Chinese title: 巾帼枭雄

English title: Rosy Business
Producer: Li Tim Shing

Genre: Costume

Number of episodes: 25
Starring:

Sheren Tang

Wayne Lai

Susan Tse

Elliot Ngok

Ron Ng

Kiki Sheung

Kara Hui

Pierre Ngo

Nancy Wu

Henry Lee

In the mid 1820s, a natural disaster strikes the city of Nantong, tarnishing most of the city's rice fields. Running out of food supply for the citizens, city mayor Hong Chi-wing康梓榮 (Wong Wai Leung) uses the city's military food supply to feed the people. A few days after the disaster, an official from Beijing arrives to the city to check the military supply. Upon seeing an empty trailer, he sentences the Hong family to death. His daughter Hong Po-yin康寶琦 (Sheren Tang) escapes from punishment and becomes a maid in the Prince's mansion, living under the name Hong Po-kei.

Twenty years later, Po-kei reunites with the rich rice merchant Chiang Kiu蔣喬 (Elliot Ngok) at his manor in Wuxi, whom she was betrothed to before the disaster, while the Prince is there for a visit. Chiang Kiu's wife, Yan Fung-yee殷鳳儀 (Susan Tse) recognizes Po-kei and reveals her identity to the Prince. Chiang Kiu manages to convince the Prince to free her, and marries Po-kei as his fourth wife. He appreciates Po-kei's wisdom and persistence, and decides to entrust his business to her, telling her to find a suitable successor for him before he dies.

Hungry for power and eager to keep tradition, Fung-yee finds every opportunity for her son, the eldest child Bit-man蔣必文 (Pierre Ngo) to be the only heir of the family business. She tries to strip Po-kei from power even when Chiang Kiu's final will reads that Po-kei should be the full owner of the business.

Despite attacks from the family, Po-kei manages to keep the business in good shape. She is impressed with second son Bit-ching's蔣必正 (Ron Ng) intelligence and guides him to become the successor, but her efforts are met with Chai Kau's柴九 (Wayne Lai) challenges. Chai Kau seeks vengeance for being mistreated and wants a pay back from Bit-man and the Chiang's family uncle, Pang Hang彭鏗 (Henry Lee). After rounds of battle wits and fights, Po-kei and Chai Kau develop a deep friendship.

Chai Kau appreciates Po-kei's work ethics and pledges his loyalty to her. With their excellent cooperation and quick thinking, the business manages to survive through the locusts disasters and the Taiping Rebellion. Meanwhile third wife, Lau Fong劉芳 (Kara Hui) and Po-kei become good friends and sisters, to the point that Lau Fong even sacrifices her life to protect Po-kei.

Wayne Lai's cast as Chai Kau(柴九) can be said to be his career-saving role.

Chai Kau's popularity prompted Wayne Lai's rise to fame and he won several awards for this role.

Before his role as Chai Kau, the only impression I have of Wayne Lai was his cast as the Pigsy in 'The Journey to the West'.

Like wow.....he's now the 2009 & 2010 Best Actor award-winner.

& there's this line made famous by Chai kau in the show;

How many 10 years does one have in a lifetime?

人生有几多个十年.

(Y)

This drama earned the 2009 Best Drama award. (: