Au Revoir Shanghai

Famous for his courage and bravery, NIP TSUN has been assisting KOO CHEUNG-SHING, the principal gang leader in Shanghai since the 1920s. SHING’s blood sister TONG-YAN is married to TSUN. She persuades TSUN to go with her to Switzerland so that they can start a new life with their daughter overseas. TSUN can finally decide his own future by placing a bet with SHING. TSUN is required to steal the “Magic Cup” from Wah Sang Bank, which is the last job assigned to him. During the heist, TSUN accidentally kills a staff member of the bank MA CHO-CHEUNG, who is thought to be a spy working for SHING. TSUN returns home to look for YAN but is shocked to discover that she has already died in a car crash. Devastated by YAN’s death, TSUN decides to leave the gang. Two years later, SHEK SAI-KAU (nicknamed DOGGIE), a lad whom TSUN treats as a brother, is freed from prison.… ...

SAU is running out of money. She hopes to get back CHEUNG’s ashes as soon as possible so that she can return home without further delay. She is offered a low-paid job, which allows her to stay longer in Shanghai. KAU persuades SING, NGAI and KIN from Chun Fung Cafeteria to make a comeback, hoping that they can help TSUN rebuild his once-thriving business empire. But to his disappointment, no one takes his advice and he is told to give up on the idea completely. KAU and TSUN’s daughter MAN-WAH have an argument about the taste of the Shanghai steamed buns she made. KAU gets inspired by the argument and would like to replace the original Shanghai steamed buns with those from Cheung Ki Restaurant. Chun Fung’s business has grown significantly, which surprises TSUN a lot. TSUN finally finds out what is happening, but KAU seizes this opportunity and asks TSUN to leave Chun Fung.… ...

SAU is heartbroken when she sees that the ashes are scattered all over the ground. TSUN points out that SAU has been deceived and that what she has got is only incense ash. The landlord forces SAU to settle the rent arrears while CHEUNG’s mother Mrs. MA further distresses her by giving her a terrible telling-off. Thinking that she has no way out, SAU wants to drown herself in the river. In the nick of time, Sergeant HO CHUN-BONG comes along and has a word with her. SAU finally changes her mind. CHUN-BONG manages to help SAU get back her ring. He promises to help her recover CHEUNG’s ashes and dig out the truth. KAU goes to work at PUN’s fish store. SHING comes to see KAU in the market and invites him to join his gang. KAU turns down the offer, which irks SHING a bit. SAU happens to discover that KIN is keeping CHEUNG’s jade pendant. Driven by curiosity, she decides to stalk the man and follows KIN all the way to Chun Fung Cafeteria.… ...

To make it up to SAU and Mrs. MA, TSUN decides to put them up at Chun Fung. SAU, however, rejects him at once. KAU and WAH go to pick up Mrs. MA as instructed. Mrs. MA takes full advantage of everything provided at Chun Fung. Everyone at Chun Fung is surprised at her attitude and does not know how to react. TSUN manages to recover CHEUNG’s ashes. He returns the ashes to SAU and suggests she leave Shanghai. SAU goes to say goodbye to CHUN-BONG. BONG states that he has found some evidence that can prove CHEUNG’s innocence. He tries to convince SAU to stay until the truth is brought to light. SUEN finally shows up. Both TSUEN and the police are desperate to catch SUEN and the guy ends up being arrested by BONG. SUEN is detained in the police station but he refuses to say anything. BONG comes to arrest TSUEN at a club but HUNG arrives just in time to save him from the predicament. SHING once again asks TSUN to intervene.… ...

BONG is shocked to find SUEN’s body and his suicide note. In fact it is all planned by TSUEN. SAU cannot accept the death of SUEN. She bursts out crying and howling, during which she accidentally reveals CHEUNG’s death to Mrs. MA. Mrs. MA gets so worked up that she falls down in a faint. SAU and WAH go to the bank to look for clues, where they run into a westerner Mrs. SMITH. WAH would like to draw support from westerners and plans to capture public attention by holding a press conference. SHING asks TSUEN to kill SAU, and in the nick of time, TSUN comes along and manages to save her. SHING has a meeting with TSUN. TSUN claims that he will do anything to protect SAU and SHING reminds him to keep a close eye on SAU to prevent her from causing any further trouble. Knowing why TSUN remains so insistent on making Shanghai steamed buns, SAU has a different impression of the man.… ...

A teenage gang challenge TSUN to a contest. But TSUN remembers his promise to his late wife and would rather take the insult. Luckily the police arrive in time and manage to stop the gang. KAU blames TSUN for sacrificing his mates just to keep an old promise. TSUN feels so depressed, so WAH gives him a few words of comfort. TSUEN realizes that SHING still holds TSUN in high regard. He gets so jealous and tries to convince his assistant SING to create trouble for TSUN. WAH suggests SAU earn a living by making Shanghai steamed buns. TSUEN’s assistant SING comes to set the cafeteria on fire and the kitchen is burnt down. KAU asks TSUEN for an explanation. SHING appreciates KAU’s courage and once again invites him to join his gang. During the birthday party, TSUN agrees to SHING’s request and finally lets KAU join the gang. WAH gets on so well with CHI-CHI, which upsets KAU slightly.… ...

SAU means to burn TSUN’s cookbook, through which she hopes he can forget the past and look for a new life. TSUN recalls what his late wife said and he decides to work along with his buddies and run the cafeteria as best as they can. KAU asks his assistant TUNG to help renovate Chun Fung’s kitchen. TUNG and his mates do not look up to KAU and have drawn themselves into a terrible quarrel for this reason. WAH gets irked by KAU and stomps off in a rage. KAU is so frustrated that he goes to confide in TSUN. TSUN then gives him some advice on how to deal with his subordinates. In order to raise enough money for renovation, TSUN decides to take part in an illegal boxing match. KAU feels so upset to see that TSUN has involved himself in match-fixing only for the sake of money. TSUEN needs KAU to collect a debt. KAU’s assistant has seriously injured the debtor and is caught by BONG and sent to the police station accordingly.… ...

Having taken CHI’s advice, SAU refers to westerners’ pie recipes, based on which she has finally created her own unique Shanghai steamed buns and made them a specialty of Chun Fung. Chun Fung’s business is not doing as well as expected. Sis LAN talks about her views and an idea occurs to BONG suddenly. BONG brings Sergeant HUNG to Chun Fung for dinner. BONG is in fact trying to prove through HUNG’s power and status that Chun Fung is a safe place to eat and drink, and by doing so he hopes nobody will dare to come and cause the cafeteria any more trouble. In order to make some noise for Chun Fung’s Shanghai steamed buns, WAH needs SAU to give a cookery demonstration in front of the customers. TSUN gets a bunch of people to act as the audience, hoping that this will help SAU overcome her shyness. Their effort finally pays off and Chun Fung’s Shanghai steamed buns have become one of the most famous dishes in Shanghai.… ...

The new shop is named “Chun Fung Restaurant”. TSUN invites KIN’s ex-wife PING to help out at the restaurant. PING is so domineering that complaints against her are heard almost everywhere. PING keeps on picking on others and has a quarrel with LAN and SAU over this. TSUN tries to mediate between the two sides, which makes PING suspect that he is having an affair with SAU. SHING needs TSUEN to settle the strike. TSUEN accepts the appointment but makes KAU do the follow-up for him afterwards. TSUEN has become so interested in stock market investment and eventually suffers a great loss. KAU manages to settle the strike and makes all different government departments give in. He has notched up an impressive victory in the dispute. SHING thinks highly of KAU and decides to move him to the club. TSUEN who is jealous of KAU makes him work at the club’s toilet.… ...

TSUEN has suffered a great loss in stock market investment. He runs into an old friend CHEONG and the two of them decide to collaborate. The next day, CHEONG wins a huge amount of money at the casino. CHI urges KAU to change the dealer but KAU is then blamed for providing poor services. Wanting to settle the dispute as soon as possible, TSUEN needs KAU to apologize, about which KAU is very unhappy. TSUN drops a hint to KAU that he may go seek help from SING. WAH gives CHI a few words of consolation and their relationship has grown even deeper. With the help of SING, KAU finds out that CHEONG has ganged up with the dealer sent by TSUEN so as to cheat at the casino. He sees it as a good opportunity to weaken TSUEN’s power and influence. Customer Mr. KUK sexually attacks a waitress. KAU tries to save the girl from the predicament, which offends KUK deeply. TSUEN sends someone to beat KUK up and tries to make KAU a scapegoat.… ...

TSUN comes to realize that YAN’s death was a planned murder. SAU goes to see BONG hoping to enlist the police to help investigate the death of YAN. BONG gets a bit envious when he notices that SAU has become so concerned about TSUN. CHI finally realizes WAH’s love for him. But he would like to concentrate on his career and rejects WAH right away. WAH feels so embarrassed but tries to look as calm as possible. Given her reaction, KAU is misled into thinking that she has finally won CHI’s heart. Later KAU and WAH run into CHI on the street, and it is not until this moment that KAU comes to know the truth. TSUEN tries to put pressure on CHI by talking about YIM-HUNG, hoping that this will prevent the lad from revealing to SHING what he has done to the casino. KAU lures CHI to the “Wish Tree”, where he sees WAH praying for him sincerely. CHI is deeply touched by WAH’s thoughtfulness and finally accepts her love.… ...

Knowing the truth behind YAN’s death, WAH gets so worked up and gives TSUN a terrible telling-off. Feeling that it is so hard to choose between friendship and righteousness, TSUN is struck dumb. WAH leaves her home to confide in CHI. KAU brings WAH to an orphanage in an attempt to convince her that family unity matters more than anything else. TSUN confides in his wife at her tomb. Having read the words left for YAN by TSUN, WAH comes to understand his feelings. SHING, along with TSUEN, comes to ask for TSUN’s forgiveness. Though unwillingly, TSUN finally gives in. On one hand SHING asks TSUEN to leave Shanghai, on the other he has sent a hetman to kill him. BONG finds tonnes of munitions inside SHING’s warehouse. SHING advises CHI to approach the Head of Bureau Mr. TANG and enlist his help to settle the matter. CHI is caught in trouble while at work. He suspects that there is a spy in the gang. In fact it is all plotted by TSUEN.… ...

PING requests TSUN to dismiss SAU after the food-poisoning incident. But everyone at Chun Fung tries to intercede for SAU, which irks PING no end. SAU discovers that it was PING who contaminated the Shanghai steamed buns. PING admits her guilt, but claims that she was doing it for YAN’s sake. TSUN has bought SAU an apron, for which SAU is so grateful. KIN and PING have a terrible quarrel over SAU. PING is so angry that she decides to burn SAU’s apron up. To help SHING secure a position in the Works Bureau, CHI has arranged for a hetman to shoot SHING on the Community Visit Day. Being unaware of the danger lying in wait, KAU asks WAH to act as the Master of Ceremonies. KAU has shielded SHING from a gunshot by chance when the assassination takes place. CHI tries to relate the incident to CHAN YUEN-FONG, thus drawing massive public support for SHING.… ...