Blossoms Shanghai Episode 10 Recap
> Blossoms Shanghai Recap
Zhi Zhen Yuan faced a severe crisis when its chefs collectively quit, leaving the restaurant without a head chef. Fan Xinhua, upon learning of the situation, offered his help, only to discover that A Bao had promised Hong Kong chefs who were significantly delayed. The former fat head chef even stood at Zhi Zhen Yuan's entrance, redirecting customers to Jin Meilin.
Concerned, Fan Xinhua went to Ye Tokyo to find A Bao, informing him of Zhi Zhen Yuan's chaotic state and inquiring about the chefs. Simultaneously, Jin Hua assigned Wang Mingzhu to host foreign guests, who booked a private room at Zhi Zhen Yuan. Upon hearing about the chef shortage, Wang Mingzhu called A Bao, who advised her to bring the guests to Ye Tokyo instead.
At Ye Tokyo, Fan Xinhua met A Bao, who gave him a note listing three signature Hong Kong dishes: Boat King Fried Rice, Immortal Crane Divine Needle, and Fiery King Cobra. Fan Xinhua immediately called Li Li, who instructed Pan Manager to prepare promotional banners for these extraordinary dishes.
A Bao then called Li Li to Ye Tokyo (or instructed her to meet someone across the street, where she found Ye Shu), where Ye Shu, who had been waiting, provided Li Li with crucial advice. During this time, A Bao personally cooked, including egg fried rice, at Ye Tokyo. In 1993, Huang He Road, a 755-meter stretch with over a hundred restaurants, was a bustling hub for wealthy patrons.
Ten restaurants, led by Lu Meilin, had long dominated the area. Li Li's takeover of Jin Feng Huang and its rebranding as Zhi Zhen Yuan fundamentally challenged their supremacy. The chef crisis ignited the "Huang He Road Defense Battle." Ye Shu, observing this "smokeless war," noted the familiar tactics of power cuts, supply disruptions, and poaching chefs. Lu Meilin, leading her fellow boss ladies, aggressively confronted Zhi Zhen Yuan, specifically demanding King Cobra. Pan Manager attempted to manage the situation.
Li Li, having received Ye Shu's guidance, observed Ding Chef and a team of over twenty Hong Kong chefs arriving at Zhi Zhen Yuan. She then proceeded to the private room to face Lu Meilin and her group, who persisted in demanding King Cobra. Fan Xinhua and A Bao, dining at Ye Tokyo, committed to eating whatever Zhi Zhen Yuan served. The critical moment for the King Cobra delivery arrived.
Tao Tao, transporting the King Cobra for Zhi Zhen Yuan, was intercepted by Xiao Jiangxi, who attempted to block his vehicle. This was part of a broader scheme, possibly influenced by Ling Zi, who earlier purchased all the snakes. However, Tao Tao's interaction with Xiao Jiangxi was a diversion: while they argued, the real delivery vehicle successfully transported the King Cobra to Zhi Zhen Yuan's back door.
Simultaneously, inside Zhi Zhen Yuan, Li Li confronted Lu Meilin and her group, enduring Lu Meilin's taunts. The Hong Kong chef team, working with clear divisions of labor, efficiently prepared the dishes. Li Li served the main dishes, including the King Cobra. Lu Meilin and her group were stunned by the dishes, but Lu Meilin, in a fit of rage, overturned a plate. Li Li openly challenged her adversaries.
Following Lu Meilin's rage, Du Honggen, the boss of Jin Meilin Restaurant and Lu Meilin's "old flame," led people to storm Zhi Zhen Yuan. This event was foreseen by Ye Shu, who had warned Li Li about Lu Meilin's tactics, including power cuts, supply disruptions, and poaching chefs. Li Li, showing no fear, declared that as an outsider establishing a business in Shanghai, she was not easily intimidated. She invited Du Honggen into a private room.
Pan Assistant informed Li Li about Du Honggen's past failures in transport and disco businesses, from which he was only now recovering. Du Honggen tore down Zhi Zhen Yuan's menu, restricting it to only unprofitable desserts. Li Li argued for the mutual prosperity of Huang He Road and even offered to recommend wedding banquet clients for the following day to Jin Meilin.
Du Honggen, however, refused to "drink soup" behind her, asserting that the established local restaurants controlled Huang He Road, and proceeded to smash Zhi Zhen Yuan's windows in protest. He also threatened to send customers ordering only wontons, ensuring she had guests but implying only unprofitable ones. Li Li then, unyielding, presented Du Honggen with an envelope – a "welcome gift" from Ye Shu.
Inside was an IOU for 300,000 yuan, borrowed by Du Honggen from A Bao after a gambling loss in Macau. Du Honggen's demeanor immediately changed, and he left sheepishly. Outside, Lu Meilin vehemently scolded Du Honggen, calling him useless. Du Honggen attempted to persuade Lu Meilin to desist, showing her the contents of the envelope.
Lu Meilin, upon seeing it, realized that her husband had lost everything gambling in Hong Kong, and it was A Bao who came to their rescue, never demanding repayment for years as a sign of respect, while her husband continued to gamble despite her working hard. Lu Meilin, enraged, drove Du Honggen away. Other boss ladies, however, approached Du Honggen about future banquets, signaling their willingness to share in Zhi Zhen Yuan's profits.
Ling Zi witnessed the chaos on Huang He Road and felt used by A Bao, who offered no explanation. Ling Hong recounted the details of the snake transport. A Bao later hosted a meal for Fan Xinhua, Ling Hong, Tao Tao, and Xu Zong, cooking for them and encouraging them to rest. Li Li returned to Ye Tokyo to express her gratitude to A Bao, acknowledging his crucial role in saving Zhi Zhen Yuan.
A Bao advised her that his help was a temporary solution and to temper her ambition to avoid new adversaries. He also suggested that for long-term stability, she should consider sharing expensive infrastructure like her gas tank with other restaurants, a suggestion Li Li understood and accepted. Li Li gave a gift for Ling Zi and asked A Bao to deliver it.
Back at Zhi Zhen Yuan, Li Li thanked the Hong Kong team, announced a 50% discount for all tables, and officially launched the "Hong Kong Food Week." Under the dedicated efforts of Ding Chef and the other chefs, the three signature dishes became a sensation on Huang He Road, with the Immortal Crane Divine Needle becoming a celebrated dish, cementing Zhi Zhen Yuan's reputation.
Consequently, other restaurants on Huang He Road began to emulate Zhi Zhen Yuan, introducing Hong Kong-style Cantonese cuisine. Lu Meilin, reluctant to concede, tried to get Xiao Jiangxi's chef boyfriend to learn these dishes but discovered they had broken up. Undeterred, Lu Meilin continued her search for chefs capable of making these dishes. A Bao's motivation for helping Li Li was her previous revelation to him about counterfeit San Yang brand T-shirts.
Eventually, Li Li opened Zhi Zhen Yuan's exclusive top-floor private room for A Bao. A Bao booked and dined there alone, a fact that quickly became the subject of widespread gossip on Huang He Road, as he was the first guest to use this premier space. Li Li, uncertain of his true intentions, instructed Pan Manager to wait for him at the entrance. A Bao arrived on time, confidently entering through the main door.
Instead of ordering food, he directly asked Li Li if she knew Mr. A. Li Li was visibly stunned by his question. It was revealed that A Bao had anticipated Du Honggen's failure to repay his debt and chose to use the IOU strategically to enhance its value.
