Blossoms Shanghai Episode 26 Recap
> Blossoms Shanghai Recap
On Christmas Eve, Wei Hongqing, despite having no money, decorated the company balcony with a Christmas tree for Wang Mingzhu. Wang Mingzhu, preoccupied with her early 5 AM flight to Shenzhen the next day to meet Fan Xinhua regarding a clothing factory, initially paid it no mind. Wei Hongqing, knowing how difficult it was to buy Shenzhen tickets, offered to help. Seeing his lonely figure, Wang Mingzhu felt a pang of guilt and joined him to admire the night view.
Wei Hongqing promised to take her to the Peace Hotel for New Year's when they had money, which made Wang Mingzhu recall celebrating New Year's on the Peace Hotel rooftop with A Bao the previous year. Wei Hongqing then vowed to expand their company, and they toasted to a bright future. Meanwhile, A Bao sent Granduncle home for the New Year, gifting him items from friends and local specialties.
Granduncle, knowing Wang Mingzhu couldn't find factories in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, or Shanghai and intended to use Fan Xinhua's connections in Shenzhen, had Stamp Li buy all available Shenzhen plane and train tickets to prevent her from going and competing with A Bao. A Bao reimbursed Granduncle for these tickets but immediately ordered Stamp Li to secure two more Shenzhen tickets for Wang Mingzhu, without reimbursement, as punishment. Wang Mingzhu's efforts to buy tickets by phone failed.
Wei Hongqing tirelessly searched sales points for tickets, finding none. He then encountered a scalper who claimed to have tickets for that night. Believing the man to be a fraud, Wei Hongqing physically assaulted him, and both were arrested and taken to the police station. It was later revealed that Stamp Li, under A Bao's instructions, had arranged for this "scalper" to deliver the tickets to Wei Hongqing, leading to the misunderstanding.
Wei Hongqing, learning the truth, apologized to the scalper. In desperation, Wang Mingzhu decided to drive to Shenzhen herself. Remembering the Cadillac A Bao had given her, she went to Zhi Zhen Yuan to retrieve the car keys from Pan Manager, who immediately notified A Bao. A Bao then informed Wei Hongqing, who, just released from the police station, rode his motorcycle to chase after Wang Mingzhu. Granduncle, for his part, mobilized people to track Wang Mingzhu's movements.
Wei Hongqing, in his frantic chase, suffered a motorcycle accident and was hospitalized. A Bao instructed Stamp Li to continuously monitor Wang Mingzhu, noting that once she left the Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai region, she would be free from Granduncle's control. Granduncle, convinced Wang Mingzhu wouldn't reach Shenzhen before New Year's Day, invited A Bao to dinner, worried A Bao might secretly help Wang Mingzhu, and used the opportunity to lecture him.
Wang Mingzhu drove her luxury car for two consecutive days and nights, becoming utterly exhausted. She stopped to rest, but was robbed. While chasing the thief, she was knocked unconscious and sustained a head injury, eventually ending up at a police station. A Bao received a call during his New Year's Eve dinner, informing him of Wang Mingzhu's situation. Granduncle, also receiving the news, fabricated a story about a home theft to quickly depart.
At the police station, Wang Mingzhu was found sleeping on a cot, bloodied. Fan Xinhua picked her up, urging her to rest. However, Wang Mingzhu insisted on pressing on without delay. They took a trishaw to a factory.
Fan Xinhua pleaded with his friend, Lu Factory Manager, portraying Wang Mingzhu as a client who had traveled day and night, been robbed, and seriously injured, only to now face the prospect of not getting her order, accusing Lu Factory Manager of breaking his word. While they argued, Wang Mingzhu examined their orders and noticed something.
She told Lu Factory Manager that this was her crucial first order, which had to succeed, and promised that her company, Mingzhu, would not forget his kindness if they pulled through. Lu Factory Manager reluctantly agreed to give her the order, but at an increased price. It was revealed that Granduncle was behind this difficulty.
He had learned that Fan Xinhua couldn't find another clothing factory in Shenzhen and had arranged for Mei Ping to approach Lu Factory Manager, securing other orders to complicate Wang Mingzhu's efforts. A Bao discovered Granduncle's interference from phone call records and immediately called for help. Fan Xinhua then suggested Wang Mingzhu seek assistance from Li Li, as he himself had benefited from Li Li's connections in Shenzhen.
With only one day remaining, Wang Mingzhu agreed to have Fan Xinhua contact Li Li. Fan Xinhua, however, called A Bao instead of Li Li's contact, Minmin. Through A Bao's intervention, Ma Factory Manager of Tianma Garment Factory offered Wang Mingzhu five idle production lines, promising to sign immediately at the most favorable price. Ma Factory Manager, a Hong Konger, even claimed to have grown up with Li Li.
Wang Mingzhu found Ma Factory Manager's excessive cooperation suspicious, suspecting he was A Bao's contact. Fan Xinhua admitted he had called A Bao, not Li Li, urging Wang Mingzhu to prioritize the company and let go of any personal obligations or feelings regarding A Bao. A Bao had agreed to compensate Ma Factory Manager for all his losses to secure the production lines for Wang Mingzhu.
After much consideration, Wang Mingzhu visited Ma Factory Manager at the factory, asking him to convey her thanks to A Bao, but she left without signing the contract he had prepared for her, desiring to establish clear boundaries. Granduncle, hearing about Wang Mingzhu's initial success, didn't believe Li Li was involved. Later, he learned Wang Mingzhu had signed a contract with Lu Factory Manager at Qicai Garment Factory.
He ordered an investigation into who had helped her, only to discover it was A Bao. On New Year's Day, the Peace Hotel was as festive as ever. A Bao arrived at his company to find Granduncle waiting. Granduncle fiercely reprimanded him, threw down an envelope, and accused A Bao of pursuing "Suzhou River dealings" despite Granduncle's meticulous plans for A Bao's "Huangpu River affairs," before storming out in anger.
