Age of Legends Episode 14 Recap
> Age of Legends Recap
Distraught over his 1,000,000 yuan debt, Bei Xiaoshuai attempted to hang himself at the boxing gym. Liu Ziguang rushed to stop him, pulling him down and then punching him. Liu Ziguang expressed his deep disappointment, stating that he had always regarded Bei Xiaoshuai as his younger brother, but Bei Xiaoshuai had never seen him as an older brother. Lying on the boxing ring, Bei Xiaoshuai tearfully admitted his wrongdoings. Liu Ziguang then took Bei Xiaoshuai to the police station.
Bei Xiaoshuai confessed to losing over 1,000,000 yuan at an underground gambling den located at Xianghe Villa Garden, after initially winning 30,000 yuan. Hu Rong informed Liu Ziguang that the police would investigate the gambling den but, in accordance with the Security Administration Punishment Act, Bei Xiaoshuai would be detained for 15 days. Liu Ziguang agreed, believing the time would help Bei Xiaoshuai calm down, learn from his mistakes, and stay on the right path.
Later, Liu Ziguang visited Nie Wanfeng, who was teaching his son, Cheng Cheng, to play Go. Nie Wanfeng reminded Cheng Cheng that Liu Ziguang was his savior and that he must repay him when he grew up. Liu Ziguang then tried to give Nie Wanfeng a promissory note for the 1,000,000 yuan Nie Wanfeng had loaned him to cover Bei Xiaoshuai's debt. Nie Wanfeng, however, dismissed it, saying that if Liu Ziguang considered him a friend, he shouldn't mention repayment.
Liu Ziguang insisted, explaining that while money might not be a problem for Nie Wanfeng, it was a substantial amount for him. As Liu Ziguang left, Nie Wanfeng pulled him aside and warned him to be cautious of Hou Sihai, describing him as smooth, sly, and rigorous in business dealings, citing the Longyang incident as an example.
Liu Ziguang responded that he would leave Hou Sihai alone only if Hou Sihai did the same, but if he continued to bully people or act unchecked, he would not remain silent. Recognizing Liu Ziguang's sense of duty, Nie Wanfeng offered his help for any future needs, asking Liu Ziguang to call him "Older Brother." Liu Ziguang agreed. Nie Wanfeng then reflected on Liu Ziguang, recalling that if not for him years ago, he might not have survived.
His subordinate, Brother Hu, confirmed that he had spread the word about Bei Xiaoshuai's parents owning a sand quarry, ensuring Hou Sihai was aware. Brother Hu expressed skepticism about Liu Ziguang's ability to contend with Hou Sihai, given his amnesia and lack of support in Jiangbei. Nie Wanfeng simply stated that Brother Hu did not truly understand Liu Ziguang. Meanwhile, a joint meeting between the Jiangnan and Jiangbei Public Security Bureaus took place.
Captain Xu reported the discovery of a new drug called "Angel" in Jiangnan City, determining it was smuggled via waterways. Given its appearance in both cities, Captain Xu predicted that criminals had established a secret trafficking route connecting to the open sea. Chief Wang underscored that traffickers were utilizing an existing network. Deputy Chief Hu Yuejin stressed the urgency of dismantling this drug network and proposed a joint task force to thoroughly investigate all waterway channels without alerting the criminals.
At the sand quarry, Monkey, one of Hou Sihai's subordinates, confronted Old Bei about the price of sand, offering only 90 yuan per cubic meter, significantly lower than Old Bei's usual selling price of 120 yuan and the market rate of 167 yuan. Monkey made it clear that this lower price was punishment because Bei Xiaoshuai had offended "Chief Hou," who controlled all sand sales and prices in Jiangbei.
Old Bei frantically tried to call Bei Xiaoshuai, but his phone was off. Monkey then ordered his men to forcefully unload the sand at the discounted rate. Back at "Truly Authentic," Liu Ziguang and Zhuo Li discussed their financial predicament. Zhuo Li hoped Bei Xiaoshuai would learn his lesson in jail and worried about repaying the 1,000,000 yuan loan to Nie Wanfeng, especially with Li Jianguo also needing money.
Liu Ziguang reaffirmed his commitment to repaying the debt and helping his friends. Old Bei soon arrived, distraught, asking if Bei Xiaoshuai had provoked Hou Sihai. Liu Ziguang reassured him, fabricating a story about Bei Xiaoshuai being on an inventory run. Old Bei lamented that all his month's work was for naught due to Hou Sihai's intimidation and that Bei Xiaoshuai hadn't changed.
Liu Ziguang then secretly told Zhuo Li that he was the one who reported Hou Sihai's underground gambling operation to the police, implying that Hou Sihai's actions against Old Bei were retaliation. At Zhicheng Group, Li Wan argued with Director Yin about the high construction costs, specifically the inflated price of sand. Director Yin, hinting at her inexperience, dismissed her concerns. Li Wan pointed out that other companies, like Major Development Group, had 10% lower costs.
Director Yin retorted that "every company is different" and alluded to "connections" being the real factor. Liu Ziguang, having been appointed Security Director, later arrived at Li Wan's office and announced his resignation. Li Wan, surprised, initially thought he was leaving over salary and offered a 10% raise, then playfully wondered if it was because he didn't want to see her or due to Hu Rong. Liu Ziguang clarified it wasn't personal.
Li Wan refused to let him resign immediately, citing her need for protection after offending Hou Sihai. Liu Ziguang suggested Li Jianguo as his replacement. Li Wan agreed but set a condition: she would bring her security officers to test Li Jianguo's skills, and if he won, Liu Ziguang could resign. Liu Ziguang accepted.
Nie Wanfeng, analyzing the situation and knowing Liu Ziguang's character, predicted that Liu Ziguang would recommend Li Jianguo, a skilled ex-army veteran in urgent need of income, confirming Liu Ziguang's loyalty to his friends.
Liu Ziguang then persuaded a hesitant Li Jianguo to take the position, explaining that it would provide his family with a steady 20,000 yuan monthly income and that Li Wan would be safer with Li Jianguo, who was friendly with Hou Sihai, by her side rather than Liu Ziguang, who had offended Hou Sihai. Li Jianguo, despite his initial reservations about fighting Li Wan's chosen opponents, agreed.
Nie Wanfeng further predicted that Li Wan would not easily let Liu Ziguang go and would find a formidable opponent for Li Jianguo. True to Nie Wanfeng's prediction, Li Wan brought Peter, an MMA champion, to fight Li Jianguo, rather than merely "a few security officers." Liu Ziguang pointed out her deception.
Li Wan justified her choice by stating her high standards for a Security Director, insisting that if Li Jianguo was as strong as claimed, it would be an easy win. Despite the stacked odds, Li Jianguo accepted the challenge and impressively defeated Peter. Li Wan conceded, agreeing to appoint Li Jianguo as Security Director with a one-month probation period, during which he had to ensure impeccable security, or Liu Ziguang would be held accountable.
Liu Ziguang guaranteed Li Jianguo's performance, and Li Wan welcomed him to Zhicheng. Nie Wanfeng noted that Liu Ziguang's strategic move of placing Li Jianguo as his replacement was a clever way to help his friend and keep Li Wan safe simultaneously. He then correctly predicted Liu Ziguang's next move: taking over the Sunshine Sand Quarry. Liu Ziguang confirmed this to Li Wan, explaining his intention to run Uncle Bei's sand plant to help him.
Li Wan expressed serious concerns, warning him that while his previous victory in Longyang didn't fully provoke Hou Sihai, entering the sand business directly threatened Hou Sihai's core interests. She reminded him of Hou Sihai's monopoly over Jiangbei's sand and gravel market, making it impossible for anyone to buy or sell without his involvement. Li Wan added that Liu Ziguang had already busted Hou Sihai's casinos for Bei Xiaoshuai, making this new endeavor extremely risky.
Liu Ziguang acknowledged all the risks but firmly declared his resolve to run the sand quarry. Hearing this, Li Jianguo stopped trying to dissuade him and pledged his unwavering support. Nie Wanfeng reiterated that Liu Ziguang's acquisition of the Sunshine Sand Quarry would inevitably lead to an all-out confrontation with Hou Sihai.
He described Liu Ziguang as "a grain of sand in Hou Sihai's eye," certain that neither would tolerate the other's domineering presence in the sand and gravel business, predicting a decisive battle. He specifically noted that Bei Xiaoshuai's release the following day would officially mark the beginning of this conflict. The next day, Liu Ziguang and Zhuo Li picked up Bei Xiaoshuai from the police station. Bei Xiaoshuai, eager to repay his debt, proposed going to Italy to sell shoes.
Liu Ziguang informed him that the 1,000,000 yuan debt had been settled using money borrowed from Nie Wanfeng, reassuring him that they would repay Nie Wanfeng slowly. Immediately after, Bei Xiaoshuai received a frantic call from his father, urging him to rush to the pier. Realizing Hou Sihai's men were causing trouble again, Liu Ziguang, Bei Xiaoshuai, and Zhuo Li quickly headed to the sand quarry.
They arrived to find Monkey pressuring Old Bei to sell his sand at a drastically reduced price, using Bei Xiaoshuai's past actions against Hou Sihai as leverage. As Old Bei prepared to kneel in desperation, Bei Xiaoshuai intervened, declaring they would not sell the sand. Liu Ziguang stepped forward, asserting that he was responsible for reporting the gambling dens and warning Monkey and Meng that Hou Sihai's monopolistic and bullying tactics in the market would no longer be tolerated.
Meng attempted to intimidate them with their numerical superiority. At that moment, Li Jianguo arrived, calling for a calm discussion. Li Jianguo asked Monkey and Meng to respect him, acknowledging Liu Ziguang as his friend, and requested they allow the sand to be transported. Monkey insisted on Hou Sihai's rules, but Li Jianguo countered that business should not involve coercion.
Meng, seemingly yielding to Li Jianguo, decided to let them go for now but explicitly warned Old Bei that if he didn't sell his sand to Hou Sihai, no one else would dare to buy it, and his sand quarry would be unable to survive. After they left, Liu Ziguang advised Old Bei to sell the sand quarry, as he couldn't continue operating it. To Old Bei's surprise, Liu Ziguang offered to buy it himself.
Zhuo Li added that profits from "Truly Authentic" would support the purchase and that Old Bei would receive a share of the sand quarry's future earnings. Liu Ziguang then declared that the sand quarry would now belong to all of them. A disheartened Bei Xiaoshuai expressed deep remorse, admitting that the trouble and debt were his fault, yet Liu Ziguang was bearing the burden alone.
Liu Ziguang magnanimously dismissed his worries, assuring him that as long as Bei Xiaoshuai understood his mistakes, it was enough. Soon after, Liu Ziguang's "Sunshine Sand Quarry" officially opened with celebratory firecrackers.
