Forty Something

TAK is the assistant manager of Ki Fuk Company. He is looked down upon by his mother-in-law. His father does not like his wife LIN as he thinks that TAK's career is restrained by his early marriage which did not allow him to finish the tertiary education. For years' hard work, TAK manages to pay his debt to the bank and thus he owns the house. When he finds that his subordinate has bought a flat in the home ownership scheme at a low price, he is jealous. After discussing with LIN, TAK decides to find a new flat as their original building has many problems, e.g. poor management and presence of brothels.

For his prestige, TAK buys a large unit at the price of 3.8 million dollars though his old unit can be sold at 1.5 million only. After a month, TAK has to pay 20% more as deposit. TAK realises that he is in financial problem. Moreover the bank refuses to lend him money as his salary is not high enough to afford the unit. LIN seeks help from her brother-in-law. KAN promises to be the referee. TAK raises the price of his old unit, hoping it can help his purchase of the new one. However no one is interested in it as there is a depression in the property market. LIN sells the old unit at 1 million dollars and borrows money from her family to pay the deposit. When TAK's father knows it, he is angry with TAK, thinking that he is incompetent

BILL is forced to retire. He works as a hawker. As he is so angry with TAK, he is sick and is sent to hospital. TAK has to shoulder the medical bills. He only has one thousand dollars as his pocket money. At the same time, Ki Fuk Company suffers from the depression. All employees have no increment in salary. Though they are discontented, they dare not to argue with the company. LIN has to take BILL home as TAK is busy and YUK is sick. BILL changes his attitude to LIN as LIN uses her money to buy sparrow nests to prepare nutritious food for him. She also takes good care of him.

TAK thinks that his burden can be released as CHOI return. CHOI claims that his academic performances is so good that he can finish his study earlier. BILL is excited. In fact CHOI fails his examinations and he works as a messenger in the Central. KIT is appointed as the new manager in the household appliances department of Ki Fuk Company. He is of the same rank of KAN. CHOI wants to reorganize the department by dismissing one of the assistant managers. As all the other three assistant managers have relationship with the directors, TAK is chosen to be dismissed. TAK tells CHEUNG his unfortunate experience. CHEUNG is the boyfriend of CHING who is the director's only daughter. He has employed private detectives to collect information to prove that LUNG is involved in bribery.

SHAN is TAK's secretary. She has followed him for many years as she is his ex-girlfriend and she still admires him. SHAN succeeds in convincing KIT to accept TALK as his henchman. KIT's talent is appreciated by the company and KAN's role is endangered. KAN is transferred to the maintenance department as he is suspected of selling news to other company. KIT is in charge of the whole department. TAK discovers CHOI's trick but he dares not to tell BILL. One day CHOI comes across YAN who is taking a commercial advertisement. He is attracted by her charm.

LIN misunderstands TAK and SHAN's friendship. SHAN meets LIN as she does not want to spoil TAK's family. She tells LIN that KIT is his boyfriend. LIN is contented. KIT wants to strengthen his power by setting up two new departments for promotion and staff training. they are to be headed by CHEUNG and TAK respectively. The proposal is approved by the Board of Directors. This puts forward a scramble for concession in the company. With TAK's assistance, CHOI is employed by the company. He has a chance to meet YAN who is hired by the company to act in a commercial act.

CHOI courts YAN and they always go out together. They become good friends. LI asks LIN to look after MING. He claims that MING is LEE's child. He wants LIN to look after MING as LEE is sick and his wife has died recently. In fact MING is the child LI and his secret lover in Mainland China. TAK loves the child who is cute. He persuades LIN to give birth to a baby for him. KIT is promoted and is superior to the NGs. TAK leaves a ticket in the office. He goes to get it and discovers the filthy relationship between KEUNG and LILY. KEUNG bribes LILY to accuse TAK seducing her. TAK is suspended for investigation.

LIN tells TAK that she is bearing a baby. However TAK is annoyed with the news as his career meets an obstacle. LIN entangles LILY, hoping that she can help TAK. At last LILY asks LIN to give her one hundred thousand dollars so that she can prove TAK innocent. LIN asks her family to lend her money. Only LI trusts TAK and promises to shoulder half of the burden. TAK is asked by the company to quit but he refuses. At the time being LILY stands up and protects TAK. In fact LILY is convinced by her friend YAN to tell the truth. The NGs are driven away. CHEUNG and TAK are sent to replace them.

CHEUNG persuades TAK to buy the outdated electrical appliances of the company and sell them in Mainland China. LIN is knocked down by a taxi on the way to the feast in a restaurant. She is sent to hospital and luckily she is not hurt. The love between CHEUNG and CHING has faded out. On the Valentine's Day, CHEUNG sends flowers to SHAN and tells CHING that he wants to break up with her. CHING is shocked and drinks a lot of wine. She becomes unconscious CHEUNG takes her to a hotel where he comes across SHAN and KIT. Knowing that CHEUNG has lost his love, SHAN accompanies him to the beach. There she tells CHEUNG her former love with TAK.

LIN insists on keeping the baby and she goes to the hospital for checking every day. Finally her situation is stabilized. YAN is entangled by her mother who is crazy. She uses excuses so that she can stay in TAK's house for two days. However her mother still follows her. CRAN asks CHEUNG and TAK to come and help him. They can own 30% of the share as bonus. The terms are attractive and they decide to quit. KIT offers an increment of five thousand dollars per month to TAK. TAK changes his mind. CRAN refuses to hire CHEUNG as TAK does not come. Kit's wife returns but KIT no longer loves her. KIT brings his wife, TAK and SHAN to Vietnam for business. However his wife has learnt from the private detective that SHAN is KIT's secret lover. She humiliates SHAN. SHAN decides to leave KIT but KIT does not let her go. TAK goes to calm SHAN but when KIT comes, he has to hide in a cabinet for a night……

LIN moves into her mother's house after getting out of the hospital as she does not want to see TAK. Because of WA, KIT gains his role in the company and respects her. WA dismisses SHAN and hires her former classmate to keep an eye on KIT. CHING hopes that CHEUNG will return to her. She arranges a new job for him. Knowing what CHING has done for him, CHEUNG feels inferior and this worsens their relationship. TAK is annoyed with his home affairs. He is appointed to take care of a transaction involving over three thousand air-conditioners. He suffers from the stress. LING discovers that LI has a secret lover in Shenzhen. They have a quarrel. LIN is annoyed with them and runs away.

LIN takes temporary accommodation in YAN's house. She misses her daughter so much that she secretly gives her daughter a phone call. YAN goes to Taiwan for business and LIN stays in her house. She meets YAN's mother and knows more background of YAN. CHEUNG competes with TAK for the contract so as to get a new job. KIT meets SHAN secretly but WA also goes to the same place. KIT seduces TAK with increment and promotion to cover up the relationship between KIT and SHAN. TAK has to accept the terms unwillingly. WA does not trust KIT. Thus KIT has no chance to celebrate SHAN's birthday with her. YAN returns from Taiwan. She is convinced by LIN to forgive her mother. However her mother has left.

SHAN is in despair as she feels being deceived by KIT. TAK calms her but KIT misinterprets TAK's intention. Meanwhile TAK lets CHEUNG win the competition so that CHEUNG can pass his probation. KIT knows what her has done and decides to fire him. TAK is depressed but fortunately LIN has forgiven him and gives him support. YAN wins fame in Taiwan and with the new agent's assistance, her career has arrived at a new climax. TAK cannot find a new job. LIN decides to join an insurance company so as to support the family.

LI decides to divorce with LING. LING regrets and decides to change her character. She succeeds in making LI change his mind. LIN tries her best to find clients. Finally she manages in getting one after flattering the client in a karaoke. TAK takes the role of the housewife. He finds that LEUNG is dating YAN. He even misinterprets their relationship as a filthy one. LEUNG meets TAK and asks for his permission to be YAN's friend. TAK agrees. WA decides to leave KIT. KIT loses everything except a car. He moves into SHAN's house. LIN meets a client who is a sex maniac. Luckily she is saved by CHEUNG.

CHEUNG is dismissed because of LIN. LIN feels guilty. SHAN can now unearth her relationship with KIT. KIT is deeply touched and asks her to marry him. YAN becomes a pop star and this widens the gap between YAN and CHOI. They dine at the food stall. Being seen by some journalists, they become the focus of the press. They have to hide their relationship. YAN claims that she has broken up with CHOI and CHOI also states that he has left YAN in front of his neighbours. With TAK's assistance, BILL buys thirty air-conditioners from a customs officer. As he has earned several thousand dollars, he decides to run a direct-sale market of electrical appliances in a housing estate. It is a risky business.

WA inherits a big fortune from her father who has just died. She gives a chance to KIT. For money, KIT gives up SHAN and stays with WA. WA is hurt deeply in heart and she takes accommodation in CHEUNG's house, hoping that the wound can recover. TAK and CHEUNG open a shop selling electrical appliances. They have rent a shop but the owner changes his mind. Though the owner is willing to make compensation CHEUNG insists on getting the shop. TAK does not agree with CHEUNG who wants to increase the investment so as to get the shop. TAK prefers to find a job. He quits the investment. Luckily CHEUNG gets help from SHAN and he overcomes the financial problem. YAN's boss hires two persons to impersonate her parents. He realises YAN's potential and promotes YAN's publicity by selling her good girl image. The plan is a successful one.

LIN looks after the shop for her husband. However before the opening, the shop is robbed and they suffer a lot. They are approached by HUNG who asks them to pay protection fee. They have to deal be a series of stumbling blocks. LIN does not give up. She manages to overcome the situation. She also helps HUNG unintentionally. In return, HUNG no longer asks for the money. CHEUNG holds banquets for representatives of different companies and he wins their trust. He can delay the payment and this arrangement provides for liquidity assets for the operation. CHOI also quits his job and joins them. TAK is jealous and he has changed his mind. The others are inspired as they earn ten thousand dollars each in the first month.

TAK accuses LIN having neglected their family. LIN has to quit the job. CHEUNG is depressed. LIN introduces some girlfriends to CHEUNG but CHEUNG is not satisfied. TAK meets an old friend who is the editor-in-chief of a magazine. He promises to report TAK's shop in the magazine. However TAK cannot arrive at the shop in time as he has been trapped in a lift. The reporter disregards CHEUNG and LIN as a couple. When TAK reads the article, he is angry. LIN has to stop her work immediately, hoping the situation will not be worsened. YAN's past is unearthed and it is disclosed that she was in a Girl's Home. RICHARD makes a certificate to protect her. YAN's mother is visited by reporters. She does not tell the truth for YAN's sake.

YAN is in a dilemma as she feels guilty. One day, YAN's mother by mistake regards a wooden doll as YAN and rushes to save her. She is knocked down by a car. As her mother is on the brink of death, YAN ignores all worries and goes to accompany her. YAN's past is proven. TAK gives CHEUNG a good trouncing when he knows that CHEUNG admires LIN. LIN is shocked to learn CHEUNG's idea. SHAN reminds CHEUNG that he should not spoil LIN's family. She tells him that she has found a kind man who is willing to marry her and accepts her baby. She will emigrate soon.

KAN is going to emigrate to Canada. He wants to apply for TAK and TAK's family. However TAK does not trust LIN. He loses his self? control and argues with LIN over the matter of migration. He even suggests to divorce LIN. For self-prestige, TAK sells the house. Knowing that there is little hope for TAK to change his mind, LIN packs her luggage and prepare to go to Canada with her children. YAN realises that RICHARD has always regard her as a tool of making money. He ignores her as she has lost her value. Luckily she wins support from CHOI and his family. CHOI practises cycling and YAN buys a good bicycle for him to join a competition. However in the competition, CHOI hurts his leg ...