Tales of the Huizhou Merchants: Part Four – "Hao Mo's Beginning"

Cast List
Hu Tianzhu:
Madam Hu:
Wang Qimao:
Ink Shop Owner 1 (can be played by Wu Tongke from "Yuhui Mountain"):
Ink Shop Owner 2:
Ink Shop Owner 3:
Ink Shop Owner 4:
Scholar 1:
Scholar 2:
Scholar 3:
Scholar 4:
Commoner Woman 1:
Commoner Woman 2:

Costumes and Props
Act One Props: several silver notes, a “Recruiting Apprentice” sign, wooden pestle, inkpot, ink blocks, writing brush, gold-trimmed dish, travel bag
Act Two Props: several silver notes, “Recruiting Apprentice” sign, wooden pestle, inkpot, ink blocks, writing brush, gold-trimmed dish, travel bag
Act Three Props: several silver notes, wooden pestle, inkpot, ink blocks, writing brush, gold-trimmed dish
Act Four Props: several ink blocks

Act One Costumes: Hu Tianzhu (silk long robe), Wang Qimao (silk long robe), Madam Hu (Qing Dynasty noblewoman attire), four ink shop owners (four sets of silk long robes), four scholars (four sets of coarse cloth long robes)
Act Two Costumes: same as Act One
Act Three Costumes: same as Act One
Act Four Costumes: same as Act One, plus two commoner women (Qing Dynasty female attire)

Synopsis
Wang Qimao’s ink shop thrives, attracting many scholars and commoners who gather before the shop, leaving other ink shops deserted. Wang Qimao carefully selects his apprentices and son-in-law, accepting Hu Tianzhu as both. Hu Tianzhu and his wife share a deep love, and the master-apprentice relationship is harmonious. When Hu Tianzhu ventures out to seek greater business opportunities, he returns to find Wang Qimao’s ink shop shuttered and the master and his daughter fallen on hard times. This starkly contrasts with Hu Tianzhu’s own prosperity. Yet, Hu Tianzhu does not abandon his master and wife; he treats them with kindness and reopens the ink shop. At first, the shop sees little business, and rival ink shop owners come by to gawk. Hu Tianzhu, however, remains focused on crafting ink. Eventually, one skeptical rival tests Hu Tianzhu’s ink and is astonished by its quality. Customers begin to flock to Hu Tianzhu’s ink shop, and even the other ink shop owners on the street start praising it.

Content Design: The story centers on Hu Tianzhu, the founder of the intangible cultural heritage Hu Kaiwen ink, who marries his master’s daughter. After his master’s ink shop falls into decline, Hu Tianzhu establishes his own “Hu Kaiwen” ink shop. Through hard work, he earns recognition from scholars and even the imperial court.

Script

Act One
Scene: Street and storefronts
Props: several silver notes, “Recruiting Apprentice” sign, wooden pestle, inkpot, ink blocks, writing brush, gold-trimmed dish, travel bag
Cast: Hu Tianzhu, Wang Qimao, Madam Hu, four ink shop owners, four scholars

(The ink shop owners shout to attract business, but the scholars ignore them and walk straight to Wang Qimao’s ink shop.)

(Wang Qimao, surrounded by scholars, accepts silver notes and hands out ink sticks. The ink shop owners give up and return to their shops, expressed through dance.)

(Wang Qimao displays a sign reading “Recruiting Apprentice.” The scholars, Hu Tianzhu, and ink shop owners 1 and 2 come forward to apprentice under him, expressed through dance.)

(Wang Qimao hands a wooden pestle to several people to pound ink in the inkpot. After a while, Scholars 1, 2, 3 and Ink Shop Owner 1 give up and leave; only Scholar 4, Ink Shop Owner 2, and Hu Tianzhu remain, expressed through dance.)

(Wang Qimao gestures for his daughter to come over. Madam Hu shyly points to Hu Tianzhu, expressed through dance.)

(Hu Tianzhu serves tea to his master, performs a ceremony with a red embroidered ball to Madam Hu, and bows to Wang Qimao and the visitors. Hu Tianzhu nods with satisfaction, expressed through dance.)

Hu Tianzhu: (bowing) Master!
Wang Qimao: Ah! (Smiling proudly, he pushes his daughter toward Hu Tianzhu) You two are deeply in love. You must carry on this craft!

(Hu Tianzhu pounds ink in the pot with the wooden pestle; Wang Qimao trims the edges of the ink blocks; Madam Hu decorates the ink blocks with gold. When idle, she wipes sweat from Hu Tianzhu’s brow, expressed through dance.)

Hu Tianzhu: (puts down the pestle, walks to the shop door, bows respectfully to wife and master) This humble son-in-law dares to say: if the reputation of the Wang ink shop could spread along the coast, perhaps...

(Madam Hu prepares ink blocks for Hu Tianzhu, and Wang Qimao pats his son-in-law’s shoulder.)

(Madam Hu and Wang Qimao accompany Hu Tianzhu onto the street. Madam Hu and Hu Tianzhu are reluctant to part, with several attempts to hold him back. Finally, they watch him go, expressed through dance.)

Act Two
Scene: Street and storefronts
Props: several silver notes, wooden pestle, inkpot, ink blocks, writing brush, gold-trimmed dish, travel bag
Cast: Hu Tianzhu, Wang Qimao, Madam Hu, four ink shop owners, four scholars

(The ink shop owners’ shops bustle with business, but the Wang family’s ink shop is shut tight. Wang Qimao and Madam Hu sit dejectedly outside, expressed through dance.)

(Hu Tianzhu runs up from a distance, shocked by their state, stepping back a few paces, expressed through dance.)

(Wang Qimao and Madam Hu nervously rise and walk toward Hu Tianzhu, but halfway change direction and move away, expressed through dance.)

Hu Tianzhu: (smiling as he approaches) Master, Madam!

(Wang Qimao and Madam Hu cover their faces and weep.)

(Hu Tianzhu pulls silver notes from his pocket and hands them to Madam Hu.)

Hu Tianzhu: (with a joyful smile) Keep this money, Madam. (He pulls them to sit by the roadside.) Prosperity and decline are all part of life. With you managing these funds, we will surely rise again.

(Hu Tianzhu pounds ink in the pot; Wang Qimao trims ink blocks; Madam Hu decorates ink blocks with gold; when idle, she wipes sweat from Hu Tianzhu’s brow, expressed through dance.)

(The ink shop owners come to gawk, expressed through dance.)

Ink Shop Owner 2: (mocking) It’s a pity you didn’t take me as an apprentice back then. Now you have to build your family business yourself.

(The three continue their work without responding. Ink Shop Owner 2 walks away.)

(A scholar passes by; Wang Qimao quickly stands.)

Scholar 2: (before Wang Qimao can speak, sighing with regret) Wang’s ink was good, but now your apprentice is in charge. As common folk, we wonder about its quality… How can we afford it?

(Wang Qimao sits down dejectedly; his daughter and son-in-law comfort him.)

Act Three
Scene: Street and storefronts
Props: several silver notes, wooden pestle, inkpot, ink blocks, writing brush, gold-trimmed dish
Cast: Hu Tianzhu, Wang Qimao, Madam Hu, four ink shop owners, four scholars

(The ink shop owners’ shops are busy, but Hu’s ink shop is ignored.)

Ink Shop Owner 1: (with frustration and a sigh) Your ink won’t sell either. Why persist in this hard work? (Picks up an ink block and puts it down, looking at Hu Tianzhu) You might as well switch trades or come work for me. Life could be easier.

Ink Shop Owner 1: Wang once taught me too. (Picks up an ink stick and throws down silver coins) Consider this winter clothes for you and your daughter…

(Wang Qimao stands helplessly, watching Ink Shop Owner 2 leave. His daughter and son-in-law comfort him; he sits down dejectedly.)

(Ink Shop Owner 1 examines the ink stick carefully, then pulls Ink Shop Owners 1 and 3 aside. The three inspect the ink stick together, greatly astonished, expressed through dance.)

Act Four
Scene: Street and storefronts
Props: several ink blocks
Cast: Hu Tianzhu, Wang Qimao, Madam Hu, four ink shop owners, four scholars, two commoner women

(Hu Kaiwen ink shop thrives, surrounded by scholars and commoners.)

Scholar 2: (bowing slightly, with some regret) I lacked the wisdom to recognize true value before. Whether Wang or Hu, this ink remains consistently excellent!

(The scholars give thumbs-up in praise; the commoners applaud. Hu Tianzhu and the others are surrounded warmly, expressed through dance.)

Commoner Woman 1: Hu family ink is truly fine; even the court praises its quality!

Commoner Woman 2: (taking ink from the shop) Scholars travel thousands of miles; this will be treasured at home to cultivate talent!

(The ink shop owners peek out from their shops, giving thumbs-up.)

Ink Shop Owner: Huizhou’s charm, skilled craftsmanship, innovation and hard work—these cannot be surpassed!