Season 1

In celebration of the old master SHEUNG TSOI-SHAN’s seventieth birthday, the Sheung family is busy putting the final touches on the birthday party. CHOI SIU-TIP, the First Wife of SHEUNG HANG, takes care of all family matters, big or small. Everyone in the family show great respect towards her. LIN NIN-WONG, the Second Wife of HANG, is busy selecting premium fabric for making her new dresses. She scolds and beats maid YUK LAN. She grows arrogant and does not respect anyone in the family as she gave birth to the only son of HANG. She snatches the fabric away from CHING SAU-HANG, the Third Wife of HANG. Nevertheless, SAU-HANG does not get angry at all. WONG keeps stirring troubles in the family and eventually provokes her husband. SHAN is eager to see his younger son SHEUNG WAN again, who is living abroad in France. Soon, WAN returns from France together with his wife SHUM WING-TUNG to celebrate SHAN’s birthday.… ...

WONG puts the blame for SHAN’s sudden death on WAN and SAU-HANG. It is all because of the ambiguous relationship between HANG, WAN, and SAU-HANG. TUNG has a heavy heart when she knows she is cheated by her husband. WAN starts telling his wife frankly about the past between SAU-HANG and himself. They have known each other since they were young. SAU-HANG looked after WAN’s young son after WAN’s wife had died. Later, they fell in love with each other and were getting married soon. At that time, Sheung’s Chamber was facing serious financial difficulty, HANG and TIP plotted to cheat SAU-HANG. Soon, SAU-HANG became HANG’s Third Wife. Reluctantly, WAN was forced to marry TUNG whose family was operating a gold mine. Therefore, the financial problem of Sheung’s Chamber was eased. Nevertheless, WAN and TUNG left the family and lived in France for eight years.… ...

WONG keeps complaining during a breakfast. It turns out that she is not happy with FEI-FEI as she did not obey the rule to treat her as well as the other wives the morning tea. TSAU-KUK, a maid in the Sheung family, also the personal attendant to the Forth Mistress SAU-HANG, worries that her mistress will lose the position in the family if she does not have a baby. She wants to buy her mistress a god statue which most people believe it helps to bring offspring. She uses all her savings to buy the statue. For fear that TSAU-KUK is being cheated, CHOW CHI-SHING breaks the statue, nevertheless, he promises to pay her back. Then, SHING brings TSAU-KUK to Sheung’s Chamber. It turns out that SHING works for HANG and has just returned to the company after his further study. Being verbally attacked by WONG during a mahjong game, FEI-FEI fights back by revealing the dark side of her past, that WONG had been a maid in the Sheung family.… ...

SHING saves a man who lies on the train track and tries to kill himself from hitting by a train. The man called NGAU used to work in Sheung’s Chamber. He wants to kill himself because he is sacked after being accused of stealing. TSAU-KUK knows the secret that the young master CHO is connected with the old master's death when she finds LAN is making offerings to the deceased old master. FEI-FEI carelessly hurts herself when she is playing and drinking. While TIP is away, TSAU-KUK is asked to find FEI-FEI a doctor from a far place. Although FEI-FEI and her baby are fine, TSAU-KUK is beaten hardly by WONG. TSAU-KUK discloses the secret about the old master's death to TIP when TIP is visiting her together with YEE. CHO is angry at his mother for being cruel and inhuman to servant, he climbs on the house roof. TIP climbs on the rooftop to talk to CHO and asks him to get down.… ...

HANG does not take WAN’s advice to put a notice of apology in newspaper. Instead, he promises reward for arresting NGAU. WAN openly tells the staff of Sheung Jewelry that HANG has done NGAU wrong. FEI-FEI goes out with TSUI-CHUK although she is asked to stay home and rest. She ends up falling to the ground and getting hurt. SAU-HANG leaves the family ancestral altar after praying for TSAU, she carelessly knocks over a censer. FEI-FEI tells the family she fell because she had stepped on the ashes. HANG flies into a rage upon learning FEI-FEI’s miscarriage, he beats SAU-HANG to death. WAN leads a rescuing team to search for his missing son. Soon, he finds NGAU and realizes that all he wants is to prove himself innocent. NGAU helps to find young master TSAU. At this time, a group of people is coming to arrest him. At the end of the day, NGAU saves TSAU from falling off the cliff.… ...

SAU-HANG is in great pain after being beaten up, she does not eat nor allow TSAU-KUK to clean her wounds. TUNG visits SAU-HANG, gives her food and cleans her wounds. WAN goes to work at Sheung’s Chamber. He has meal with the staff together. In order to stop WAN from gaining lower-level support, HANG demonstrates his superb craftsmanship in front of his staff. WING’s younger brother SHUM SHUNG-HEI has just arrived with his girlfriend. HANG wants to arrange marriage for his daughter as he wants to find more gold sources rather than depending heavily on SHUM’s supply. TIP wants her daughter meeting KWONG TUNG-LEUNG, the young master of the Kwong family, for arranged marriage. YEE realizes LEUNG is just a useless man from a very rich family. Carelessly, she drops her handkerchief into the water. LEUNG instructs his servant to help. Instead, SHING jumps into the water and gets her handkerchief back. YEE secretly falls in love with him.

One night, TUNG finds YEE is carrying her luggage and leaving home. Without informing HANG, TIP quietly asks CHUNG and SHING to find YEE and bring her home. TIP scolds YEE for not following her words. YEE stands strong that she will never marry LEUNG. Enraged, TIP slaps YEE in the face. TUNG cannot agree with TIP’s foolish obedience to her husband, and tells her the fact that she has already ruined HANG’s life. SAU-HANG is shocked to learn about their conversation. She feels even sick after knowing the secret behind her unwanted marriage. WONG does not want to live in fear, she asks TIP to bring SAU-HANG to a temple to drive out evil spirits. As soon as WAN has learnt the matter, he goes to the temple to stop them and brings SAU-HANG to hospital for treatment. FEI FEI encounters HEI when she is going out for fun. She does not realise HEI is actually the younger brother of TUNG until she back home.… ...

TIP decides to break the engagement between her daughter and LEUNG. After many efforts, she succeeds. LEUNG eventually renounces his engagement to YEE. HEI introduces western gadgets to people of the Sheung family. FEI FEI gets annoyed and irritated at seeing the intimate gestures between HEI and his girlfriend. FEI FEI deliberately provokes HEI’s girlfriend when she is playing snooker with HEI. WAN proposes a new business direction to HANG, to open up the western market by offering products like golden pen. However, HANG rejects his proposal, saying that the company is short of manpower as he needs to finish the big lantern for a General urgently. So, WAN asks SHING for help. WAN visits SAU-HANG in hospital, he cannot stop himself from telling her that he loves her. TIP sends FEI FEI a Fertility Goddess Statue, and demands her strict following of a vegetarian diet. FEI FEI however does not listen to TIP’s words at all.… ...

WAN learns that SAU-HANG has been discharged from hospital. TUNG stops her husband from asking HANG about SAU-HANG. She tells him that HANG knew about his everyday visit paid to SAU-HANG. WAN is deeply moved when he hears TUNG saying that she still believes he remains faithful to her. SAU-HANG knows the relationship between FEI FEI and HEI by chance, FEI FEI uses a poorly made-up story to explain what has happened. SAU-HANG talks to WAN that she wants to develop a relationship with him secretly. Yet, WAN refuses. Later, SAU-HANG suggests moving to the west wing. In order to help CHO stands out, WONG pays to get the riddle answers. HANG does not allow YEE to join the lantern festival. Nevertheless, YEE disguises herself as a boy, and she needs SHING to keep it secret. CHO becomes angry when he has found that YEE can answer all the riddles. He chases after SHING and hits him with his slingshot, yet he hits the giant lantern accidentally.

SHING discloses that it is CHO who has caused the lantern fire. HANG gets very angry with SHING for not having protected his fame, and therefore withdraws his promotion. Besides, HANG is not happy with SHING because he works for WAN. He thinks CHUNG is trying to please him as well as WAN at the same time. In order to prove himself to be faithful to his master, CHUNG is willing to accept the punishment by HANG, he even slaps his son on the face. HANG learns that the workers want to have their employment contracts back. He gets very angry after he has learnt that SHING becomes the representative of the labor side. TIP proposes to CHUNG about the marriage between TSAU-KUK and SHING. YEE is stopped by her parents when she is going to confess her love to SHING. Enraged, HANG cut his daughter’s hair and locks her in a room. One night, HANG sleeps with SAU-HANG in the west wing.… ...

After wine, HANG goes to the west wing and forces SAU-HANG to have sex with him. TSAU-KUK seeks the help from WAN and hopes he can calm SAU-HANG’s disturbed emotions. WAN finally prevents SAU-HANG from jumping into the water. WAN tries to help SAU-HANG leaving the family. HANG promises to divorce SAU-HANG only if WAN completely withdraws from the family business. SAU-HANG thinks WAN will run away with her together after her divorce. However, WAN does not share the same thought. In fact, he sincerely wants to help her, to free her from the control of the family. SAU-HANG goes missing again. TUNG finds SAU-HANG is about to jump off a cliff, she falls when she is trying to stop SAU-HANG. When SAU-HANG is struggling whether or not she should save TUNG, WAN arrives just in time to save TUNG’s life. SAU-HANG has no way to go, but to beg HANG’s forgiveness.… ...

HANG gets mad to learn about the scandal of his daughter. He sets her free and demands WONG’s clarification for the whole thing. Early in the morning, the family departs to attend a funeral, leaving FEI FEI behind. HANG is stopped at the train station by a staff and returns to Sheung Jewelry. As soon as he back home, he finds FEI FEI with HEI. HANG makes WAN promises not to go against him, further, he demands a constant gold supply from TUNG. In order to save her brother, TUNG promises to do so. HANG brings SAU-HANG to a well. To prove the true loyalty, he asks her to cut the rod hanging FEI FEI inside the well. Without choices, SAU-HANG cuts the rod. Now, everything seems to have returned to normal in Sheung’s Chamber; SHING is promoted, he is nevertheless being suppressed by HANG. SHEUNG MAN-KWAN visits the Sheung family together with her mother-in-law Dowager KO. TUNG is astonished to meet a domineering mother-in-law.… ...

KO asks KWAN to get the fortune bun from the temple for her. Unfortunately, KWAN hurts her leg when she is making her way back home. As the weather turns bad, she can only take a shelter in a desolate house until the rain stops. CHUNG seeks shelter in the same house. KWAN wants to give the bun to KO as soon as she returns, she however carelessly contaminates the bun. After CHUNG has recounted what had happened, TIP asks KWAN not to tell KO about her overnight stay outside, and tells KWAN she can use the home-made bun as a replacement for the fortune bun. Regrettably, WONG exposes the truth. KO demands to leave with KWAN together. As soon as WAN comes back home, he learns that KWAN is forced to become a nun by KO. He rushes to the nunnery and brings her back. WONG joins the discussion when the servants are talking about the affairs between KWAN and CHUNG. TIP cannot tolerate with WONG anymore, she beats her.… ...

WAN thinks it is better for KWAN to live abroad in France than to stay in the family. He hides KWAN in a hotel as he knows HANG demands to bring her home. SAU-HANG realizes that KWAN is hiding in the hotel when she is having a drink there. HANG sends servant to get KWAN home, he believes the matter will be settled if he puts pressure on KO. HANG praises SAU-HANG for informing about the place where KWAN hided. SAU-HANG’s act stunned WONG and TUNG. HANG gives TIP a gold necklace, at the same time, he insinuates that she will end up like FEI-FEI if she attempts to rebel against him. It is too late to do anything when KWAN is finally forced to become a nun. SAU-HANG is heavily blamed for making the tragedy happened. She abuses alcohol again. TIP persuades her to not to make any wrong steps further.

TUNG wishes to visit KWAN in the nunnery. WONG is curious to know about KWAN after she has learnt that her husband still cares about KWAN. So, she follows TUNG to the nunnery. TUNG sends YEE a wig as she knows that YEE is very unhappy with her short hair. YEE still believes SHING will love her one day, after making sure that TSAU-KUK does not love SHING him. The family pays a visit to the nunnery. CHO stirs up trouble again and scolds the nuns. TIP encounters Reverend Tribulation, whom she has known long time ago. Reverend Tribulation asks TIP about her own daughter whom she abandoned. TIP tells her that her daughter was brought up in another family, however, she has lost the contact with that family. At first, Reverend Tribulation thinks that YEE is her daughter, however, she realizes soon her daughter is TSAU-KUK. SAU-HANG beats TSAU-KUK when TSAU-KUK is trying to stop her from drinking.… ...

CHO plots to keep TSAU-KUK in a hot spring and does not let her go. Fortunately, Reverend Tribulation helps to set her free. TIP stops Reverend Tribulation from telling TSAU-KUK that she is her mother. TIP assures her she will arrange a good marriage for TSAU-KUK. The conversation is heard by SAU-HANG. As soon as WAN learns about FEI-FEI’s death from the newspaper, he asks TIP what has happened. TSAU-KUK attempts to stop SHING from giving CHO punishment. To her surprise, SHING tells her he wants to marry her. The conversation is heard by SAU-HANG, too. HANG takes SAU-HANG’s advice, to arrange marriage for CHO, and TSAU-KUK will become CHO’s mistress. CHUNG is in a dilemma when TIP asks him to arrange marriage for SHING and TSAU-KUK. WONG hopes that HANG will make up his mind again about the marriage of their son. HANG stands firm although CHO has made himself clear that he does not love TSAU-KUK at all.… ...

To prevent tragic incest, HANG asks WONG to forbid the marriage. Police investigation is carried out in the Sheung family after a body is found. WAN helps SAU-HANG to hide the truth. TUNG and WAN have a big quarrel over SAU-HANG, TUNG thinks WAN is doing something wrong in SAU-HANG’s favor. To fight against his brother, WAN needs to go back to Sheung’s Chamber, and he seeks the help from the senior relatives. Reverend Tribulation visits the Sheung family. The conversation between Reverend Tribulation and TIP about TSAU-KUK is heard by SAU-HANG. Later, Reverend Tribulation is arrested in a motel where she is waiting for TIP. HANG and TIP are under police investigation for the murder of Reverend Tribulation’s husband. HANG asks SAU-HANG to send Reverend Tribulation a letter, he promises to give her the full control of household administration if she can finish the given mission.… ...

TSAU-KUK blames herself heavily when she knows that her mother has killed herself. Everyone in the family keeps away from TSAU-KUK after knowing that she is HANG’s illegitimate daughter. After Reverend Tribulation’s death, TIP realizes her husband will sooner or later ask her to hand over the household authority to someone else. Soon, HANG announces that SAU-HANG is to take over as the household member who has full authority in household matters. WONG feels bad with HANG’s decision. Business of Sheung’s Chamber drops dramatically. WAN together with senior relatives put pressure on HANG. HANG promises to hand over only part of his power in the company. LAN reports to WONG that she has seen WAN going to the west wing. Immediately, TIP and WONG go there to find out what is going to happen. They are shocked to learn a plot to harm HANG.… ...

CHO starts working in the company. A foreign ambassador comes, but CHO cannot speak English. Fortunately, SHING is there to help. Nevertheless, CHO gets angry with him as he thinks SHING has embarrassed him. YEE worries about SHING when she notices CHO may harm him. In order to give SAU-HANG the greatest care, HANG needs her to move to the west wing and her handover of household authority to WONG. SAU-HANG is resentful at the arrangement. WONG does not respect SAU-HANG at all after she takes over the control. SAU-HANG is reluctant to move to the west wing, she attempts to set WONG up, by saying that WONG wants to kill her baby. SHING rushes to the Sheung family to tell everyone CHO has died in the gold workshop. WONG goes mad with grief after she has learnt about her son’s death. HANG gets seriously ill. Later, WAN has the control of the family business. SAU-HANG rejoices over the tragedy.

WAN is still being suppressed by HANG after he has taken over the control of the company. SAU-HANG attempts to kill HANG by poison. Yet, she ceases the poisoning when she suspects TIP has known about her plot. YEE tells SHING the fact that CHO died because he wanted to save her life. She still hopes SHING will marry her and they will have a baby. Regrettably, she leaves with a heavy heart as she is not given a positive answer as she wished. YEE falls off a cliff and ends up with her lower body paralyzed. SHING blames himself for the accident, he promises to marry YEE. TSAU-KUK does not realize until the moment she has learnt about SHING’s engagement. SAU-HANG resumes her plan to kill HANG. HANG thinks SHING promised to marry his daughter because he is casting greedy eyes upon his wealth. HANG sends the incense ashes for testing and the result shows that they are mixed with poison.

WAN reports to HANG the selling of gold coins are going well. HANG hopes WAN can escort the gold coins to Guangzhou personally. WAN accepts the task. HANG tells TIP he wants to kill WAN and SHING when they are heading to Guangzhou. TIP asks CHUNG to save them. Eventually, CHUNG is able to stop them before they depart. SAU-HANG rushes to the train station after TIP tells her that WAN is in danger. She is astonished to learn the accident of a car falling off a cliff and exploded. YEE finally discloses the truth that CHO died because of her. SAU-HANG tells her husband that he is not her baby’s father but WAN. HANG gets mad, he locks the door and wants to burn the house. People are trapped inside the house. Eventually, they break the window and escape from the fire. SAU-HANG is reluctant to leave and wants to kill herself in the burning house. TIP however convinces her to keep hoping for a better tomorrow…