Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Destined]

[Episode 19]

This is the official uniform

you'll be wearing every day?

You look like a night watchman.

Forget it.

I'm just a loser who depends on my wife anyway.

Someone also said that

they didn't want me to be an official.

But now...

Yes, yes.

You're such a glib-tongued beauty.

You are the most handsome

night watchman out there.

Forget about me,

your outfit and accessories are so plain.

You're just like when Wenjun was selling wine.

We look like

a good match.

Now you're just bragging.

Do you think you're like Sima Xiangru?

Now that you mentioned it,

we do have something in common.

And that is, our wives

both have good taste.

Oh, enough.

Quick, sit down and eat.

Eat up.

This is a cup for drinking water.

The ones in the Yamen might not be clean.

Young Master, take it with you.

Alright.

This is your money pouch.

It contains 60 coppers.

Young Master, don't waste it.

Besides your daily meal allowance,

the money for treating your colleagues

is in there too.

Young Madam said

it's your first time reporting for duty.

You have to treat the other colleagues to something.

But you can't spend too much.

40 to 50 copper coins should be just right.

Got it.

There's also this.

You can eat it when you're hungry.

I'm going to work,

not to visit graves.

[Youzhou Fuya]

Why do I need to bring fruits with me?

I used to take care of

all these trivial matters.

What if you can't

take care of yourself on your own?

How about

I go with you?

Alright, enough.

This is my first time

working on my own.

It is also the first step

I must take to settle in Youzhou.

I'm going to start this stage

on the right foot.

You...

Don't make trouble.

Go back.

Excuse me, I...

I'm the new...

Hurry up.

Everyone is waiting for you.

Okay.

I'm new here.

Excuse me, um...

You are Gu Jiusi?

Yes.

Brother, how should I address you?

Who are you calling brother?

I'm your superior.

Call me Officer from now on.

Yes, Officer.

Oh, yes. Here's a little something

for everyone here...

Boss.

This pouch must be

filled with gold.

For us?

Yes.

It's just a small gift.

It's nothing much.

I thought it would be silver taels.

Turned out it's just copper coins.

Are you messing with me?

You're a rich young master.

Do you think we're some beggars you can

dismiss with a few coins?

Wang Cong.

He'll be your shift partner today.

Take him on a street patrol.

Don't let him slack off.

Yes.

Guys, get to work.

Let's go.

[Cosmetics]

Young Madam.

Aren't we here to check the market?

Why are we just walking past these

cosmetics stalls without taking a look?

There's no need to look at the cosmetics

sold in this kind of stall.

Why not?

Cosmetic powders are extremely delicate.

They should avoid wind and direct sunlight.

Even improper sealing could result in dampness,

affecting the color and quality of the goods.

He's willing to display

the cosmetics like he's displaying vegetables.

It can only prove that

his cosmetics are made of low-quality lead powder.

Such cosmetics

look heavy and dull on the skin.

They can even damage your skin.

It's better not to use them.

They can even damage the skin?

Then why are people still buying them?

No matter how poor a girl is,

she still has a love for beauty.

Even if she has to spend less on other things,

she would still want to

doll up and look prettier.

These vendors are making use

of their love for beauty

to sell them these low-quality cosmetics.

We can't make money like this.

Let's go to the front.

Let’s go.

Mr. Cat.

Don’t scratch me, okay?

What are you waiting for?

Go help.

Let me do it.

Are- are you...

Vegetables for sale!

Selling them for cheap.

There's enough for everyone.

Don't snatch, don't snatch!

There's enough for everyone, no need to fight!

There's enough for everyone!

Don't fight, don't fight!

Don't...

There's no need. There's no need!

Stop fighting!

Stop fighting!

You hit me?

Hit me?

What are you doing?

Brother Wang.

What else can I do?

No, don't call me brother.

You are my brother.

Don't do anything.

Please spare my life.

Look at you, so dramatic.

What is this?

This is peach blossom powder.

What about this?

This is pearl cream.

But this one is more expensive.

This box costs more than 300 coppers.

There are a lot of things in this shop.

But I see

they're all common market goods.

Is there anything better?

You don't understand.

Since ancient times,

the best cosmetics come from Gusu and loose powder from Yangzhou.

Now the two places are in chaos.

Quality goods are hard to find.

Our boss

has stockpiled

the finest cosmetics

for the ladies of rich families.

Of course,

the price has also increased several times.

He is so good at business.

Your boss is...

Mr. Zhao from the west of the city.

The cosmetics, powder, and

herb businesses in the Youzhou market

mostly

belong to Mr. Zhao.

This Mr. Zhao

is obviously a profiteer.

Young Madam, in that case,

we don't have to be polite to him.

What do you mean?

When our cosmetics shop

opens,

we can sacrifice some profit to establish ourselves.

All our goods will be cheaper than his.

If we can gift with purchase, that's even better.

Then, all the ladies in Youzhou will know

that our products

are good and affordable.

When the time comes, we'll see if his goods

can still be sold.

I see you have taken

our business lessons to heart.

I remember everything

you say, Young Madam.

Am I right?

Go.

Yes.

Brother Long! Brother Long.

What's wrong?

I beg of you.

Don't leave him with me anymore.

He's just a pampered young master.

He can't do anything right

and kept adding to the trouble.

I'm going to die because of him.

It's not that I can't do it.

I just haven't done it before.

Wait for tomorrow.

Let's go tomorrow. I...

No need.

I won't be able to stand it

if you follow me again tomorrow.

Qi!

Coming.

You'll take him tomorrow.

Boss.

I can't do that.

Who's willing to take him?

Fine.

You'll follow me tomorrow.

Okay.

What a burden.

I'm actually not that bad.

Pearl, bee wax, mica,

and so many aromatic powders.

Are you planning

to open a cosmetics shop?

Yes.

Will you be able to provide

the goods on my list?

Providing goods is not difficult.

But the things you want

are all valuable goods.

Plus the transportation fees...

It will take at least 100 taels of silver

to get the goods.

100 taels of silver?

You're charging 100 taels of silver

for these few items?

The world is not peaceful these days.

The price of everything

is increasingly rapidly.

Besides, the roads are filled with danger.

Right?

We can count our lucky stars if four out of ten carts

can safely arrive here from the outskirts.

Boss,

I'm already making a loss with this.

I heard that

Mr. Zhao from the west of the city

is also buying from you.

Is this the same price you gave him?

You must be a foreigner.

Mr. Zhao is one of the

richest

merchants in Youzhou City.

He would spend at least

70,000 to 80,000 taels

here every year.

You are new here

and you want their offer?

Counting the costs,

the raw materials we buy

will be more expensive than

the original goods Mr. Zhao sells.

How will we compete like this?

Young Madam, you must have figured it out already.

I memorized the business scriptures for nothing.

You had the right idea.

We would have done what you said

if we were still in Yangzhou.

But it won't work now?

Business is like a battlefield.

A commander must act accordingly.

You can't win a battle

just by following the books.

I need to study

the situation in Youzhou a little more.

You've been working all day.

You must be tired.

No, I'm not tired.

When did you learn

how to...

I'm just following examples, I'm not very good.

Please excuse my lack of skills.

Your technique is so smooth and practiced.

What do you mean you're not very good?

You flatter me too much.

Mingqian Longjing tea?

How did you know I like this?

Our family

is living on a tight budget.

Why did you buy such expensive tea leaves?

I can't afford it by the catty.

So I only bought one copper's worth.

It won't last long.

Our family

is no longer rich like before.

No need to spoil me.

Our family is indeed not as rich as before.

But you continue to treat me well.

Naturally, I can't treat you badly either.

My lord, have some tea.

Okay.

How is it?

Does it taste like what you drank in the past?

No.

No?

As expected...

Tea brewing is not something

I can master in a day.

It's nothing like it.

I've never had

such delicious tea before.

I knew you would talk nonsense.

Let me show you something.

Here.

Take a look.

How is it? Is it pretty?

What is this?

A... Lunch box?

What lunch box?

This is the new cosmetics case I've designed.

Cosmetics case?

For storing cosmetics?

Yes.

Isn't its design a bit complicated?

Is it complicated?

I've been drawing it for a long time.

I think it looks good.

But if there are too many patterns,

it'll look tacky.

Look.

If we remove the patterns here,

and here,

and a little bit here,

won't it look better?

If we follow your suggestion...

It seems to make sense.

Your husband

may be very poor now,

but I've seen and eaten a lot of things.

There's no good stuff

I haven't seen.

That's great.

I was most worried

about the cosmetics case.

I was worried that it was not enough for people

to fall in love with it at first sight.

I'm here. Don't worry.

I'm doing you such a big favor.

Do you have any reward for me?

Yes.

What is it?

When my cosmetics shop breaks even,

I'll pay you a salary.

My lord.

Help me

draw a few more designs.

Is this a reward for you

or for me?

Come on, just draw.

Okay.

There's no water.

I'm telling you to get water.

What?

Must everyone serve you

like your servants at home?

Find a well. Go.

Young Madam.

I want to ask you something.

I heard

you spent all our budget,

worth 100 tales of silver,

on these

containers

and cases for storing cosmetics.

The materials are expensive.

The craftsmanship is complicated too.

I've hired

the best craftsmen in Youzhou

to custom-make a variety of cosmetics cases,

and all kinds of silk and satin

for wrapping the cosmetics cases.

They are worth this price.

People are here to buy cosmetics,

not some box.

You spent most of your funds

on the box on the outside.

What about the cosmetics

on the inside?

Young Madam, please.

I'm living under your roof,

so I shouldn't have said anything.

But

at the rate you're going,

I'm afraid

even our money for food

will be lost.

Business is different now.

I can only take a gamble.

Since I've already gambled,

you don't have to worry.

If we can perfect the cosmetics case,

we would have already won half the battle.

As for the cosmetics...

I have my own sources.

And what would that be?

Did my donkey offend you?

Why did you hit my donkey?

It's eating my vegetables.

Look, it's still eating.

Don't move!

My donkey is injured.

Can you afford to pay?

Make way.

What are you doing?

Stop arguing!

Officer.

His donkey ate my vegetables.

He can't leave.

No.

Officer, he hurt my donkey.

My donkey is pregnant.

What if he seriously injured it?

My family of three

rely on this donkey for a living.

Now that my donkey's injured,

I won't be able to make a living.

You have to pay me 50 coppers.

Otherwise, you can't leave.

I have to treat my donkey!

Officer.

You have to uphold justice for me, Officer.

Officer, Officer!

This is outrageous! Officer.

Stand up!

Get up!

Isn't it just 50 coppers?

I'll pay you instead.

But I only have 70 coppers with me.

How about

35 coppers each?

Compromise a little.

Wait.

The Youzhou territory

is governed by law and reason.

You have to pay for the vegetables your donkey ate.

But you also have to pay for hurting the donkey.

Those are two different matters.

What's the use of you offering to pay for it?

But, Officer.

If I pay him, and he pays me back...

Doesn't that mean

no one is compensated in the end?

Yes. Besides...

We don't have the money.

Old sir,

I know you.

You and your daughter used to

each carry two baskets

and sell vegetables on this street every day.

Why are you always alone lately?

You're old.

You can only carry two baskets each time.

I'm afraid the rest of your crops

will rot in the field.

Yes, Officer.

I'm worried about that too.

My daughter just got married last month.

But if the vegetables are not sold out,

they will be rotten and wasted in the field.

Your donkey is injured too.

I'm afraid it can't do heavy work

like food grinding for a while.

How about this?

Starting today,

lend your donkey to him for half a day

every day until he has sold all his crops.

He will give you half of the extra money earned.

How does that sound?

-Sure. -Okay.

Okay.

I haven't refilled your bottle yet.

The money in the pouch

is your meal allowance for the next few days, right?

If you really gave it to them just now,

what will you be eating?

I can skip a few meals.

I can go home in the evening and eat too.

I think they both had it rough.

You're so childish.

Your amount of money

can only solve this problem.

But this kind of problem

happens every day at least a hundred times

in Wangdu City alone.

There must be thousands of such cases

in the world every day.

Even if someone

as rich as a deity

decides to be kind

and donates all his wealth,

he cannot help everyone.

The real difficulty of the people is poverty.

Poverty can't be solved

by charity alone.

Yes.

Even if we donate everything,

it's just a temporary solution.

But what can we do in the long run?

Besides, how can there be

such a kind-hearted rich man

in this world?

Speaking of which,

weren't you a rich young master?

Have you really fallen to this point?

You only have 70 coppers on you?

But...

At least you're not heartless.

[Li Mansion]

I told you to be careful.

But you didn't listen.

So many petals have fallen.

They don't want them anymore.

What should we do?

Sorry, boss.

How many times do I have to tell you?

You are so...

Hello.

Are you the fresh flower dealer?

Yes.

Mr. Zhou Ye told me to look for you

if we want to buy flowers.

Are you ordering flowers for your mansion?

Our plants are transported

from the suburbs early in the morning.

They are very fresh.

I have a suggestion.

Would you like to hear it?

Go ahead.

These plants are very

clean and fresh.

Rich families display fresh flowers

to create an air of elegance.

But here you are,

transporting flowers as if they are firewood.

If I was in charge,

I might not order flowers from you anymore.

I suggest that you make some effort

and arrange the stalks

according to their length.

Then, you can group the flowers together

into bouquets and send them

to each household.

After they receive the flowers,

they can directly display them in vases of water.

It's elegant and cheap.

It also gives them the impression

that you're a meticulous person.

Madam,

you are right.

But my business

makes very little profit.

How can I afford to hire

someone to do those meticulous things?

Starting tomorrow, I can bring people over

to organize the flowers for you.

We don't have to let these damaged stalks

go to waste either.

We can make them into flower baskets

and sell or gift them away.

I promise, within 10 days,

more and more people

will come to order flowers from you.

As for the salary,

we won't take a single copper.

You just need to agree

to let us take home

the remaining flowers

that could not be sold.

Really?

With this deal,

you will surely profit.

Will you do it or not?

Yes.

Of course.

Young Master, are you done for the day?

Didn't I ask you to help the Young Madam

instead of picking me up?

I have been

picking you up for so many years.

I'm used to it.

I'll worry if I don't pick you up.

What are you doing?

Sir.

I'm a servant of our young master.

I'm here to pick him up.

A servant?

You only have 70 coppers left in your pocket.

But you still bring a servant

to work to serve you.

Gu Jiusi,

I really underestimated you.

In the end, a starved camel is

still bigger than a normal horse.

This...

My family doesn't know the rules.

He won't come anymore.

You outsiders

hid away and enjoyed your lives

when the world was at peace.

Now war has started, and you're all here in Youzhou.

All of you come here

to be freeloaders.

If you can't do other things well,

you can at least sweep the floors, right?

Yes.

From now on, don't leave after work.

Sweep the floors before you leave.

Got it?

Yes, got it.

This...

How can he say that?

What's wrong with us outsiders?

Did the outsiders offend him?

Now the world is in chaos.

Only Youzhou remains peaceful.

Refugees from all directions

came to seek shelter in Youzhou.

We're taking up their residence

and eating their food.

They must be upset.

We even relied on connections

to take their job.

It's normal that they don't like us.

But that's someone else.

How can others compare to you?

Our Gu family

donated all our assets to the city.

Without you...

The grain prices in Youzhou

would have skyrocketed by now.

Don't make a big deal out of it.

If other provinces know that

Youzhou got the Gu family's property

and grew its strength in secret,

we can kiss our peaceful life goodbye.

But that Huang Longfei

is obviously making things difficult for you.

How about we ask Young Master Zhou

to teach him a lesson?

Let's see if he still dares to give you

a hard time after that.

I never told on my bullies

when I was young.

But you want me to tell on him now?

Although Huang Longfei

is kind of grumpy,

he's a rare good official.

It actually has nothing to do with them, too.

It's just that I didn't do my job well.

Young Master, you're meant to

study and do great things.

Not for those

trivial and heavy labor.

How can I sweep the world if I can't even sweep a room?

Now I finally understand.

I grew up in a privileged environment.

My thoughts were mostly lofty and idealistic.

I was filled with

a strong desire to help the people of the world,

but I didn't have the skills to put things to practice.

Since I've agreed to be a Yamen runner,

I must do it well.

I don't believe that I can't do it.

I'm well-educated,

I fight well,

and I'm good at fighting crickets.

There's no way I can't conquer this street.

Munan.

Soon,

I will be the best Yamen runner

on this street.

Young Master, that is a

big ambition.

By the way,

don't tell Liu Yuru

about this.

She's busy with business.

It's already hard enough for her.

Let's go.

Eldest Sister.

Are these the cosmetics we're here to buy?

Not yet.

They will be when we're done with them.

Fresh flowers are delicate goods.

A lot of them are expended every day.

We'll take these remaining flowers and petals

back home,

mash them into juice,

and process them into cosmetics ourselves.

After they are done,

we will stock the goods up for a month,

and that will be enough inventory for the shop.

This way, we don't have to buy

premade aromatic powder every month.

We can save a lot of money.

Young Madam.

I thought

the cosmetics you ordered have arrived,

so you called us here to help you move them.

If that was the case,

the hard work will be over

in a short while.

I didn't expect you to have this in mind.

I'm old.

I'm shameless.

But Yuzhao and Yuying

are your own sisters.

You make them show their face in public

early in the morning for some manual labor.

How will they get married in the future?

Even if you're ordering a servant around,

you still have to pay the monthly fees.

Mother, I'm willing to do it.

Mother Yue, what are you talking about?

What do you mean by ordering a servant around?

It's just an example.

Fine.

Since you want to get even with me,

let's calculate everything carefully.

Currently, people everywhere

are rushing to purchase food.

Youzhou is the safest place.

Yesterday, the price of rice

rose to 300 coppers per five kilograms.

Even the cheapest cut of sheep organs

cost 260 coppers per catty.

Including groceries,

oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar,

you and my two sisters

spend at least 30 coppers per day.

That amounts to one tale of silver

per person each month.

This does not include the cost

of your clothes and lodging.

But we...

The Gu family is not as rich as before.

We can't afford to raise freeloaders.

Even Jiusi and I

have to work every day.

Everyone works hard day and night.

Why do you alone feel wronged?

If you think contributing this much

puts you at a loss,

you're free to leave the Gu family.

We'll see how much effort

it takes for you

to earn enough silver

to last you a month in Youzhou.

Young Madam.

Look.

I didn't say much.

You didn't have to

say all of that in return.

Yinhong, Munan.

Let's move the goods quickly.

We need to deliver these

to the respective families before noon.

What are you waiting for? Help them.

Or they will call us

freeloaders again.

Mother, you're here.

I remember

we need to squeeze the juice

out of these red petals.

Then we'll add clean water,

wrap the remains in fine gauze, and squeeze out the yellow juice.

And then,

we will rise the remains in

acidized rice water.

If we repeat the process several times,

the cosmetics produced will be

pure and fine with no mixed colors.

Your memory is great, Mother.

You remembered it perfectly.

Back then, the Gu family made our

first fortune by selling cosmetics.

That time,

I hired the best craftsman

in Yangzhou City.

We discussed things together

and kept trying different methods.

After several refinements,

we finally

came up with a whole set of formulas.

Things like ink for drawing eyebrows,

white powder for the face,

and lip balms for the lips.

The set included formulas for all of those.

Now that I think about it,

that was 20 years ago.

Mother, the formulas we're using now

are the same old formulas

you left in the accounting room.

People like to say,

the best cosmetics come from Suzhou and loose powder from Yangzhou.

Our craftsmasters from the two cities

had unique skills and were meticulous.

Even when it came to materials, they chose

not to use the usual lead powder.

Instead, they used pearls, ground clam shells,

bee wax, and deer musk.

This attention to details

is beyond the wit of outsiders.

But it costs too much to make.

It's fine if the business is good.

If business is not good,

then...

Relax.

Just do it.

We just have to do our best

and leave the rest

to the heaven's will.

Got it, Mother.

Yongzhou and Liangzhou are in chaos too?

That's right.

Now,

there is no place

that is truly at peace.

Everywhere, people with fame and fortune are

taking advantage of the chaos to rise to power.

They're afraid they'll be devoured

by other forces if they are too slow to rise.

What does Commissioner Fan think about this?

Commissioner Fan never thought about

establishing his own army or declaring independence.

In this chaotic world,

to protect

the people of Youzhou,

we must have our own power.

Recently,

we've been busy strengthening our defenses

and securing food supplies.

Thanks to your family's support,

we're able to keep the people of Youzhou

safe for the time being.

That's good, that's good.

But...

You've contributed so much

to Youzhou.

In the end,

you only became a mere Yamen runner.

Not only me,

Commissioner Fan and my father

all feel bad about it.

It's nothing.

It's good to be a Yamen runner too.

I've been too busy lately

and couldn't care for you.

I wonder

how you've been doing here.

Did anyone give you a hard time?

If anything happens,

you must tell me.

With my personality,

who can bully me?

Don't worry.

That's good.

Have some tea.

We've worked hard for so long.

Our shop

is finally opening.

Our shop?

That's the Gu family's shop.

What does it have to do with you?

You're in such a rush to call it our shop.

Mother, Eldest Sister said that

after the opening,

she will still need our help.

She will pay us monthly.

How much money could that be?

You're so easily bought over.

She's making you work full-time for her.

She also said

we all worked hard.

When the shop makes profit,

we'll get dividends at the end of the year.

Did she really say that?

Yes.

Why didn't you tell me earlier?

Come on.

Look at you.

Wipe it carefully.

This is our family business.

Get working.

This is our family business.

Why didn't you tell me earlier?

Seriously.

We're here.

Here we are.

Yinhong.

We're back.

Coming.

The cosmetics cases and containers

Young Madam ordered have arrived!

Come and move the goods.

Okay.

So heavy.

It looks nice, yes.

But isn't it too big?

Looking at it,

it doesn't look like

it's for storing cosmetics.

You don't think that way,

because no one has used it to store cosmetics.

From now on,

everyone in Youzhou will know.

This is how you should store your cosmetics.

This is so beautiful.

Move the goods.

Hurry up.

Okay.

[Tie the Red Sash and Carry the Gold Stamp]

My lord.

Here.

Have a seat.

My lord.

I have something

to ask you today.

You haven't paid me last time.

What do you want this time?

My cosmetics shop is ready.

It only needs a name.

I thought about it.

Only you are capable

of helping me with this.

This is easy.

Just call it Liu's Cosmetics.

Liu's?

Yes.

In the past, you were running

the business under the Gu's name.

Even if people called you Boss Liu,

you were still Boss Liu of the Gu family.

Now you finally have

your own business.

Of course you should call it Liu's.

It's good,

but it's not suitable.

Why?

It’s too hasty.

If I'm running a fabric shop,

a pharmacy, or a restaurant,

they can all be called Liu's.

But a cosmetics shop cannot be called that.

The name I'm looking for

should be unique and elegant.

It cannot sound too casual

or too uncommon.

It must be memorable and easily remembered.

Next time, whenever someone uses cosmetics,

they will immediately think of my shop.

That would be great.

That's a lot of requirements for a single name.

We're doing the

ladies' business here.

In that case,

we have to give them our best.

From the shop name and packaging

to the quality of the goods,

we have to prioritize their interests

every step of the way.

We need to think about

how to make them fall in love

with our shop and products.

If we're unwilling to

even to put in this bit of effort,

out of all the cosmetics shops in the market,

why should they spend their money

on my shop?

Why are you looking at me?

When I look at you,

a poem suddenly comes to mind.

What poem?

Clouds desire beautiful clothes.

Flowers desire a beautiful appearance.

-Great! -Nice!

[Huarong Cosmetics Shop]

Thanks to your help,

the shop was opened successfully.

Please

accept these, Zhou.

Consider it

a small gift for your mother.

These are the so-called cosmetics?

This case contains fragrant loose powder.

This case contains foundation cream.

This case contains ink for drawing eyebrows,

and sunset powder for blushing the cheeks.

These four are lipsticks.

They represent the four colors

of the four seasons.

Peach pink, rose red,

Osmanthus orange, and plum auburn.

In my eyes,

they all look similar to each other.

For example, these two colors

look exactly the same to me.

What's the difference?

It is quite strange indeed.

Men usually cannot tell

the difference in cosmetic colors.

But as women,

one look,

and we can tell that

this set of seasonal colours

is practical and ingenious.

With these colours, you can

come up with countless beautiful combinations.

I hope your mother

will like my small gift.

Thank you, Third Sister.

Young Madam,

we are so short of money.

Why did we give our best goods

away for free?

Our business is small and our shop is in a remote location.

To attract more customers,

we need something

more attention-grabbing

than firecrackers

to draw them in.

What is it?

Word of mouth.