我何曾通番哪 爹
“How could I have conducted illicit foreign trade, Father?”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
我 何曾 通番哪 爹
“How could I have conducted illicit foreign trade, Father?”
知府大人 小人真的不知道通番的事
“Your Excellency, I truly know nothing about the illicit foreign trade,”
“You know me, Father! I would never commit treason!”
In imperial Chinese legal settings, an accused person frequently appeals to family elders for moral backing and protection against devastating criminal charges.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
when have I ever; never did
A literary and emphatic rhetorical adverb used to strongly deny an accusation or claim.
collude with foreigners; illicit foreign trade
A historical legal term for treasonous or unauthorized dealings with overseas merchants.
Softens the rhetorical question into an emotional, desperate plea for understanding.
VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS
Parallel Spoken Cinema Scenes (语义近邻切片)
“let alone a crime as heinous as trading with foreign enemies.”
“the news about the Tian family's illicit foreign trade has spread in Nanjing.”
“I didn't know we would be trading with foreigners before I came. So what?”
“But what does that have to do with their illicit foreign trade? Ever since Wenqian”
“He doesn't look great.”
“and be caught with the contraband ink?”