E16 - Lead

Source: Crunchyroll
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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    The Apothecary Diaries
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. The names of all of the characters, organizations, and so on
     are imaginary. It also bears no connection to any specific real-life events.
[01:31] Jinshi
    This is a bit troublesome...
[01:34] Maomao
    Huh?
[01:34] Maomao
    He usually doesn't hesitate
    to bring trouble my way.
[01:39] Maomao
    How out-of-character for him.
[01:43] Maomao
    What is it?
[01:44] Jinshi
    Well...
[01:46] Jinshi
    It's something related to
    an acquaintance of an acquaintance.
[01:51] Jinshi
    A metalworker who was
    the palace purveyor passed away
[01:54] Jinshi
    without passing on his techniques to
    his sons, who were also his apprentices.
[02:00] Jinshi
    They say some of those techniques
    were completely secret and unknown.
[02:06] Maomao
    So, you want to figure out
    the metalworker's secret technique.
[02:11] Jinshi
    You make it sound so simple.
[02:14] Jinshi
    Besides, why are you so
     enthusiastic this time around?
[02:19] Maomao
    Does it seem that way?
[02:23] Jinshi
    The metalworker's three sons
    were all his apprentices.
[02:28] Jinshi
    As the father died, it's said that one of
    the sons will take his place as the purveyor.
[02:33] Jinshi
    There were distribution instructions
    for the father's mementos in his will.
[02:38] Jinshi
    The workshop shack for the eldest son.
[02:41] Jinshi
    Furniture with excellent workmanship
    for the second son.
[02:45] Jinshi
    A fishbowl for the youngest son.
[02:47] Jinshi
    And one final note: "You all should have
    a tea party together, like old times."
[02:54] Maomao
    A tea party? What a mysterious will.
[02:59] Maomao
    Did he mean a literal tea party?
    Or does that have another meaning?
[03:05] Jinshi
    The sons have no idea after
     hearing the will, either.
[03:08] Maomao
    The mementos seem very unbalanced, too.
[03:13] Maomao
    A shack, furniture, and a fishbowl?
[03:16] Maomao
    The younger the son,
    the lower the value, it seems.
[03:21] Maomao
    What were those items like?
[03:23] Maomao
    I haven't heard the details. But...
[03:28] (Flashback) Lakan
    If that piques your interest,
    here is the address.
[03:33] Jinshi
    He said, if it piques your interest,
    you should go take a look.
[03:40] Maomao
    How well-prepared.
[03:42] Maomao
    It's like he expected this
    to happen. Interesting.
[03:47] Maomao
    If I can have time tomorrow...
[03:52] Jinshi
    Yeah...
[03:53] Maomao
    I'll probably get more work
    on my plate when I get back.
SIGN    Episode 16: Lead
[04:02] Maomao
    Oh, that's...
[04:05] Maomao
    Basen, was it?
[04:07] Basen
    Like the last time, you're my follower.
[04:11] Basen
    Don't do anything unless I allow it.
[04:13] Maomao
    Understood.
[04:16] Maomao
    Like last time, he only
    says the bare minimum.
[04:20] Maomao
    I don't think he likes me much.
[04:23] Maomao
    If he's harmless, I don't mind.
[04:30] Youngest Son
    Coming.
[04:34] Youngest Son
    Master Basen. We've been
    notified of your visit.
[04:39] Maomao
    Hmm?
[04:45] Youngest Son
    Ah, yes, that belonged to my father.
[04:48] Youngest Son
    He had a strange hobby,
    collecting weird things.
[04:51] Maomao
    Huh...
[04:53] Basen
    Is that the workshop shack?
[04:56] Youngest Son
    Yes. That said, we do our work
    in the main house now.
[05:00] Youngest Son
    The shack is used as a tea house
    for the craftsmen.
[05:06] Youngest Son
    Come in.
[05:07] Youngest Son
    Hey, I brought the guests.
[05:10] Eldest Son
    Yeah.
[05:11] Second Son
    Thank you for coming out.
[05:13] Maomao
    These must be the elder brothers, and
    the first man must have been the youngest.
[05:18] Basen
    The furniture is placed strangely.
[05:21] Basen
    Hey.
[05:22] Maomao
    Indeed...
[05:23] Maomao
    Having things in the center
    like this would get in the way.
[05:26] Maomao
    The room still looks kind of nice though,
[05:29] Maomao
    probably because of how the table
    weirdly brings the room together,
[05:32] Maomao
    and how classy this chest of drawers looks.
[05:38] Maomao
    There's metalwork on the corners.
[05:42] Maomao
    The top row has three drawers. A keyhole
    in the center drawer in the second row.
[05:46] Maomao
    A different metal is used as an accent here...
[05:51] Maomao
    Hmm?
[05:52] Maomao
    Is this bolted in place?
[05:55] Second Son
    Hey, that's mine.
[05:57] Second Son
    You're free to look, but don't touch.
[06:01] Maomao
    Right, the second son was given
    furniture as his memento.
[06:05] Second Son
    Hmph!
[06:06] Maomao
    If this chest is the
    aforementioned furniture,
[06:09] Maomao
    then this man must be the second son.
[06:12] Maomao
    Which must mean that the
    tall man is the eldest son.
[06:20] Maomao
    The window placement is strange, too.
[06:22] Maomao
    It's western-style, and strangely tall.
[06:25] Maomao
    Despite the ample sunlight
    that could have come in,
[06:28] Maomao
    the huge chestnut tree outside ruins it.
[06:32] Maomao
    The sunlight that gets in is
    filtered through the branches.
[06:35] Maomao
    And this is the only spot
    that gets that light.
[06:39] Maomao
    Hmm?
[06:40] Maomao
    This mark. Was something
    placed here for a long time?
[06:44] Eldest Son
    Can you really figure out
    what our father left behind?
[06:49] Basen
    That's...
[06:56] Basen
    You'd have to elaborate on
    your end for us to know more.
[07:02] Eldest Son
    It's exactly as you heard.
[07:04] Eldest Son
    Our father kicked the bucket without
    giving us the secret technique.
[07:08] Eldest Son
    And the only thing he left me is this shack.
[07:11] Second Son
    And for me, this chest of drawers.
[07:15] Youngest Son
    F-For me, this.
[07:17] Maomao
    Made of glass, so it's expensive.
[07:20] Maomao
    I assumed the fishbowl would
    be wooden, or ceramic at best.
[07:24] Maomao
    In that case, I guess all
    the mementos have some value.
[07:30] Second Son
    What was he thinking?
[07:34] Second Son
    Thanks for this gift, but it only has
    one key, which doesn't fit the keyhole.
[07:39] Basen
    Doesn't fit the keyhole?
[07:41] Second Son
    This is probably the key for the center
    row, but it won't fit the keyhole.
[07:47] Second Son
    The three drawers on top are
    supposed to open with the same key,
[07:51] Second Son
    but the actual key is nowhere to be found.
[07:54] Second Son
    What's the point of inheriting it?
[07:57] Eldest Son
    I'm in the same boat. What's the point of getting
     this shack if I can't move the chest out?
[08:03] Eldest Son
    What a bother.
[08:05] Youngest Son
    Dad was...
[08:07] Youngest Son
    D-Dad was probably thinking...
[08:10] Eldest Son
    I envy you. You got something
    you could easily sell.
[08:15] Second Son
    Yeah. It's not much, but it'd still be
    worth enough to live off of for a while.
[08:21] Eldest Son
    I don't get Dad at all.
[08:23] Second Son
    What possible benefit could there
    be to having tea party now?
[08:29] Maomao
    Hmm, now what should we do?
[08:31] Maomao
    The two elder brothers don't
    seem too fond of the youngest.
[08:37] Mother
    All of you, stop this!
[08:39] Mother
    That's no way to behave in front of guests.
[08:42] Mother
    I'm so sorry. I don't know when
     they started acting this way.
[08:46] Mother
    The two older boys have become so cynical.
[08:50] Mother
    And the youngest can't
    even express his opinions.
[08:53] Mother
    My husband was worried about
    them until the moment he died.
[08:59] Maomao
    I guess being worried about your kids,
[09:01] Maomao
    no matter how old they get,
    is part of being a parent.
[09:07] Mother
    Please enjoy the tea. Excuse me.
[09:16] Maomao
    They all moved. I guess
    they each have a set position.
[09:22] Maomao
    I suppose it must be just habit,
    in order to not block the window.
[09:26] Maomao
    This time of day, the sunlight
    comes through the window.
[09:30] Maomao
    If the sunlight reached a little
    further, it might hit the chest...
[09:34] Maomao
    But there's no sign of sun
    damage on the chest.
[09:37] Maomao
    Sun damage...?
[09:40] Basen
    Hey.
[09:45] Maomao
    The sunlight doesn't come in
    for too long of a time.
[10:01] Maomao
    Is something stuck inside?
[10:03] Basen
    Did you figure something out?
[10:05] Maomao
    Ah! I was thinking he looked familiar.
[10:09] Maomao
    He looks like Gaoshun!
[10:15] Basen
    So?
[10:17] Maomao
    The center drawer
    with the lock won't open, right?
[10:21] Maomao
    It used to open, but apparently
    it got stuck after Dad worked on it.
[10:27] Maomao
    And there's only one key?
[10:29] Second Son
    Just this one.
[10:31] Second Son
    Dad said if we broke the lock,
    it would break whatever's inside.
[10:36] Second Son
    So we can't force it open, either.
[10:41] Maomao
    The mementos given to each son.
[10:44] Maomao
    A shack, a chest of drawers, and a fishbowl.
[10:48] Maomao
    The chest is bolted down in the shack.
[10:51] Maomao
    The chest has drawers that can't be unlocked.
[10:53] Maomao
    And...
[10:55] (Flashback) Jinshi
    "You all should have a tea party
    together, like old times."
[11:02] Maomao
    Could it be...?
[11:11] Maomao
    Excuse me. Was the fishbowl
    originally placed there, on that shelf?
[11:17] Youngest Son
    Huh? Um, yes.
[11:19] Youngest Son
    We used to have a goldfish
     in it, and put it here.
[11:24] Youngest Son
    If it got too cold, the goldfish would die,
[11:26] Youngest Son
    so in the winter, we'd only put it here during
    tea parties, when the sunlight kept it warm.
[11:30] Youngest Son
    Around this time of day, actually.
[11:32] Youngest Son
    We haven't had any goldfish
    for the past few years, though.
[11:37] Maomao
    Hmm.
[11:41] Basen
    Hey, you!
[11:42] Maomao
    I'm going to go ask for some water.
[11:45] Basen
    Darting off without my permission again!
[11:53] Maomao
    You filled it with water, like this?
[11:56] Youngest Son
    Yes. This pattern should face this way.
[12:04] Maomao
    I knew it.
[12:05] Second Son
    H-Hey! What is this?!
[12:10] Maomao
    Don't touch that!
[12:12] Maomao
    I'm sorry. It could blind you
    if it shined into your eyes.
[12:16] Maomao
    Also, please step back, as you're blocking it.
[12:18] Maomao
    You won't be able to unlock it.
[12:33] Maomao
    It seems like the chestnut tree
    is casting a shadow now.
[12:39] Maomao
    It's hot. Also, there's a strange smell.
[12:42] Second Son
    Hey, what's the meaning of all this?!
[12:44] Maomao
    Now, please unlock this drawer with that key.
[12:48] Second Son
    I told you, it doesn't fit.
[12:51] Maomao
    Please.
[12:52] Second Son
    Hmph.
[12:58] Second Son
    W-What's going on?!
[13:01] Maomao
    Did your father happen to suffer from
     persistent anemia and stomachaches?
[13:06] Youngest Child
    Yes, that's correct.
[13:08] Maomao
    Nausea and depression, as well?
[13:11] Youngest Child
    Those, too.
[13:13] Maomao
    I don't know much about metalwork,
[13:17] Maomao
    but do you use solder in this workshop?
[13:20] Youngest Child
    Yes, we do.
[13:22] Basen
    What does that mean?
[13:23] Maomao
    I just followed the instruction from the will,
    to have a tea party like you used to.
[13:33] Maomao
    A mold for a key.
    May I remove it from the mold?
[13:37] Second Son
    S-Sure.
[13:39] Maomao
    It's still warm, and soft.
[13:43] Maomao
    The metal stuck in the keyhole
    must have melted from the heat,
[13:47] Maomao
    and flowed into the mold
    below it before hardening.
[13:58] Second Son
    It's open!
[13:59] Eldest Son
    What's inside?
[14:02] Second Son
    What is this?!
[14:04] Maomao
    This bluish crystal seems to be the same
    kind as the one near the entrance.
[14:11] Second Son
    Dammit! What does he mean, get along?
[14:14] Second Son
    We all just got played by his final prank!
[14:18] Eldest Son
    What a bother!
[14:20] Youngest Son
    Lead and tin...?
[14:23] Maomao
    I knew a grumpy craftsman of a customer who said
    techniques should be seen and stolen.
[14:29] Maomao
    I took that seriously and tried to make
    my own medicine based on what I saw my dad do.
[14:34] Maomao
    I ended up poisoning myself, and...
[14:36] (Flashback) Luomen
    You should ask first.
[14:38] Maomao
    That was the lesson he taught me.
[14:41] Maomao
    It seems like the youngest son was the only
    one who understood his dead father's intent.
[14:46] Maomao
    I've heard that, by mixing several
    different types of metals together,
[14:50] Maomao
    solder melts at a temperature lower than
    that of the individual metals originally.
[14:55] Maomao
    Of the three chunks, two were lead and tin.
[14:58] Maomao
    Those and whatever this third thing is
    might mix to create a new metal.
[15:05] Maomao
    Also, the light was
    concentrated by the fishbowl,
[15:09] Maomao
    but it wasn't heated for very long.
[15:12] Maomao
    The melting point must be very low.
[15:16] Maomao
    The differently-sized
    drawers might represent
[15:18] Maomao
    the ratio at which
    the metals should be mixed,
[15:22] Maomao
    but I don't need to comment on that.
[15:25] Eldest Son
    What kind of will is this? Let's go.
[15:28] Second Son
    What a waste of time.
[15:31] Youngest Son
    Wait, guys!
[15:34] Youngest Son
    It's not a prank.
[15:36] Eldest Son
    What is it, then?!
[15:38] Youngest Son
    Dad really did leave a will to make
    the three of us get along again!
[15:46] Youngest Son
    So I want the three of us
    to continue working together!
[15:58] Eldest Son
    Together? The three of us?
[16:01] Eldest Son
    What a joke. You're different from us.
[16:05] Second Son
    You have talent. Dad actually
    cared about you, and only you.
[16:11] Youngest Son
    T-That's not true!
[16:14] Youngest Son
    Dad always trusted you two!
[16:18] Youngest Son
    He always told me...
[16:21] Youngest Son
    Chang, you're always so calm
    and accurate with any work you do.
[16:26] Youngest Son
    Dad said he could rely on you for anything,
     because you don't make mistakes!
[16:29] Youngest Son
    Tzu, you're good at getting to know people.
[16:33] Youngest Son
    He said you should be proud of your gift,
    the ability to be friendly with anyone!
[16:40] Youngest Son
    Dad viewed the three of us equally.
[16:52] Youngest Son
    At least, that's what I think.
[16:58] Basen
    Excuse us.
[16:59] Youngest Son
    Oh, um, sorry.
[17:02] Maomao
    Father... Well, it's got nothing to do with me.
[17:08] Youngest Son
    Thank you.
[17:11] Maomao
    But I should tell him just this one thing.
[17:14] Basen
    Hey.
[17:17] Maomao
    There's an apothecary named
     Luomen at a brothel called
[17:20] Maomao
    the Verdigris House
     in the pleasure district.
[17:22] Maomao
    He's also a skilled physician.
[17:24] Maomao
    If you start to feel unwell,
    please pay him a visit.
[17:28] Youngest Son
    Y-Yes.
[17:44] Lakan
    Thank you for the other day.
[17:46] Lakan
    It turned out quite interestingly.
[17:50] Lakan
    The youngest son truly was
     the most skilled, after all.
[17:57] Jinshi
    This strategist must have known all along.
[18:00] Lakan
    He suddenly started to
    show that skill of his.
[18:05] Lakan
    They say he'll take his father's place and
    begin selling his metalworks to the palace.
[18:11] Lakan
    The older two sons are no longer
    going to work as craftsmen.
[18:17] Jinshi
    Is that...
[18:18] Lakan
    It can't be all that bad.
[18:21] Lakan
    They took the hint from
    their dead father, perhaps.
[18:27] Lakan
    The eldest will take care of bookkeeping.
[18:29] Lakan
    The second son will find new clients.
[18:32] Lakan
    They're both going to help
    the family from different angles.
[18:38] Lakan
    In other words, they all found their place.
[18:45] Jinshi
    I don't know what happened at the mansion.
[18:48] Jinshi
    The apothecary girl must
    know and is keeping silent.
[18:52] Lakan
    The late metalworker's works
    were truly wonderful.
[18:57] Lakan
    It was a simple metal part, but if used on
    a ritual utensil, it would look fabulous.
[19:06] Jinshi
    Indeed.
[19:08] Jinshi
    What an annoying person.
[19:10] Jinshi
    He must know, given my position,
    ritual utensils don't mean anything to me.
[19:15] Jinshi
    I wonder why, master strategist,
    you brought up—
[19:17] Lakan
    Come now, I just didn't want
    to keep good talent buried.
[19:23] Lakan
    Elder or younger brother shouldn't matter.
[19:26] Lakan
    Those with talent should receive attention.
[19:32] Jinshi
    He has a point. Lakan may be a shady man,
[19:35] Jinshi
    but he definitely can
    discern talent in people.
[19:38] Jinshi
    It can be argued that he used that
    ability to climb to his current rank.
[19:44] Jinshi
    By the way...
[19:46] Jinshi
    May I hear the rest of that story from earlier?
[19:49] Lakan
    Which story?
[19:53] Jinshi
    The one about the courtesan.
[19:56] Lakan
    Ah, yes! The way to decrease
    the value of a courtesan.
[20:03] Lakan
    You should direct that inquiry
    to someone who knows that world.
[20:10] Lakan
    Oh goodness, the time!
[20:12] Lakan
    My subordinates would scold me
    if I stayed any longer.
[20:20] Lakan
    Please give this to your serving maids.
[20:25] Lakan
    It's a good drink, not too sweet.
[20:28] Lakan
    See you tomorrow.
[20:37] Gaoshun
    Master Jinshi.
[20:39] Jinshi
    Hmm?
[20:41] Gaoshun
    I'm sorry to bother you
    when you're so tired, but...
[20:48] Maomao
    Did you need me?
[20:50] Jinshi
    Do you know much about makeup?
[20:53] Maomao
    Well, yes, the basics.
[20:56] Jinshi
    In that case,
[20:58] Jinshi
    can you do my makeup for me?
[21:03] Maomao
    Huh?
SIGN    Next Time
[22:46] Narrator
    Next time: "A Jaunt Around Town."
SIGN    Episode 17: A Jaunt Around Town