''The Good Old Days'' () was a television drama produced by Hong Kong broadcaster

Asia Television Asia Television Limited (, also known as ATV) is a digital media and broadcasting company in Hong Kong. Established as the first television service in Hong Kong as Rediffusion Television () on 29 May 1957, it shifted to terrestrial television ...

in 1996. It was first aired from 15 April 1996 to 20 September 1996. The series is one of several ATV series that was well received in viewership ratings. After the network shut down in 2015, broadcasting rights along with many other ATV dramas were sold to rival network

TVB Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) is a television broadcasting company based in Hong Kong SAR. The Company operates five free-to-air terrestrial television channels in Hong Kong, with TVB Jade as its main Cantonese language service, and ...

for 17 million HKD.

Plot

The drama series takes place around the days of the Nationalists' Republic of China, and also Warlord Era and

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. The era itself was considered as the most turbulent period in China's modern history. It depicts how the three women, Sau Hau, Man Fung and Ding Man, strive for their own way of living during this time. The story begins in a small village in the 1920s with Sau Hau ( Amy Chan) becoming a servant for the powerful Fong family who owns a winery. The Fong family takes a liking to her and arranges a marriage between her and their eldest son, Ho Sang (

Steve Ma Steve Ma Jingtao (; born 14 February 1962) is a Taiwanese actor best known for acting in many Taiwanese, mainland Chinese and Singaporean television series since the early 1990s. Most of the more notable television series he acted in are of the ' ...

) who is away on a trip in

Guangzhou Guangzhou (, ; ; or ; ), also known as Canton () and alternatively romanized as Kwongchow or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in southern China. Located on the Pearl River about north-northwest of Hong Kon ...

. Meanwhile, while on his trip, Ho Sang meets Man Fung (

Sheren Tang Sheren Tang Shui-man (born 2 March 1966) is a Hong Kong actress. She is best known for her roles in the mega-hit Hong Kong TVB drama series '' War and Beauty'', as well as '' La Femme Desperado'', '' The Family Link'', '' Rosy Business'' and '' ...

) who has just been sold by her mother from the village unknowingly into prostitution. Ho Sang saves her just in time and the two begin a relationship. When Ho Sang returns to his village, he is furious at the arranged marriage to Sau Hau but eventually agrees due to his mother's illness. He is extremely cold to Sau Hau and distances himself from her, while continuing to see Man Fung when he returns to Guangzhou for work and tells her that he does not have feelings for Sau Hau. However, as time progresses, he eventually warms up to Sau Hau and begins a relationship with her with Man Fung unaware. Sau Hau's friend, Pui Pui (

Kiki Sheung Kiki Sheung Tin-ngoh (, born 24 July 1963) is a Hong Kong TVB actress. Kiki was originally with TVB, but moved over to rival station ATV in 1995. She moved back to TVB in 2002. Awards nominations * Nominated: Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supp ...

) is forcibly sold by her father and married to a local abusive warlord as his sixth wife. Ho Sang makes the decision to enlist in the army for the

Northern Expedition The Northern Expedition was a military campaign launched by the National Revolutionary Army (NRA) of the Kuomintang (KMT), also known as the "Chinese Nationalist Party", against the Beiyang government and other regional warlords in 1926. The ...

and leaves his home behind to the disapproval of Man Fung, Sau Hau, and his family. Later, Man Fung and Sau Hau both discover they are pregnant. When Man Fung returns home to her mother, she is discovered by the village and almost killed by Sai Fan (

Paul Chun Paul Chun (; born 26 June 1945) is a Hong Kong actor. He has appeared in more than 130 films and television series since 1949. In 1966, he appeared in ''The Sand Pebbles'', an American film produced and directed by Robert Wise. Early life He wa ...

) for being pregnant as a single woman. She reveals that the baby is Ho Sang's and hence, Sai Fan's grandchild. Sau Hau saves her and Ho Sang writes a letter home to confirm this. Man Fung is married into the Fong family as Ho Sang's second wife but is disliked by the family especially when Sau Hau has a miscarriage after saving her. Conflicts arise between Sau Hau and Man Fung but they begin to form a strong understanding of each other and develop a friendship. When the Fong family loses their business and goes bankrupt, Sau Hau and Man Fung go to Guangzhou to try to start a business for the family. After months of failure, they come across a woman of high status, Fung Chi (

Lee Heung Kam Lee Heung-kam (13 January 1932 – 4 January 2021) was a Hong Kong Cantonese opera and TVB actress. Career She joined the entertainment industry when she was 14 years old. Since 1960, she became known for being an antagonist in many Cantonese op ...

) who admires them for their work in sewing. They collaborate to start a fabric company together and the Fong family comes to Guangzhou as their business thrives. Meanwhile, Ho Sang has been declared dead. Sau Hau and Man Fung are distraught. Man Fung develops feelings for Sai Bong (Vincent Lam), Fung Chi's son. Pui Pui begins working for the Fong family after her abusive husband disappears and later marries Sai Fan as his third wife. Years later, Ho Sang returns home, married to Ding Man (

Maggie Shiu Maggie Shiu (born February 27, 1965) is a prominent Hong Kong actress. Career Her career began in 1985 when she joined Hong Kong TVB. As her career developed, she took on variety of roles in TV series and movies. Hong Kong audiences still remember ...

), a nurse he met during his time in the north. He had been suffering from amnesia until recently. Man Fung asks for a divorce and marries Sai Bong while joining his business. The Japanese Army invades Guangzhou and part of the Fong family heads to Hong Kong, only to return, after Japan decides to attack Hong Kong. Pui Pui goes missing on the journey and is presumed dead. Ho Sang discovers his friend Lok Ping (Wong Chong Kwan), who he met during the Northern Expedition, is a guerrilla helping the Chinese Army. Sai Bong and Man Fung are forced into collaborating with the Japanese Army, but secretly help Lok Ping. However, other guerrillas assassinate Sai Bong for being a traitor, not yet realizing he is a double agent. Ho Sang is suspected of being a guerrilla and is arrested by the Japanese Army. Due to negotiations, he is sent away to do hard labour instead of being executed. As World War II comes to an end in 1945, Man Fung, her daughter, and Fung Chi go to Hong Kong due to the risk of them being deemed as traitors. Pui Pui is revealed to be alive. Ding Man divorces Ho Sang and marries Lok Ping. Sau Hau reunites with Ho Sang and the two are seen still alive together in the year 2000.

Cast

Tse Family * Gam San as Tse Yang (Father) * Yiu Chi Kwan as Yang Qiao (Mother) * Amy Chan as Tse Sau Hau * Phyllis Man as Tse Sau Ling (Sau Hau's 2nd sister) * Annie Lee as Tse Sau Lai (adult) * Chun Ka Wai as Tse Tin (adult) Fong Family *

as Fong Sai Fan * Nam Hung as Elder Mother (Ho Sang's mother, deceased due to illness. Fong Sai Fan's 1st wife) * Bao Hei Jing as Yim Ha (Ho Man's mother, Fong Sai Fan's 2nd wife) *

as Shek Pui Pui (Fong Sai Fan's 3rd Wife) *

as Fong Ho Sang (Fong's eldest son with his first wife) *

Gilbert Lam Gilbert Lam Wai San (born 6 July 1962) is a Hong Kong actor formerly with TVB and ATV. Career Gilbert Lam joined TVB's actor training course in 1985, but failed to gain an artist contract with TVB. In 1990 he went to Malaysia, appearing in s ...

as Fong Ho Man Cheung Family * Tam Bing Man as Man Fung's father * Ng Yuen Yee as Man Fung's mother (also served as Fong Family as head of servant. Ho Sang's mother in-law.) *

as Cheung Man Fung (Ho Sang's 2nd wife, later divorced and marries Wai Sai Bong) Other cast *

Vincent Lam Vincent Lam (born September 5, 1974) is a Canadian writer and medical doctor. Early life and education Born in London, Ontario and raised in Ottawa, Lam's parents came to Canada from the Chinese expatriate community in Vietnam. He attended ...

as Wai Sai Bong *

as Kam Fung Chi (Sai Bong's mother) *

Maggie Siu Maggie Shiu (born February 27, 1965) is a prominent Hong Kong actress. Career Her career began in 1985 when she joined Hong Kong TVB. As her career developed, she took on variety of roles in TV series and movies. Hong Kong audiences still remembe ...

as Ding Man (Ho Sang's 3rd wife, later separated with him and married with Lok Ping, Ho Sang's friend during his military tour of duty) * Wong Chong Kwan as Lok Ping * Renee Dai as Fong Hiu Wah, Man Fung's daughter (teenager) * Wong Wan Choi as Dr. Ling * Wong Oi Yiu as Fong Hiu Wah, Man Fung's daughter (adult) *

Michael Huang Michael Huang (, born November 28, 1958) is a Taiwanese actor and singer. Filmography Television series Film Variety show Theater Discography Studio albums Published works * * Awards and nominations References External lin ...

as Lo Ping

Production

Filming took place in the district of Doumen in

Zhuhai Zhuhai (, ; Yale: ''Jyūhói''), also known as Chuhai is a prefecture-level city located on the west bank of Pearl River estuary on the central coast of southern Guangdong province, People's Republic of China, on the southeastern edge of Pear ...

Release

The drama consisted of 105 episodes and was broadcast every Monday to Friday at 10 to 11 pm from 15 April 1996 to 20 September 1996 on ATV. The series was rebroadcast in 2007 and 2014 on the network. Broadcasting rights were sold to

in 2015. EBC purchased the broadcasting rights for Taiwan and was broadcast on the network in 1997.

References

The Good Old Day
HKATV website ''(Chinese)''

Review of the drama, spcnet.tv {{DEFAULTSORT:Good Old Days (TV series), The Hong Kong television soap operas Hong Kong drama television series Asia Television original programming Hong Kong television series 1996 Hong Kong television series debuts 1990s Hong Kong television series 1996 Hong Kong television series endings Television shows set in Guangdong