Chicken and Duck Talk

A health inspector visits Hui's Cantonese BBQ restaurant and discovers a cockroach in the soup along with other unsanitary conditions. He threatens to sue, jeopardizing Hui's livelihood. Hui's staff intervene and stop the inspector from leaving with any evidence, allowing the restaurant to stay open.

The restaurant operates on the ground floor while Hui and his family live upstairs. He constantly balances work pressures with family responsibilities. This setup foreshadows how their fortunes are tied to the business.

Hui receives a visit from his rich mother-in-law, who worries that Ah Kuen has married a lazy man. Her judgment adds another pressure point to Hui's already fragile finances. The scene sets up familial tensions that complicate business decisions.

Danny Poon launches Danny's Chicken across the street, using aggressive marketing to lure customers away from Hui's restaurant. The fast-food chain quickly captures attention with flashy techniques. Hui watches his profits plummet as competition intensifies.

Discontent with pay and working conditions grows among Hui's staff, prompting Cuttlefish to leave for Danny's Chicken. He discovers Poon's regime is strict and humiliating during training. This departure signals the personal blow of the new competition.

While at Danny's Chicken, Cuttlefish is put through a harsh training regime and is made to distribute leaflets dressed as a chicken. Hui's disgust grows as he witnesses the humiliation his former employee endures. The incident deepens the rift between sides.

The mother-in-law offers to pay for a renovation to help Hui's ailing business, but Hui initially refuses due to pride. The gesture plants the idea that external help could turn the tide. This moment foreshadows a potential shift in Hui's approach to success.

Hui learns that his son visited Danny's Chicken with his girlfriend Judy. In a bid to regain control, Hui infiltrates the rival business dressed as an Indian woman, but Poon quickly exposes him. The incident highlights Hui's desperation and willingness to go to extremes.

Hui tries to copy Poon's marketing and packaging to appeal to the fashionable crowd, including redecorating and hosting a chaotic karaoke night. He also parades the street in a makeshift duck costume, triggering a physical altercation with Cuttlefish in a chicken suit. The stunt backfires, further alienating customers.

Hui's drastic changes scare away loyal patrons, including a Buddhist nun who regularly orders vegetarian noodles with no lard. The decline in steady customers underscores the fragility of Hui's brand without authentic tradition. The business struggle becomes more personal for Hui and his family.

Danny Poon launches a final sabotage by releasing rats into Hui's restaurant during a health inspection. The stunt threatens Hui's credibility and could ruin his livelihood. The tension peaks as the inspection deadline looms.

Cuttlefish returns to the duck restaurant, disillusioned with Poon's techniques and even attempting to foil the sabotage. His return injects a glimmer of hope that Hui might still salvage the business with some loyalty restored. The dynamics among ex-employees add emotional texture to the conflict.

Hui finally accepts his mother-in-law's help to renovate the restaurant, and she departs for China afterward. The refurbishment signals a new chapter and a possible turning point for Hui's pride and business. The community anticipates a revitalized dining experience.

The renovation proves successful, attracting customers back to Hui's. Danny's Chicken responds by selling roast duck in imitation, but their version cannot match Hui's secret recipe. The local competition shifts as Hui regains credibility through authenticity.

Angry at his defeat, Poon attempts arson to destroy Hui's restaurant, only for the plan to backfire. Hui risks himself to rescue Poon from the blaze, highlighting themes of pride, rivalry, and unexpected mercy. The rival's downfall ushers in a fragile peace and closure to the feud.