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胭脂水粉
CHUK MING WAI (LAI CHI, GIGI) is the third child of the family. She has two elder brothers, YAU SHING (TSANG WAI KUEN) and YAU YIP (CHAN HO, MOSES), and a younger sister, MING MAN (CHO, MANDY LEE). In the 1930s, the CHUK family is rich and renowned. It runs a cosmetic shop called the “Charming Flowers”. WAI’s father CHUK MOON SHAN (CHAN HUNG LIT) plans to pass the family business to SHING. However, SHING dies young. His inheritance passes to YIP, who has no interest in running the business. After YIP takes over the “Charming Flowers”, he is forced to deal with politics and hypocrites...
The first perfume retail shop of Halle de Fleur opens for business. The second young master, CHUK YAU YIP, returns from abroad; he brings along a big clock for the business opening occasion; his father, MOON SHAN, looks unhappy, but YIP makes his father feel relieved with clever words. The third mistress, MING WAI, and her aunt, LEE NGA SIN, are showing off in their dressing and their wearing of jewelry, competing against each other in the opening ceremony; the first young master, YAU SING, introduces his girlfriend, SUNG WAN SHEUNG, to his father, SHAN, by this chance. SHEUNG plays the role of a model for the new product, Sunflower rouge; SHAN has a good impression on SHEUNG; he invites SHEUNG to his house for dinner the next day. To win a good impression from SHAN, the husband of WAI, LAI KWOK CHEONG, goes to talk about business opportunity with LAM WAI PUN, a good friend of SHAN; he only makes the matter worse with opposite effect……
SHING has a dispute with SHAN over the background of SHEUNG. All the CHUK’s family members (CHUK, the last name of the family) have prejudice against SHEUNG; WAI also thinks that it is not worthy for SHING to harm the father-and-son relationship just because of an outsider. FONG always has good feeling on SHING but she is not willing to show out her feeling because of her reserved character; her mother, LO SIU YUNG, is very anxious about her daughter’s affair with SHING. The suggestion that YIP makes to use “blessing pouch” in boosting the sale of Snowflake Cream impresses SHAN, who also mentions again the production of roller lipstick that YIP has earlier proposed. As such, MOON TIN, the younger brother of SHAN, conceals his anger and jealousy. SHEUNG takes the wrist-chain, which SHING has given her as gift, to go out for repair. On the way, SHEUNG comes across SIN and YUNG, who jeer at SHEUNG, making SHEUNG embarrassed……
After taking SHEUNG to leave Moon Yuen, the big house of CHUK’s family, SHING comes to know that SHEUNG is pregnant. However, he does not want SHAN to make concession because of SHEUNG’s pregnancy. SHING slaps WAI on the face, mistaking that she has disclosed the blackmail incident to SHAN; WAI feels humiliated. SHING and SHAN break up their father-and-son relationship while TIN gains the advantage of this. YIP is so ambitious to see the proper production of roller lipstick; WAI feels uneasy to see TIN highly commend YIP. When going to pray for a blessing, FONG meets SHEUNG and SHING on the way; she comes to knows that they will soon go to south Asia to start a new life. Listening to FONG’s advice, SHING goes to take SHAN out of the hospital; SHAN feels comforted. However, SHING is unwilling to leave SHEUNG all the times……
On witnessing the calamity happening to SHING, SHEUNG faints and she is sent to hospital. YIP tells SHAN the pregnancy of SHEUNG; SHAN is eventually allowed into the CHUK’s family. As SIN sees that SHAN treats SHEUNG indifferently, SIN arranges SHEUNG to live with servants in the back yard. On seeing this, FONG suggests letting SHEUNG live in the guest-room next to her. SHEUNG asks FONG to take her to SHING’s room, where SHEUNG becomes more saddened to see things that remind her of SHING. When YAU BONG and MING MAN, the son and younger daughter of SIN, return from Japan, SIN makes arrangement for them to settle down excitingly; WAI ridicules SIN for her imbalanced attitude to different people. BONG and MAN return home with great ambition. FONG makes a complaint to SHAN, mistaking that YIP requests her to kiss customers for promotion of the roller lipstick……
MAN has SHAN’s dear love but WAI receives SHAN’s cold shoulder. WAI completes the account books for CHEONG overnight but CHEONG forgets to take them back to Halle de Fleur; SHAN criticizes WAI for spoiling her husband, CHEONG. SHEUNG is mentally distressed as she constantly hears mocking words in CHUK’s family. The housekeeper, Sister FOON, recommends LONG to SIN for a job. SIN originally wants to hire Uncle FOOK, her old aged hometown fellow. However, she decides to hire LONG instead to compensate what MAN has done on LONG and to avoid complaint by WAI. SIN uses tricks to make SHAN know that MAN has bought swimsuit; SHAN severely reprimands WAI but he only advises MAN in mild tone. WAI listens to SIN’s instigation, suspecting that she is not SHAN’s daughter; she looks for proof from FOON. YIP buys some snack and he asks FONG to give it to SHEUNG, who worries it will be a trap……
SHEUNG is diagnosed to have prenatal depression. SHEUNG is discharged and returns home, where SIN, YUNG and others feel uneasy. In a street, MAN and WAI see a man, who sells his daughter to a brothel. MAN comes up to defend the daughter and she gets injured. FOOK asks for compensation from SIN, saying that he has quitted his original job. After sending FOOK off, SIN vents her anger on YUNG. YIP discovers the potential market about the products within the brothels. When SHEUNG returns home, YUNG adopts a changed attitude to her for fear that she will be instigated. YIP bets with FONG on which books they buy will make SHEUNG happy. As a result, YIP loses and he has to pay for the dinner with FONG as punishment. Because of this, YUNG mistakes that YIP has good feeling on FONG; YUNG together with her son, YEE CHING, try to pair them up secretly. YIP and FONG feel embarrassed because of the misunderstanding on the part of YUNG and CHING……
MAN discovers CHING sends the product to the girls working in brothels. When returning home, MAN reprimands YIP for helping the unhealthy growth in the society; YIP does not think so and he further decides to patronize the “Flower Queen Competition”. MAN rubs medicinal lotion on CHING’s body and his heart is beating fast. After using the product of Halle de fleur, SIN and YUNG are regarded to be immoral women. The government implements the anti-prostitute policy, causing a great loss to Halle de fleur. After SHAN returns from Shanghai, he scolds YIP for what he has done; he decides to shelve the project of branch-shop in Shanghai. They all discuss how to restore the business of Halle de fleur; YIP feels that his suggestion is not respected and he decides to live his playful life again. On seeing SHAN has great concern over SHEUNG, SIN and YUNG therefore adopt a 180-degree-turn attitude to SHEUNG……
When CHEONG falls from height, YUEN WING WAH, the advisory lawyer of Halle de fleur, happens to appear and CHEONG is rescued. WAI has a dispute with SIN and YUNG over CHEONG’s incident. SHAN reprimands WAI, saying that she is responsible for CHEONG’s action in the money loss. WAI cannot hold her temper, stating in tears that she is helpless to be a wife in this situation. Although SHAN is angry, he is still willing to transfer money to pay the debt; WAI is grateful; TIN is angry, but not daring to say a word. SIN and WAI give presents to SHEUNG respectively; SHEUNG thinks that they may have something evil in their minds. BONG suggests inviting the noble image star, LAN PO YIN, to be the spokesperson of their products. However, it may be not successful because YIN is a low key person. As YIP knows the uncle of YIN, he can make an appointment with YIN to discuss. After BONG gives a handsome offer, YIN eventually promises to cooperate……
SHAN is heartbroken because SHING does not have a son to continue the family line while WAI comforts him. Later WAI feels relieved as SHAN has given his granddaughter a name as MEI TING. SHEUNG has postnatal depression as her daughter, TING, constantly cries; SHEUNG nearly gives up her child for all the troubles the baby causes. Luckily, SHEUNG later changes her mind; she does not make a big mistake. CHING and WAH both have love feeling on MAN. WAH points out to CHING that he should have known better his own ability; WAH always pretends to be gentleman in front of MAN, which angers CHING very much. SHAN scolds YIP because YIP does not change the product that is sold to the customer who is evil-minded. YIP and CHEONG goes for afternoon tea to relieve the boredom; WAI is unhappy about this. YIP meets WONG HIU CHING, a salesgirl of rouge in the restaurant; he has a good impression on her……
TIN pretends to hit SIN to win the sympathy from SHAN, who does not want this to happen; he orders the family members not to disclose the family scandal to outsiders. After taking up the housekeeping authority, WAI discovers that SIN has taken lots of money from the family account for her own purpose; WAI therefore asks SIN to fill the gap of the deficit; SIN is unhappy. Knowing HIU CHING loves to care for stray-cats in the streets, YIP takes the leftover of fish to see her; he builds houses for the cats as well. Because SHAN is unhappy for YIP not doing the proper business, he puts a lot of attention on BONG. For protecting HIU CHING and stray-cats, YIP is beaten by rascal, HO KEUNG; FONG keeps the incident as secret from everybody for YIP. WAI personally deducts some of SIN’s monthly salary from her to fill the deficit gap. CHING returns from Macau happily……
SHAN warns the family members not to question WAI’s identity, but WAI cannot feel relieved for this. CHING buys a brooch for YUNG while FONG thinks that CHING is an obedient son and she gives him a gold watch to commend him. After work, YIP tries to date HIU CHING; SHAN suddenly asks YIP to go to factory with him. YIP therefore tells FONG to inform HIU CHING about this; he even goes to see HIU CHING when SHAN is not aware. The fake product of Halle de Fleur is fully scattered over the market. Therefore the reputation of Halle de Fleur is damaged. All suggest reporting the incident to police; CHING feels uneasy. When FONG discovers that CHING has something to do with the fake product, she tries to take CHING to surrender to SHAN. On the way, FONG and CHING meet TIN, who just returns from Macau after investigation for the fake product. TIN promises to keep the matter as secret, using this to control both of them in order to support BONG……
KEUNG sees that YIP and HIU CHING are in good relationship; he then forces HIU CHING to set up a plan to kidnap YIP. FONG suggests YIP to manufacture gardenia perfume so as to confess his love to HIU CHING. In the meeting, the gardenia plan is opposed by TIN; FONG has to follow TIN on the opposition side. Luckily, BONG is on the side of YIP and SHAN finally decides to let YIP modify the formula. The plan of kidnapping YIP is originally carried out according to what is planned. However, HIU CHING does not want YIP to be kidnapped; she angers YIP away to prevent the kidnapping. FONG dates HIU CHING for YIP to have a picnic; KEUNG uses this chance to force HIU CHING to do the kidnapping. After catching FONG and YIP, KEUNG demands ransom from SHAN, while YUNG worries about the safety of FONG……
YIP and FONG return home safely; YIP does not allow his family to report to police. SIN hurriedly tries to take back her part of the ransom money that she has given earlier; WAI ridicules her on seeing this. SHAN is grateful to SHEUNG’s contribution to take the risk in delivering the ransom; SHAN decides to confirm her position in CHUK’s family because of TING, the newly born baby girl. YIP and HIU CHING miss each other very much. WAH sets up a trap, making his client need not to pay the alimony (money paid to a divorced party) to his divorced wife, Mrs. LEUNG; MAN is not happy with what WAH has done. SIN hates that she is blackmailed by YUNG because she has broken the ornament that YUNG has ordered; FONG pays money to SIN as compensation; YUNG is very angry as she thinks that SIN is the person who needs to pay; YUNG does not know that TIN and SIN are controlling CHING and FONG with their wrongdoing as a threat……
Actually, WAI comes to make order of sweet soup for the birthday party of SHAN; FOON and HUNG are feeling lucky that WAI does not overhear what they have said. YUNG selects return-gifts on behalf of SHAN; SIN follows YUNG, saying that she wants to give YUNG a helping hand. SHAN decides to set up a selling point in a Shanghai emporium that belongs to LAM WAI PUN, putting the gardenia perfume that YIP makes on the shelves as a test for selling. In addition, SHAN accepts YIP’s suggestion to name the perfume as “Passion”. SHAN tries to pair up YIP and LAM SUET YEE, the daughter of PUN. However, SHAN comes to know from YUNG that YIP has a lover. Seeing that YIP has made a change because of HIU CHING, SHAN does not insist on the marriage on equal standing between the two families. He also invites HIU CHING to attend his birthday party; YIP is overjoyed……
HIU CHING denotes to YIP that her elder brother has involved in a traffic accident in Tianjin, where the victim of the accident asks for compensation. YIP is not aware there is a trick; he asks SHAN for help. CHEONG leads SHAN the way; they come across HUNG eventually. SHAN reprimands HUNG for her intention; CHEONG comes to know that WAI is the daughter of HUNG and that SHAN is not the biological father of WAI. CHEONG then suddenly realizes why SHAN always shows cold shoulder to WAI. LONG resigns from the job; he needs to move house to other place with his mother. WAI therefore goes to look for HUNG, hoping that she can let LONG to stay in Moon Yuen. YIP is horrified to know that HIU CHING is caught in a fire disaster. He hurries to hospital, where he only finds out that it is a false alarm; he proposes a marriage to HIU CHING. Ignoring traditional taboo, SHAN promises the marriage of YIP and HIU CHING……
HIU CHING confesses to YIP frankly that it is the money that brings them together. The half drunk YIP cannot cope with the instigation; he picks up a knife on the ground and he stabs HIU CHING unexpectedly. CHEONG takes YIP and the knife back home, where he tells SHAN what happens. For defending YIP, SHAN insists to claim that YIP does not kill HIU CHING. Mrs. LEUNG becomes insane; MAN and WAH have a dispute again for this. After WAH pays compensation to Mrs. LEUNG, MAN and WAH eventually become friends again. In order to forget HIU CHING, YIP throws all the products, “Passion Perfume”, that should be delivered to Shanghai, into the sea. He also expresses to SHAN that he will be playful in the world from now on; SHAN has an aching heart for this. What YIP has done makes Halle de Fleur suffer a great loss; TIN suggests SHAN to adopt BONG to be his son……
On seeing that SHAN has done a lot of things for YIP, WAI is touched and she cannot help but be grateful to his love and care since childhood. PUN suggests to SHAN that YIP and SUET get marry so as to settle the grudges of the two families. Though SHAN has good feeling to SUET, it is a pity that YIP objects the proposal. SHAN is instigated and he eventually sent to hospital because of cerebral hemorrhage. Quoting herself as example, WAI advises YIP to think about SHAN; YIP cannot put forth any argument. He therefore announces the marriage with SUET on the day when SHAN is discharged from hospital. Knowing that the marriage is brought up by PUN, TIN is angry that he has been used by PUN. SIN points out to SHEUNG that her status in the family will be in danger if SUET comes into CHUK’s family. SHAN reprimands SIN in anger after hearing this. YIP wants to takes SUET to make a wedding gown; SUET suddenly feels uneasy……
In order not to let WAI have further grievances because of him, LONG decides to leave Moon Yuen. The floating cash in CHUK’s family becomes tight as SHAN has admitted into hospital. SIN blames WAI for not doing her job properly; WAI makes a concession helplessly, paying SIN with monthly salary as usual. TIN tells BONG to check CHEONG’s account books, boldly saying that CHEONG is not trustworthy. SHAN eventually wakes up, but TIN does not allow his children to see him, stating that SHAN needs a good rest. After FONG and CHING go to Guangzhou to look for YIP, they come to know that YIP will go to Shanghai; they therefore take a train to follow. It is a pity that YIP has changed his mind. On instruction of SHAN, TIN tells WAH to change the will. TIN thinks that he will have full control of the family. However, SHAN has a severe cough constantly when signing the will, for which he has to stop signing the contract……
MAN and WAI make some sweet snack for SHAN, who feels relieved to see the two girls more intimate than before; he decides to amend the will. In order not to make SHAN instigated again, WAI refuses HUNG to visit SHAN. When WAI and others prepare the reunion party to celebrate SHAN’s discharge from hospital, BONG unexpectedly receives call from hospital, saying that the sickness of SHAN deteriorates. SHAN is in coma; TIN advises all to go home. Actually, TIN discovers that SHAN prepares to amend the will; TIN is against the will amendment; he goes to argue with SHAN, which makes SHAN’s sickness deteriorated. After playing chess with an old man, YIP is suddenly enlightened. He decides to go home but his wallet is stolen unexpectedly. YIP and FONG meet at a telegraph station and they return to Hong Kong together. TIN prevent YIP and others from seeing SHAN, to which all are dissatisfied……
WAI reprimands TIN when seeing him wearing SHAN’s overcoat; with the explanation given by BONG, it comes to know that it is a misunderstanding. In his dream, YIP has the encouragement from SHAN, telling YIP that he needs to do a good management of Halle de Fleur with a determined mind. SUET and CHI encounter an accident when they run away from home - CHI dies in the accident, SUET becomes disabled and the unborn baby is aborted as a result. PUN blames himself for this; he is willing to settle the lawsuit with CHUK’s family. WAH reads out the will, stating that TIN is authorized to manage Halle de Fleur; MAN points out that it is not SHAN’s will. WAH helplessly denotes that SHAN has died before the new will is signed; sons and daughters are depressed. TIN and SIN intends to drive away SHAN’s children one by one. Since TIN and SIN fear that BONG may not have the stone heart to drive them away, they send BONG away to Guangzhou……
