Blossoms Shanghai Episode 23 Recap
> Blossoms Shanghai Recap
In a rapidly changing era, A Bao resolves to actively participate in the reform wave, aiming to list a clothing company. Manager Cai of the Shanghai Clothing Company seeks to collaborate with A Bao on the primary market, contingent on securing a listing quota. Both see this as an opportunity to turn their fortunes around. Qiang Mujie, having thoroughly investigated and analyzed A Bao, believes A Bao's individualism will inevitably lead to failure.
However, Ling Zi disagrees, asserting A Bao has always been lucky. Ling Zi gifts Wang Mingzhu a brand-new cell phone and Night Tokyo's auspicious lucky cat as an opening present. Wang Mingzhu is deeply grateful, placing the cat prominently in her company, while Wei Hongqing devoutly prays. Ge Laoshi, upon discovering the lucky cat is gone, expresses his reluctance and worry for the restaurant's business, but Ling Zi disregards such superstitions.
Xiao Li then brings a busload of Japanese tourists to Night Tokyo, which, bustling with Japanese tour groups and other customers, sees Ling Zi tirelessly promoting Wang Mingzhu's business to foreign trade clients. Ge Laoshi, seeing Night Tokyo's thriving business, no longer worries about the lucky cat. A reporter, impressed by Night Tokyo, interviews Ling Zi, who shares her vision of opening branches in major cities worldwide and becoming a global proprietress.
Ge Laoshi comes to admire Ling Zi's excellent management of the restaurant. Qiang Mujie visits Night Tokyo without a reservation. He waits, then opts to sit at the bar, observing Ling Zi as she busily attends to guests late into the night. After the last customer leaves and Ling Zi prepares for the next day's ingredients, Qiang Mujie advises her to rest.
He converses with her for five minutes, reflecting on his ups and downs in the stock market, his marriage, divorce, and experiences in Shenzhen, and cherishing his relationship with Ling Zi. Ling Zi, recalling past moments, feels a mix of emotions and vows to surpass the restaurants on Huanghe Road. He later sends her a water heater, promising a lifetime warranty.
Ge Laoshi suspects Qiang Mujie's ulterior motives toward Ling Zi, and Tao Tao tries to comfort Ge Laoshi, lamenting that Night Tokyo has lost its role as a haven since Linghong left and A Bao stopped visiting. Ge Laoshi, still entangled in his past feelings, declines Tao Tao's invitation to bowl, citing his deceased wife's name, Baoling. The Shanghai stock market expansion begins, with many companies vying for listing.
The general headquarters decides to establish the South China Investment Headquarters in Shanghai, with Qiang Mujie as General Manager, tasked with securing a local underwriter. Qiang Mujie dismisses clothing companies as underwriters, preferring top-tier brokers, but feels a "thorn in his throat" upon learning A Bao is the listing consultant for the clothing company. He recalls how A Bao and his retail investor friends made significant profits in the "Bao-Ying War" he meticulously orchestrated.
Li Li, seeking to repay a favor, invites A Bao to a hotpot restaurant. She cautions him against choosing the clothing company, deeming it the "worst" option, but offers to provide him with a broker if he agrees to take over Zhizhen Garden, as she intends to leave. A Bao, confident in his ability to list the company, accepts, intending not just to be a shareholder but to run its business.
A Bao then assumes the role at Zhizhen Garden, where Qiang Mujie is waiting. They engage in a subtle rivalry over dinner, with one eating fish and the other everything but fish, exchanging thinly veiled insults. Qiang Mujie asserts there will be no place for A Bao in Shanghai. A Bao, though never having met Mr. A, retorts that Qiang Mujie only learned Mr. A's assertiveness but lacked his decorum.
A Bao, frustrated, slams the door and leaves, making a final defiant remark. Li Li observes their intense exchange from outside. Qiang Mujie confronts Li Li, demanding she choose between Luwan Department Store, which he backs, and A Bao's clothing company. Li Li declares her unwavering loyalty to Mr. A, even in death. Angered, Qiang Mujie leaves and later confronts Ling Zi, confidently asserting A Bao's impending defeat and urging her to protect herself.
Ling Zi, however, reiterates her belief in A Bao's persistent good luck. Li Li recommends Xiguo Investment as an underwriter, advising A Bao to carefully reconsider, as the clothing company's financial strength and prospects are inferior to Luwan Department Store, which is backed by the powerful Qiang Mujie. A Bao, however, envisions creating Shanghai's first fashion company, not merely a clothing producer, predicting double profits within three to five years by analyzing Shanghai's future economic trends.
He also clarifies that Mr. A is not behind Luwan Department Store, thus ensuring no such confrontation. Li Li then arranges a meeting between A Bao and Manager Wang of Xiguo Investment. Manager Wang, a forthright man from the Northwest, and A Bao quickly form a strong rapport and agree to cooperate. Manager Wang immediately begins preparing the necessary documents for the Structural Reform Office's listing review. Li Li wishes A Bao success in overcoming this challenge.
The Shanghai Structural Reform Office has strict review processes and limited quotas. Guided by Ye Shu, A Bao prepares meticulously alongside Qiang Mujie. Ye Shu advises A Bao not to focus on outdated financial arguments but on practical, social issues. During the review, A Bao, presenting himself as the General Manager of Xiguo Investment, advocates for the clothing company to lead fashion trends and, crucially, to address the pressing unemployment issue for laid-off textile workers.
His speech is well-received, and the clothing company successfully secures the listing quota, achieving a draw against Luwan Department Store's legal representative. Manager Cai and Manager Wang praise A Bao, attributing his success to guidance from a skilled mentor. A Bao consults Ye Shu on the next steps, but Ye Shu's primary focus remains on the Walmart foreign trade order, which he considers A Bao's ultimate fallback. Ye Shu cautions A Bao not to be too happy, as the Walmart order is his safety net in case of future failure.
