In the nineteenth year of DAO GUAN, official LAM CHEK CHUI feels that opium is poisoning the country, and sets fire to 20,000 cartons of opium at Fu Man. Dishonest officials like KAY SIN and KAY YING collaborate with foreigners to smuggle opium, which leads to the decline of the country. Disgruntled by the restrictions on doing business in China, foreigners start the Opium War. KAY YING insists on making peace; signs the Nanking Treaty with the British, and cedes Hong Kong to them. LAM is accused of being inefficient, and is banished to Yi Nai. HUNG SUI CHUEN, of Guangdong origin, is from a farming family. He is eager to join the civil service. Although he fails many times, he still keeps on trying. In order to pull together enough money for SUI CHUEN to take has civil examinations, HUNG SUEN KIU is arranged to marry into a rich family.… ...
