.

With my connections,

I'll get elected as the Chairman
of the Tea Manufacturers' Association.

What do you mean?

I mean…

If I have the power,

I'll earn more money.

If I have the power,

I'll find a better son-in-law.

Here come your guests, sir.

Don't be so sad.

I know you don't want to marry him.

I don't know what I know anymore.

Or…

You really want to marry Wen-gui?

If it weren't Wen-gui,
it'd be someone else.

What's the difference?

It's my destiny.

Don't say that.

Your future is in your hands.

You don't want to marry him,

so it makes no difference to you.

But to your father,

it makes a big difference.

If you're not someone's wife,

just be the mistress here.

If you can help your dad,

just try your best.

Papa doesn't listen to me at all.

Everyone in this house

is listening to your feelings now.

-It has been a long time, Mr. Li.
-It has been a while.

-Yes.
-Executive director.

Without a bridegroom,

-what are we here for?
-Hi, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Chairman,

and the executive directors.

-Have a seat.
-Hi, Mr. Fu-ji.

Sit down.

Sit down.

I've invited you here to talk about…

What a boisterous party!

-Good.
-Great Uncle.

-Great Uncle.
-Everyone's here.

-Hi, Mr. Councilman.
-Hi, Great Uncle.

Hi, Mr. Mayor. Good.

Have a seat.

We've invited you here

to the feast today

to talk about

how we're going to make

better tea in Taiwan.

Great Uncle, you mean…

Mr. Fu-ji is going to run for chairman?

What do you think, Fu-ji?

Hi, Sheng-wen.

Hi, Dad.

Have a seat.

-Sit down.
-Sit down.

Let's sit.

Sheng-wen.

How have you been?

Thanks to you,

I'm still alive.

Thank you, my brother.

Don't be a fool.

We're a family.

I'm not a stranger.

I told you, Fu-ji,

if you need my help,

just let me know.

I'll do my best to help you.

Come on.

Let's eat.

-Come on.
-Let's eat.

Eating is a big issue.

The best way to increase yield per unit

is to use fertilizer.

With fertilizer,

we can increase the yield of crops by 60%.

Doubling the production of foodstuffs?

Yes, sir.

In order to accelerate production,

we'll rebuild the plants on the facilities

built in the Japanese colonial period.

We have five facilities
to build the fertilizer plants.

The first one is in Keelung,

-and the second one--
-Hsinchu,

Kaohsiung,

Luodong,

and Hualien.

After White Company
builds these five fertilizer plants,

we will continue to dominate the market

and stabilize the production.

After White Company
builds these five fertilizer plants,

we will continue to dominate the market

and stabilize the production.

Desperate times
call for desperate measures.

Hopefully, the US can understand.

As Mr. Vice Minister said,

"Desperate times
call for desperate measures."

Fertilizer and food production

are closely related
to farmers' livelihoods.

From the construction to the operation,

everything will be taken care of
by White Company

to stabilize production capacity.

Yes, of course.

We'll talk about it later.

Feeding our people

is what matters.

Ask your uncle to help you.

Dad,

with my connections,

do I need his help

to run for election?

Are you blind or what?

Can't you see that

they're all his connections?

Breaking off the engagement,
collecting debts,

and stealing lands…

Even if I can't make it,

I won't ask him for help.

Hi, Great Uncle.

Who's there?

It's me.

Yi-xin?

What are you doing here?

Because they broke off the engagement?

Forget it. What's the big deal?

Your dad will find you a better husband.

Can you help my dad

run for election?

Yes, of course.

I think Fu-ji

is the best candidate for the chairman.

It's no big deal.

Don't worry.

I'm glad to help.

Thank you.

But…

I need him

to ask for my help personally.

We're a family.

What's interesting is that

we share the same hobbies,

and sometimes,

we share the same eccentricities.

The Government is still holding on
to the franchise of the fertilizer plants.

If the Government
wants to hold on to everything,

it's out of our hands.

We have to go to Hsinchu.

Hsinchu?

To find private investors.

Sir, I don't think it's a good idea.

You know, it's too complicated.

Yes, it's complicated,

but the plant in Hsinchu
has a solid foundation and structure.

And you…

You are going to make the US-Taiwan Plant

the first and best fertilizer plant
in all of Taiwan.

Good morning.

You're late!

Hi, Wang.

Hi, Mr. Fu-ji.
I didn't expect you here today.

Here.

It's in the middle of nowhere,

and you've brought me
the money personally.

I'm sorry.

No, I'm sorry, Wang.

I should've been here earlier.

Master Tu came to have tea the other day.

I can't believe that he's gone.

Wang, is there a good tea master
around here?

We prepare tea leaves with our family,

and for ourselves too.

We don't have tea masters.

Let's drink.

Wang.

Your daughter made the tea?

Wu mien, I'm expecting someone important.

We'll talk later, okay?

I'm begging you.

Okay. I'll try to help you.

-Really?
-Yes.

Thank you.

Mr. Hudson?

Mr. Liu?

Hi.

Welcome.

Coordinator Chen.

Let's go.

My daughter, Shan-mei, made the tea.

Did you make it personally?

The tea leaves are hard and inflexible.

They're old leaves.

They were bitten by bugs.

No.

We prepare tea leaves casually,

in our spare time.

Sometimes we just

leave them there.

The picked leaves--

You make great tea

with these picked leaves.

Wang,

your daughter is not an ordinary girl.

Shan-mei.

Do you want to be my tea master?

You must be kidding, Mr. Fu-ji.

No one hires female tea masters.

I'm asking you sincerely.

Master Tu recommended you.

Tell me. What do you want?

Come to Nikko
to prepare summer tea leaves.

The small tea garden is my gift for you.

This?

This…

From Japan.

Big money.

He means this fertilizer was from Japan

and it's so expensive.

Coordinator Chen,

do you have larger warehouses?

Yes. We have three more.

All larger than this one.

Great.

We need to store some

of our equipment here.

No problem.

The Farmers' Association
will do everything

to increase food production.

Thank you.

Help.

He said he can help us.

-Thank you.
-Thank you.

Don't worry.

We'll do our best to help.

Thank you.

Mr. Fu-ji has been
in the industry for 20 years.

It's him.

He feeds most tea farmers in Beipu.

Let's vote for him.

His daughter's engagement was broken off.

The guy slept overnight in her house.

With what happened,
nobody's going to marry her.

And he's in big trouble.

All members of the Association

have agreed not to vote for him.

Do you think he will be on board?

With what we're offering,

anyone would be tempted.

Go. Pay him a visit.

CHAIRMAN CANDIDATES

"President of Nikko Company.

President of Hsinchu Bus Company.

President of HCT Logistics Company.

President of Zhunan Lumber Company.

Chairman of Nikko Baseball Team in Beipu."

What a great businessman!

Chairman of a baseball team?

Anything else that I don't know?

Don't run for election

if you can't take it.

Dad.

It's your birthday.

Do we have to talk about this?

Maybe we'll talk about it when I'm dead.

Wish him a happy birthday.

-Let's do it.
-Let's do it.

Bow!

What a boisterous party!

It's an elder's birthday.

This way.

Everybody in Hsinchu

knows about what happened to us.

If you were a boy,

we wouldn't be in trouble.

However…

We've been embarrassed because of you.

We have to do this, Dad.

I'll run for election at any cost

in order to keep Nikko alive.

If you can't do it,

just close down all the tea factories.

What can I help you, young man?

I'm uninvited here,
but I want to do business with you.

Another big business deal?

It's the Tossing Room of our factory.

-Hi, Manager Lin.
-Hi.

It's a bit larger than yours.

Work harder!

Shan-mei.

This is our tea factory.

You used to prepare tea with hands.

But we use machines to help us.

It's faster.

-Manager?
-What?

I've never seen her before.

Is she a new worker?

What worker?

This is Shan-mei.

Our new tea master.

Our new…

Tea master?

A girl?

Come here, Stone!

Shan-mei.

Ask Stone if you have any questions.

He has been here for a long time.

Nice to meet you.

Come on.

Those huge machines look convenient.

We'll produce more with bigger machines.

She doesn't even know Jackson.

Is she qualified to be a tea master here?

Shut your mouth!

Mr. Zhang,

this is bourbon whiskey from the US.

I normally drink brandy.

I'm here on behalf of the US White Company

to talk to you about fertilizer.

Fertilizer?

Our fertilizer is all imported.

Expensive and scant.

That's why we have to build
our own fertilizer plant.

It's not easy to build a fertilizer plant.

You need materials,
electricity, techniques,

and a lot of money.

The US White Company

will invest 2.5 million US dollars
in building fertilizer plants.

We're looking for a private partner.

A private partner?

But I haven't got anything
related to fertilizer.

Yes, we've found that you have.

The Organic Synthetic Company
in the Japanese colonial period

was located on your land.

We have the plant building ready.

With machines, we'll be up and running.

The money, design, equipment,

techniques, and marketing strategies

will all be provided
by the US White Company.

You'll be in charge of running it.

If you're willing to provide the land,

you'll share the profit

and be our biggest shareholder.

Mr. Zhang,

you export one-third
of the tea leaves in Taiwan.

You're the veritable king of tea.

Now you have the chance
to be the fertilizer king.

Fertilizer king?

Business is politics.

If you do business with the Americans,

you'll have more influence
in the Association.

"Business is politics."

What you've said is interesting.

With the profit,

the Americans are trying to make us rich.

If the Government turns a blind eye,

it will be like gambling.

I would've accepted the offer,

but I can't afford it.

I'm sorry, Mr. Liu.
I'm afraid you've wasted a trip.

I know what you're worried about.

But fertilizer is big business.

All crops need fertilizer,

especially tea leaves.

When we get the plant ready,

the turnout of tea leaves

in Beipu and Hsinchu will be fivefold.

Plus, we're planning
to recruit 1,500 workers

and train them locally,

which means that you'll get to improve

the lives of 1,500 people.

Mr. Zhang.

But we can't solve political problems.

It's a risky business.

But every investment has its own risks.

I'm wondering, Mr. Liu,

what you're trying to gain

from the business deal.

Several years ago,

I built fertilizer plants
for the Americans in India.

I was a prisoner of war.

I did whatever they asked me to do.

I had no choice.

But when I saw the fertilizers

being sprayed on the soil

and a good harvest of tea leaves

and rice…

The fates of some people

were changed because of me.

You want to know what I'm trying to gain?

Maybe what I want

is a sense of achievement.

Here.

I think I like American whiskey.

Mr. Liu?

Liu Kun-kai. You can call me KK.

We can't afford any more trouble.

But time will prove

that what I said
is going to be realized here.