Casts: Dai Yang Tian 戴阳天 (林小杯), Elvin Ng 黄俊雄 (黄志豪(泰山)), Zhang Zhenghuan 张振环 (姚无忌), Jeanette Aw 欧萱 (姚剑虹), Eelyn Kok 郭惠雯 (黄金好), 周颖 (秦慧敏), Zheng Geping 郑各评 (秦相林), Aileen Tan 陈丽贞 (刘毛毛), Ye Shipin 叶世品 (黄利发), Hong Hui Fang 洪慧芳 (何娇), Constance Song 宋怡霏 (露西), Desmond Tan 陈泂江 (林德华), Wang Yuqing 王昱清 (姚狮), 李文海 (林益), 林丽云 (王阿尾), Yuan Shuai 袁帅 (区裕明)
No. of Episodes : 35
Theme Song:
Yao Jian Hong (played by Jeanette Aw) The beautiful, aloof Yao Jian Hong is stubborn and determined, refusing to let hardships get in her way. She sells medicated ointment with her father, and works as a dancer to pay off her father's debts. She loves Lin Xiao Bei (Dai Yang Tian) and hopes for him to settle down, but due to circumstances, he is forced to leave her eventually.
Pregnant with Xiao Bei's baby, she marries Huang Zhi Hao (Elvin Ng).
Storyline:
The year was 1967, and Singapore started to print its own currency and made national service a compulsory thing for all young Singaporean men of lawful age. It was the year where fake eyelashes were rented out for S$4 per day; and prices of eggs plummeted to a new low that drove Singaporeans to form a lobby group on “chicken butchery” in order to reduce the supply of eggs. In the same year, “Vietnamese Rose” - a form of syphilis – came into Singapore and men who called on prostitutes shuddered at the mere mention of the name; It was also the year when Sakura and Rita Chao’s “New Peach-blossom River” was all the rage in the streets of Singapore.
There were three houses along a narrow bustling street on North Bridge Road, and there lived six families, amongst them were 6 youths of about the same age.
Lin Xiao Bei（played by Dai Yang Tian）is the only son of Lin, the tailor. He fights and gets himself into countless trouble and is a constant annoyance to his neighbours. Yao Jian Hong （played by Jeanette Aw）, who grows up with Xiao Bei, is the only person who could tame him. Jian Hong left school at a young age and with her father, they perform martial arts in the streets to sell medicated ointment. She is in the ‘turf’ for years, and is a candid and forthright girl with a sense of chivalry. Lin Xiao Bei likes her and the feeling is mutual. However she‘s unhappy with Xiao Bei’s frivolous attitude. She wishes that Xiao Bei would be down-to-earth and to succeed his father’s tailoring business. Xiao Bei doesn’t want to be resigned to running the little tailor-shop. He wants to venture into more ambitious grounds and yearns to strike it rich someday.
Another childhood friend of Lin Xiao Bei is Huang Zhi Hao (nicknamed “Tarzan”, played by Elvin Ng), who loves to day-dream. Often fickle-minded, he switches between dreams of being a car racer to a wrestler the next. Both of them are at loggerheads sometimes but turn into buddies in other occasions. Xiao Bei and Tarzan stick by each other through weal and woe. Like chopsticks, the pair is inseparable and can’t do without each other.
In addition to Jian Hong, Tarzan’s sister, Huang Jin Hao (played by Eelyn Kok), also likes Xiao Bei. She is a vain and materialistic girl with an naïve mindset. Despite not winning over Xiao Bei’s heart, she stays loyal to him as a friend. Jian Hong’s twin brother, Yao Wu Ji (played by Zhang Zhen Huan) is very timid. He likes Jin Hao but could only keep his true feelings to himself.
Qin Hui Min (played by Zhou Ying) is the only one among the few youngsters who is well educated. Though she is physically weak but with her unrelenting perseverance, Hui Min eventually became a lawyer.
The two generations of these families underwent 30 years of changes, entwined in a chain of love, hatred, bitterness, jealousy, magnanimity and forgiveness. That was their story which is also, Our Story as we, too, had been down the same path…
Singaporeans share countless common memories. Through the years of hardship when the country started out in the 60s; the oil crisis in the 70s and the stock-market crash in the 80s, Singaporeans have lived through it all. We’ve shared the joys and sorrows. With the onslaught of the current financial crisis, we are being put to test once again. And looking back at how we’ve rode out the storm over the years bears an exceptional meaning at this point in time.
Catch ‘Together’ when it debuts 30 November 2009, Monday – Friday at 9pm, on Channel 8.
The Replacement 'PRINCESS' Eelyn Kok replaced Fiona Xie in new drama. How does Eelyn feel about being 'second choice'? By Kwok Kar Peng
November 22, 2009
SHE took over Fiona Xie's role at the last minute in the new Chinese drama Together.
And now, Eelyn Kok is tipped to replace Fiona as one of Caldecott Hill's seven princesses.
Crowned as such by the media in 2007, the seven actresses are Fiona, Jeanette Aw, Joanne Peh, Felicia Chin, Jesseca Liu, Rui En and Dawn Yeoh. Eelyn, 31, confessed to The New Paper: 'I wanted to be a princess initially.
'When everyone regards you as a princess, it means that you are already in the league and will get more work. I didn't have much work at that time.
'It'll be good if I can be a princess, but honing my acting skills is still my first goal.'
Eelyn is best remembered for playing scheming characters in dramas like Kinship and The Little Nyonya. Her hope to enter showbiz royalty doesn't seem too far-fetched.
There has been speculation among industry insiders recently that MediaCorp is ready to groom and 'bump up' Eelyn, who has eight years of acting experience under her belt.
She wants to be 'princess'
Fiona's sudden and unprecedented withdrawal from the drama in July at the eleventh hour has cast doubts on her professionalism.
But Eelyn feels that fans of the princesses wouldn't take kindly to anyone being replaced, and joked that she prefers to be known as 'the eighth wonder' instead.
But one thing the actress may need to work on is her publicity skills.
When asked if she would put herself in the limelight by sharing controversial information with reporters, her eyes widened in shock.
'Do people do that? I've never thought about it before,' she said.
'I'm not the type who takes the initiative.'
The mild-mannered and easy-going starlet admitted that if she's one of the princesses, she would be the mature and stable one.
Focus on acting
What about asking her managers to let her attend launches of designer boutiques? After all, those are the right places to be seen at.
Eelyn replied that she would leave it to the company to decide if she should attend such events as her priority was still to work on her craft.
'Right from the start, my intention was to get the audience's attention through my acting,' she said.
'I only wanted to act and not to be a very popular actress. But one must be popular to be able to continue acting. I know keeping a low profile is a disadvantage, but my character is like that.'
How does she feel about being the 'second choice', tipped to take over Fiona's tiara only after Fiona opted out of the drama?
Eelyn replied: 'I was bothered initially. I even had an image of Fiona in my mind when I went through my script, like how she would appear in the scene.
'But I figured it shouldn't bother me because it would hinder my concentration. The company had their reasons for casting Fiona in the role first.
'As for being a princess, it's good if I am one, but it's okay if I'm not too.'
But Eelyn has already impressed several industry watchers. Entertainment journalists Mervin Tay from My Paper and U Weekly's Lee Siew Wen both agree she's qualified to hold her own as one of the seven princesses.
Mr Tay said: 'She started off with supporting roles, playing baddies before winning lead roles.
'Her work has been pretty good and her performance in this latest drama will be a test for her. If she does well, she can definitely replace Fiona.'
Miss Lee said that although Eelyn is a good candidate to replace one of the princesses, it may not necessarily be Fiona.
She said: 'Dawn's performances have been passable but not outstanding. However, she's the youngest of the seven, which means she can be groomed further.
'Jesseca could also be dropped because her popularity has dipped. Her recent works have been only so-so, maybe because MediaCorp hasn't got a drama to showcase her.'
Total Episode: 180. Date & Time: Every Monday to Friday, 7pm to 8pm. MediaCorp Channel 8 Cast: Chen Liping, Huang Wenyong, Yvonne Lim, Belinda Lee, Cai Peixuan, Joanne Peh, Zhang Yao Dong, Pierre Png, Cavin Soh, Paige Chua, Yao Wenlong, Shaun Chen, Adam Chen, Pan Ling Ling, Huang Shi Nan and Joshua Ang.
Story Every past has its own secrets. Some people hold on to theirs so closely that it is impossible for them to live happily and freely. Often, the fear of letting others into their real world makes it difficult for some to maintain open and honest relationships. Yet, with the passage of time, the past throws up its own secrets; and more often than not, through a handshake, forgiveness is obtained and love blossoms.
The seven members of the Tay family live in a 5-room HDB flat. Zheng Shanguo (played by Huang Wen Yong), the head of the household, owns and runs two coffee shops. Penny-pinching by nature, it is an irony that his wife, Zhang Yuxiang (played by Chen Liping) is a spendthrift and one who hankers after branded goods. Shanguo and Yuxiang have three daughters. The eldest is Aizhen (played by Yvonne Lim), an impatient and arrogant TV news reporter. The second daughter, Aishan (played by Belinda Lee), is an auditor.
She has a phobia of sickness and death and is constantly overly obsessive about cleanliness and hygiene. As a result, her colleagues are unable to get along with her. The youngest daughter is Aimei (played by Pei Xuan), an accomplished baker who suffers from low self-confidence and esteem. Aimei is laidback and muddle-headed. The remaining members of the Tay family are Zheng Qiaomei (played by Hong Damu), Shanguo’s jovial mother who never fails to surprise them with ideas that are out of this world and Zheng Shuiguo (played by Yao Wen Long), his kind-hearted but roguish younger brother.
The Tay family lives next to a Chinese medium; Lan Jinyin (played by Jin Yin Ji) whose daughter-in- law Guan Qiumei (played by Jue Xi) was imprisoned for the manslaughter of Jinyin’s only son. Jinyin raises her two grandchildren, Li Liqin (played by Shaun Chen) and Li Lifen (played by Paige Chua), with the winnings from her mahjong games. As a young child, Liqin was psychologically scarred when he was mocked and called a murderer’s son. He swears to do well for himself and rise above his circumstances. On the other hand, Lifen is unaware that her mother killed her father. Naïve by nature, she is not at all street-smart and sees the world through rose-tinted glasses. After Qiumei is released from prison, she looks up Jinyin and her children to ask for their forgiveness. However, both Jinyin and Liqin detest her so badly that they refuse to forgive her. Qiumei resorts to renting a flat next to theirs and tries her best to gain their forgiveness.
Yuxiang wants to climb the social ladder and coerces Shanguo into moving into a bungalow. Unfortunately, her new neighbour, Wu Youli (playe by Cavin Soh), who lives with his sister, is a weird character. He has a large tumour growing out of his neck which causes him to feel inferior and defensive. He lashes out callously at anyone who makes fun of his looks and Yuxiang is no exception. Yuxiang and Youli end up fighting all the time and even file lawsuits against each other. Their neighbours say the duo reminds them of the feuding families living on the infamous Everitt Road along Joo Chiat. Youli soon amends his nasty and neurotic ways after a blind girl, Ah Bing (played by Pamelyn Chee), and her mentally-challenged mother, Auntie Hao, enter his life. Youli opens up and learns to trust in building lasting relationships. Also, he starts to fall in love with Ah Bing.
Auntie Hao subsequently meets with an accident and her life is in danger. Youli’s company by Auntie Hao’s side and the comfort he provides during her ordeal helps calm her down. Ah Bing is immensely grateful for Youli’s kind gesture but she is unable to reciprocate his affections. Youli befriends Aishan and the latter’s sympathy for him gradually blossoms into love. Aishan advises Youli to go for an operation to remove his tumour. Although Youli is initially hesitant, he finally plucks up his courage for it. With the tumour removed, life starts anew for Youli and he starts to be more magnanimous towards Yuxiang as well. Youli extends his help to Yuxiang as she goes into delivery and the animosity between them is dissolved in an instance.
Aizhen’s boyfriend, Fang Kai (played by Pierre Png) is the son of one of Singapore’s wealthiest businessmen. Fang Kai is also Liqin’s good friend. However, Liqin grows increasingly jealous and envious of Fang Kai’s privileged background and upbringing, Liqin then uses underhand means to gain the trust of Fang Kai’s father, Jason (played by Chen Shuchen). Eventually, Jason promotes Liqin to be his right-hand man in the company. Knowing that affairs of the heart are Fang Kai’s Achilles’ heel, Liqin indirectly causes Fang Kai and Aizhen to break up. Hurt by love, Liqin and Aizhen turn from bickering foes to friends and in a drunken stupor one night, share a moment of passion.
Eventually, Liqin and Aizhen got married but Liqin starts to show his ugly side right after. He takes the pressure and stress of his work and life out on Aizhen. Aizhen is abused physically and emotionally by Liqin but she didn’t dare tell her family and puts up with the ill-treatment silently…
Youqing (played by Joanne Peh) meets Dr Yue Guang (played by Zhang Yao Dong), a psychologist, by chance. Love blossoms between them after he helps her to overcome her trauma from a childhood kidnap. Aimei, who is secretly in love with Yue Guang, could only give them her blessings. Sadly, the couple’s happiness is short-lived one when Yue Guang disappears following a mountaineering accident. The accident left Yue Guang paralysed and when he returns quietly to find Youqing getting along well with Fang Kai, he decides to match-make the two of them.
Yuxiang conceives a son unexpectedly. Shanguo is ecstatic and panders to her every whim and needs. Yuxiang realizes how shallow a person she had been, hankering after branded goods. She changes and becomes more down-to-earth. Unfortunately, her baby gets badly injured in an accident caused by the couple’s enemy. Shanguo learns of the culprit’s identity but didn’t dare reveal to Yuxiang for fear that she will not be able to take the blow.
Yuxiang is furious with Shanguo’s shifty behaviour and suspects him of having an extra-marital affair. Distressed, Yuxiang develops kleptomania and is oblivious that her stingy husband has been secretly following her and paying for her stolen goods. When Yuxiang finally realizes what Shanguo has been doing for her, she snaps out of her condition and resolves to start life afresh.
Aishan, who has Pathiphobia and suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, develops liver failure. Youli encourages her and stays by her side to support and comfort her. His efforts pay off and Aishan manages to overcome her problems and the pair fall in love.
In the end, each of them understands that life is not all about material pleasures but love. Essentially, it is about having loved ones to share your life with.
Catch this drama on channel 8, 7pm to 8pm Monday to Friday Starting from 9 November 2009
Cast: Li Nanxing 李南星 as 刘帮, Chen Hanwei 陈汉伟 as 叶正康, Ann Kok 郭舒贤 as 杨欣北, Cynthia Koh 许美珍 as 陈美惠, Dawn Yeoh 姚懿珊 as 夏如萱, Adam Chen 詹金泉 as 陈进峰
Starting 2nd Nov,Every Monday-Friday,9pm at channel 8
No. of Episodes:20
Liu Bang (Li Nanxing) works for a bank as the senior Vice-President. His wife, Yang Xinbei (Ann Kok), is a full-time housewife who stays at home to look after the household and their daughter. Their daughter, Liu Si’en, is a bright and sensible little girl. Liu Bang has it all in both his career and family life. He is especially glad that he is able to hold his head up high in front of his father-in-law and mother-in-law, proving that they were wrong about him in the past.
His daughter, Si’en, is about to enroll in a primary school. In order to get her into a prestigious primary school, Liu Bang decides to move his family into a condominium within 1km of the chosen school. Ye Zhengkang’s (Chen Hanwei) family thus becomes their next-door neighbour.
Zhengkang is a “house-husband”, in charge of household chores and the care of the two children. His wife, Chen Meihui (Cynthia Koh), is the boss of a beauty salon. She works to bring money to the family. This arrangement brings about many strange looks from others, naturally. But Zhengkang is not affected by this and takes pride in his role.
Liu Bang, like others, does not approve of the arrangement in Zhengkang’s household. He feels that a man’s pride should lie in his career, and that a man who stays at home would not accomplish great things. However, he’d never have expected that he would soon join Zhengkang’s ranks as well.
The economic crisis had a great impact on the financial market. Liu Bang’s bank is affected as well, and needs to retrench a large number of employees. Liu Bang, who had once offended his superior, is one of those targeted of course.
After being retrenched, Liu Bang remains optimistic that he could find a similar job with similar benefits. However, all the companies are cutting costs and none of them wants to employ him at his desired salary. Neither would the egoistic Liu Bang lower himself to consider a lower position with a less attractive salary. This throws the family into financial difficulty.
After being a housewife for several years, Xinbei is suddenly recruited as an assistant editor for a magazine in her ex-colleague’s company. Initially, Liu Bang disapproves of Xinbei going out to work, but due to investments losing money as well as countless bills to be paid, he has no choice but to let her work for the time being, until he finds a suitable job. On the other hand, Xinbei is worried that Liu Bang would not be able to handle the household chores. Liu Bang thinks nothing of it and proclaims confidently that he would have no problems.
On his first day as a “house-husband”, Liu Bang runs into endless problems. Not only does he mess up the chores, he even forgets to fetch Si’en home from the kindergarten. Thankfully, Zhengkang lends him a hand and they manage to resolve everything. Liu Bang is grateful to Zhengkang for his help, and gains a different perspective of him. The two men resolve their past differences and eventually become good friends.
Xinbei is doing very well at work and earns praise from her superior, Wyman. She experiences a sense of self-worth for the first time, and shares her joy with Liu Bang. However, Liu Bang behaves like a wet blanket due to his ego being hurt. Xinbei is disappointed with his response. The couple starts to drift further apart from each other.
On the other hand, Shuyong and Aijuan are abandoned by their other children and come to Liu Bang’s place to seek refuge. To avoid embarrassment, Liu Bang hides the truth about his retrenchment from them, and lies that he is on long vacation. He even gets Xinbei and Si’en to play along and keep up the act with him. Shuyong and Aijuan are temporarily fooled.
Liu Bang is worried that the truth would be revealed somehow. Thus, he tries his best to get his in-laws sent back to Xinbei’s siblings. Shuyong misunderstands that Liu Bang is trying to get rid of them the way his other children did. He gets angry and runs away from home with his wife. They even spend the night sleeping in a park. Aijuan falls sick as a result. Liu Bang and Xinbei are reprimanded by the police for being unfilial. It is only then that Liu Bang admits the truth about his retrenchment.
During his time as a “house-husband”, Liu Bang learns that a relationship with his daughter isn’t built on just buying toys for her. What’s more important is to understand her feelings. Hence, the relationship between father and daughter gets better than before. At the same time, under the influence of Zhengkang, Liu Bang picks up various tips and tricks on being a smart “house-husband” (For example, how to save money in different ways and to put aside what is saved as his personal savings). He gains an understanding of how difficult it is to run a household, and can put himself in Xinbei’s shoes to understand her previous woes as a housewife.
After gradually accepting his role as a “house-husband”, Liu Bang begins to enjoy his new life. However, when he hears people talking behind his back about how he is useless for depending on his wife for money, his ego suffers a beating. On top of that, rumours from others lead him to believe that Xinbei is having an affair with Wyman. This leads to a big fight with Xinbei.
Liu Bang finds out after investigating that he has misunderstood Xinbei. He decides to change his attitude and be a good “house-husband”, who supports his wife hundred percent in her career. However, a rare opportunity comes knocking on the door at this point. An investment company is asking him to manage their operations in China for at least three years. Liu Bang is anxious to share the good news with his family. But when he sees Si’en playing happily with her friend, and how happy Xinbei is when her article nominated for a prize, he hesitates…
Remember to catch it at 9pm starting from 2nd November
Jessecia Liu (刘芷绚)
Information
Gender:
female
Date of birth:
13th February 1979
Occupation:
actress
Jesseca Liu (Chinese: 刘芷绚; born February 13, 1979) is a television actress from Singapore's Mediacorp.
Dawn Yeoh
Profile
Name: 姚懿珊 / Yao Yi Shan
English name: Dawn Yeoh
Profession: Actress and singer
Birthdate: 1986-May-05
Birthplace: Singapore
Star sign: Taurus
Chinese zodiac: Tiger
Fiona xie
Name: 谢宛谕 / Xie Wan Yu
English name: Fiona Xie
Profession: Actress, host, and model
Birthdate: 1982-Jan-24
Birthplace: Singapore
Height: 165cm
Weight: 48kg
Star sign: Aquarius
Chinese zodiac: Dog
Blood type: A+
Joanne Peh
Profile
Name: 白薇秀 / Bai Wei Xiu
English name: Joanne Peh
Profession: Actress
Birthdate: 1984-Apr-25
Height: 173cm
Weight: 50kg
Star sign: Taurus
Chinese zodiac: Rat
Peh studied at Temasek Secondary School where she was head prefect and subsequently went on to Victoria Junior College then to Nanyang Technological University. She graduated with a Bachelor in Communication Studies (Second-upper class honours) in 2006.
Felicia Chin
Profile
Name: 陈靓瑄/chen jing xuan
English name: Felicia Chin
Felicia Chin studied in Tanjong Katong Girls' School and Victoria Junior College, National University of Singapore.
Rui En
Name: 芮恩 / Rui En
Real name: 卢瑞恩 / Lu Rui En
Profession: Singer and actress
Birthdate: 1981-Jan-21
Height: 169cm
Weight: 47kg
Star sign: Aquarius
Chinese zodiac: Monkey
Blood type: A
Jeanette Aw
Name: 欧萱 / Ou Xuan
English name: Jeanette Aw
Real name: Ou Yan Ping
Profession: Actress
Birthdate: 1979-Jun-28
Birthplace: Singapore
Height: 163cm
Weight: 45kg
Star sign: Cancer
Chinese zodiac: Goat
Blood type: AB+
Family: Older sister, older brother
She attended Raffles Girls' Primary School, Crescent Girls' School, National Junior College and National University of Singapore consecutively.
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Jessecia Liu (刘芷绚)
Information 
Profile 
Name: 谢宛谕 / Xie Wan Yu 
Profile
Profile 
Name: 芮恩 / Rui En 
Name: 欧萱 / Ou Xuan 
