For Once In A Life Time

In the 70's, Lam Cheong and his pregnant wife Yik Tze Kwan together with four year old daughter Lam Wah came to Hong Kong. Cheong was not able to pay for the trip so that his wife and daughter were kept hostage. Cheong asked help from his uncle Ching Yau, but was neglected leaving him in dismay. Yip tried to escape with her daughter but were caught. Cheong sought help from Ching again so that Yik and Wah were finally released. Cheong worked at Ching's stall to earn the living. He was often humiliated and bullied by Ching, thus was very depressed. Helping to support the family, Yik took up labour work which brought about early delivery of her son Lam Fat. Her health was impaired and Cheong's burden was therefore increased.

In his exasperation, Cheong listened to his neighbour Chow Tsuk and engaged in the embezzlement of the stall's money. Ching Yau found out and Cheong had to hide himself. Cheong finally left his family and escaped to the States. Disappointed in Cheong, Yip faced up to reality. She paid back the money to Ching and worked hard to bring up the pair of children. Afraid that he would be found conspiring with Cheong, Chow left his son Tim Luk and ran away. Yik sympathized with Tim Luk and decided to look after him as her own child. Her action earned the respect from Tim Luk. Indulged in gambling, Chow borrowed money from the loan shark. He stole Yik's money and was discovered by Lam Wah. Trying to chase after Chow to get the money back, Wah hurted herself making Tim Luk very sad. When Yik was settling, the house caught fire and they had to move to government housing estate while Tim Luk followed his father to stay with his relative……

With her determination and strong will, Yik brings up the pair of children. Yik Wah works hard at the Lee's Garment Factory and earns the trust from proprietress Lee Ping who entrusts her with the whole business. Yik Fat, however, is connived by her mother. He has no interest in study and makes Yik very worried. Because of work, Tim Luk moves to stay on the roof and becomes part of the Yik family. Tim Luk has a liking for Wah at a young age but Wah always treats him as her brother. Tim Luk isn't sure how to handle. Yik Wah encounters Hui Chi Hang during shopping. She is attracted and impressed by Chi Hang's gentle disposition and knowledge. After graduation, Chi Hang makes use of a limited capital to open a trading firm. Using Ho Siu Lun as his right hand man, he takes away a large account from his previous boss. He becomes very ambitious and hopes to establish himself in the commercial field……

Lee Ping is going to emigrate oversea with her family. She doesn't want to wrap up the business and entrusts Yik Wah with full authority. To reciprocate Lee Ping's kindness, Yik Wah decides to work her very best for the factory. Chow Tsuk pretends to help Yik at the restaurant but infact trying to fill his own pocket. Yik is very generous and doesn't take it to her heart. But she is discouraged when Chow doesn't change. Yik Fat is caught in an argument with Cheung Sim Sim in the football field. To revenge, he causes a nuissance at the shop where Sim Sim works, thus infuriates Sim Sim. In order to obtain an early loan, Chi Hang contrives with Siu Lun and tricks Yik Wah to rush an order for him. Hereafter, Chi Hang makes use of Yik Wah to achieve his aims. Misunderstanding arises between Yik Fat and Siu Wing Han who is Sim Sim's boyfriend during one of Fat's football training session.

Yik Wah falls unconscious due to overwork. Chi Hang shows his concern and starts to pursue her. Yik Wah is delighted. Tim Luk feels bad when he finds Yik Wah and Chi Hang are getting on well. Yik Fat is invited to join the football team of the sports club and has the opportunity to represent Hong Kong for overseas competition. Fat is exhilarated but Wah is worried that he may neglect study and is strongly against it. The two are caught in heated argument which results in Fat leaving home. After careful consideration, Wah doesn't want their relationship severs due to minor issues and finally consents to Fat's joining the football team. Wing Han's father is sponsoring the football team and he therefore automatically becomes a team member. He is ostentious and arouses Fat's envy. The two are always in adverse to each other. Using Tim Luk's car to practice, Yik Fat crashes into another car and is caught in a dispute with the driver……

Lam Cheong fleed to the States. He committed crime and was imprisoned, thus was not able to contact Yik. When he was released from prison, he learnt that his house had caught fire and he had no idea of his family's whereabout. He was sad and felt very guilty. To repent, Cheong concentrated his energy on his career and became quite affluent. Twenty years after, he decides to wrap up his business in the States and settle in Hong Kong hoping to reunite with his family. Fate once again plays trick on the couple when the two miss each other despite their having dinner in the same restaurant. Cheong is invited by age old friends Lau Kwok Fai and Wai Lan to dinner while Yik's family is celebrating for Tim Luk's promotion in the same place. Yik Fat goes boozing and mistakenly gets into Cheong's car. Cheong reproves of Fat's behaviour so that Fat leaves in exasperation……

Lam Cheong goes back to the old place and encounters Cheong tries to find out where his family is from Tsuk success. Chow Tsuk. but without Yik is robbed on the street and falls into Cheong. She is confused and runs away. Cheong runs after her until she reaches her place downstair. Yik Fat meets Sim Sim at a food stall. Due to his mischief, Sim Sim has to be sent to the hospital for eating unclean food. Sim Sim wants to thank Fat for escorting her to the hospital but she is infuriated when she finds out Fat is the cause for the incident. With Tim Luk's mediating, the two resolve their conflict. Cheong has been watching Yik's family but is not able to puck up his courage to meet his son and daughter.

Still hateful of Cheong and afraid that he'll take back his children, Yik stops Cheong from seeing Fat and Wah. Cheong secretly sees Fat and helps the family hoping to remedise the past. Chi Hang tries to make Wah to co-operate with a us client so that he could profit from it. When Wah finds out that she is being made use of, she refuses to accept the deal. Yik Fat dreams to race car with Wing Han but he couldn't afford to buy a car. He is exhilarated when Cheong promises to lend him his car. Lam Cheong recommends Yik Fat to Wai Lan as the model for the commercial for his product. Wing Han uses the opportunity to humiliate Fat and the two are caught in a fight. Though Cheong arrives in time to stop the matter from going worse, Fat is already wounded. Lam Cheong brings Fat home and comes across Chow Tsuk and Tim Luk. Tim Luk is surprised to learn about Cheong's past from his father……

Yik Wah refuses to accept the precious gift from Lam Cheong initially and sends it back to him. With Cheong's explanation and persistence, Wah finally accepts the present gratefully. Seeing that Lam Cheong has already changed, Tim Luk tries to convince Yik to forgive him. However Yik has lost confidence on him and refuses to give him another chance. With his shrewdness, Chi Hangs wins over the client from Wai Lan and transfers the order to Yik Wah. Wai Lan is infuriated and speaks bad of Yik Wah and Chi Hang. Because of his wound, Yik Fat misses the chance to represent the team for competition oversea. He is depressed. Fortunately, Sim Sim is able to console him and their relationship develops gradually. Jealousy arised when Wing Han sees that Yik Fat and Sim Sim have been going out together and he humiliates Fat. Unable to withstand Wing Han's arrogance, Sim Sim begins to dislike him……

Seeing that Fat has been driving carelessly with the car borrowed from Lam Cheong and narrowly escapes an accident, Wah is furious. When she learns that Fat has been kicked out of school, she is exasperated by his ill behaviour and gives him a scold. Chi Hang persuades Wah to buy new machinery for Lee's Garment to meet a large order. As the factory has limited capital, Yik Wah hesitates on the decision. Lam Cheong through Tim Luk sells the machinery to Wah at a very low price. Wah is cautious at the beginning but she is finally convinced by Cheong's sincerity. Trying to avenge on Chi Hang, Wai Lan lures Siu Lun and ruins Lee's production plan. Lee Wah therefore once again caught in a difficult time. Lam Cheong despises Wai Lan and pulls out his investment. agrees to give financial support to Yik Wah.

Chow Tsuk is seriously in debt and Yik refuses to lend him money. In his anger, Tsuk reveals to Yik Wah that Lam Cheong is her father. Yik Wah thinks that Lam Cheong has been deceiving her all the way. Though Lam Cheong has worked hard to make up for the past, Yik Wah finds what he did is irredeemable and she rejects her father's investment in the factory. Sim Sim's mother thinks that Yik Fat is less well off than Wing Han and stops Sim Sim from going out with Fat. However, her interference only brings about antagonism so that the pair come even closer. Yik Wah feels guilty about making Lee's to face bankruptcy due to her personal reasons. Yik and Tim Luk tries to help by offering their saving but not to much use. Sim Sim leaves home in her fit of anger and stays with the Yik's. Her parents goes to find her and bring Sim Sim back home after scolding Fat……

Yik Fat is wounded in the car race. Yik Wah and Yik blames Lam Cheong for lending his car to Fat and the misunderstanding between them deepened. Yik Fat is very happy to know that Lam Cheong is infact his father thinking that he will benefit from his father's wealth. However, Yik and Wah stops him from seeing Cheong. With Chi Hang's persuasion and also not Ivilling to make Lee Ping suffer, Yik Wah finally agrees to Lam Cheong's investment in the factory but insists to resign from her position of factory manager. Lam Cheong feels very sad about Wah's hate for him. Lam Cheong asks Chi Hang to arrange Wah to see him at the factory so that he could explain himself and make her understand. On his way to the factory, Lam Cheong is delayed by Tsuk who tries to obtain money from him. Cheong asks Wah to forgive what he has done in the past but Wah insists not to listen to his excuses……

Chi Hang has been waiting but neither Wah nor Cheong appears, he therefore rushes up to the factory. He helps to save the two but by then Cheong is already seriously injured. After the incident, Yik and Wah are moved by Cheong's sincerity and decides to reconcile their relationship. Therefore the family reunite once again after all the years. Seeing that Yik Fat becomes the son of a rich man, SimSim's parents change their attitude and encourage Sim Sim to go out with Fat. Chow Tsuk can't get rid of the loan sharks and found dead on the street. Tim Luk thinks that he hasn't tried his best to help Tsuk which indirectly causes his death, he becomes very low and downcast. Yik Fat becomes a spendthrift. He cheats Lam Cheong to give him the money which he uses to buy and golden watch for Sim Sim. When Cheong finds out, he is very angry and teaches Fat a lesson.