Site icon Global Granary

The Story of Pearl Girl (Chinese Drama Review & Summary)

Jean Morton

Chinese Drama 2024

The Story of Pearl Girl (Chinese Drama Review & Summary)

 

Pearl Curtain and Jade Curtain concept poster

The Story of the Pearl Girl
Genre: Historical Costume Drama Fiction, Tang Dynasty, Female-Centric, Business, Friendship, Betrayal, Romance

Cast

Snippets

The Story of Pearl Girl

Episode 1

Immediately blown away by the initial scenes of Zhao Lusi diving for pearls.  She looks like a mermaid.

Blurb: During the Tang Dynasty, the Cui Family of Yangzhou established a pearl farm especialising in the famous South Sea pearls.

The gathering of pearls is a perilous endevours for the divers as the blasting waves are treacherous.

Unfortunately, the divers had no choice as they were captors; victims of human traffickers.

Those people who are unable to dive are kept to do menial labours, the girls who reached puberty were sent to the maternity shed and used as sex slaves to bear children for various men.

Saddest thing for these slaves was that they were kept there for a lifetime with no chance of escape.

I have to say the lighting was so good.  It reminded me of Stanley Kubrick’s specialty of using natural lighting.

Anyway, the workers live in underground caves which is closely guarded by brutal minions.  Madam Eight trains the newbies on how to dive by brutally submerging them in water head first.

Duan Wu remembered the time when she was a young girl.  She trained as a diver before she could even walk.  Diving is all she knew and now she was on the cusp of maidenhood.

Some nasty men were already eyeing her and someone even tried to molest her before she was due to go to the maternity shed.  But Duan Wu knew how to protect herself.

Master Cui came to the pearl farm and recruited divers to go to the Despairing Cove to gather the legendary pearls from the giant Tridacna clams.  Tridacna produces pearls which are 15mm which are what are most sought after especially by the nobility.

No one at first was volunteering because of the well known danger around Despairing Cove.  It is not only about being full of undercurrents but it is also shark infested.

When Duan Wu asked what would be the price or even prize of those who can secure the 15mm pearls, Master Cui said that he will award the one with the biggest find a manumission document, which is a contract giving freedom to a slave.

Duan Wu was determined to go despite warning from her friend Lala of the danger in Despairing Cove.  Even Madam Eight forbade Duan Wu to go but Duan had already made her mind up and told Madam Eight that she would go directly to Master Cui to get persmission to dive at Despairing Cove.  Madam Eight knew she was defeated.

The few divers mostly men with only Duan and Lala as the female sailed to Despairing Cove.  A junk full of merchants spotted them.  Amongst them were the wandering scholar, Zhang Jin Ran and the jewelry merchant, Master Yan.

To make it more exciting for the sailors at the junk, someone dropped fish blood into the sea which attracted and incited the sharks to hunt the divers.

Zhang Jin Ran was aghast at the barbarity but he was just laughed off.

Duan Wu found a giant Tridacna which contained the a huge pearl.  It was not so simple to just go up to the boat because the other divers tried to prise the pearl from her and were willing to kill her for the pearl.  It was a battle of wit and oxygen.  Duan Wu collapsed on the bottom of the sea presumably dead.  While the men surfaced.  But Duan Wu came to life and with her pearl also surfaced.

Now the presentation fo the pearl. Poor Duan Wu was scammed by Madam Eight which left Duan Wu heartbroken as she knew that the had the biggest pearl and has earned the right to the manumission document.

Madam Eight told her that it was better for her to become a pearl hostess which meant that no slave can leave despite the promise of manumission.  It was all a scam.

Duan Wu was sent to the Pearl Tower to sell pearls.  She joined other scantillily clad influencer/dancer to sell pearls.  She was told that if she could sell a pearl for 7M she has a chance of freedom and take her friend Lala with her.

Scholar Zhang overheard the conversation between Duan Wu and Master Cui.

Episode 2

The cinematography is really sumptuous.  Well it can only be expected as Director Xie Ze is also an award winner cinematographer.

Anyway, Duan Wu as pearl hostess danced with the other influencer.  She was out of synch with the other girls so Duan Wu created an opportunity to not appear out of place but be the centre of attention.  She grabbed a portable double sided drum.  She played it as she started strutting her stuff very gracefully.  She caught everyone’s attention.

Zhao Lusi looks so good and the dance scene and the surrounding looks so vibrant.  I am partial towards Lusi but seriously the camera loves her so much.  She seems to glow everytime she is shown.

Anyway, the bid started for the blood infused pearl which Duan Wu said was a good luck charm. Master Yan bid 6Million and warned her to accept it because he doubted that anyone could outbid him.

Duan Wu put her attention to Scholar Zhang who remembered the importance of selling the pearl at 7M so against his better judgment and of his assitant he put a bid of 7M.

Master Yan got more curious about Scholar Zhang because he knew that he is in disguise as he is really Prince Ting.  He ascertained his suspicion when Scholar Zhang used a gold leaf for the purchase of the pearl.

Master Yan was a descent of the Yan family who used to managed the pearl farm.  He is now investigating the Cui Family for embezzlement because they were selling pearls on the side when the pearls are meant to be tribute to the royal family.

Duan Wu was so happy and told Lala that they would be able to leave the next day once they got the Manumission Document from Steward Cui.

Later, Duan Wu was summoned by Madam Eight to dress up to meet up Scholar Zhang.  Madam Eight ensured that Duan Wu had a sharp hairpin.

Duan Wu was happy to meet Scholar Zhang, however, she found one of the perverted merchant in bed with Lala.

Lala apologised to Duan Wu.  She said that the manumission doc was all a scam.  They will never be allowed to leave.  The perverted man laughed and asked Duan Wu to join them in the bed.  He then started chasing Duan Wu who got cornered so she used her hairpin to stab the pervert who only became aggressive.   Lala started screaming.  Madam Eight came running in and stabbed the pervert dead.  She then dragged Duan Wu out.  Madam Eight brought her to the shore to a waiting boat manned by the young Xiao Xia Mi.

Madam Eight revealed that she was Duan Wu’s biological mother.  She did everything she could to ensure that Duan Wu does not end up as a pearl diver by giving her away as a baby.  But it seemed it was fated that she turned into a pearl girl because she ended up in the pearl farm when she was a little girl as a victim to human traffickers.

Having recognised the girl, Duan Wu, Madam Eight did not revealed herself as her mother but instead did everything to education Duan Wu.  Showing her how to do basic accounting, etc.  Duan Wu realised now the extra attention she received from Madam Eight.

Duan Wu was given with a pearl by her mother who told her to find her father.  Sadly, Duan Wu was so upset, she dropped the pearl when her mother refused to escape with her as her mother was making herself the target of those chasing them.  Duan Wu saw her mother being butchered as the boat sail away slowly.

Xiao Xia Mi noticed that Duan Wu seemed to have lost the will to live.  But then their boat capsized as it crashed on the junk (ship)

When she woke up, Xiao Xia Mi told her that they were safe as Scholar Zhang recognised Duan Wu and rescued them.

Episode 3

Yan Zi Jing paid homage to the ancestral tablets of the Yan Family.  He was satisfied that he had destroyed the Pearl Tower and Pearl Farm.

Meanwhile, Scholar Zhang invited Duan Wu to follow and stay with him but she turned him down because the freedom that she wanted was different from what he was offering.  She told him that she has to deal with unfinished business.

The unfinished business what to retrieve the blood pearl given to her by her mother but picked up by Cui Ding.  Duan Wu and Shrimp smuggled themselves on board Yan Zi Jing’s ship.

The first opportunity she got, she stabbed Cui Ding but he proved hard to kill. In front of everyone including Yan Zi Jing, Duan Wu beat Cui Ding with a pole.  She only stopped when she was out of breath.  She saw the pearl rolled out of Cui Ding’s hanfu.  Before she could pick it up, Yan Zi Jing got to it and would not give it to Duan Wu despite her claiming that it was hers as given to her by her mother, Madam Eight.

This momentarily stopped Yan Zi Jing on his track but still he told her that it was his as he has possession of it.  However, he agreed to sell it to her for 3M but payment should be within the next three months.  He then added that he does not allow freeloaders on his ship so she had to earn her keep.

Kang Ju, Yan Zi Jing’s assistant noticed that his boss is rather partial to Duan Wu.

It turned out that Cui Ding was actually a Yan.  He betrayed the Yan Family and now he had to pay.

Yan Zi Jing ordered that Cui Ding is thrown overboard to the waiting hungry sharks but then Cui Ding told him that yan Zi Jing’s sister is still alive and knows where she was.

In the meantime, Cui Shijiu dressed like a guy, behaved like a guy was told that the ruin of the Pearl Tower and Pearl farm was down to Duan Wu.  Cui Shijiu said to hunt Duan Wu dead or alive.

Episode 4

Yan Zi Jing was told that Cui Ding had killed himself.

Duan Wu was determined to end up on the top deck where the admin team is situated with bossman Yan Zi Jing.  As it is she and Little Shrimp are on the lower deck with the cleaners, cooks and labourers.  The middle deck was for the warriors like Kang Ju.

Anyway, Duan Wu had a chance to ask Yan Zi Jing could leave the ship.  He agreed to her request provided she had to scrub and clean the whole ship overnight.

Duan Wu has dead tired afterwards but was happy to be able to leave the ship later found out that everyone from the lower deck was allowed as well.  She felt she had been scammed.

The disembarked at Guangzhou straight to work organising the venue for the poetry contest Yan Zi Jing arraged so Scholar Zhang can have a chance to confront the issue of missing tribute pearls.

Duan Wu met a very aggressive Cui Shijiu who immediately accused her of burning the Pearl Tower and farm.  Duan Wu was equally as aggressive but Cui Shijiu was stronger and had Duan Wu flat on the ground being strangled.  Yan Zi Jing stopped the quarrel and told Cui Shijiu that Duan Wu was part of the Yan convoy.

The poetry contest was attended by Special Envoy Xu and of course Scholar Zhang.  Poems were recited but the clear winner was Scholar Zhang who made true to his promise of composing a poem about the struggles of a pearl diver.  Duan Wu was so moved by the poem that it brought tears to her eyes.

But later on, she was used by Yan Zi Jing as an alibi for the death of Cui Ding.  She really had no choice as she beat Cui Ding to a pulp, well almost so she had to lie and said Cui Ding was never at the Yan ship.

Scholar Zhang was disappointed at Duan Wu.

Episode 5

Duan Wu had asked Yan Zi Jing if she couild leave the ship.  To her surprise, Yan Zi Jing immediately agreed.

Now, Duan Wu started her entreneurship by undercutting the greedy Overseer Cao with the leftover cuttings from pieces of gem stones.  She went first to Accountant Wei to propose her ideas.  Accountant Wei said that there is indeed some use to her proposal so Duan was introduced to Assistant Pang who ok’d her proposal.

Now, she had to convince Overseer Cao that he was still making money from her enterprise.

Despite his young age, Little Shrimp knows about business and gave Duan Wu ideas were she could sell the surplus gems.  But poor Duan Wu was sent from pillar to post as no one wanted to buy her goods or have anything to do with a newbie like her.

She unknowingly met a scammer but she was saved by a kindly Master Wu who was impressed with her product.  Master Wu said that he was interested with her good as he runs a herb/apothecary.  He bought all her stock but gave her a flying cash which she can cash in the money shop.

Duan Wu was so excited not only of the money but of her success.  She ran to the money shop but was told immediately that her flying cash was a fake. Duan Wu was so crashed.  She thought Master Wu was so legit.

She went back where she met him.  She found out that Master Wu was another scammer whose real name is Wu Xiang.  What was interesting was that she found Overseer Cao in the same Wu Shop and he knows everything about her transaction.

Overseer Cao frogmarched her back to the ship.  She was whipped in front of everybody including Yan Zi Jing.

With nothing else to lose, later that night, Duan Wu crept up to the sleeping Cao Da.  She had a knife on his throat.  Cao Da knew that Duan Wu was so desperate she would do anything so he told her where Wu Xiang was.

Duan Wu went to Wu Xiang intent on vengeance.  Wu Xiang got what he deserved and gave back the money for the scrap gems.

Duan Wu went back to the ship and surrendered the money to Assistant Pang.

Duan Wu was on the top deck miserably gazing at the darly panoramic sea when Yan Zi Jing came to stand next to her.  He told her that she will be punished for what she did.

Duan Wu at first would not have any of it as said that it was unfair but Yan Zi Jing was that she has to do her job well before she talks about what is fair.

Episode 6

Shrimp is Duan Wu eyes and ears.  For this reason, Duan Wu found out about Madam Wu as being the person of interest to get into Zhuobao House of fine jewelry.  Duan Wu learned from Shrimp that Madam Wu was mentally screwed up by being widowed twice over which was exacerbated by a fortune teller who told her that she was a jinx to men.  This menacing curse frightened people thus Madam Wu started to wear a veil to hide her face from their censuring gazes.

Madam Wu often went to the temple to pray.  This is where she met Duan ‘Wu who was praying while offering thankful homage to the deity of her great fortune of having found a man who loves her dearly.  She said that the coral pearl hairpin was magical blessed by the deity.

Madam Wu was intrigued and was really to negotiate business with Duan Wu but Scholar Zhang turned up and busted Duan Wu as being a liar and a cheat.

Madam Wu was shocked how Duan Wu almost scammed her.

Duan Wu was annoyed with Scholar Zhang who was still in his high horse about living an honest life.

Duan Wu told him that it was easy for him to preach because he never lived a life of utter poverty.  She then confessed to him that she did lie.  She saw Cui Ding at the ship, The Mirage, but Cui Ding was not killed by Yan Zi Jing.  Cui Ding killed himself.

Scholar Zhang knew that she was telling the truth so he told her that truth will set her free🤣🤣🤣 and advised her to be truthful to Madam Wu.  He added that he likes that Duan Wu was honest with him.

So with this in mind, Duan Wu approached a reluctant Madam Wu once again.  Duan Wu said that she does not want to talk about business but she wanted Madam Wu to have a more fulfilling and peaceful life by trying to debunk the fortune teller in front of Madam Wu.

Madam Wu did not trust Duan Wu but she took her to see the fortune teller.  The fortune teller looked at Duan Wu who was dressed beautifully in a brand new rented hanfu and said that it was Duan Wu’s fault that her husband is dead. She was a curse.  Madam Wu was shocked at the same spiel she got from the fortune teller and realised that she had been had.  It seemed the young widows were the main clients of the fortune teller so she would make them feel guilty so then then keep coming back for more sagely advice.

Madam Wu was so relieved that she was not a jinx afterall that she told Duan Wu that she was so grateful and place an order immediately for coral pearl gems.

Episode 7

 

Sea God treasure hunt festival

Episode 8

Duan Wu and Shrimp moved into the upper deck with their own very own cabin.

Madam Wu had become Sister Wu to Duan Wu.  Sister Wu reported that the coral pearl hairpin handmade by Duan Wu was selling like hotcake favoured by girls because of the design and low price.  Sister Wu and Duan Wu had really gotten close so when Duan asked if Sister Wu would allow Zhuobao House to buy the pearls in Guangzhou on behalf of Yan Trading.

Sister Wu hesitated only momentarily then confirmed that she was willing to cooperate with Yan Trading.

Scholar Zhang tagged along with Sister Wu and Duan Wu to dine at Den Bell.  Later, Sister Wu teased Duan Wu that Scholar Zhang was crushing on her.  Duan Wu sadly said that she was way out of Scholar Zhang’s league.  She was not worthy.  To lighten up the atmosphere, Duan Wu told Sister Wu that she wanted freedom to roam the world without being answerable to anyone.

Scholar Zhang used Duan Wu to get aboard The Mirage. Scholar Zhang then asked Yan Zi Jing if he could stay at The Mirage.  As a sweetener, Scholar Zhang said that he can be the tool for Yan Zi Jing to get inside the Cui Family.

Whoa, A Tong, Cui Shi Jiu’s assistant was meeting Accountant Wei.  A Tong seduced Accountant Wei with money and properties.

Cui Shijiu found out that Zhuobao House had been stockpiling pearls for Yan Trading.

Episode 9

Whoa, this episode is so hectic.  Many things occured.

 

Episode 10

Scholar Zhang berated Duan Wu

Master cui slapped his daughter repeatedly for disboying him dressing as a guy.

Blind box auction

The cui won the bid but when they opened the boxes, then contianed junk.  The cui lost their money.

Special Envoy Xu was harrassing the for the tribute pearls.  Cui Shijui tried to stop her father into committing their family into more debts but he would not listen to her because she was just a girl.

Scam of all scams, Accountant Wei was alive.

Steward Zhao retired.

Duan Wu was promoted to being an assistant.

Anyway, Scholar Zhang asked Duan Wu for a date before whe leaves for Chang’an.  The date turned out to be rather death defying because Cui Shijui hired assassins to kidnap Duan Wu.

The assassin as Cuijia, the guy who killed Duan Wu’s mother.

They managed to escape from the assassins.  As a parting gift, Scholar Zhang gave Duan Wu a parchment he found from her mother’s belonging.

Episode 11

The Mirage started sailing Shaozhou.  Duan Wu told Yan Zi Jing that Scholar Zhang gave her a parchment belonging to her mother.  She asked him in he knew of someone called Yu Shi because he might be her father.

Yan Zi Jing did not have the heart to tell Duan Wu that Yu Shi has long died which he witness when he was a child living as a slave after the massacre of the Yan family.  He did tell Duan Wu that Yu Shi was a master craftsman.

Cui Shijui finally able to persuade her father to let her go to Chang An to negotiate about the tribute pearls.

I could not praise it enough how good the cinematography of this drama.

Cui Shijiu really looks so handsome as an adrogynous.  Anyway along the way she met Zheng Zhi Heng.  Apparently, they were engaged.  Shijiu had broken the engagement but he said he refused to accept.  It turned out he was there to ambush the Cui entourage and steal the Pearl Lotus Terrace.  Poor Shijiu.

Aboard The Mirage, there were many activities to pass the time.  Yan Zi Jing gave Duan Wu a snmall sword to practise on so she could learn to protect herself.  She practise until she weas good at it.  She also went to Yan Zi Jing to ask him to teach her how to read Kharoshti.  Duan Wu thought that Yan Zi Jing was a fake as he did not seem to know Kharoshti.

Episode 12

Aww the cuteness between Duan Wu and Yan Zi Jing had began in ernest.  Even Duan Wu noticed it🤣 and commented that Yan Zi Jing had been complimenting her lately.  Yan Zi Jing threaten to beat her up for talking crap.  So cute.

But then they reached Shaozhou.  When Yan Zi Jing saw Yue Yun Xiu, Duan Wu was relegated to just a worker in his convoy.  Yan Zi Jing announced immediately this intention to marry Yue Yun Xiu or Jade Guanyin much to the shock of not only Duan Wu but more so of Kang Ju.

Yan Zi Jing secretly told Kang Ju that Yue Yun Xiu may be his long lost sister and the easiest way to take her away from Shaozhou was to marry her.

Zijing ordered Duan Wu to arrange the bride price for Yunxiu which they were told was 50,000 in gold.

Duan Wu found out that Yunxie is being poisoned by her own father but making her soak her hands to a muscle relaxant poisoned goat milk.  Duan Wu deduced that as Yunxie is on the verge of getting married, Mr Yue, Yunxie’s father. was making sure that Yunxie’s husband would not benefit from Yunxie as Jade Guanyin, the master carver.  So upon married she can no longer carved as she used to which means Jade Guanyin’s previous work would rise in value.

Shrimp was shocked how cruel Mr Yue was.

Zijing refused to enlighten Duan Wu of what was going on with the Cui, Yue and Yan.

It so happened that Scholar Zhang turned up at the Yue Mansion.  Duan Wu asked him what was going on which he was only to happy to share.  He told her that the Yan were the original owner fo the pearl tower.

Episode 13

As Duan Wu rescued the hysterical Yunxie because her hands were now numb, Zijing was interrogating Master Yue about Yunxie.  Zijing found out from Master Yue after beating him up that Yunxie was really his illigitimate niece.  Master Yue confirmed that the owner of the jade pendant had died from falling off a horse.

Zijing went berserk from hearing that his real sister was dead.  He was ready to kill Master Yue but Kang Ju stopped him.  Duan Wu who turned up hugged the sobbing Zijing to calm him down.

Asparas jade carving.

Cui Shijiu’s mission was to take over the pearl mine at Wuling which is currently managed by Master Eight.  Thankfully for Shijiu, Master Eight did not rebel but acknowledged the superiority of the Cui clan.

Episode 14

I have to commened Xie Keyin.  She is really rocking an androgynous personality.  Very believable.  She had a bright future ahead of her in the acting department.

Anyway, Cui Shijiu was seen with suspicion especially when Master Eight fell ill.

The Yan Convoy was preparing to depart for Wuling.  A Hu and A Xu had decided to leave and go back to the countryside as they were homesick.

Duan Wu asked Shrimp if he was homesick as well but he assured her that home was where she was.😇 Aww.

Duan Wu was at Zijing’s beck and call. She travelled with him in his caravan and was taught how to prefer tea by Zijing.

Tea preparation as taught by Zijing.

  1. Pulp the tea leaves and other ingredients but do not add these to the water until it is boiling.
  2. Add the tea leaves, but do not drink the tea from the first boiling water, instead pour it to another bowl.
  3. Add more water the pot and bring to a boil. Again, it is not ready for drinking.  Pour the second boil to another .
  4. Add more water to the pot, the third boiling water is when the tea is ready.
  5. Use the second boiling to sterilise the tea cups before use.
  6. Now bottoms up.

Duan Wu was rather put out when she found out that she really did not have to do the long-winded tea preparation.  Zijing made her do it to pass time because of their long travel. 🤣🤣🤣

They were so adorable.  She practically poured the whole pot of tea to his throat as the tea was precious.

Zijing was training her to be a wife but she was oblivious as she wanted to make jewelries.

Zijing was teaching Duanwu the names of the beads.  Upons careful scrutiny, Duanwu said that the emerald was like Zijing, quite dark in colour but clear.  While the moonstone was like Scholar Zhang, pure and glassy.  Duanwu said that moonstone would go well with the nanjing pearl but Zijing disagreed and said that the pearl definitely goes well with the emeral.  Aww flirtatious.

Someone was worried that Duanwu and Zijing would fall for each other.  Shrimp thinks that Scholar Zhang was a more suitable boyfriend for Duanwu as Scholar Zhang is learned and tender and a real gentleman.

Standout: Made me chuckle was the scene where Zijing asked Duanwu to order Kang Ju to stop the carriage as they will be camping for the night.  Duanwu knew better though and told Kang Ju to stop as Master Yan was bursting to go to toilet (from all the tea that he drank)

As they camped for the night, some familiar faces turned up.  Scholar Zhang appeared and said that he wanted to travel to where the Yan convoy was going.  Duanwu said that they were on their way to Wuling so Scholar Zhang immediately confirmed that he was on his way to Wuling too.

A very repentant Cao Da also turned up and promised that he would be the most industrious worker from now own and is willing to start from the bottomest of ranks.

Episode15

The Yan convoy finally reached Wuling.  Zijing and Master Yue was told that Master Eight was unwell.

Still. Zijing and entourage insisted to see Master Eight who they saw from behind a curtain.  Zijing told Master Eight that they have many jewels to sell.  ‘Master Eight’ ordered that his guest were given wine.

It was poison wine which affected Zijing the most as he has been chronically poisoned since he was young.

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

35

37

38

39

40

10
The Story Of Pearl Girl

We rate our dramas according to the star ratings below:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Superior

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️   –  Great

⭐️⭐️⭐️     – Satisfactory

⭐️⭐️ –     Watch at your own peril

⭐️  –    Crap

Dropped

Exit mobile version