- Excellent! - Excellent!
Excellent!
(Xiangsheng Troupe)
♪The border mountains cry out in distress, fires rage across the land♪
It's over there!
♪A female general marches out of Lan Pass♪
I'll do it.
- Excellent! - Excellent!
♪Who says women fall short of men?
♪Enemy generals stand seven feet tall♪
♪But with a single roar of fury♪
You're a good swine in this lifetime.
Be a good person in the next.
I'm done.
There's plenty of pig blood. Get a pail.
=Pursuit of Jade=
(Adapted from Tuanzi Laixi's novel, "Pursuit of Jade")
=Episode 1=
Our feast will begin right away.
- All right. - All right.
There's no need to rush.
I thought Fan Er's family just had a funeral.
Why did Young Lady Chen hire
Changyu to slaughter the pig meant for the Chinese New Year feast?
It's because she took pity on her.
The Fan couple was killed by bandits.
They didn't leave any inheritances behind.
They only left two daughters behind.
Luckily, Changyu is a capable girl.
She followed in her father's footsteps
and made a living as a butcher.
She managed to hold the Fan family together single-handedly.
She's quite pitiful.
The Fan couple is such good people.
Why did they end up like that?
- Madam Kang. - Hurry and have a seat.
I think their daughter jinxed them to death.
Don't spout such nonsense.
Didn't I tell you already?
Fan Er's wife was such a beauty.
Who knows? Perhaps she came from a brothel.
If not, why would a beauty like her get married to a butcher like Fan Er?
My goodness.
We should respect the deceased.
Let's drop the topic.
Did I say anything wrong?
She might have inherited
her mother's good looks,
but that strength of hers?
Forget about any lady.
Even a bulky guy wouldn't be able to match her strength.
She's truly strong.
That lass,
she's tough as nails.
I didn't say that.
She's engaged to Song Yan, right?
And, the Song family
went to match their birthdates.
But the result
was unbelievable.
She was said to be a star of ill omen.
I've never heard about that.
After that, the Song family called off
the engagement in a hurry.
I see.
What are you doing?
Madam Kang, have some pig's blood.
It'll get rid of your misfortunes.
- You! - You...
Just look at her! What an unruly girl!
Look at what she has done!
Young Lady Chen said
that she'll share half of the pig with her neighbors.
Come and take your part.
Wait, you!
Let's hurry!
Did I say anything wrong?
You're just a jinx!
You jinxed your parents to death!
- And your husband-to-be as well! - Enough.
Your sister was born with a sickly constitution.
You jinxed her as well!
That's enough.
Wait, just look at her!
Madam Kang, you should take your share.
Stop stealing! That's mine!
That's mine!
We were here first!
Changyu,
here's your wage.
Thank you, Young Lady Chen.
Our feast will begin soon.
Why don't you join us?
No, thanks.
My family just had a funeral.
Not only did you not mind it, but you also hired me.
You're already kind enough to me.
All right, then.
You should take this pork offal with you.
How can I?
Just take them.
Your father used to make the best braised pork offal.
If I keep them, they'll go to waste.
You can take them back and cook them for Changning.
Thank you so much.
If so, I'll head back first.
Changning is still waiting for me at home.
Changyu.
Chongzhou is in a state of war.
Our place might be affected, too.
You must be careful on your way home.
Don't worry.
I checked the almanac before going out.
Today's an auspicious date.
What a fine girl.
It's a shame
that she has to lead such a rough life.
Four, five, six...
Ten, eleven, twelve...
Fourteen...
Sorry about this...
I'm truly sorry for bothering you...
I didn't do it on purpose!
You're a good swine in this lifetime.
Be a good person in the next!
I didn't do it on purpose!
Jade Emperor, Empress of Heaven, please bless me!
He's not breathing...
He's going to stop breathing soon.
Changyu.
Time to go home.
This won't do. My family is poor.
I can't save you.
I have a younger sister to support.
What if you're a bad guy?
Changyu, don't be soft-hearted.
Time to go home.
Let's go home!
I'm here to save you!
Don't die on me!
Everything's fine!
(You're a good swine in this lifetime.)
(Be a good person in the next.)
Mother...
I'm sure my mother wanted me to save you.
Pull yourself together!
Please don't die on me!
My mother wanted me to save you!
Changning?
Changning, open the door!
Changyu!
I went to town today to watch a shadow puppet show.
They told the story of a female general.
Changyu?
Help me take some stuff.
Changyu.
Who is that?
I found him on the road.
He was barely alive.
Madam, please help me take him to our house.
This...
You carried him all the way home
without knowing if he's good or bad for sure.
And, he's a man, too.
You aren't married yet, you know?
Aren't you afraid that people might criticize you for it?
No one saw you on your way back, right?
The wounds he sustained
were similar to my parents'.
I'm sure he encountered bandits, too.
So I don't care that much anymore.
Carry him to my house.
We mustn't bring bad luck to your family again.
What if he dies?
Either he dies outside,
or he dies in my house.
Let's go.
Come on.
My husband went to the town post station to run some errands.
I need to bring him back.
Look after him for now.
Changning, come here.
You have to keep guard over him, too.
A man and a woman shouldn't be in a room alone.
I'll return soon.
Okay.
Why is he bleeding this much?
You mustn't die
before Mister Zhao comes back.
I've at least gone out with him to treat some patients before.
Desperate times call for drastic measures.
Changning, get me some hot water.
But Madam Zhao said
a man and a woman shouldn't be in a room alone.
I'll keep guard over him.
That doesn't matter anymore.
If we keep this up, he'll surely die on us! Just go!
That's the dosage we used back then.
But the previous patient didn't bleed that much.
I'll use all of it.
Changyu, what's going on?
He...
What are you doing?
I'm feeding him medicine.
You!
My goodness!
You actually used all of it?
Are you trying to save him or harm him here?
Changyu, what are you doing?
I was thinking that the previous patient didn't bleed as much as him.
That's why I used a higher dosage.
Your previous patient was a donkey!
A donkey, you know?
How could that be the same as a human?
If he finishes the medicine,
forget about a human,
even the strongest of donkeys would've died immediately!
Why are you shouting?
I was thinking that I should save him
so that he wouldn't die in your house.
That's why I used a higher dosage.
One can die from eating too much rice.
Why didn't you eat yourself to death?
Can we die from eating too much rice?
Enough already.
You two should head outside first.
- Ladies should wait outside. - Leave now.
Changyu and her sister are barely surviving.
Why did she take him home?
Why didn't you stop her?
Just look at his face,
and you'll know why.
How can I stop her?
So what if he's good-looking?
He can't make a living just by being a handsome man.
This mister is so good-looking.
Changyu, is that why you carried him home?
Nonsense.
I'm trying to save him here.
It has nothing to do with his looks.
The scouts tracked him from Chongzhou all the way here.
The blood stain vanished at this very spot.
It has been snowing for a full day and night.
The footprints have been completely covered.
This is Jizhou,
(Wei Sheng) which is He Jingyuan's territory.
It's inconvenient for us to hold a private investigation.
Report it to the Capital and wait for His Excellency's decision.
Let's go.
- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
(Chunfeng Tofu Stall)
(Xigu Lane)
Changyu, you're back.
Changyu.
Changyu!
Changyu, please wait.
Changyu.
It's been half a month since we last met,
and you've gotten more and more beautiful.
So,
were you collecting the prescription for Changning?
You see, I...
Please get straight to the point.
You see,
since the engagement
has been called off,
it's pointless for you to keep that letter of engagement.
- Why don't you... - You want the letter back?
Fine by me.
Let's settle the debt first.
Return to me the tuition fees I've covered for Song Yan over the years,
along with the financial support I've provided for you and your son.
Settle the debt,
and you can have the letter back.
You shouldn't blame us for calling off the engagement.
It's because the fortune teller said your birthdate was unfortunate.
Don't tell me you want my son
to marry a jinx.
Speaking of the debt,
the debt is between your parents and us.
Not you.
My father signed the letter of engagement with you.
You can head to the underworld and retrieve it from him.
Darned lass!
Stop right there!
Mother.
Please be appeased.
Some things
are best explained to her by me.
Yan,
that darned lass
is just after your fame.
And she knows that you're soft-hearted.
That's why she's not willing to let you go.
She's here to cash in on the favor she was owed.
In just a few days,
- Cash in - the county magistrate
- on the favor I was owed? - will come to help us move.
- She'll receive her just deserts. - Mother, you should go inside.
Yu.
I, Song Yan, am no ungrateful person.
I've always remembered the kindness of the Fan family.
But filial piety is the foremost of all virtues.
If I resist my mother's order and marry you by force,
I'll turn into an unfilial son.
Although we cannot be husband and wife,
we can still be siblings.
As for what you've said just now,
I'll take it as if you said that out of spite.
I won't take them to heart.
No.
You have to take them to heart.
Siblings, huh? No, thanks.
Even true siblings keep a clear account with each other.
I'm most annoyed by
the people who badmouthed me behind my back
and spread rumors that I was a jinx.
And they even said that I was cashing in on the favor I was owed
by forcing Song Yan to marry me.
Someone else said that about you.
What has that got to do with us?
I didn't say that it was you.
Why are you in a hurry to acknowledge it?
- Darned lass! - Mother!
Yu, I don't care about what other people think of me.
But after all the years of affection I've given you,
must we measure everything solely by the money?
Yes. That's the only way we can measure it.
Give me the money, and I'll give you the letter.
Don't try to gross me out with all this talk of friendship.
Even the two pigs I rear are better than you two.
You two
are total ingrates.
What did you say?
Darned lass!
You'd better mind your words!
- You're the pig here! - Mother!
- You and your family are pigs! - Mother!
No wonder you're a butcher!
What was that?
The old saying is absolutely right.
Spend your money on a man,
and the heavens will punish you.
There's a man lying inside your house right now, you know?
You startled me.
Here you go.
So, were you punished by the heavens
after getting this for that man?
Changyu,
the young man has awakened.
You should go and check on him.
Really?
I thought he would die for sure.
Mister Zhao, you're truly amazing.
You're a divine healer to people and animals alike!
Was she complimenting me?
Or was she being sarcastic?
You're awake.
I...
I saw you lying in the snow.
That's why I carried you back home.
But the one who saved you from death's door
was Mister Zhao.
He changed your clothes as well.
This is his house.
He's a physician.
He treats donkeys and horses.
Of course, he treats human patients as well.
Thank you.
Have you seen anyone else
when you carried me home?
Anyone else?
You were the only one I saw.
Were there other people buried under the snow as well?
I'll get you some water.
Here.
Where am I?
This is Xigu Lane, Lin'an Town, Qingping County.
You don't look like a local.
Where are you from?
What's your name?
Did you encounter bandits?
My name is Yan Zheng.
Yan, as in language,
Zheng, as in justice.
I escaped from Chongzhou and came all the way here.
If so, do you have any other relatives?
I am a solitary soul. [*Sounds like a name Jie Ran'er.]
Jie Ran'er? [* She didn't realize it was an ancient Chinese phrase.]
So, he doesn't have Yan as his surname?
Is he your stepfather?
I mean,
I'm the only surviving member of the family.
Sorry about that.
No wonder you were calling for your mother
when I was rescuing you.
Mister Zhao!
What happened?
What's with the severe cough?
I don't know either.
He started coughing
when I mentioned his mother.
Why did you mention his mother?
We mustn't trigger the patient at this crucial moment.
Mother of god.
Why did you mention it, then?
Look!
Hurry. Help him out.
Yan Zheng?
(Yan Zheng)
What should we do if he actually died from
my questions?
Even the thinnest coffin is expensive.
Why don't we
just dig a hole and bury him?
Changyu,
why don't we ask the heavens?
That'll do.
We'll let the heavens decide.
Let's decide with a grass fight.
If my grass is snapped, we'll buy a coffin for him.
If your grass is snapped, we'll dig a hole.
Okay.
Let's make it a best of three.
Third time's the charm.
Again.
The heavens have repeated it three times.
Let's buy a coffin for him.
But my pocket is saying otherwise.
Let's just dig a hole.
Mister Zhao,
don't blame yourself for failing to save him.
It's his destiny after all.
What is this?
Changyu is stingy.
The heavens want her to buy a coffin for the handsome mister,
but she insists on brushing it off with just a hole.
Who said I was brushing it off?
I even carved a wooden tablet for him.
Look, it's his name, Yan Zheng.
Luckily,
I could write both of these characters.
Hurry and throw away all these inauspicious things!
That young man has a great constitution.
In addition, you fed him
the medicine that helped him stop the bleeding.
He coughed out a mouthful of congealed blood.
His life is out of danger.
That's great!
He survived!
Yeah, he survived!
Don't celebrate yet.
The prescription he's taking
is more expensive than buying a coffin outright.
Changning.
We'll be having noodles tonight.
Head to the kitchen
and bring me half a basin of brine.
Okay.
Changyu, come here.
What are you thinking?
Changning was sickly from the start.
And she's still taking her prescriptions.
How can you afford his prescription?
Does this young man
have any other family members?
A solitary soul.
- Come again? - Come again?
He said all of his kin have perished.
He was the only surviving member.
He escaped from Chongzhou all the way here.
He encountered bandits at Hu Fork.
Right now,
I don't think he has anywhere else to go.
If so,
does he have any money
or a travel permit?
I searched his belongings when I helped him get changed.
He had nothing at all.
It's either
that he was robbed by the bandits,
or that he was poor in the first place.
Why don't we take him to the magistrate's office
and let the local officials deal with him?
That won't do.
There are plenty of beggars lying outside the magistrate's office.
When have they dealt with them?
That's right.
We can deal with him however we want if he's dead.
Since he's still alive, we must look after him.
We'll let him rest and recuperate first.
As for the money,
I'll come up with something.
(Xigu Lane)
Dry weather alert!
Beware of fire!
(To Always Have Food)
Two, four, six, eight, ten...
Five, ten, eleven...
Mother,
if you were the one who wanted me to save him,
should I look after him until the end?
What should I do?
(Luo's Pawn Shop)
Just one tael of silver?
This hairpin is made of silver.
My father bought this for around three taels of silver.
I know it's made of silver,
but I can only give you one tael and five coins for it.
It's all because of the incident that happened to your family.
If you go anywhere else...
Hey!
Don't leave!
We can negotiate a deal.
Two taels of silver.
Take it or leave it.
Come.
On account of our ties as neighbors on Xigu Lane,
I'll go easy on you this time.
Press your thumbprint here.
I'll definitely redeem it in the future.
It's very important to me.
Don't worry about it.
(Sign and seal)
(Pawn Shop)
What a rare treasure.
Let's go.
Changyu,
did you buy some new pigs?
Fan Er Meat Shop is reopening tomorrow.
Please support us.
She's the owner now.
We'll surely support you.
Changyu.
Mister Li?
Are you inheriting
your father's business?
I have to make a living somehow.
That's the spirit.
(Li Deqin) Don't pay any heed to the rest.
(Chef of Yixiang Restaurant) So what if you're a butcher?
Meals know no gender, neither does work.
Thank you, Mister Li.
Look.
These are the pigs I picked
using my father's picking method.
These pigs have round butts and short tails.
They have thick hides and plump flesh.
They'll surely yield prime cuts of meat.
Since that's the case,
there's no way I can miss out on it.
Yixiang Restaurant will reserve half a pig from you.
Thank you, Mister Li.
- See you. - Okay.
Let's go!
Come on.
- Come on. - Changyu.
Buying some pigs, huh?
- Yes. - They're so plump.
Come on.
Come...
Piggy, you're so obedient.
Don't obstruct the path, okay?
Let's hurry.
Let's hurry!
Time to go!
Come.
Come on.
Time to go home.
(Let me know you're well. )
(Xigu Lane, Lin'an Town)
Is that a white-tailed falcon?
Who threw that?
That hurts!
Where did the pebble come from?
Who threw this at me?
I'm going to kill him!
Come!
Are you sure you haven't seen him around?
No. I'm from this village.
Harboring fugitives is a crime punishable by imprisonment.
- Be honest. - Sir, don't worry.
- Check that area. - I'll surely do so.
- What happened? - Cut the talk short.
How many other families are there?
Sir,
why don't I take you to a physician first?
Get lost. Investigate the families ahead.
- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
Let's go.
What's going on?
They're searching every family
for fugitives without any household registration.
Oh, god.
I thought they were here to collect the grain tax.
Why are they suddenly looking for fugitives?
They're going to round them up
and send them to the battlefield in Chongzhou.
The situation over there is urgent.
Those who are there will be sent to the Vanguard Corps.
What does the Vanguard Corps do?
Are they strong?
They will be sent to their deaths.
Yan Zheng,
do you have a travel permit and household registration?
I do.
But I've lost them.
You lost them?
Why don't you try looking for them?
Are they on you right now?
Didn't you already search my body
when you helped me get changed?
I...
I did it to save you.
Don't misunderstand me.
How did you know?
You!
This isn't the time for this.
Without those materials,
they'll see you as a fugitive.
And they'll send you to the Vanguard Corps.
What should we do?
The soldiers will be here soon.
Since they're coming,
I mustn't stay here
and cause trouble for you all any longer.
I have an idea.
There's a place for you to hide.
Open the door.
Open the door!
Constable? What's the matter?
Changyu,
are you home alone?
Sir, this is the Fan Residence.
It's connected to the Zhao Residence.
Did you take any strangers in?
No.
Our town is small.
We know everyone in the neighborhood,
even the stray animals.
I didn't take anyone in.
There's no one.
- I found nothing. - I found nothing.
Me too.
Squad Leader!
Squad Leader, look.
How do you explain
this bloody cloth?
What's going on?
Who in your household was injured?
No one.
I'm a butcher. This is the cloth I used to wipe blood off my cleaver.
I just butchered a pig not long ago.
Are you serious?
You two, keep guard over the front yard.
The rest of you, come with me.
Sir,
the Fan family used to be butchers.
You're just a girl.
Can you butcher a pig by yourself?
Do you know
that hiding fugitives is a serious crime?
It's the same as colluding with our enemies!
Your family will be banished and deported!
Sir,
my parents are already dead.
Now,
only my sister and I are left.
Changyu.
Come here.
Are you actually hiding a fugitive?
If anyone harbors a fugitive,
the neighborhood will be held liable as well!
I'm sure you don't want your neighbors
to be dragged down by you, right?
If you hand him over right now,
I can still speak up for you.
I can say that the fugitive was holding you hostage.
On alert!
Sir found you, huh?
Come here.
Sorry about that, sir.
My sister and I were playing hide-and-seek.
You guys came all of a sudden.
I haven't had the chance to tell her to come out.
I found nothing.
Me too.
All right.
Investigate the next family.
Let's go.
Go search the pig pen as well.
Yes, sir.
He makes me search all over the place.
It's just a stupid pig pen. What even is there for me to search?
Sir, the pigs might bite.
Sir, watch out for the offal on the ground.
There's no one!
There are only two pigs!
Changning, lock the door.
It's me.
I'm here.
♪Laughter and fragrance drift away in the night breeze♪
♪I searched for him a thousand times in the crowd♪
They've left.
Don't worry.
♪Suddenly, I turned around♪
♪And there he stood♪
♪Amidst the dimly lit lanterns♪
♪I searched for him a thousand times in the crowd♪
♪Suddenly, I turned around♪
♪And there he stood♪
You're safe now.
♪Amidst the dimly lit lanterns♪
(Easter Eggs)
- Excellent! - Excellent!
♪In the depths of winter, snow dust dances across the northern wilderness♪
♪Our first meeting came amid peril on the snowy ground♪
♪Heaven bestowed our bond, our hearts pledged to each other♪
Whose kid are you? Get out!
Get out!
What are you doing?
Don't come here! Whose kid is this?
What is she doing?
♪The soldier's armor now replaced by the chef's knife's gleam♪
That lass...
Everyone, sorry about that.
Please pardon us.
♪Hooves in a war-torn land♪
♪Who remains in wind and snow?♪
♪How many lives♪
♪Hang by a single thread♪
♪Smoke rises from our homeland♪
♪Who can stand apart from the world?♪
♪The sun sets, I say nothing♪
♪Autumn colors fall♪
♪Who steps lightly on maple leaves and leaves♪
♪Rain on parasol trees♪
♪Swallows carry mud beneath the eaves♪
♪The warmth of life in this ancient town♪
♪Who was I meant to meet♪
♪We vowed to stand through life and death♪
♪May our oath be fulfilled♪
♪I hold our fate with care♪
♪I will not let go♪
♪Yet war drums and pounding hooves♪
♪Shatter the ending♪
♪In this mortal world we come and go♪
♪You turn away, brows drawn♪
♪You leave with your sword♪
♪Taking every secret with you♪
♪I hold our fate with care♪
♪I will not let go♪
♪Yet we always meet♪
♪On battlefields in flames♪
♪In tangled destiny, the memories you gave♪
♪Are gentle as jade♪
♪After countless battles♪
♪May we return to where we first met♪