Original subtitles

♪Who gazes at the stars in the sky♪

♪Heading towards the shore in a broken boat♪

♪This time, I'll hold onto fate and never bow down♪

♪Family bonds are hard to maintain♪

♪Who will take me to the fearless dream♪

♪As the wind and rain come and fade♪

♪A lone sail sways♪

♪A flower blooms alone amidst the thorns♪

♪Its petals are pierced by thorns♪

♪Yet it turned into a pair of wings flying against the wind♪

♪Everything grows through the heart♪

♪Even if dreams are lost♪

♪Smoothing out the surging waves♪

♪Breaking through the tumultuous sounds of the heart♪

♪Having the courage to resist♪

♪Embracing the chant of destiny♪

♪Only love brings light♪

♪Only love embraces the thorns♪

♪Everything grows through the heart♪

♪Having the courage to resist♪

♪Embracing the chant of destiny♪

[Blossoms in Adversity] ♪Only love brings light♪

[Adapted from the novel of the same name on cmread.com]

[Episode 10]

I hear that Hua Zhi's girls

get better paied than the others.

I

have nothing to do anyway.

I can share some of the workload,

so we can worry less.

Madam Hua,

what do you say?

Before,

for this kind of inside job,

I'd cut your hands

and throw you out.

Madam, please don't kick me out!

I really won't do it again!

What illness does your mother have?

Who else is in your family?

She coughs phlegm all the time.

There're only my mom

and great-aunt at home.

Before,

Mom could still make money by doing others' laundry,

but now...

There's no need to say more.

How much money did you send home every month?

Including medicine costs,

Five hundred coins.

Chanlu, I used to like her.

I gave her to your mother.

I failed to train her well.

Now she did something wrong.

It's my fault.

Starting from today,

one year,

she won't be paid.

Within this year,

take five-hundred from my allowance every month,

and send to her mother.

Thank you for your great kindness!

Thank you!

You may leave.

Madam,

is there any other instruction?

Concubine Qin,

Madam.

how much do you get per month?

I...

I only get five-hundred.

Bring the ledger for monthly allowances

to me.

Take a look.

What...

She only get five-hundred coins as well?

Yes.

Indeed, I should get more,

As I now am taking care of everything in this family.

I should get an extra payment

like you did before.

From now on,

I'll get five-hundred more each month.

Alright, I'm tired.

You all may go.

Zhi,

This mirror, fix it for me.

Madam Xia,

what did Madam Hua say?

Your daughter

really has her mind fixed on money.

Do you know why your Aunt Xia

made such a scene?

In the past, she

handled huge sums money every month.

But now, our family

doesn't have much money left.

I really don't understand

what is she still trying so hard to get.

Your mother's family

is a noble one with an official rank,

your Aunt Qi and Aunt Wu

are both daughters of officials.

Only her father

is a merchant.

So you think a merchant's daughter

is shallower than the others?

I don't think so.

Your Aunt Xia and her husband don’t get along.

They fought all the time.

All these years,

things haven't been easy for her.

This daughter-in-law of mine,

she came from lower family,

but she's born ambitious

and proud.

Also, she truly is

smart and talented.

Otherwise,

why do you think I like her?

Only for her sweet talks?

The life as a domestic woman

is long and tasteless.

Only being in charge of the whole family

gave her something to do, something to strive for.

It brought her the confidence

to hold her head high in front of her sister-in-laws,

also makes those servants

dare not secretly

gossip about her background.

Grandmother,

I used to only feel

that she's annoying

and laughable.

I didn't know

that she's actually pitiable.

Who is it?

You awful girl.

What do you want?

I want to ask you a favor.

You're so capable

that no one can compete with you.

How can I possibly help you?

Aunt Xia,

last night

I went over the accounts all night,

but they just wouldn’t balance.

You?

You can't balance the accounts?

I have already reported it to Grandmother,

and she scolded me.

She tole me to show it to you.

She also said

if there are more accounts like this,

I should let you go through them first.

Yingchun

has never managed such tasks after all.

We need your help and advice.

Yes,

I need your guidance.

The princess consort commanded me

to bring you something to eat.

If she doesn't want it,

let's eat it.

Quickly, move!

She won't tell on us, will she?

If she knows how to do that, people wouldn't call her silly.

That's true.

Come on, try one.

Is it good?

What happened ten years ago...

What exactly happened?

This, this...

Master Dong.

Good.

This old fellow

is becoming more and more strange.

Spending all day alone,

muttering to himself.

It's quite creepy.

Exactly.

I can't remember it clearly...

Shaoyao,

Shaoyao!

Come, come, come,

come over here.

Come on.

Children don't memorize things,

and when one gets old,

he can't recall anything either.

I remember now!

Sir,

Dong Da is dead.

Rattle-drum,

have a look!

Miss,

look at this!

This is good.

Slow down.

Miss, look at this!

These are all the fashionable patterns.

Miss,

please take a look,

see,

Get one, please!

Wait for me!

Do you have a coin?

Please...

Young lady,

spare me a coin, please!

How could you steal from a beggar?

How could you!

Let me tell you something.

I recently created

something new,

called Icy-Camomile.

Summer hasn't even started yet.

Who would want cold food right now?

Exactly.

I was just thinking

to get it ready.

When summer comes,

we can...

The other day,

did you go to Mr. Song's place

to watch the fire puppet?

I think I saw you there.

Shen,

would you like anything else?

No, thanks.

I'm full too

Let's go.

Shall we?

Let's go.

Let's go.

Mr. Shen,

please wait a moment.

Mr. Shen,

It's eighty coins in total.

Put it on my brother's tab.

Put it

on my brother's tab.

on my brother's tab.

Here you go.

Baoxia,

eat first.

I'll do the work.

Okay.

Go.

Mother, Mother,

I want to this!

How much?

Three coins each.

Good.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Dad, I want to that!

Hurry up, let's go.

These are called candied balls.

They're sweet with a bit of sourness.

Do you want to try some?

Is it tasty, girl?

Slow down.

Hey,

you...

Why are you sitting here?

Get up.

Let's go.

Does it taste good?

Come on,

have some more if you like it.

Miss, you've had two.

That'll be six coins in total.

Stop!

You have to pay!

Put it on my brother's tab.

Hold on a moment.

Your brother?

Where is he?

Who is he?

You look like

a girl from a decent family.

How come you eat

without paying?

What's your name?

My name is Shaoyao.

Is that even a real name?

Baoxia.

It's alright.

Judging from this wound,

what killed him should be as fine as a strand of spider silk.

I think he was killed in one strike.

I'm afraid the murderer is good at martial arts.

Sir,

your sister

is gone missing.

I can't believe this.

Bringing home a kitten or a puppy is acceptable.

But Hua Zhi, you actually brought home a full-grown person.

Look, it's going to get dark soon.

And we can't get her talk.

We can’t just leave her

there on the street, can we?

Don't be afraid.

My family are all good people.

You can stay here for the night.

Tomorrow, I'll take you to look for your family.

Is that okay?

But I have a huge family.

You might have to squeeze in

Hua Zhi,

I, I've lost my money!

Where is my money?

Are you a fool?

It's right here.

Stop chasing, stop!

It's too dangerous!

Come on, let's count.

I want to know how much we made today.

Boli,

Boli,

time to eat!

Mother

are you tired?

I'll do it.

No.

Look at your hands.

They're so soft and delicate.

Go spend time with your scripts.

I'll wait for you to finish,

then we go together.

Let me try it!

You two,

it's time to eat.

Let's go, let's go.

Shaoyao,

what happened?

Who is this?

This, this place

is...

It's really nice.

Alright.

I'm glad you like it here.

I'm five years old.

How old are you?

Seventeen.

She's a big girl.

How come Hua Zhi just brought her home like that?

Here you go.

You can feed the chickens.

No one from her family is looking for her?

Madam Qi,

we waited until nightfall,

but no one came looking for her.

So I asked her

where does she live,

but look at her.

I thought I couldn't just leave her

out on the street.

What if she really has an elder brother?

He might come looking for her tomorrow.

Poor thing.

Madam,

It's time to eat.

Ttime to eat.

Come on, Duo.

Time to eat, stop feeding

Shaoyao,

come on.

Let's eat.

Let's go, time to eat.

Didn't Grandmother get better a few days ago?

Why has she started coughing again?

The weather has been changing rapidly these days.

So she got ill again.

We've already called for a doctor.

Give me back my book!

No!

Let me take a look!

How did the chicks get out?

- Give me back! - Tale of Mountain and Sea...

I've borrowed it!

I want to read it!

Stop it, stop it!

It's time to eat,

come on, hurry and sit down.

Huilan,

It's time to eat.

Come on.

Why aren't you going in?

I...

How do you usually eat?

I eat inside the house.

Alone?

Try this.

Do you want this?

It's tasty, isn't it?

Who are they?

They're all my family.

This is really good.

This is delicious!

Eat this.

This is tasty.

Can family

have meals together now?

Even if they're not family members,

we can still eat together.

Aren't you about to

Join us for a meal?

Let's go.

Come on, let's eat.

Come, eat.

I'll get you some rice.

- Here. - Thank you, Aunt Xia.

Here you go,

chopsticks.

Come.

Try this.

And this.

You can have as much as you want.

Go on.

Let's eat.

Have some more.

How is she?

This is a prescription.

Madam Hua has a deficiency of lungs.

To eradicate it,

we need time.

No.

No, no...

This won't work.

Silly girl,

what are you talking about?

Sir,

Please ignore her.

This,

replace it with flos farfarae,

mulberry root bark,

and platycodon root.

Shaoyao,

you know pharmacology?

Flos farfarae,

mulberry root bark,

and platycodon root...

That's a remedy created by the former imperial physician,

called Nine-Immortals Powder.

A good prescription indeed.

With your sugession,

it'll surely work better

than my own formula.

Truly amazing!

This girl hasn't even

met Madam Hua yet.

How did she do it?

I heard.

You heard her coughing,

Right?

Sir,

do you think

this prescription is what Grandmother needs?

Yes. Just get all the ingredients

based on

her prescription.

Baoxia,

go back to the city with the doctor.

Take this prescription,

and get three doses from the pharmacy.

Sir.

Hua Zhi,

you brought home a genius!

You've memorized the portrait, haven't you?

You must find her.

Yes, Sir!

Oh dear,

where in the world are you?

I can't hear it anymore.

Grandmother has stopped coughing.

You're truly amazing.

Where on earth

did you learn to do that?

From books.

I can read.

Are your father

a doctor too?

Like the one you met just now?

Is there anyone else

in your family,

apart from your brother?

The ones who bring me food.

And a cat,

running around.

It was sick. I cured it.

Do you know

where your home is?

A courtyard,

so small.

No chickens,

nor ducklings.

Let's go.

Time to sleep.

What's the matter?

I'm so happy today.

I don't want to go to sleep.

Don't worry.

I promise you,

tomorrow will be just as good.

Let's go.

Did you find her?

Sir,

we didn't find anything.

Same here.

We didn't find her either.

Sir,

should we go out of town next?

Of course!

The commander didn't sleep all night.

If we can't find her,

we'll die.

Yes, Sir!

I'll have one.

Come back for more if you like it.

Alright.

If you wear this,

how is your brother going to find you?

Do you want to be like Yingchun,

selling berries?

Come on, five coins each.

Two for ten.

What is this?

This is called candied-ball.

Sour, sweet, and tasty, particularly delicious.

Have a try!

candy-ball,

tasty.

Then, how much is this?

Five coins.

It is five!

Then let's have one.

Alright, madam.

Here,

here you go.

Shaoyao, you did really good.

Good job.

Go sell another.

Mom, I want this.

Candy-ball, five coins.

Delicious.

Thank you.

Five coins.

Candy-ball,

delicious, five...

Brother!

Shaoyao,

where have you been all night?

I...

I went to their place. They have a big yard

with chicks and ducklings!

Thank you for looking after Shaoyao.

How much is this?

Five coins.

Shaoyao...

Five coins!

I'll have one.

Here you go.

One for me.

So, you are her brother?

I didn't expect this either.

Shaoyao is actually with you.

Anything new recently?

No.

I can apologize to you.

But you have to tell me

how I have upset you.

Your sister is special.

You shouldn't have

let her wander around alone.

My bad.

This almost led to a big mistake.

Even my chicks and ducklings

have friends for company.

They run freely every day.

Shaoyao's life isn't even as good as theirs.

It's my fault.

This is your family matter.

I really shouldn't have interfered.

But this time, thanks to you.

Are you the same with Shaoyao?

She hasn't even seen a family

eating together.

The two of you

shouldn't live like this.

So this is what you're like when you're angry.

She must have eaten a lot of your berries, right?

It's okay.

It's just a few coins.

But Shaoyao,

at such a young age,

she's actually a master of pharmacology.

Last night,

she nearly cured my grandmother's coughing

in just one night.

She is now the savior

of my entire family!

You can really cure people?

Yes, I can.

Thank you.

Brother, why hasn't your scar healed yet?

Have you taken any medicine?

Alright, Shaoyao,

let's head home.

Thank Hua Zhi.

Thank you, Hua Zhi.

Go home.

Let's go.

Hua Zhi,

bad news!

Our berries

and the lanterns,

have all been copied!

Come with me.

Tell me,

how did you get out?

I wanted to see you.

The door was open, so I came out.

Then how did you meet her?

Who?

Hua Zhi.

Did she come to you?

Or did you find her?

Did she say something to you

before taking you to her place?

I was on the street.

There were so many people.

And then,

there was a big peach.

and a big cat-head.

That red berries

were so delicious.

Six coins.

And then,

she asked me where do I live.

Later she took me

to a very large courtyard,

with chicks and ducklings.

And...

They were

a family.

It seems she really doesn't know

who we are.

It's okay now.

Let's go home.

What's wrong?

Brother,

are you going to lock me up again?

No.

Next time,

I'll take you out.

We can go wherever you want.

Let's go.

What's wrong?

Even my chicks and ducklings

have friends for company.

They're running freely every day.

Shaoyao's life isn't even as good as theirs.

The two of you

shouldn't live like this.

Shaoyao,

you're not going back.

Really...

But you must remember,

don't tell anyone your surname is Gu,

especially Hua Zhi.

If she knows,

she'll never offer you that delicious red berry again.

So, my surname is Gu?

Let's go.

Why did you come back?

I have a favor to ask.

Sure, anything.

Can Shaoyao

stay a few more says at your place?

Of course, she can.

But why?

Before, when I wasn't in the city,

she's always alone,

locked up at home.

Now, I have returned,

but I'm still never at home.

You were right.

This kind of life

shouldn't continue.

My house is full of young girls.

My mother and aunties will take care of her.

She'll be safe with us.

She can stay as long as she wants.

I don't know how I can thank you enough.

Take care!

For my sister's food and lodging,

three-hundred per month.

Is that alright?

Yes, that's fine.

Are you really taking that?

It's not even enough!

As her elder brother,

don't you forget about her.

When you have time,

come and spend time with Shaoyao.

Okay.

For such a big favor,

I really don't know how to repay you.

If there's anything I can help with,

Please let me know.

If you really want to help,

are you free right now?

Yeah.

Since you have said so,

you're not leaving.

Yingchun, Baoxia,

I'll leave the stall in your hands.

- Sure. - Alright.

Let's go.

Are you tired?

I'm fine.

I could handle two more carts.

This is the last batch of berries.

For the next batch,

we'll have to wait until autumn.

Look at you.

Doing this heavy work,

and you look so happy about it.

I don't always receive

simple tasks like this.

It does make me feel refreshed.

It's getting late.

Let's head back.

At this hour,

dinner should be ready at home.

Come home with us.

Sure.

Shaoyao,

let's go home.

Don't look at me. Watch the road.

It was sunny just a moment ago.

And suddenly, here is the rain.

Isn't life just like this,

ever-changing?

Yesterday, Shaoyao came here

and said this place is nice.

Today, when I took her out to sell berries,

she kept looking back.

She didn't want to leave.

I asked her why.

Guess what she said?

What?

She said she want her brother

to take a look at this place too.

This place is indeed very nice.

You and Shaoyao,

you haven't seen each other for a long time, have you?

Ten years.

I was in the North.

Now my father and brother are there too,

also my grandfather.

He's over sixty.

I don't know

if he can survive the coldness.

The good people are protected by the universe.

When I was in the North,

I always said that to myself.

Sadly, now,

these are only words I have

to comfort you.

Am I

causing you inconvenience?

For the sake of Kong Fang,

not very inconvenient.

Fu Dong is getting the food ready.

Dinner will be served in a moment.

Good.

Yingzhen,

Hua Zhi

and that young man,

is there a history between them?

Is that why she brought his sister home?

And now they are chatting outside.

Aren't you going to have a look?

I don't think so.

Zhi doesn't understand those things.

Come here for a moment, Shaoyao.

Come on.

Sit down.

Shaoyao,

what does your brother do

For a living?

Brother.

See you tomorrow.

Go home.

See you tomorrow.

Let's go.

Sir,

You're amazing.

How did you know he would be here?

I took a guess.

Really?

I knew someone was following me earlier today.

Right after Dong Da died, they set their sights on Shaoyao.

This must have something to do

with the fire back then.

Take him back.

Yes, Sir.

Wait a minute.

Blades?

Search him,

look for threads.

There's more than one assassin.

Go back.

We're a step too late.

That man fled into the manor!

Search it.

The pastry newly made by Fudong,

do you like it?

I like it.

Hua Zhi!

- Hua Zhi! - Hua Zhi!

Don't, please!

Hua Zhi!

Hua Zhi!

One more step forward,

her head will fall to the ground.

Zhi!

Please don't hurt her,

please!

Hua Zhi!

Let go of her!

Sir,

just tell me what you want.

Sir,

Sir, please let her go

and take me instead.

She is young.

Let her go,

let her go!

Madam!

Mother, go to your room!

Hua Zhi!

Madam Hua!

Let her go!

We'll give you anything you want.

Everyone, shut your mouths

and make way.

Mister,

you might not know

that the Security Bureau never cares about human lives,

especially the lives of sinners like me!

My life is worthless to them.

Having me as a hostage

will do you no good!

You do have a good sense of self-awareness.

If this crossbow of mine

is fully drawn,

not to mention a woman,

even an ox or a horse

could be pierced through.

No, please no!

Stop!

Don't,

Don't do it!

Not to mention her,

even if you strangle everyone here

to death,

I wouldn't let you go.

Hua Zhi!

The day your mansion was confiscated,

you cooperated well.

Now, I suggest you do the same,

just do nothing and wait for death.

Move,

don't get in the way.

Is he trying to save my life?

I am now

killing you both.

You can keep each other company.

Take the body with us.

- Yes, Sir. - Yes, Sir.

Wait!

Thank you, sir,

for saving my family.

You should thank yourself.

Let's go.

- Hua Zhi! - Hua Zhi...

Zhi!

Are you alright?

Hua Zhi, are you okay?

♪Not a patch of land is wasted♪

♪No tea plant is left withered♪

♪The sky drops rain, birds eat worms, and chickens leave manure♪

♪Using effort and sweat to water and nourish♪

♪The tea leaves may be rustic♪

♪But the taste is of spring♪

♪Ah, in the early spring, we pick the tea leaves♪

♪Ah, let's enjoy the abundant spring together♪

♪Not a patch of land is wasted♪

♪No tea plant is left withered♪

♪The sky drops rain, birds eat worms, and chickens leave manure♪

♪Using effort and sweat to water and nourish♪

♪The tea leaves may be rustic♪

♪But the taste is of spring♪

♪Ah, in the early spring, we pick the tea leaves♪

♪Ah, let's enjoy the abundant spring together♪

♪Ah, in the early spring, we pick the tea leaves♪

♪Ah, let's enjoy the abundant spring together♪