Original subtitles

Business

can make a nation

as well as break a nation.

The essence of great business

is to manage the household,

govern the nation,

and bring peace to the world.

Kentaro.

I haven't seen you in so long.

Look.

Last time, you said you wouldn't talk to me anymore.

I still brought two swords.

Come on, let's compete again.

Stop sleeping.

Hey. Are you all right?

He has a fever

and cold sweat.

I'm so hungry.

Kentaro.

Are you all right?

No.

Take it.

This is your most treasured thing.

I can't take it.

I see you as a friend,

so I'm giving it to you.

Let's leave it here for now, okay?

We'll talk about it later.

Okay?

Are you all right?

I'll get you water. Wait.

I found him!

Come over!

Here! Hurry!

I know you're here!

Stop hiding!

Come out!

Come out!

Kentaro.

Thank you for cooperating.

This kid is devious.

We couldn't find him.

He always exchanges things with his gold blade

and then steals it back.

Such a sly brat!

We truly appreciate Lin's family's efforts on this.

Not at all.

I was worried that I would alert him too.

It's thanks to Lin Teng

that the thief let down his guard.

Lin Teng is really astute.

So that's what happened.

Then we shall get going.

Goodbye.

Yes.

Uncle Tien.

What happened?

Young Master, it's none of your business, don't interfere.

They're his Japanese parents who were taking him home.

Don't interfere.

By the way,

let me check if anything's missing from the home.

Don't interfere!

Okay.

Why won't you ship the cement?

I'm telling you, they're doing it on purpose!

They charge a fee to release shipments!

It's intentional!

How is this right?

- You collect the money quickly, - Call your manager.

but you drag your feet in shipping!

- How are we supposed to do business? - How do we survive?

Calm down, okay?

Why are they making such a commotion again?

What is the ruckus for?

The warehouse coordination director

took the fees.

And after he was reported,

he's now taking his time with shipments.

He's only shipping five truckloads a day.

They're worried they'll lose money due to delayed projects

and they want reparations from us.

Who told him he could charge a fee?

I went there to find out,

but not only did that Japanese

not admit to his fault,

he burned the delivery slips and order forms

to threaten the company.

Hung-ta.

You brought him in.

Don't you need to take responsibility?

Mr. Lin.

Calling it a fee is too serious.

Sometimes, when clients want orders shipped quickly,

they ask for their shipment to be scheduled early.

To thank the workers for working overtime,

they offer bonuses

or red packets.

Besides, even if their projects end early,

the extra money they make

doesn't go back to the workers, right?

This culture of giving red envelopes is prevalent now.

Don't make a big fuss out of nothing.

A big fuss over nothing?

It's already affecting people's livelihoods!

Mr. Lin.

Just because a client you're friendly with

complained to you,

you can't replace the workers and supervisor

of an entire warehouse.

This Japanese

is a proper, skilled worker

who used to work in cigarette distribution too.

Moreover,

what did the workers do wrong?

How many families are affected?

Doing this would cause them to resist, of course.

Enough!

Stop bickering!

You think we don't have enough trouble?

Lin Teng.

Will you please ask

those clients who are so close to you

to control themselves?

Aren't you tired

of always paying for broken glass?

If I knew there'd be so much trouble,

I would have stayed in Vietnam!

Subordinates like you

should do your jobs properly!

A business that just loses money.

Over here.

At a tobacco company,

he worked as the head of distribution before.

Ryohei Takeda.

This is Master Chuang.

You, come over.

Come here.

Master Chuang.

Mr. Takeda.

You're quite something.

This is nothing.

Lately, because you are

withholding cement shipments,

Fifth Master Kao is losing face,

and he sent me to talk to you.

Let's not make this too big.

Have Lin Teng host a banquet and apologize to me.

As long as that guy apologizes,

I'll send the shipments promptly.

Are you already satisfied with that?

What's he talking about?

This is the list of clients friendly with Lin Teng.

With your capabilities,

you should know the value of a gift

such as intel.

Mr. Lin, currently, Yilan Corp, Huowang,

and Hsu's cement orders

are subject to an extra NTD 20 fee.

That adds up

to NTD 55 for a bag of cement.

With the extra NTD 20 per bag,

forget about making money,

we might even lose money.

Lin Teng.

This seems to be directed at you.

Even other companies

that didn't pay fees

are getting shipments as usual.

Hsing.

Contact those companies.

Yilan Corp will take care of the fees that they have paid.

Mr. Lin.

Yilan Corp will really go bankrupt this way.

Let me do the math for you.

That time we bought cement

counts as a loan for Chunghua Cement and they paid in the end.

Now, a bag costs NTD 20,

- and there are over 40 companies. - Enough.

Stop calculating.

You're back?

Yes, why?

Hsueh-yu.

What?

Not long ago,

didn't you

buy some land?

Yes.

When I bought it, you even got mad.

I'm wondering

if I can borrow it for now.

Just two months.

Consider it as Yilan Corp's loan.

I'll give you five percent interest.

Fine, eight percent.

Let me ask you.

Do I seem like a businesswoman to you?

No.

So who am I?

Hsueh-yu.

I'm your wife.

Don't use

that business tone

with me.

If you want to use the land, take it.

Sixteen.

Let me measure it here for you.

What would you like?

Make suits, what else?

Didn't you just make a set not long ago?

You want another set?

This time, we want the even pricier…

- What is it called? Fa… - Fabric!

- Fine, go and find it. - What…

is your name?

My name is Masami.

What a beautiful name.

Our boss

must have the best fabric,

more expensive than the most expensive one.

- Hurry up and take it out. - Get it quickly.

But we don't have such fabric here.

Ms. Masami.

We do.

Last week, we procured some fabric

that cost more

than other expensive

and rare fabrics

in the shop.

This is it.

I'll take this then.

But this cloth…

I will have this one.

However…

I'll wear it in two days.

- Mr. Takeda, but… - Don't argue.

You have two days.

You must prioritize our boss'.

It's fine if ours are finished later.

More expensive than the most expensive one!

Two days!

Remember!

Thank you.

Why did you give them this fabric?

This one is very troublesome.

We won't be able to finish in two days.

He was the one who didn't listen to you.

Don't worry.

What's most expensive is your craft.

Not bad, right?

This is the priciest suit fabric.

That Japanese woman made it.

She's very good.

I want her to be my mistress.

You don't know who Masami is, do you?

She is General Ma's goddaughter.

The general who issued my identity card?

That's good.

Everyone knows each other, we'll all be friends.

Lin Teng got some money

to help those clients who are his friends.

How long will he be able to support them?

Wait until I completely destroy him.

Leaders of the company shouldn't look down on us.

You all come from a working background.

The Provincial Cement Union chairman election is next week.

If I win,

you can all live well with me.

If you agree,

drink the wine

and smash your lamp.

From then on,

your fee will be reduced to just NTD 4.50.

If you don't support me,

that's fine.

Pour the alcohol

and take the lamp.

Then

this month's cement fee

will be NTD 20 a bag.

Next month will be NTD 25.

Then the next, NTD 30.

Make your choice wisely.

Mouse!

Hurry and go!

Mr. Hsu!

Mr. Wang.

Eat.

Lin Teng.

I'm sorry.

I failed you.

I started my company on a loan.

If my company fails,

no one will provide for my wife and children.

I'm not like you.

Even if you're not the chairman,

you still have Yilan Corp

and Chunghua Cement.

I know.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry!

Mr. Lin.

Hsueh-yu went home already.

Mr. Lin!

What happened?

Mr. Lin!

Mr. Lin, you…

You were drinking?

- Let me rest here for a moment. - All right.

I'm sorry.

Are you all right?

Be careful!

Mr. Lin.

Mr. Lin.

Be careful!

Slowly.

Be careful.

Careful.

Slowly.

Be careful.

Come on.

I'm sorry.

It's all right.

Be careful.

I'm sorry.

It's all right.

I'm sorry.

It's all right.

I failed everyone.

I failed everyone.

It's fine.

I failed everyone.

It's all right.

I failed everyone.

It's fine.

I'm sorry.

Just sit him up.

I'll get some water.

I'm sorry.

I failed everyone.

What are you saying?

I failed everyone.

Be careful.

I failed everyone.

Why don't you go home?

It's all right.

It's fine.

It's all right.

Come on, I'll take it.

Have Sanlang bring him home.

Wash him up.

Get him to bed.

He'll feel better that way.

Let him stay with you.

Why?

Because he likes you.

You like him too.

Don't you?

I know it well.

But I'm sorry,

I'm not so generous

as to share him with you

because we already have

a family of our own.

That's why I can only play dumb

so that he feels

I am still

his naive Hsueh-yu.

But he really needs you today.

So please, allow him to stay.

But after…

After today,

can you return him to me?

Honestly,

I do like him.

But you don't need to worry about him and me.

My affection

stops here.

I won't go any further with him.

Tonight,

I can let him stay,

but I hope you stay too.

So that the first thing he sees tomorrow morning

will be you.

You're awake?

Why are you here?

How dare you say that?

Why didn't you go home when you're drunk?

Masami went upstairs to sleep.

You pestered her all night,

puking all over her shop.

If it's not cleaned up, how will she do business?

Are you hungry?

Let's go eat breakfast.

What are you doing?

Why haven't you come to me for so long?

Get up.

What are you wearing?

It's made with the best fabric.

A suit more expensive than the most expensive one.

What are you talking about?

Look.

Look.

You

were defrauded.

See? The color is coming off.

Take it off.

She dares to treat me as a fool?

What?

So filthy.

Where are you going?

Boss!

If you're so exhausted and aggrieved,

just quit.

It's just Chunghua Cement.

Why work day and night

and give yourself such a headache?

Today,

you seem to be in a good mood.

That's because you're so dour every day.

What's that got to do with your good mood?

Because I won the jackpot this morning.

I don't know when the two of us

will be able to come out

for soy milk and dough sticks again.

How many dough sticks do you want?

I'll just have soy milk.

If you want to come again,

you must come soon.

We're closing up shop next month.

Why?

I wanted to build a new house

and get married.

However,

cement prices keep rising.

The moment cement price rises,

other building materials prices follow suit.

I ran out of money halfway through construction.

I thought

while I'm still able,

next month,

I'll sign up to work on the Central Cross-Island Highway

to make more money.

The Central Cross-Island Highway work is dangerous.

There were many incidents in the past few years.

But it pays well.

Relax.

I've been in wars my whole life.

Back in the day,

the Japs' and commies' artillery didn't kill me.

Digging up a road in the mountains

can't be so bad.

There you go again.

There's your dour look.

Takeda

made himself a local tyrant at Chunghua Cement's warehouse.

He just increased the cement price.

Everyone

is losing their livelihoods because of him.

I can't do nothing.

Is Takeda Japanese?

He memorized the quantity of cement and order numbers

of clients

and burned the order forms

to threaten the company.

He also wants clients to quit the union.

Whoever is friendly with me gets charged higher fees.

Is cement packed into blocks and individual bags?

Yes.

That shouldn't be hard to memorize.

I'm not sure if what I'm thinking is right.

Take me to the warehouse for a look.

Let's go.

It's 8:30 a.m.

Where are they?

Mr. Takeda said work starts at 10 a.m. now.

This is really ridiculous.

Where's the key?

Mr. Takeda has the key too.

Let me through.

It really broke.

How fragile.

NET WEIGHT 50 KG CHUNGHUA CEMENT

Hold this for me.

Is there any light?

Well?

Have you discovered something?

It's just as I thought.

You…

And you've been in business for so long.

It's a way of cheating in mahjong

and you can't even tell.

Chunghua Cement is threatened by someone like him?

I say

I should be the chairman.

Come.

Stand here.

Look straight down the center line.

The cement here

is all piled

in blocks, don't they?

Only the top bags

vary in number

and piling pattern, right?

When I first started playing mahjong at Mrs. Lee's house,

I didn't know why I kept losing.

Later on, I found out that they'd memorized the tiles.

For example,

when they shuffle,

what seemed to be

random piles

that don't look neat

are actually their markers.

You mean

these top bags are markers?

Yes.

It's not that they have a good memory.

They just use these markers to signify

clients,

amounts,

and shipping times.

Look.

This pile here.

These two bags are standing upright.

My guess is

that it means shipment time.

These here

in equal height may be the amount.

Can the varying shapes

represent clients?

Is that so?

Over there too, look.

Three standing upright, time.

Client.

Number.

Right?

However,

even if we know those are markers,

we don't know which client they're for.

Seriously, you'll keep being on the losing end.

They'd come here and you're afraid you can't find them?

Just match the time and amount

and you could know which client it is.

They paid their fees,

yet received no shipment.

You think they'll still trust Takeda?

Believe me.

You'll make even more friends this time.