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大藥坊
The Dou family of Foshan is an affluent family that owns and runs Sheung Chun Tong, the largest traditional Chinese apothecary in town. When an epidemic occurs in Foshan and the shop's medicine is found to be the cause, the shop owner is accused of murder and is imprisoned. In order to help release her father, the family's only daughter, Dou Gaai-kei, sets out to investigate.
TO SUM is at the helm of the century-old pharmaceutical factory, Sheung Chun Tong, and all his family members are busy cleaning up everywhere in preparation for his daughter, KAI-KEI's wedding ceremony, making the rats that were hidden in their warehouse run out and all over the place. Most ignorant poor people believe that the rats from Sheung Chun Tong are elixirs, so they seize the opportunity to grab as many rats as possible. TO SUM's half brother, TO YUNG, urges the workers to tidy up the pharmaceutical warehouse, leading to a dispute between the doctor and the guard. Fortunately, with KAI-KEI's help, the problem is resolved. Seeking aid from her fiancé, CHONG KAI-CHO, who is the Deputy Mayor of Foshan, KAI-KEI tries to locate a father and a daughter from Hunan because they captured the rats.… ...
Seeing that SHEK has been sick with the red rash for a month and is in very critical condition, KAI-KEI diagnoses that he is suffering from a cold rash. Before that, KAI-CHO was bitten and injured by SHEK, so KAI-KEI helps attend to his injuries. KWAN-YEUK's father, Major General HUI SHUNG-MING, is a warlord, and NGAI CHUN used to work for him. With TO YUNG thinking that KAI-KEI is going to check the accounts, his mother, FUNG-YEE, urges him to be patient as Sheung Chun Tong will be in the palm of his hands in a few years. Because KAI-CHO's father, CHONG TUN-YU, is the Mayor of Foshan, all the celebrities send their gifts in celebration of KAI-CHO's wedding. His wife YU SAU-MUI reminds him that he would have to submit 70% of the income from the treasury to SHUNG-MING as his military expenses, so he must deal with it carefully.… ...
After waking up in the morning, KAI-CHO feels very uncomfortable, and a red rash appears on his face, above which he even has a fever. Upon their arrival at Sheung Chun Tong, SAU-MUI and KAI-CHO notice that there has been a large amount of patients with a red rash appearing on their faces, so they worry that there is an outbreak of a pandemic. As all of them intend to hold SHEK and his family accountable for this, KAI-KEI expresses that it's a cold rash, which is not contagious, but none of them believes her. It will take KAI-CHO five days to fully recover from his sickness if he takes the medicine. In light of this, KAI-CHO suggests postponing the wedding ceremony, yet SAU-MUI claims that they'd rather not do so. Not only for the wedding ceremony but also for his reputation, TO SUM writes a prescription which contains Eighteen Antagonisms, and names it the 9-9 Wellness Pill.… ...
The imperial physician of the fallen Qing Dynasty, SHEUNG SIK-KANG notices the 9-9 Wellness Pill, indicating that not only does no one ever know the prescription, but none dares to use it. He thereby praises TO SUM for being bold enough to use such medicine. Telling HUNG BING and the others to pour all the 9-9 Wellness Pills into a bathtub and dissolve them with hot water, SIK-KANG then grabs YAT-YUEN and forces him to soak himself in the tubful of the hot liquid medicine to treat his illness. TO YUNG and his mother express their strong dissatisfaction with regard to the fact that Sheung Chun Tong has spent three thousand silver dollars to do the charity. Having heard of this, TO SUM cannot help but to reprimand the two.… ...
Going to the municipal government to check the accounts, SHUNG-MING finds out the total income is less than before, so KAI-CHO explains that they have offered tax breaks to relieve the people's tax burden because the war was just over. SHUNG-MING then complains that the Chinese wine they used to treat him is not as good as the foreign ones, demanding KAI-CHO to get him the French wine namely Louis XII. NGAI CHUN urges YAT-YUEN to find him three bottles of Louis XII, and quick-witted YAT-YUEN successfully accomplishes this impossible task. Having received a telegram, TUN-YU learns that KAI-CHUNG is unable to attend his brother's wedding in time. KAI-CHO has a high fever after taking the 9-9 Wellness Pill, meanwhile, a large amount of people pour into Sheung Chun Tong after nightfall. So TUN-YU suspects that there must be something wrong with the 9-9 Wellness Pill.… ...
TUN-YU and his wife accuse TO SUM of murdering KAI-CHO, so SHUNG-MING orders to take TO SUM into police custody and close down Sheung Chun Tong. Blaming himself for having killed KAI-CHO, TO SUM still has no idea how come the Wellness Pill is poisonous. Having heard that TO SUM is imprisoned, YUK-KAM is very worried, however, FUNG-YEE and TO YUNG give a cold response to this. On the other hand, NGAI CHUN lets YAT-YUEN handle KAI-CHO's funeral. KAI-KEI goes to the mourning hall, hoping to pay tribute to the late KAI-CHO, but is scolded and driven away by TUN-YU and SAU-MUI. So she sneaks into the mass, who are sending the wreaths, in an attempt to enter the mourning hall again. Having noticed this, YAT-YUEN decides to give her a hand. Upon his return to Foshan, KAI-CHUNG thinks that KAI-CHO will blame him for not attending his wedding without knowing that his brother KAI-CHO is already dead.… ...
KAI-CHUNG points out that the way his parents treated KAI-KEI is outrageous, and he does not believe that TO SUM and his daughter killed KAI-CHO; whereas TUN-YU thinks KAI-CHUNG to be disobedient, intending to hit him. When YUK-KAM sends some food to KAI-KEI, who has no appetite, she tells KAI-KEI to look after herself because TO YUNG is so unreliable that she can only rely on KAI-KEI to rescue TO SUM. Making excuses that only money can save TO SUM, FUNG-YEE and TO YUNG try to coax some money out of YUK-KAM. Later on, TO YUNG informs his mother that he discovered TO SUM's bank book, which shows that TO SUM has $300,000 in total savings, and they can withdraw the money if they are able to get the name chop. Sensing that TO YUNG is up to something, NGAI CHUN uncovers the bank book that belongs to TO SUM, and hands it in to SHUNG-MING. SHUNG-MING endeavors to keep the money all to himself, so NGAI CHUN comes up with an idea.… ...
Threatening TO SUM, NGAI CHUN not only accuses him of killing the Deputy Mayor of Foshan, but also forces him to sign a confession statement. With SHUNG-MING urging TUN-YU to sign off the guilty verdict in TO SUM's case, KAI-CHUNG questions his father as to how come they find TO SUM guilty without a trial. KAI-KEI tries to stop NGAI CHUN from closing down Sheung Chun Tong. As NGAI CHUN is about to aim his baton on KAI-KEI, KAI-CHUNG shows up in the nick of time, stopping him from doing so. Upon their arrival at TO's residence, YAT-YUEN and KAM FOOK see KAI-CHUNG being beaten up by the police. Though NGAI CHUN claims that KAI-KEI and the others can take their personal belongings at first, YAT-YUEN hints to KAI-KEI that they'd better not take anything that they would want to keep because they should not trust NGAI CHUN. KAI-KEI begs YAT-YUEN not to burn down their medicine, nevertheless, YAT-YUEN tells her to accept the reality.… ...
HUNG BING makes it clear that YAT-YUEN can hardly survive if he has to hand in a thousand silver dollars to NGAI CHUN within a few days, because YAT-YUEN does not want to burn down the medicine nor sell the machines. Having learned of the first aid that KAI-KEI gave to YAT-YUEN, SIK-KANG is impressed that KAI-KEI has such courage and wisdom at such a young age. Without warning, HUNG BING's mother HUNG YUET-HO returns home from Shanghai. When YAT-YUEN asks her whether anything happened to PIN-PIN, she replies that PIN-PIN will soon come back to Foshan as well. Claiming to be a mere puppet in the hands of SHUNG-MING, TUN-YU whines that he would not get himself tangled in such an insoluble dilemma if only his wife hadn't told him to get acquainted with SHUNG-MING years ago.… ...
Seeing that KAI-CHUNG doesn't let go of SHUNG-MING in defiance of his own safety, KWAN-YUET tries to persuade KAI-CHUNG not to do so. All of a sudden, TUN-YU receives an urgent telegram from Nanjing, instructing him to hand in all the money that was seized from Sheung Chun Tong. Suspecting that it's KAI-CHUNG who divulged this information, SHUNG-MING orders NGAI CHUN to probe into the matter. Going to KAI-CHUNG's home in person, SHUNG-MING intends to take revenge on KAI-CHUNG for what he has done, but SAU-MUI reveals that her son has already returned to Japan, above which she even gets down on her knees to beg SHUNG-MING, hoping that he will do her a favor. NGAI CHUN hunts down and aims his gun at KAI-CHUNG, who gets shot and falls into the water. Paying a visit to her father, KAI-KEI inquires about the method to cure YAT-YUEN, unfortunately, TO SUM has lost his confidence and dares not to make a diagnosis anymore.… ...
NGAI CHUN coerces HUNG BING to disclose the whereabouts of KAI-CHUNG, subsequently, KAI-CHUNG falls into NGAI CHUN's hands. After NGAI CHUN instructs MAN KEUNG and the others to hide KAI-CHUNG in a secret place, YAT-YUEN urges KAI-KEI to seek help from TUN-YU, whereas he himself tails after MAN KEUNG. Going to the municipal government, CHING-WING intends to meet KAI-CHUNG, but TUN-YU dares not to reveal the truth under threat from NGAI CHUN. KAI-KEI is shut out of the house when seeking aid from TUN-YU, and she then runs into CHING-WING when feeling so helpless. Without warning, CHING-WING arrives at the Police Department, offering to treat NGAI CHUN and his fellow police officers to a dinner for their meritorious conduct. In the meantime, YAT-YUEN goes to rescue KAI-CHUNG.… ...
KAI-KEI thinks that YAT-YUEN is really weird, and she cannot tell whether he is good or evil; whereas YAT-YUEN states that he tries his best at anything as if it's his last chance because he thinks that he cannot live longer than 35 years. For fear of provoking SHUNG-MING, SAU-MUI goes in person to apologize to him, who instead asks SAU-MUI to look after KWAN-YEUK as he worries that he might be shot to death once he returns to Nanjing. YUK-KAM goes to the prison to visit TO SUM, but TO SUM tells her to leave TO's family as he does not want to be a drag on her and waste her youth. With KAI-CHUNG proposing a reform of the government due to the reason that the system is outdated, TUN-YU is concerned that KAI-CHUNG should not act in haste. KAI-KEI goes to the Golden Lane to attend to YAT-YUEN's illness, during which YAT-YUEN introduces her to SIK-KANG, who even seizes the opportunity to test her medical skills.… ...
YUK-KAM feels dizzy. After checking YUK-KAM's pulse, KAI-KEI concludes that she will fully recover as long as she drinks the soup with saffron and dong quai, following which she goes to the storehouse to fetch some medicinal materials for YUK-KAM. At midnight, KAI-KEI goes to fetch some golden threads from the storehouse, and SIK-KANG teaches her the way to inspect the Eighteen Antagonisms. According to SIK-KANG, the Eighteen Antagonisms are proven to be poisonous once the golden threads change color. Leading Madam WAH and several women to the clinic, YUET-HO specifically requests KAI-KEI to diagnose them. As a result, SIK-KANG lets KAI-KEI register as a visiting doctor in his clinic. Noticing that YUK-KAM is decocting the medicinal materials, TO YUNG comes up with a plot to make a duplicate of the storehouse key.… ...
A man goes to the clinic for medical consultation. Because the prescription given by SIK-KANG contains some rare and precious medicinal materials, the man argues with SIK-KANG to express his dissatisfaction. In the end, KAI-KEI replaces those precious medicinal materials with comparatively cheaper alternatives that have the same medicinal purpose. YUK-KAM leads TO YUNG to a flea market, where they successfully sell the bird nests. Having spotted TO YUNG, HUNG BING tails after him and thus uncovers that he and YUK-KAM sell the bird nests in the flea market. Father THOMAS reveals that Roman Curia has allocated twenty thousand silver dollars for the set-up of the Foshan Relief Station, so KAI-CHUNG wants Father THOMAS to directly give him the facility for handling, yet Father THOMAS does not trust KAI-CHUNG at all.… ...
KAI-KEI shows up to stop TO YUNG and YUK-KAM when they are stealing the medicinal materials in the storehouse, however, TO YUNG and his mother FUNG-YEE scold her, claiming that she has already stolen the medicinal materials to sell ahead of them. Though KAI-KEI tries to explain, the two do not believe her. After Father THOMAS complains to KAI-CHUNG that there is a police officer taking bribes in the flea market, NGAI CHUN comes up with an idea, trying to make two newly recruited rookies to be their scapegoats. Later on, when NGAI CHUN invites KAI-CHUNG to the flea market, MAN KEUNG arranges the two rookies to patrol the place. While there, the two spot TO YUNG, who immediately gives them a bribe so as to prevent the medicinal materials from being seen, resulting in all three of them being arrested by NGAI CHUN. KAI-KEI goes to the municipal government to have a word with KAI-CHUNG.… ...
KAI-CHUNG intends to have someone he can trust to handle the relief supplies, so he seeks assistance from YAT-YUEN. YAT-YUEN and the others capture TO YUNG, through whom they reach a deal with Master PO that they will arrange to make delivery within two days, yet in fact, they are up to something on the sly. Instructing YUK-KAM to lure away KAI-KEI, TO YUNG moves the medicinal materials out. With NGAI CHUN reporting to TUN-YU that someone is engaged in smuggling, KAI-CHUNG goes together with NGAI CHUN to arrest the criminal. NGAI CHUN doesn't reveal that those who smuggle the medicinal materials are TO YUNG and YAT-YUEN until YAT-YUEN rows his boat and approaches the pier. Following YAT-YUEN and the others' escape, HUNG BING and WONGPO SAU suspect that it's TO YUNG who ratted them out.… ...
Confronting KAI-KEI's questions as to why he kept her in the dark about everything, YAT-YUEN has no other choice but to tell her the truth. KAI-CHUNG tells KAI-KEI about things with regard to TO YUNG, and over her reaction, KAI-CHUNG suspects that KAI-KEI has already known everything. Apart from practicing Kendo to vent his anger, KAI-CHUNG also challenges NGAI CHUN to a duel. NGAI CHUN deliberately lets KAI-CHUNG win after catching a glimpse of KWAN-YEUK. Having learned that KAI-CHUNG failed to capture the smugglers, KWAN-YEUK tries to persuade KAI-CHUNG to relax, during which KAI-CHUNG cannot help criticizing YAT-YUEN and KAI-KEI. With Father THOMAS informing KWAN-YEUK that the relief supplies are about to reach Foshan, KWAN-YEUK relays the message to KAI-CHUNG, who reveals his distribution plan to KWAN-YEUK, making her feel very impressed.… ...
PIN-PIN not only asks HUNG BING about YAT-YUEN, but also enquires about the relationship between KAI-KEI and YAT-YUEN. YAT-YUEN helps PIN-PIN search for a business property because PIN-PIN is going to open a pub. Having heard that the church is distributing relief supplies to the people, YUK-KAM goes there together with TO YUNG. While there, KAI-CHUNG reprimands TO YUNG for cutting in line, and TO YUNG is thereby driven away by the others. Later on in the street, TO YUNG sees a recruitment leaflet issued by a new pharmaceutical company, which turns out to be the business that Uncle CHEONG and the others jointly invested in, so TO YUNG vainly hopes to join them to be one of the owners. Although Dr. CHENG tactfully declines TO YUNG's request, Uncle YEUNG agrees to hire TO YUNG. On the other hand, YUK-KAM bumps into one of her bosom pals of the past, PIN-PIN, who offers to help after learning about YUK-KAM's current situation.… ...
Bringing his salary to the casino, TO YUNG not only loses all the money through gambling but also owes them thirty-six silver dollars, which must be paid off the following day. In desperation, he even coerces YUK-KAM to borrow money and help him pay off the debt. YAT-YUEN helps PIN-PIN find a batch of foreign wine, and to his surprise, PIN-PIN treats the money he paid for the wine as his investment on the pub, making him the co-owner. Reflecting on all the things she and YAT-YUEN have gone through together, PIN-PIN hopes that they will suffer no more hardship from now on. Suddenly, YAT-YUEN suffers chest pain, urging PIN-PIN to bring him to look for SIK-KANG. After YEUT-HO asks SIK-KANG to give her several packs of hangover soup, KAI-KEI queries as to what purpose are the hangover soup packs for, so YEUT-HO explains it to her in details.… ...
YAT-YUEN spots YUK-KAM working in the pub, so YUK-KAM begs him to keep this secret. Through her experiments, KAI-KEI manages to trace that the gold lingzhi is the source of the poison. Seeing that KAI-CHUNG and KWAN-YEUK both devote themselves to the relief mission, Father THOMAS is very satisfied with their effort, and he even intends to promote the relief project and expand their services to many other cities and provinces nationwide. After being informed by KAI-KEI that the source of the poison of Eighteen Antagonisms stems from the gold lingzhi, KAI-CHUNG tries to explain to the Nanjing Government that Sheung Chun Tong should not bear the legal responsibility for the poisoning incident. Having enquired with Uncle CHEONG, who was in charge of purchasing the medicinal materials, KAI-KEI learns that they bought the gold lingzhi through TO YUNG.… ...
