Good Luck (TV series)

Plot

Lin-He Xiangniang (Hong Huifang), matriarch of a 4-generation family, celebrates her 100th birthday on the first day of Chinese New Year. Widowed in her middle age, she slogged away and singlehandedly raised four sons and two daughters. A life of hardship has made her increasingly stern towards those around her. She is especially harsh on her children. In the eyes of others, Xiangniang is an old lady who is getting cranky by the day. They keep a polite distance from her. With her second son, Lin Xiaoyi (Zhang Wei), and her biological daughter, Lin Xiaolian (Lin Ruping), migrated overseas, she is left with her third son, Lin Xiaohe, youngest son, Lin Xiaoping, and her adopted daughter, Lin Xiaozhen. Although they are family, everyone fights over money matters every day. For peace of mind, Xiangniang splits the family assets among her children to let them venture on their own, and even makes them leave the family home.

Lin Shijie (Terence Cao) is the orphaned child of Xiangniang’s eldest son. His parents were killed in an accident when he was still a baby. Shijie was brought up by Xiangniang. He is her favorite grandchild among her brood of grandchildren. Shijie’s unbridled ways, non-competitive nature and carefree spirit captivates Suxian at first sight. Shijie and Suxian get married. Shijie’s character remains unchanged after marriage and they have a son, Jiayuan. Suxian feels that Shijie lacks a sense of responsibility and is wasting his life away. She reaches breaking point and part ways with Shijie. To avoid hampering Suxian from remarrying, Shijie makes up his mind to migrate overseas with Jiayuan.

After regaining her singlehood, Suxian (Kym Ng) puts her heart and soul into her career. Suxian is attentive to details and is thoughtful to others. She has no qualms about putting up a front as long as this does not burden anyone. Although she has divorced Shijie, Suxian remains close with Xiangniang. She is the one who understands Xiangniang’s feelings most. Xiangniang lives in hope that Suxian will reconcile with Shijie.

Jiayuan (Aloysius Pang), who grows up abroad receiving a liberal education, is sly and capricious. He enjoys observing people and is good at reading their moods. After years of being away, Jiayuan returns to the family home. He sees in his great grandmother, Xiangniang, a centenarian surrounded by a bunch of money grubbers lusting after her remaining fortune. As Jiayuan laments at this observation, he is suddenly seized by a sense of righteousness. When Xiangniang regains consciousness from an accident, Jiayuan joins hands with Xiangniang to save the family.

Lin Xiaohe (Chen Shucheng), Xiangniang’s third son, is the boss of a traditional hair salon. Xiaohe is amiable toward outsiders but is domineering when it comes to family members, particularly towards his wife, Zhong Yunxiu who is submissive to him. The couple has an only daughter, Lin Shihui.

Shihui (Chris Tong) has always been an independent, and a sensible girl who does not give trouble to her parents. An outstanding student both in conduct and studies, she joins the working world as an independent-thinking, modern woman. Opinionated and capable, she is savvy in seizing opportunities. She is employed in an auditor’s firm. Her excellent performance earns the boss’ trust. Shihui resents her father’s overbearing ways, which strains the relationship between father and daughter. Yunxiu constantly pesters Shihui to tie the knot, fearing that she will pass a marriageable age. This forces Shihui more than ever to evade the question. But all that changes when she meets Liu Xuan (Romeo Tan).

Liu Xuan is good looking and charming, with an air of maturity. He can strike up a conversation with anyone and projects a mature demeanor. However, he is a boy at heart, and occasionally behaves in a way that raises eyebrows. Despite holding a Masters in Philosophy, he does not pursue fame and fortune. Full of passionate ideals, he gives up a well-paying job as a lecturer in an academy to teach in a Special Education school, helping children with learning disabilities.

Liu Xuan meets Shihui and he finds out that she is a former volunteer at an orphanage. Deciding that she is the only girl he will ever marry, Liu Xuan woos her aggressively. In no time, Shihui and the younger Liu Xuan get together. Xiaohe vehemently opposes the relationship. The rebellious Shihui throws caution to the wind and enters into a “lightning” marriage with Liu Xuan. In marriage, both begin to notice each other’s differences. Shihui is subsequently awakened to the fact that the marriage is unstable and holding on to it tightly will only hurt both parties. In the end, she decides to part with Liu Xuan. But after the separation, Shihui realises she is pregnant with Liu Xuan's child and both of them discover that they are unable to forget each other.

Lin Xiaoping (Li Wenhai) is Xiangniang’s youngest son. With his mother’s help, he had opened a tailor’s shop. Despite this being a sunset industry, Xiaoping continues to keep the old shop alive. He pampers his only son, Lin Shijun (Zhang Zhenhuan), who is a typical youth of the “strawberry generation” in the post ‘80s. Shijun has lofty ideals but limited means. He wants to earn big bucks but lacks the ability. He aims high and acts smart. His investments often end in losses. Whenever Shijun needs money, he will turn to his relatives. This causes Xiaoping and Xiaohe to be at loggerheads with each other.

Lin Xiaozhen (Chen Liping), Xiangniang’s adopted daughter, has always felt that Xiangniang treats her like an outsider. In her younger days, she was unfortunate to have married a gambling addict, and picked up the vice herself. Her husband’s gambling debts led him to abandon his family and daughter. The headstrong Xiaozhen refused Xiangniang’s offer of assistance, and went ahead to deliver a baby girl, Fang Enqi (Paige Chua). Xiaozhen is unable to overcome her gambling addiction and the business at her restaurant worsens. Enqi is determined to take over it. As business improves, Enqi and the chef fall for each other, whereupon a child is conceived. When the chef admits later that he cannot marry Enqi, Xiaozhen forces Enqi to have an abortion. Enqi, whose character and fate mirror Xiaozhen’s, chooses to give birth to her daughter, Jiang Bao’er (Jaylynn Loh). Now a single mother, Enqi gets along well with her cousin, Lin Shijun. Shijun dotes on Bao’er and starts to court Enqi. Enqi finds out later that Shijun, who dreams of being rich, is actually eyeing her restaurant. When the two break up, Shijun realizes that he is truly in love with Enqi. For the sake of love, Shijun makes up his mind to shed his pampered lifestyle and make an honest living.

The Lin family goes through a series of ups and downs over the years. On Xiangniang’s 100th birthday, all the children come home one after another. The whole group of people before Xiangniang’s eyes is diverse like a mini United Nations. Nevertheless, there is harmony and laughter in the air. Every family brings back a patchwork blanket which Xiangniang has sewn in the past, and all the pieces are joined together as an expression of a united family.

Trivia

Accolades

Good Luck is nominated for three awards in Star Awards 2016. The series, along with Sealed With A Kiss, is one of two Mediacorp series not to be nominated for any technical awards.