.Thursday, August 03, 2006 ' 8/03/2006 08:04:00 PM Y
Through It All
Debuts Aug 15 2006, weekdays 7pm
Cast: Li Nanxing (as Guo Xiang Hai), Christopher Lee (as Guo Yi Hai), Jesseca Liu (as Huang Qian Yun),
Apple Hong (as
Cen An Qi), Jeanette Aw (as Cheng Xiao Xuan), Richard Low (as Huang Bai Wan), Darren Lim (as Wu Xi Ming)
Two brothers find their close bond slowly disintegrating when they leave the warm comforts of their fishing village home in Malaysia to seek a future elsewhere. And what can cause two men to squabble? Women of course. This emotional drama showcases a star-studded cast of Li Nanxing, Christopher Lee, Jesseca Liu,
Apple Hong, Jeanette Aw and Darren Lim.
Synopsis
The year is 1980. In a fishing village in Malaysia lives two brothers from a family which has difficulties making ends meet. They are the 15-year-old Guo Xianghai and the 13-year-old Yihai. The siblings’ parents eke out a living as fishermen. Witnessing their parents’ hard life, the brothers vow to succeed in future to earn loads of money for their sake.
Elder brother Xianghai is honest, down-to-earth and diligent. Although he goes about doing things in a silly, headstrong manner, Lady Luck always seem to be on his side: any adversities he faces simply turn into blessings in disguise. Yihai on the other hand is mischievous, adventurous and full of ideas. However, he thus also tends to be much more calculative and scheming in character. Despite their different personalities, the brothers are very close, going through thick and thin of their young lives together.
To supplement their meager household income, the brothers try all means and ways to earn more cash. These include stealing fruits and vegetables to sell in the market, and helping to collect scattered golf balls at a golf course. It is precisely at the latter that the duo made friends with Qianyun, the only daughter of wealthy pineapple plantation owner Huang Baiwan. These three start a friendship which sets the stage for a future complicated love web.
More than a decade later, the two young men leave their village to forge a better future elsewhere.
With Yihai’s bright ideas, the brothers try out numerous jobs and encountered many difficulties. Xianghai finally settles down to sell Hainanese chicken rice in a shop in Malacca while Yihai becomes a tour bus driver. On a trip to Singapore, Yihai runs into an argument with a female passenger who turns out to be Qianyun. Reunited, the trio’s relationship pick up where they had left it. Both brothers fall for Qianyun, who has eyes only for Xianghai. The optimistic Yihai refuses to admit defeat, insisting that there is always still a chance for him.
In a twist of fate, Yihai brings a group of tourists to visit his fishing hometown, sparking off a thought to develop the village into a rustic holiday resort. Enthusiastically, Yihai sources for investors only to be faced with rebuff and ridicule over such a seemingly impossible idea. Seeing Yihai’s confidence taking a beating, Xianghai turns to Qianyun’s rich father Baiwan for help. Touched by Xianghai’s earnest plea, Baiwan agrees to back the project financially to realize Yihai’s holiday resort dream.
As Qianyun and the two brothers embark on the project with great enthusiasm, an unwelcome arrival descends upon the Huang family –
Cen Anqi, Baiwan’s illegitimate daughter. Two decades back, Baiwan had an affair during a business trip in Thailand. The then beautiful and young mother of
Anqi made a wrong decision in swindling a sum of money from Baiwan with her boyfriend. In anger, Baiwan deserted her. Although he later learns of his mistress’s pregnancy, Baiwan is no longer able to place any trust on
Anqi’s mother. He hardens his heart and breaks ties with mother and daughter. After many tribulations,
Anqi followed her mother to Australia, where she completed her tertiary education by working part-time.
For 20 years,
Anqi was never acknowledged by Baiwan, nor did Baiwan play any part in her upbringing. When her mother passed on,
Anqi arrives at Baiwan’s doorstep with her mother’s final letter and a heart full of hatred. She is met with Baiwan’s rejection and demand for DNA testing. Despite the humiliation,
Anqi swallows her pride. With an innocent demeanor masking her angry thirst for revenge,
Anqi closes in on Qianyun and Baiwan step by step…
Although Baiwan eventually determines
Anqi’s identity, he continues to keep her at arms’ length and simply finds her a job in Yihai’s resort.
Anqi, who already made an earlier acquaintance with Yihai, finds herself falling for him as he bestows his trust in her.
The success of the holiday resort project gives the careers of Xianghai and Yihai a good start. However, Yihai soon finds his achievements being overshadowed by Xianghai. Even Baiwan openly expresses his admiration for Xianghai. To make matters worse, Xianghai and Qianyun’s relationship seems to be developing in leaps and bounds. As Xianghai reaps his rewards in love and career, his parents’ concerns however grow. After much deliberation, they finally reveal a carefully-kept secret to Xianghai.
To get to the bottom of the secret, Xianghai arrives in Singapore to locate his grandmother, only to find that she has already passed on. Running out of cash, he seeks lodgings in a dilapidated little hotel but is still unable to pay the cheap rent. Cheng Xiaoxuan, the proprietor’s daughter does not turn him out. Instead she enthusiastically helps him find a job. Xianghai meanwhile discovers that the gentle and introvert Xiaoxuan is frequently picked on by demanding hotel guests. A warm friendship develops between the two as Xianghai helps her out when he can.
The hotel is at the verge of closing its doors because it is simply too run-down. As Xiaoxuan’s family ponder over their future, Xianghai proposes to upgrade the premises and turn it into an upscale “theme hotel” catering to an elite group of guests. Xiaoxuan’s family eagerly applauds the idea. However, they are unable to come up with cash for the renovations. Undaunted, the optimistic Xiaoxuan goes all out to raise funds in order to keep the family business going. Xianghai’s admiration for her develops in the process.
What is the secret? And will the budding romance of Xianghai and Qianyun drive a wedge between the brothers? And will the scheming and manipulative
Anqi succeed in getting her revenge? Tune in to find out!
