Recaps

After failing the police recruitment interview, Song Tianyao secured a trial job with Chu Xiaoxin and advised him through a violent clash with a policeman backed by Cheung Wing-kam. Song brought Yan Hung to Yiu Muk, whose protection gave Yan Hung a chance to negotiate for Chu Xiaoxin and build ties with the Chu Family.

• Song Tianyao failed the police interview, threatened the neighbors demanding repayment, and watched Li Suzhen agree to marry A-Quan.
• Song Tianyao met Wu Jinliang at Luk Yu Tea House and arranged an introduction to Chu Xiaoxin, whom he advised on ways to profit from medicine.
• Chu Xiaoxin hired Song Tianyao on trial, and Song accompanied him and Wu Jinliang to Lichi Garden, where Chu sent roses to Gu Mei.
• After customers jeered at Chen Judy, Song offered money to anyone who would defend her, prompting a drunken plainclothes policeman to come forward.
• Chu Xiaoxin and Song struck the policeman, escalating the fight between the officer’s colleagues and Chao Yong Yi members, until Song advised Chu to present it as a personal quarrel.
• Song went to Yau Ma Tei Police Station and persuaded Yan Hung to help, then accompanied him across the harbor to seek Yiu Muk’s support.
• Yiu Muk welcomed Yan Hung and Song, and Song explained that their visit would make Cheung Wing-kam seek a negotiation and give Yan Hung a chance to represent Chu Xiaoxin.

Song Tianyao maneuvered Yan Hung into taking the blame for Chu Xiaoxin’s fight, then killed a gang enforcer who threatened his family and drew Fuyixing into a deal. The arc ended with Song impressing Chu Yaozong at dinner as Chan Ah-sap confronted Golden-Tooth Lei over the attack on Song’s family.

• Song Tianyao sent Rotten-Life Ju to tell Young Master Shun to disperse his men, then advised Yan Hung to seek Chairman Chu’s support while preserving the Chaozhou people’s face.
• Song Tianyao persuaded Uncle Yan to settle Chu Xiaoxin’s dispute with Cheung Wing-kam for two thousand dollars and orchestrated Yan Hung’s apology and reassignment to a reservoir post.
• Song Tianyao arranged for Yan Hung to approach Golden-Tooth Lei with a promise of dock work and police connections, while Chu Xiaoxin paid Cheung Wing-kam and gave Song a three-thousand-dollar advance.
• Song Tianyao returned home and stabbed Brother Hua when he threatened Zhao Meizhen and Song Wenwen, then enlisted the police and Rotten-Life Ju to drive off Fuyixing’s attackers.
• Song Tianyao offered Fuyixing a path into dock work, and Golden-Tooth Lei moved to make amends after learning that his men had threatened Song’s family.
• Song Tianyao explained at Chu Yaozong’s dinner that Malado Trading Company was headed for bankruptcy, impressing Chu Yaozong and prompting him to caution Chu Xiaozhong about business composure.
• Chan Ah-sap confronted Golden-Tooth Lei at Taibai Seafood Restaurant over Fuyixing’s attack on Song Tianyao and the threat to his younger sister.

Song Tianyao used Fuyixing’s offer to secure Likang Trading Company’s dock business for Chu Xiaoxin and then began reshaping the company for smuggling and legitimate trade. After taking charge, he returned home to find his family surrounded by gifts and was asked to help free Chen Tai from custody.

• Song Tianyao ended the confrontation at Taibai Seafood Restaurant, sent Chan Ah-sap’s men away, and negotiated Fuyixing’s offer of fourteen gold bars for access to Likang’s dock business.
• Song Tianyao used the gold bars to persuade Chu Xiaoxin to back the transfer, then explained the plan before Chu Yaozong, who gave Chu Xiaoxin control of Likang’s dock business.
• Chu Yaozong revealed that he understood Song Tianyao’s strategy, while Chu Xiaozhong accepted that Song’s plan could make Likang profitable.
• Song Tianyao explained how to run smuggling shipments safely and decided to escort them by sea, while arranging Fuyixing’s support and men for Likang’s ships.
• Song Tianyao took charge of Likang, found its staff and business practices inadequate, and proposed replacing its longtime employees despite Chu Xiaoxin’s objections.
• Song Tianyao agreed to use Chu Xiaoxin’s money to refit a boat and returned to his family home, where he found gifts from neighbors and relatives.
• Song Tianyao agreed to help Third Uncle and Third Aunt free Chen Tai, then told Zhao Meizhen to return the gifts because no one had helped when Wenwen was nearly sold to the Walled City.

Song Tianyao secured Lou Fengyun’s departure from Fuyixing, built connections for Likang, and arranged his family’s move to Wan Chai. The arc ends with him arriving at Longjin Charity School to visit his grandfather, Song Chengqi.

• Song Tianyao rejected Ah Lun’s proposed match with Song Wenwen, announced the family’s move, and went to hear Lou Fengyun’s plea at her gambling den.
• Song Tianyao negotiated Lou Fengyun’s safe departure from Fuyixing, allowing her to take the den’s money while Fuyixing kept the premises.
• Song Tianyao arranged for Likang’s employees to transfer to Chu family factories and began recruiting government-connected staff for his trading company.
• Song Tianyao hired Angie Pellis to cultivate a connection with Commerce and Industry deputy director Shek Chi-yik, and Chu Xiaoxin borrowed one hundred thousand dollars for the plan.
• Song Tianyao returned home as his family prepared to move, where Chen Tai explained his fight with Wo Two Ping’s men and Golden-Tooth Lei offered him a place in Fuyixing.
• Song Tianyao refused to let Chen Tai join the society and chose to employ him at Likang, while proposing a staged adultery scandal to deal with Liu A Quan and Ren Chunsheng.
• Lou Fengyun arranged a tenement building on Tai Wo Street for Song Tianyao’s family, who moved their belongings into its second-floor unit.
• Song Tianyao left for Kowloon City and entered Longjin Charity School to visit his grandfather, Song Chengqi.