Blossoms Shanghai Episode 17 Recap
> Blossoms Shanghai Recap
On her birthday, Ling Zi returned home, reminiscing about past celebrations, having missed the banquet A Bao prepared for her at Night Tokyo. A Bao, seeing Ling Zi absent, had everyone share her birthday cake. Meanwhile, Ge Laoshi posted a notice to transfer Night Tokyo. A prospective tenant soon arrived to view the premises, but Ling Zi unexpectedly appeared. As the proprietress, Ling Zi also considered closing the restaurant and gave her business card to the viewer.
After the tenant left, Ge Laoshi informed Ling Zi about recent events. Ling Zi, no longer holding a grudge, invited Ge Laoshi, Tao Tao, and Ling Hong for lunch the following day. Tao Tao and Ling Hong were apprehensive, fearing a trap, and inquired about Ling Zi’s mood. Ling Zi called to urge them, and also invited A Bao to join. The three nervously entered Night Tokyo.
Ling Zi revealed she had spent all her money on a trip to Japan, which she had falsely claimed was a vacation. Her true intention was to redecorate and reopen Night Tokyo. Separately, Chen Laoshi, who painted Ling Zi, was mocked by Ge Laoshi for his unrequited love. Chen Laoshi, mistaking Ge Laoshi for requesting rent, attempted to appease him with money and by threatening to use Ling Zi's portrait.
Shi Laoshi, waiting for someone who never arrived, was bumped into by Ling Zi, a situation known by their neighbors. Ling Zi also clarified to A Bao that the request for the account books was initiated by Ye Shu. A Bao, delayed by work, arrived late for lunch to see Ling Zi. Ling Zi decided to completely refurbish and reopen Night Tokyo.
A Bao offered to cover the renovation costs, but Ling Zi insisted he withdraw his shares, wishing to manage the business independently and draw a clear line between them. She also demanded the "luck card" she had given A Bao three years prior. A Bao, while promising to continue helping her and stating their deep, inseparable bond, returned the charm from his wallet. He affirmed he would fully support her if he prospered.
Ling Zi, however, remained cold and distant, rejecting his sentiments. A Bao felt she was a stranger and left disappointed. In the first half of 1993, the stock market opened high but quickly declined. Following a celebratory start to the year, a rainy season ensued, and intensified macro-control policies to cool the overheated national economy triggered a second bear market for A-shares. By July, both Shenzhen and Shanghai markets hit their lowest points.
Despite this, the number of investors increased by tens of thousands weekly. On September 3rd, the Shanghai Stock Exchange took a historic step by modifying its trading rules, officially permitting corporate entities to open securities accounts. This opened the door for institutional investors, and an influx of external capital rapidly transformed Shanghai from a regional to a national market. A Bao recognized this as a new opportunity and didn't want to miss the chance to list his clothing company.
A Bao consulted Cai Siling at the stock exchange about listing with an out-of-town brokerage, seeking his strategic advice. A Bao reminded Cai Siling that Cai Siling had helped him successfully enter the securities market in the past, enabling his current success, and hoped for similar assistance this time. Cai Siling immediately pointed out that the clothing company sought A Bao as a consultant solely to leverage his connections with Qilin She.
A Bao admitted that Xiao Ningbo had secured funding for him, but he was hesitant to accept due to uncertainty, as his role as listing consultant required both capital mobilization and ensuring the underwriters' success. Cai Siling agreed to thoroughly investigate the clothing factory's background. He quickly discovered the factory had 30 million yuan tied up in a single stock and wanted A Bao's help to unblock it.
A Bao was reluctant to take on such a significant problem, preferring to borrow 10 million yuan at high interest instead. Meanwhile, Wang Mingzhu, diligent and energetic, quickly bonded with the factory workers. Fan Shifu, who was the factory manager, requested Wang Mingzhu book a private room at Jinmeilin for his mother-in-law's birthday celebration. Wang Mingzhu called Lu Meilin, the owner of Jinmeilin.
Lu Meilin, aware of the animosity between Li Li and Wang Mingzhu, reserved the largest private room for Wang Mingzhu, expecting A Bao to attend and thereby outdoing Zhi Zhen Yuan. On the day of the celebration, a Saturday, Wang Mingzhu arrived at Jinmeilin with flowers for the factory manager's parents. However, Lu Meilin specifically instructed Xiao Jiangxi not to give Wang Mingzhu a private room if A Bao didn't show up.
Lu Meilin then deliberately denied Wang Mingzhu the private room, stating she would wait for A Bao’s arrival. Wang Mingzhu waited a long time, learning she couldn't secure a private room without A Bao's presence. Fan Shifu’s wife and mother-in-law arrived. Seeing an empty private room, they directly entered, leading to a confrontation with Jin Laoban, who forcefully evicted them. Fan Shifu rushed over and got into a fight with Jin Laoban, hitting him to the ground.
Wang Mingzhu intervened to stop the fight. Lu Meilin confronted Fan Shifu and called the police. The commotion, particularly about Wang Mingzhu's return to Shanghai, alerted A Bao, who was dining at Hong Lu with relatives. A Bao immediately came to Jinmeilin. Wang Mingzhu apologized to Jin Laoban. Lu Meilin demanded an apology for her husband's injury, specifically an ear slap. Wang Mingzhu offered to take the slap for Fan Shifu.
However, A Bao stepped forward and took a severe slap from Lu Meilin instead. Everyone present was stunned. Wang Mingzhu became furious, yelling at Lu Meilin, but A Bao pulled her away. Outside, Wang Mingzhu cried, heartbroken and regretting having caused more trouble for A Bao, feeling frustrated that after years in Huanghe Road, she couldn't even book a private room herself, and he ended up taking a slap for her.
A Bao was dismissive of the incident and comforted her. Wang Mingzhu swore to get justice for A Bao at Jinmeilin and to establish her own independence, vowing not to rely on anyone. The next day, Wang Mingzhu was upset at the factory. Her bribery suspicions were cleared by the foreign trade company investigation, and the head office wanted her back. Wang Mingzhu was reluctant to leave, wanting to build her own "dock."
The factory manager encouraged her to return to Shanghai, calling it her "dock," but Wang Mingzhu remained resolute. After finishing her remaining work, she reluctantly bid farewell to Fan Shifu. In the following days, she worked relentlessly, learning all job roles to vent her frustration. As she was leaving, the factory manager expressed his confidence in her, urging her not to disgrace the factory.
