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There’s something commanding about the episodic series’ opening theme, although I fail to decipher the lingo it’s in (Sounds like Hakka, but I could be wrong). From how it sounds, you’ll feel like you’re entering a different realm – even if part of it is a description of how a business should run in such a political set-up, which is quite universal. Set against the situation in 1950s Taiwan, this series takes you through the journey of privatisation of one out of a number of cement companies.

The main reason I was attracted to catch this business-centric series is because I knew I’d be comfortable with most of the Taiwanese Hokkien used. Fortunately, that was the case for me. Audio is also in a mix of Japanese and Taiwanese Mandarin.

According to history, the Japanese ruled Taiwan for 50 years, but some of the Japanese were still living in Taiwan, even after the Japanese occupation was over. This I believe played a role in the overall tone of the series.

The flashback technique – well-executed and not only aids in audiences’ piecing together the puzzle that describes this series, but also creates suspense and keeps you wanting to know what happens next – right till the end.

The female characters including Lin Teng’s wife and Masami are the ones to pay special attention to, as one teaches us to be bold, and the other seeks to carve her own path after being married to an abusive husband. 

It must be said though that even if I was quite comfortable with the lingo used, the plot builds in complexity – especially in the later half of the series. It would perhaps be more helpful to read the episode description before watching this TV series.

The series is based on true events that occurred in Taiwan.

It’s interesting to see how much a businessman is willing to risk in exchange for something that will benefit him/her.

I did feel, however, that some episodes could have been cut short. Some parts of the dialogue felt inaudible.

Don’t worry – there are lots to remind you of the Chinese culture. Surprisingly, I was enticed to take in the performances of Peking opera in the series.

Just not too sure about the alcoholic and smoking scenes. Did the people of Taiwan and those who lived in Taiwan smoke and drink to that extent?

Nevertheless, it’s still a series worth catching and discussing about over a cuppa. Oh yes, there are quite a number of sex scenes. So yeah, do be mindful and wary about these sequences.

The last time I watched something similar was “Haru”, so this 2024 drama, to me, ranks second.