Blossoms Shanghai Episode 19 Recap
> Blossoms Shanghai Recap
A Bao intends to confront Qiang Muji (also referred to as Zhang Muji), and not wanting to trouble Ye Shu, he asks Cai Siling to enlist the support of Stamp Li and Fatty Auntie. Meanwhile, Ling Zi and A Bao have gone their separate ways, with Ling Zi independently managing Night Tokyo. She delivers the meticulously detailed account books for Night Tokyo to A Bao, impressing him and Ye Shu, despite her usual casual demeanor.
Night Tokyo is undergoing extensive renovations. Before the overhaul, Tao Tao gathered Ling Hong and Ge Laoshi for a commemorative photo session, as the place held many cherished memories for them. Tao Tao vividly remembers Ling Zi's arrival in 1990. Back then, Ling Zi, while working in Japan, had assisted A Bao with an embroidery machine.
Following this, A Bao rented Ge Laoshi's storefront on Jinxian Road to open a small restaurant called Night Tokyo, inviting Ling Zi to return to China as its proprietress. Ling Zi, having had a brief prior encounter with A Bao, readily accepted his invitation and traveled from Japan to Shanghai. Upon finding the address, she saw A Bao and workers already decorating.
Ge Laoshi, who had initially been displeased with A Bao's messy use of his property, changed his attitude upon meeting Ling Zi. A Bao expressed confidence in Ling Zi's ability to manage the restaurant, emphasizing its small size but excellent location. Ling Zi, feeling it was too significant a gift from a casual acquaintance, initially offered to work as an employee, but A Bao proposed they become co-shareholders. Reluctantly, Ling Zi accepted the proprietorship.
During the current renovations, Ling Zi ordered all existing items to be discarded and the layout changed, intending to make a complete break from the past. Ge Laoshi was distressed by the loss of old objects and tried to intervene, but Tao Tao pulled him away, silently observing as even "Boss Bao's exclusive seat" was discarded, recalling the painstaking effort he, A Bao, and Ling Hong had put into decorating the place originally.
Separately, Wang Mingzhu and Wei Hongqing established a company. Although they discussed naming it "Mingzhu Foreign Trade" and considered including Wei Hongqing's name, he rejected "Wei Zhu" as inappropriate. They planned a grand opening banquet for seventy to eighty tables. Wei Hongqing, facing tight funds, sought to arrange the event on credit. His attempt to book the Red Lu restaurant was rejected due to its limited capacity.
Xiao Jiangxi suggested Lu Meilin take their business, but Lu Meilin dismissed them as inexperienced "newbies" without family or foreign trade company backing. Learning of their predicament, Pan Assistant invited Wei Hongqing to Zhi Zhen Yuan. Li Li, out of gratitude for Wei Hongqing's past assistance, offered to host all eighty-eight tables, deferring payment discussions until the company was established. Wei Hongqing was deeply moved by Li Li's timely help.
Li Li further supported them by spreading news that Wei Hongqing had fully pre-paid for the banquet, which led to Lu Meilin regretting her earlier decision. Wei Hongqing, filled with gratitude, eagerly sent out invitations and personally oversaw the decoration of Zhi Zhen Yuan. He arranged for banners and a cake, and on the opening day, dressed elaborately in a red suit, resembling a groom.
He arrived early, drawing humorous remarks from guests who joked about him and Wang Mingzhu getting married. Li Li, however, found the highly publicized, wedding-like setup inappropriate. Tao Tao delivered the finest seafood to Zhi Zhen Yuan for the celebration, and attempted to invite A Bao, but was informed A Bao was away on a business trip to Ningbo. Wang Mingzhu arrived late to her company's opening.
Her mood had soured earlier when she delivered an invitation to a cigarette stall owner, only to learn Wei Hongqing had already invited him. The owner then mocked her for starting a company without funds. She also learned from Jing Xiu that the event resembled a wedding ceremony and was reminded that despite it being their joint company, she seemed to be doing all the work.
Distraught, Wang Mingzhu found solace in a coffee shop, where Jin Hua (also referred to as Jin Ke in one summary) consoled her. Jin Hua offered Wang Mingzhu her cherished and precious stamp album, a gift from her own master, suggesting she sell it for emergency funds. Wang Mingzhu initially refused due to its great value but eventually accepted, deeply moved and vowing not to let Jin Hua down.
Upon her arrival at Zhi Zhen Yuan, Wang Mingzhu immediately presented the stamp album to Li Li as payment for the banquet, valued at one hundred thousand yuan. Li Li reluctantly accepted, advising Wang Mingzhu not to pay an additional hundred thousand yuan, suggesting Wei Hongqing should be responsible. During the festivities, Fan Xinhua, under the influence of alcohol, began to mock Wei Hongqing, bringing up A Bao's name and joking about Wei Hongqing's unrequited love for Wang Mingzhu.
A heated argument ensued, almost leading to a physical confrontation, but Wang Mingzhu arrived just in time to defuse the situation. She firmly cut the cake, and the opening ceremony proceeded smoothly, with guests enjoying drinks and conversation. Wei Hongqing had even reserved a seat for A Bao, but A Bao never made an appearance. Fan Xinhua waited until eleven o'clock, but seeing no sign of A Bao, decided to leave.
Li Li, however, instructed Pan Assistant not to send the guests away, anticipating A Bao's arrival. Wei Hongqing was vocal about A Bao's absence. Just then, A Bao's new Cadillac arrived at Zhi Zhen Yuan, driven by Xiao Ningbo, drawing significant attention. This car was A Bao's compensation to Wang Mingzhu.
Previously, her old car had been scrapped after she used it to save A Bao in Zhuji, and A Bao had promised her a new Cadillac if it couldn't be repaired. The onlookers admired Wang Mingzhu, but she saw the 20 million yuan car as A Bao's way of severing their ties and felt offended, emotionally declining it.
She angrily gave the keys to Pan Manager to return to A Bao, though A Bao had intended the car as a way to commemorate their relationship and not to disturb her.
