Nothing Gold Can Stay

Background

The series is based on the real-life story of a businesswoman from Anwubao, Jingyang County, Shaanxi Province, during the late Qing dynasty. Her real name is unknown, as women’s names were typically omitted from Chinese historiography. In unofficial accounts, she is sometimes recorded as Zhou Ying, a name adopted by the series. According to legend, after taking over her late husband’s family business, she became one of the richest women in China, and later became a goddaughter of Empress Dowager Cixi.

Synopsis

Zhou Ying is sold to the powerful Shen family by her foster father, yet successfully escapes her childish and bratty master Shen Xingyi by sneaking into merchant Wu Pin's palanquin. After a failed business collaboration that resulted in Shen Yuesheng's (Xingyi's older brother) death, the Shen family suspects that Wu Pin was the culprit behind Yuesheng's death. Xingyi then injures Wu Pin by using a club to hit his forehead multiple times, causing Wu Pin to fall into a coma. After the bride-to-be's father has a last-minute change of heart, Zhou Ying is married to Wu Pin in an effort to dispel bad luck. Miraculously, Wu Pin wakes up on the same night, and the couple share a happy few months together. Wu Weiwen, the patriarch of the family also agrees to educate her in the matters of commerce after witnessing her remarkable business acumen.

Unfortunately, Wu Pin is poisoned to death after getting too close to the truth of the failed business collaboration, and Wu Weiwen's imprisonment and death a couple of months later leaves the entire household in disarray. Zhou Ying is determined to turn around their fortune by investing in a cloth factory in Shaanxi. She gains the trust of the Wu family and starts from scratch. Meanwhile, Shen Xingyi has also decided to turn over a new leaf, and starts anew in Shanghai. Shen Xingyi's love for Zhou Ying is initially unrequited, though she eventually acknowledges that she has developed romantic feelings for him. However, romantic affections become of little importance in the face of political upheaval and personal revenge – Shen Xingyi joins the anti-Qing reformist movement and plots to kill the Empress Dowager Cixi while Zhou Ying avenges Wu Pin and her father-in-law's deaths by taking Shen Sihai and Du Mingli head on. After much struggle, Zhou Ying ultimately establishes a business empire, and also lends Empress Dowager Cixi a helping hand when she escapes to Jingyang.

Cast

Main

Sun Li as Zhou Ying (周莹)

A budding businesswoman who initially marries into the Wu Family to ward off bad luck. After her husband dies, she takes on his responsibilities and starts rebuilding their business empire from scratch.

Chen Xiao as Shen Xingyi (沈星移)

A happy-go-lucky young master who has never known hardship in his life. After meeting Zhou Ying, he eventually decides to change his ways, becoming an educated businessman and later an advocate for modernization who is willing to die to protect his country and loved ones.

Peter Ho as Wu Pin (吴聘)

Young master of the eastern courtyard in the Wu household, a kind and gentle businessman who is the first person to treat Zhou Ying for who she is, and respect her opinions.

Ren Zhong as Zhao Baishi (赵白石)

An upright and conservative county magistrate who remains loyal to his people. He has an unrequited love for Zhou Ying.

Myolie Wu as Hu Yongmei (胡咏梅)

The only daughter of the Hu family. She was betrothed to Wu Pin, but the marriage didn't go through due to Du Mingli's meddling. Hu Yongmei has a deep hatred towards Zhou Ying, believing that Zhou Ying forced her father to his death for his part in the failed business collaboration.

Yu Haoming as Du Mingli (杜明礼)

The main antagonist. He is an unscrupulous political schemer who serves Zaiyi, an anti-foreign politician and royal prince. He has business ambitions but lacks skill. He also has a twisted love for Hu Yongmei after she gave him food when he was a young beggar on the streets.

Reception

Critical response

The show was commercially successful, and dominated the television ratings throughout its run. Initially it generated much positive reviews and discussion on micro-blog site Weibo and popular review site Douban. However, halfway through its run, there have been complaints about inconsistent writing, the number of unnecessary character deaths, illogical business transactions and the female lead's excessive number of love interests, which ultimately left the drama with a 7.6/10 rating. Despite the negative reviews surrounding the story line, there has been near universal praise for the acting, directing and production values.

Ratings

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