50 minSeason 1 • Episode 14
LatestWhen Shuai Jiamo, who is obsessed with mathematics, stumbles upon a historical problem in Jinhua County, he was met with multiple obstacles in his attempts to correct the mistake, triggering a tension between various stakeholders.
Acting
Zhang Ruoyun's rigid precision makes Shuai Jiamo maddening and magnificent.
Writing
Ma Boyong adapts his own novel—every forged document matters.
Production
Ming-era detail so obsessive you'll believe the abacus receipts.
Creator
Ma Boyong
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on a real 16th-century tax fraud case in Huizhou—Ma Boyong found it in actual Ming archives and thought 'this needs Zhang Ruoyun looking stressed in a hat.'
The abacus calculations performed on screen? Zhang Ruoyun trained for months. The production hired an actual accounting historian. Yes, that's a job.
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