Chinese Title
巾幗梟雄
Pinyin Title
Gan1 Gwok3 Hiu1 Hung4 / Jin Guo Xiao Xiong
What it means
Wikipedia says...
Li Tim Shing (producer) explained that the production was temporarily called "Wives and Concubines" (妻妾成群) when the initial script was first submitted, but was later renamed to "Red Powder Merchant." Colleagues criticized the new working title, and Li later finalized the official title to "Veiled Heroine, Ruthless Hero" (巾幗梟雄) and its official English title to Rosy Business. "Veiled Heroine" (巾幗) represented Tang's role of the fourth wife, while "Ruthless Hero" (梟雄) represented Lai's role 'Chai Kau'. The drama was also sponsored by Bawang Shampoo.
Bawang? In Malay Bawang is onion. I am sure in Chinese it must mean The Conquering Emperor or something like that.
English Title
Story In A Nutshell
Taken from SpcnetHONG PO KEI's (Tang Shui Man, Sheren) engagement with Wuxi rice baron TSEUNG KIU (Yueh Wah) broke off many years ago when a natural disaster hit the country. Later when the country was running out of food supply her whole family was killed and she become a criminal. Over the years, KEI has never got over KIU. She has been trying to prove he is not as heartless as the others think. Fate has it that they meet again and she becomes his fourth wife. KIU's first and second wives, YAN FUNG YEE (Tse Suet Sum) and PANG KIU (Sheung Tin Ngor, Kiki), always make things difficult for KEI. KEI, who is an extremely clever person who never wastes time on trivial things, turns every threat into an opportunity. This makes KIU appreciate her wisdom and persistence. He entrusts his business to her and tells her to find a suitable successor for him before he dies.
Despite all the attacks in the family, KEI manages to keep the business in good shape. She has never forgotten KIU's last wish, too. By chance, she discovers that TSEUNG PIT CHING (Ng Cheuk Hai, Ron), KIU's second son, is not really a playboy but an upright person loved by everyone in the shop. She therefore guides and helps him in every possible way, but her efforts are met with CHAI KAU's (Lai Yiu Cheung) challenges. KAU seeks vengeance for being mistreated and wants a pay back from TSEUNG family. After rounds after rounds of battle wits and actual fights, KEI and KAU begin to appreciate each other. KAU even falls for KEI as time goes by.
Cast-Character
If there is any missing or incomplete or wrong names or characters, please do inform me by using Post A Comment. I hope to create a full cast list. It too me a while to realise, after looking at the chart that Kwok Fung is Samuel Kwok. I never knew that. Anyway thanks to D-Addicts.
Cheung Family
Suet Nei as Guai Yuk Yu 季玉如
Elliot Yue as Cheung Kiu 蔣喬
Stephen Wong as young Cheung Kiu
Susan Tse as Yan Fung Yee 殷鳳儀 (First wife)
Jessie Shum as young Fung Yee
Kiki Sheung as Pang Kiu 彭嬌 (Second wife)
Josephine Shum as young Pang Kiu
Kara Wai as Lau Fong 劉芳 (Third wife)
Summer Joe as young Lau Fong
Sheren Tang as Hong Bo Kei 康寶琦 (Fourth wife)/ Originally Hong Bo Yin
Angel Chiang as young Bo Kei
Pierre Ngo as Cheung Bit Man 蔣必文
Ron Ng as Cheung Bit Ching 蔣必正
Kelvin Leung as Cheung Bit Mo 蔣必武
Chan Wing Kei as Chow Gwong 周廣
Kong Fai as Siu Cheung 小張
Ling Lai Man as Uncle Tsuen 泉叔
Wong Ji Wai as Keng 瓊
Wong Fung King as Aunty Tin 田嫂
Lam Ying Hung as Siu Hung 小紅
Yau Family
Suki Chui as Yau Man 丘敏
Helen Ma as Yau Ngan Yuk Heng 丘顏玉卿
Hing Fung Nin Rice Company
Wayne Lai as Chai Kau 柴九
Cheung Yick as Lee Cheung Fat 李祥發
Suen Kwai Hing as Uncle Wah 華叔
Wong Man Piu as Keung 強
Hugo Wong as Wai 威
Martin Tong as Dat 達
Yau Biu as Brother Sek 石哥
Hui Ming Ji as Ji 志
Jacky Yeung as Seng 勝
Cheung Han Mo
Rice Companies
Lee Tsi Kei as Kum Boss 岑老闆
Chan Min Leung as Mok Boss 莫老闆
Law Kwan Chor as Chung Boss 鍾老闆
Kwong Chor Fai as Chu Boss 朱老闆
So Yun Chi as Kum Boss's wife 岑老闆之妻
Ching Bong Group
Lee Sing Cheung as Pang Hang 彭鏗
Oscar Leung as young Pang Hang
Nancy Wu as Suen Hoi Tong 孫海棠
Lee Kai Kit as Ah Chiu 阿超
Brian Wong as Ah Jen 阿俊
Bryant Mak as Ah Yu 阿釣
Sa Ka Group
Kwan Ching as Sa Tzan Tin 沙震天
Cheng Ka Sang as Ma Hung 馬雄
Adam Ip as Lek Jay 刀仔
Ho Kin Man as 豹
Governers
Kwok Fung as Lord Wong (King's Brother) 王爺
Bruce Li as Governer Lam Ji Fu 林知府
Joseph Yeung as Governer Lam's brother 林知府之弟
Cheung Siu Chin as Governer Lam's Uncle 林知府舅仔
Leung Kin Ping as Governer Chung Ji Fu 秦知府
Wong Wai Leung as Governer Hong Cheung Weng 康梓榮 (Hong Bo Kei's father)
Yeung Ying Wai as a Governer
Taiping Rebellion
Ben Wong as Chiu Yut Ming General 趙一鳴將軍
Lau Tin Lung as Chiu General's followers 卒長
Mikako Leung as female solder 女太平軍
Poon Koon Lam as female solder 女太平軍
Wuxi Villagers
Dia Yiu Ming as a disaster victim 災民
Ng Wai Shan
Fanny Yip
Cilla Kung
Ngai Wai Man
Lily Liu
Eda Chan
Coson Ning
Chalk North
Others
Gei Bo Law as Doctor Bak Long 白朗大夫
Raymond Tsang as a killer 殺手
Wong Wai Tak as a killer 殺手
Kau Cheuk Nung as killer 殺手
Kwok Tak Shun as Uncle Kin 堅叔
Lai Sau Ying as Grandmother Wan 穩婆
Law Tin Chi as Sei 四
Kitty Lau
Relationship Chart
Favourite Poster
Sort of. More like a screencap of the themesong segment, this should have been the official poster although the official poster (thanks to Sehseh for finding it for me!) is really nice.
Trivia
The series is inspired by mainland series 《大宅門》The Grand Gate Mansion. Oh dear, another ciplak story. Since I am so excited about this and this one winning huge ratings and all and many said deservedly so, I hope the inspired part is just a tiny bit. Since I have never seen The Grand Gate Mansion, it is easier for me not to compare and to find out every bit of details that did follow that series.
