The Stew of Life - Season 1

1x1 - Episode 1

September 7, 2009

As a supplement feature reporter, NG CHOI NI, CHARLIE is heading for an interview. On her way, the interviewee informs her that the interview has to be rescheduled. CHARLIE creates another gimmick as a replacement and gets help from her mother LO SUI LAI since LAI is a splendid cookery teacher. Being an Agricultural Officer, NG MAN TAK attends the Farmfest as a representative and LAI is there to support her husband. LAI receives a phone call from her sister LO SUI MEI and learns that she feels dizzy. LAI rushes there promptly but finds LAI grabbing the sale goods. CHARLIE fails to carry out the celebrity interview and is denounced severely by her boss LAW CHI WAI. CHARLIE is upset to find that WAI seems to be a lot more lenient towards her colleague LAU TAT YAN, RYAN. MEI owns a florist and has a regular customer FLORA who works as a TV producer……

1x2 - Episode 2

September 8, 2009

WAI suddenly informs CHARLIE that apart from her daily supplement work, she has to take up the work from the entertainment edition as well. LI SHING KEI, BILL sees that his girlfriend CHARLIE is really upset. He tries hard to cheer her up during lunch. Holding a concurrent post in the paparazzi team, CHARLIE gets hurt while tracking for news. Not to worry her mother, CHARLIE asks MEI to accompany her to see a doctor. MEI wants to take this chance and make LAI stay back for the culinary show. Yet it does not work that way, TAK and LAI are going for their cruise holiday. MEI moves over to the NG family and takes care of CHARLIE. MEI assumes a false identity as CHARLIE and communicates with BILL. She makes BILL bring along flowers and breakfast to visit CHARLIE. When MEI and CHARLIE dine out, MEI bumps into her old-time suitor GILBERT…

1x3 - Episode 3

September 9, 2009

When CHARLIE is back to the office in the morning, all her colleagues have been working overnight while RYAN is sleeping on the chairs. WAI asks RYAN to go home and take a rest; it makes CHARLIE feel that the boss is partial to RYAN. WAI always goes against CHARLIE at work and even makes use of her to queue up at the clinic for his mother. WAI wants CHARLIE to interview a celebrity whom will join the annual banquet of the company. MEI is familiar with that kind of lifestyle and agrees to accompany CHARLIE to attend the banquet. When seeing MEI, WAI is deeply attracted by her beauty and wants to get to know her. While out for tracking, CHARLIE has an accident and fails to take any photographs. With a deviation from the norm, WAI does not blame CHARLIE at all. A colleague complains to BILL that a third party is trying to woo his girlfriend. It makes BILL worry that CHARLIE may have some other admirers too…

1x4 - Episode 4

September 10, 2009

TAK and LAI get back home after the holiday. Their smart dog Jack makes them aware that MEI and CHARLIE have not been treating him well. When WAI meets MEI again, he grabs the chance and wants to know her better. WAI wants to send MEI flowers and mistaken the NG family’s address as where MEI lives. As preparing to go after MEI, WAI changes his image for the sake of looking young. MEI’s tenant Miss Leung complains about the paint falls off from the ceiling. TAK promised to repaint the ceiling for her and it worries LAI. It is threatening when BILL overheard from all the staff that WAI suddenly starts pleasing CHARLIE. MEI bumps into WAI in the street and tries to get away from him. However, she left her belongings behind. It becomes a good excuse for WAI to send them back to MEI. WAI gets to the NG family and when MEI rushes there, LAI and WAI are talking to each other…

1x6 - Episode 6

September 14, 2009

TAK is proud to tell his colleagues about how he saved KAI the other day. All the staff want to take a picture with TAK for fun. After that TAK finds that his back is not able to move. MEI purposely accompanies LAI on her first day to video the programme at the TV station. Being too enthusiastic to help, MEI is asked to leave the video factory. News spreads around that the supplement will merge with the entertainment section. WAI suddenly asks his staff to dine out at a luxurious restaurant and makes everybody give him a treat; moreover, takes full advantage of them. Being beaten by MEI, everybody is afraid that WAI may vent his anger on them. Therefore they ask CHARLIE to get MEI to offer her apology. It gives TAK a hard time when his boss wants to cut cost and reduce some manpower. The Chairman will hold a banquet to celebrate his mother’s birthday……

1x7 - Episode 7

September 15, 2009

WAI makes DON to use the company car and takes his mother to see a doctor. Due to an accident, the car is damaged and WAI wants DON to pay for the repairing cost. CHARLIES reveals all the wicked conduct of WAI to the Editor-in-Chief but the evidence she gets in hand is lost. At last DON is fired and CHARLIE firmly believes that RYAN is the one who has knocked her handbag off then took away the pictures as the evidence. TAK summons his staff and points out each of them their good and weak points. KAI thinks that he will be dismissed. LAI informed MEI that a fruit basket is sent to WAI on her behalf to apologize to WAI. MEI is relieved and immediately dismisses her bodyguards. Seeing that CHARLIE is all alone to challenge the superiors, RYAN lends a helping hand all of a sudden. The sin of WAI has not been investigated but instead he is promoted to be the chief in charge of the new section after merging……

1x8 - Episode 8

September 16, 2009

CHARLIE and RYAN cannot tolerate WAI and their resignations happen to coincide. When CHARLIE reveals to her parents about her resignation, at the same time TAK also tells the family about his early retirement as to avoid his staff being laid off. When CHARLIE and RYAN are out for work, she surprisingly finds that BILL and WAI are together buying a car. CHARLIE believes that BILL is betraying her and asks to see him at night. Having breakfast with the family, CHARLIE finds that BILL has advertised on the front page of the newspaper to apologize. Back to the office, WAI pours ridicule on CHARLIE about it. She pays an indemnity to the company and quits her job right away. In order to raise the TV ratings, LAI is requested to carry on the video recording at the market and the result turns out to be very successful. BILL gets help from MEI to date CHARLIE out but all of a sudden a guard is there to protect CHARLIE.

1x9 - Episode 9

September 17, 2009

MEI has an accountant at home to compute the business of her florist. She then realizes that she has been losing money in business for months. If it shows no improvement, the florist may have to close down. MEI bumps into DIK and when trying to trace him, she almost got hit on the street. At night, LAI has to mediate between her husband and LEUNG in their dispute. On the other hand LAI has to keep creating new dishes for the show. It becomes very pressurized for her. The female neighbors complain to the village head that their underclothes are missing. When TAK is trying to remove some waste paper to the trash station, the neighbors find that there is a lot of pornography inside. Since LEUNG has also lost her underwear as well, she points out that TAK is the thief that steals all the underclothes. When MEI and ANGEL are closing the florist, a customer WILLIAM offers to send them home……

1x10 - Episode 10

September 18, 2009

The business of the florist is not picking up. While chatting with ANGEL, MEI gets to know that ANGEL and WILLIAM have become lovers. MEI sighs that she has missed the boat when knowing that WILLIAM is the owner of a large noodles chain stores. As to reduce the financial pressure of MEI, LAI privately negotiates with LEUNG about the new rental contract. Unexpectedly, TAK follows LAI to the restaurant and has an argument with LEUNG in public. LEUNG leaves on the spot in great anger. TAK goes to the real estates and tries to lease out the flat for MEI. KAI, meanwhile, is looking for a place to rent in the same area. When they bump into each other, they arrange to go hiking together. KAI learns from TAK that he happens to have a flat ready for rent. CHARLIE has gone for a business trip in Japan. When she is back home, she has mistaken KAI as a thief……

1x11 - Episode 11

September 21, 2009

The misunderstanding is finally cleared. TAK and CHARLIE get to know that KAI is only thirty-five years old and still single. In fact, YEE is his elder sister. The producer wants to make a special edition in Zhuhai and LAI has to be away for a few days. CHARLIE finds her mother is preparing a delicious supper as to please TAK and finally her husband agrees to let LAI go. KAI treats TAK to dinner at home; TAK observes that his family is under the implementation of the 5 Constants. It inspires TAK to carry out the 5 Constants as well at his own home. When LAI gets back, she finds that all the utensils in the kitchen are in a mess. CHARLIE airs her grievances against the 5 Constants to her mother. ANGEL goes to the florist and gives MEI her wedding invitation. She wants to acquire the florist but MEI turns down her offer firmly……

1x12 - Episode 12

September 22, 2009

MEI is not worried about being asked to move out since she thinks that it must be a mistake made by the staff in her ex-husband’s company. If she is able to get in touch with him, everything will be settled. LAI can no longer tolerate and puts everything back in order as it used to be. She even requires TAK not to carry out the 5 Constants in her kitchen. CHARLIE applies for a job at the magazine company as a reporter of the life edition. Instead of giving CHARLIE a proper interview, the boss HENRY MAN wants her to act as a model temporarily. It becomes a hard job for CHARLIE since she does not have high demands on clothing at all. KAI invites TAK home for dinner; TAK realizes that YEE has made all his favorite dishes. LAI knows that she will not be home and actually takes all the troubles to teach YEE how to cook those dishes……

1x13 - Episode 13

September 23, 2009

The night when MEI moves into the NG family, LAI purposely makes a palatable supper. The wine fragrance of the food raises the appetite of TAK. During breakfast, TAK leaks out the plans that LAI has worked out to help MEI integrate with the family. Learning from the colleagues, CHARLIES knows that a favorite guy of MAN will join the company and it turns out to be RYAN. MEI tries to associate with the neighbors. When she expects to go for high tea, they end up having an afternoon tea in a cafe. Then she meets an old lady who claims to know about the grand taste in Central. MAN shows off his extravagant design chair to the staff. When shooting the chair, CHARLIE has accidentally knocked the spotlight over and burnt the surface of the chair. MEI gains no support at the family conference when she proposes her objection against the 5 Constants. Losing her face, MEI leaves home indignantly.

1x14 - Episode 14

September 24, 2009

When KAI gives MEI a ride to leave the NG family, he meets DIK outside the village. MEI is astonished to find that her dream lover is a friend of KAI. While MEI is thinking of a way to go back to the NG family without embarrassment, KAI is deeply fascinated by her sullen look. When MEI gets home, she makes TAK apologize to her in front of everybody. It makes MAN furious when finally he finds out RYAN and CHARLIE are the ones who damaged his expensive chair. LAI invites TAK to watch while her show is being recorded, he feels awkward and uncomfortable when her fans keep telling TAK how lucky he is to have such a good wife. LAI delightedly accompanies TAK to meet his former colleagues when they date him out. When they reach the restaurant, TAK realizes that the wives of his colleagues are the ones who actually eager to meet LAI instead. After they get home, TAK airs his entire discontentment to LAI……

1x15 - Episode 15

September 25, 2009

LAI purposely accompanies TAK to go for morning exercise and bumps into KAI and DIK while they are jogging together. MEI goes shopping with LAI to buy some new clothes for the ribbon cutting ceremony. When MEI learns from her sister that she met KAI and DIK in the morning. MEI comes up with some ideas in her mind. After the ceremony, BILL offers an advertising job to LAI. Having no trust in BILL, TAK objects to the proposal. Yet the female members of the family think they should submit to money instead. CHARLIE invites RYAN out for a drink as to thank him for settling the problem. Inside the pub, the way RYAN acts makes CHARLIE think that he is a gay. Since then they have become very intimate just like sisters. MEI deliberately goes jogging but bumps into KAI only. When MEI appears at the hot pot restaurant, KAI wonders if MEI is interested in him……

1x16 - Episode 16

September 28, 2009

BILL really appears while CHARLIE is waiting for her mother in the car. BILL tries to please LAI but both of them deliberately keep their distance from him. When RYAN is trying to help MAN pick up his bracelet under the seat, CHARLIE passes there and thinks that they are doing something obscene in the car. The producer FLORA introduces her husband Mr. HO to LAI. He proposes to launch a culinary school together and LAI shows great interest in it. Attempting to go after MEI, KAI has applied for one-month leave. TAK is very excited when KAI suggests turning the backyard into a greenhouse. TAK is discontented with LAI when she wants to reconstruct the backyard as the culinary school without inquiring him. Yet he does not reveal to LAI about his plan to make a greenhouse. As to create a chance for the brother, YEE purposely asks KAI to deliver a letter to MEI.

1x17 - Episode 17

September 29, 2009

BILL follows CHARLIE and RYAN while they are working. In order to chase BILL away, CHARLIE asks RYAN to act as her boyfriend. With some ulterior motive, MEI goes through KAI and wants advice from DIK about learning windsurfing. MEI hurts her leg and is sent to the emergency department for treatment. In a moment of desperation, KAI takes out the identity card of MEI… FLORA and her husband visit the NG family and see whether the backyard is fit for changing into a culinary school. TAK supposes that LAI shows no respect for him and therefore he acts rudely to FLORA and her husband. It finally causes an argument between TAK and LAI. The family starts worrying about TAK when they cannot reach him. Meanwhile they receive a call claiming that TAK is in the hospital… LAI observes that there is an intimacy grows between CHARLIE and RYAN, but CHARLIE reveals to her mother that RYAN is gay……

1x18 - Episode 18

September 30, 2009

MEI plucks up her spirits and goes shopping. Due to some lost property, she falls into an argument with someone. While being at a disadvantage, DIK appears to help her out. MEI finds that DIK does not look down on her age and even offers her an advertising job. Seeing that KAI is so depressed, YEE encourages her brother again to go after MEI… MEI is not happy to see KAI suddenly turns up when the advertisement is being shot. DIK invites MEI and KAI out and it falls on the Valentine’s Day. It makes MEI think that DIK is interested in her. BILL halts RYAN and CHARLIE inside a car park; he blames RYAN for snatching away his love and pushes RYAN on the floor… In order to be alone with DIK, MEI asks KAI to back out. KAI is terribly upset but still agrees with it. When MEI makes her way to the venue, unexpectedly she sees… DIK frankly discloses to MEI about his feelings towards her……

1x19 - Episode 19

October 1, 2009

MEI plucks up her spirits and goes shopping. Due to some lost property, she falls into an argument with someone. While being at a disadvantage, DIK appears to help her out. MEI finds that DIK does not look down on her age and even offers her an advertising job. Seeing that KAI is so depressed, YEE encourages her brother again to go after MEI… MEI is not happy to see KAI suddenly turns up when the advertisement is being shot. DIK invites MEI and KAI out and it falls on the Valentine’s Day. It makes MEI think that DIK is interested in her. BILL halts RYAN and CHARLIE inside a car park; he blames RYAN for snatching away his love and pushes RYAN on the floor… In order to be alone with DIK, MEI asks KAI to back out. KAI is terribly upset but still agrees with it. When MEI makes her way to the venue, unexpectedly she sees… DIK frankly discloses to MEI about his feelings towards her……

1x20 - Episode 20

October 2, 2009

After CHARLIE finds herself being cheated, she gets real mad and hurts RYAN in the hospital. Apart from making RYAN to sign an agreement for not holding her responsible, CHARLIE even wants to break off the relationship with him. MEI has moved back to her former home, KAI wants to show her a disc that was forecasted by the fortuneteller about his life. Yet MEI just ruined it without hesitation. CHARLIES tries hard to keep her distance from RYAN and it affects the work schedule. CHARLIE and RYAN think that MAN will reprimand them about their feud when he summons them. Instead, MAN wants them to work together in India for an interview. Living alone again, MEI hurts her leg during the blackout and cannot go out at all. KAI notices that the area MEI lives has no electricity; he especially visits MEI and keeps her company. FLORA and her husband have dinner at the NG family; TAK enjoys the meal and eats a lot……

1x21 - Episode 21

October 5, 2009

LAI has eventually found out the health condition of TAK. As to avoid the situation getting worse, LAI makes everything mild and TAK grumbles about the diet. MEI realizes that LAI is no longer keen on establishing the culinary school. LAI moans to MEI that she has to keep TAK under constant surveillance about his diet. Therefore she decides to give up the idea of launching a culinary school as well as the job at the TV station. TAK flies into a temper since LAI has replaced all his favorite food by some crackers. Then he accidentally overheard that his wife wants to quit as the TV show host… MEI cannot find a job and she gives her savings to a friend LUI SIU MAN for making quick money. As to match with MEI, KAI wants to quit as a government worker and finds another job. MEI helps KAI get some new clothes for the new job and while they are dining out, MEI sees the terrible manners when KAI takes his meal. She cannot bear to…

1x22 - Episode 22

October 6, 2009

As to keep TAK healthy, LAI specially makes him some fish dishes. When TAK is making his complains to KAI in a restaurant, KAI sees someone who looks like MEI from the television… MEI has in fact lost all her money on buying the fund and therefore takes street protest together with the other victims. KAI drives there and finds that MEI is hurt. He takes MEI back home and prepares a meal for her together with a comfort note. During the protest, MEI was in great agitation and fainted. The NG family and KAI rush to the hospital and find that MEI has become very decadent. LAI then asks MEI to move back to the NG family temporarily after discharged from the hospital. RYAN needs to be hospitalized after he is back from India. CHARLIE reveals to MEI that RYAN was sick in India. While taking care of him in the hospital he expressed himself to her and she admits to MEI that she likes RYAN too……

1x23 - Episode 23

October 7, 2009

After winning more than five hundred thousand dollars from the Mark 6, MEI is buoyed up and moves back home. When KWAN PING picks up RYAN from the hospital, he tells RYAN that CHARLIE has called him numerous times and wants him to take good care of RYAN. PING advises RYAN to go after CHARLIE but RYAN is hesitant. MEI finds that KAI has not paid the rent since his check has bounced. YEE forces KAI to tell the truth since she is astonished to find that all the savings in his account has gone. MEI suspects that KAI has taken some the money she wins from the lottery since the amount does not tally with what KAI has given her. She goes to question KAI at his home and YEE discloses the truth to MEI. MEI finds KAI at work and apologizes to him. She is so touched when knowing that KAI cares for her whole-heartedly. From then they have developed an underground affair……

1x24 - Episode 24

October 8, 2009

As to please MEI, KAI runs around to get all her favorite food and purposely queues up to buy her an exclusive limited edition handbag. When KAI is sick, they make a date to meet at the NG family. Knowing that KAI has gone to see TAK, YEE takes some herbal tea there for her brother. She finds that MEI also brings along some herbal tea to the NG family as well… In the morning, YEE chats with LAI and TAK and accidentally mentions about CHARLIE and RYAN have turned into lovers. They have learnt formerly from CHARLIE that RYAN is gay and it makes them worried. TAK suddenly appears at the magazine company and proposes to go for a drink with CHARLIE and RYAN… MEI visits the NG family; LAI invites her to try out some new dishes. When MEI knows that YEE is the one who makes the dishes, she criticizes her cooking harshly. When the both of them are heavily engaged in arguing, MEI finds that KAI is there…

1x25 - Episode 25

October 9, 2009

When YEE finds that KAI is staying at MEI’s home, she madly requires him to get back home immediately. Yet MEI insists to make KAI stay and both of them have taken lots of liquor during the hot pot dinner. Eventually KAI and MEI sweetly spend the night together. When TAK and LAI are having breakfast, RYAN suddenly comes and they only get to know from then that CHARLIE is moving out. TAK and LAI want to visit RYAN out of the blue and TAK wants to have a private talk with RYAN. He can only take TAK to talk in the bathroom… YEE is extremely upset when KAI goes home and packs his clothes to live with MEI. While making a call to KAI, YEE wounds her leg and KAI rushes home to take care of her. MEI goes to the NG family and meets KAI sneakily but TAK leaks out the secret to YEE… After CHARLIE has cleaned up the place, RYAN brings his friends back home to watch the football match and mess up the whole place……

1x26 - Episode 26

October 12, 2009

During breakfast, TAK finds that LAI is acting strange… SO NGOR suddenly flies back to HK and bumps into MEI. Outwardly they get along well and have a great chat… NG family welcomes NGOR and gives her a banquet. LAI finds it hard to tolerate and blames NGOR for keep taunting MEI. Instead of getting mad, NGOR smiles… KAI suddenly proposes to MEI and without any psychological preparation, MEI decides to lie and reject KAI. KAI seems to have a load on his mind and NGOR finds out from him that MEI is suffering from a brain tumor… When CHARLIE is out for an interview, her beauty attracts the client. CHARLIE has the flu and when she calls RYAN, he is staying out late in a bar to watch football matches with his friends. CHARLIE is being sexually harassed and the client refuses to let her go. Luckily BILL is there to help her out. Meanwhile, RYAN appears and in the mistaken belief that BILL is taking advantages of CHARLIE…

1x27 - Episode 27

October 13, 2009

After accidentally hurting BILL, CHARLIE has a big fight with RYAN. CHARLIE worries about RYAN when he is upset and gets away from home the whole night. RYAN invites PING out for drinks as to avoid arguing with CHARLIE and makes the situation get worse. When MEI is fighting for a taxi with someone, she bumps into her ex-husband KEN. KEN returns from overseas and his appearance gratifies MEI with the vanities of being an upper class person. RYAN worries about CHARLIE for not coming back home late at night. He receives a call from PING and knows that CHARLIE and Bill are being together… It makes TAK and LAI worried about her relationship with RYAN when CHARLIE suddenly moves back home. NGOR makes an excuse to visit MEI and takes down the pictures of all her medicines. RYAN and CHARLIE have split up into different groups and MAN wants them to work together. RYAN turns him down and makes CHARLIE think that he is condemning her……

1x28 - Episode 28

October 14, 2009

While MEI is all dressed up and prepares to go out with KEN, KAI brings YEE and NGOR along to visit her. MEI goes all out to get away and meets KEN. MEI is exposed as a liar and a fraud by NGOR in the restaurant right in front of KAI and YEE that she has no illness at all… KEN makes MEI so happy when he engages a famous branded boutique exclusively for her sole shopping. This incident is encountered by NGOR… TAK and LAI find that CHARLIE has no appetite, throws up a lot and loves eating sour stuff. Moreover, they find a pregnancy test stick and name card of the gynecologist inside her room… They intentionally visit RYAN and he is shocked to hear that CHARLIE is pregnant. When RYAN is out working with CHARLIE, she finds that his attitude has totally changed. When MEI sees that RYAN is taking good care of CHARLIE, she deliberately stops CHARLIE from telling RYAN that she is not pregnant at all…

1x29 - Episode 29

October 15, 2009

When Ken visits MEI, she finds that NGOR is right outside the building and has to seek help from her sister. When NGOR brings KAI to MEI’s home, they find LAI is alone making some soup for MEI… After knowing that CHARLIE is pregnant, RYAN frankly tells her how much he longs to have his own family as being an orphan. CHARLIE falls and injures herself, RYAN quickly holds her to the hospital. The overseas assignment has cancelled and KAI returns to MEI’s home, unexpectedly he sees KEN is there… When RYAN enquires the doctor about the condition of CHARLIE, he finally knows that she is not pregnant at all. Both the secrets of MEI and CHARLIE are exposed; they turn to LAI for help at the same time. Yet the injury of her spine finally erupts, LAI is in great pain and faints in front of everybody. The doctor mentions that her situation is critical and an operation is needed urgently……

1x30 - Episode 30

October 16, 2009

LAI has to take an operation the following day and makes everybody worried. CHARLIE happens to hear the conversation when RYAN visits LAI and reveals to TAK that it is not possible to patch up with her. While everybody is waiting for the surgery result, CHARLIE learns from her colleague that RYAN has resigned. Since TAK has to take care of LAI in the hospital, CHARLIE and MEI have to share and do all the housework. Finally they realize LAI is so important and how much has devoted herself to the family. With the encouragement of the family, CHARLIE wants to reconcile with RYAN. She figures that cooking for RYAN is the best way to help and patch up with him. On the other hand, his former subordinates invite TAK to be their agricultural consultant……

Episode 5

The Stew of Life - S1 - E5