Broker Episode 3 Recap
> Broker Recap
Zhou Xiaoshan observed that Asians often face discrimination in research labs run by white people, who doubt their ability to contribute. He believed the correct response was to fight back, using their work to prove their worth. Qiu Jianing disagreed, stating it's best to ignore such discrimination because engaging with an "idiot" only lowers one's own intellect to their level, where they would then use their extensive experience to win.
Changing the subject, Zhou Xiaoshan mentioned he heard Professor Su Qian's report was delayed. Qiu Jianing admitted it was because of her. She explained that she found some data in the report to be insufficiently detailed, a flaw Su Qian had missed. Without consulting Su Qian, Qiu Jianing took the report directly to Professor Wang. Zhou Xiaoshan noted that bypassing a superior is a universal taboo, but Qiu Jianing retorted that "not distinguishing between right and wrong is taboo."
She emphasized that for her, right is right and wrong is wrong, and when she saw a problem, she had to speak out as a matter of principle, regardless of how others perceived her. If someone deliberately confused right and wrong or disrespected science, she would never tolerate it. Later that evening, Zhou Xiaoshan called Uncle Zha, telling him he needed more time to investigate.
He suspected Su Qian's report might be wishful thinking, and Qiu Jianing, who had already cast doubt on it, could be his breakthrough for the assignment. The next day, Qiu Jianing approached Zhu Zhu to inquire about the company's standard procedures for cell experiments and a list of commonly used reagents, but Zhu Zhu informed her that all those materials had been borrowed and were not in the file room.
Seeing Qiu Jianing's predicament, Zhou Xiaoshan later presented her with the documents. He playfully asked how she would thank him, and she jokingly agreed not to make him eat the food she ordered. In the elevator, Qiu Jianing encountered Zheng Wei, who noticed the cell experiment procedures and reagent list in her hand. Zheng Wei immediately went to inform Su Qian. Su Qian then called Qiu Jianing into her office, offering her coffee.
Qiu Jianing expressed her desire to participate in experiments as soon as possible. However, Su Qian explained that the current experiments were nearing completion, and it would be inefficient for Qiu Jianing to join at this late stage. Instead, Su Qian suggested Qiu Jianing focus on finding a clinical trial collaborator, directing her to search for qualified hospitals on her own without providing any specific contacts or resources.
When news of Qiu Jianing's new assignment circulated among colleagues, Zhou Xiaoshan questioned why a lab researcher would be tasked with such duties. Another colleague noted that it was unusual but understandable given Qiu Jianing had offended her boss. Li Chunran expressed surprise, wondering how Su Qian could allow someone accused of academic misconduct to join critical experiments. Zhou Xiaoshan, however, trusted his intuition and didn't believe Qiu Jianing was that kind of person.
Zheng Wei then openly suggested that if Qiu Jianing found the task too difficult, she could simply resign, leading another colleague to conclude that Su Qian was deliberately trying to force Qiu Jianing to quit. They noted Qiu Jianing had no connections in Jiangcheng, making the task particularly challenging. Qiu Jianing went to Aoyoung Hospital to seek a meeting with Vice President Wu but was told she needed an appointment. Unwilling to give up, she decided to wait.
While waiting, Qin Bin, a doctor, noticed her deeply engrossed in a crossword puzzle from "The Book and the Sword." He approached her, corrected one of her answers, and found himself instantly captivated by her. His phone then rang with an emergency, and he rushed off to save a patient. After a while, a nurse informed Qiu Jianing that Vice President Wu was attending an academic conference and would not be at the hospital.
Qiu Jianing left her company's information with the nurse for Vice President Wu. Qin Bin, having successfully saved his patient, found himself thinking about the woman he had just met, regretting not knowing her name or contact information, yet convinced that fate would bring them together again. He asked the nurse if the lady was a new hire and if she knew where she worked.
The nurse only remembered that she had come to discuss a collaboration with Vice President Wu. As Qiu Jianing was leaving the hospital, her sister, Qiu Jiaxin, spotted her from a window and called her. Qiu Jianing, who had been secretly back in the country, was startled to see Qiu Jiaxin standing directly in front of her after ending the call.
Qiu Jiaxin demanded an explanation for Qiu Jianing's sudden return, threatening to call their father if she didn't reveal everything. Qiu Jianing reluctantly recounted her story and made her sister promise to keep it a secret from their father. Qiu Jiaxin then insisted that Qiu Jianing join her for coffee at noon. Qiu Jianing initially resisted, citing work commitments, but conceded after Qiu Jiaxin again playfully threatened to call their father.
At the cafe, Qiu Jiaxin, wanting to cheer up her sister, encouraged her to indulge in sweets to boost her mood. She took photos of Qiu Jianing and even gave her posing tips. She then took Qiu Jianing's phone and posted one of the photos on social media with a caption about having a beautiful afternoon tea moment.
Her intention was to show those making Qiu Jianing's life difficult that they hadn't stressed her out, but rather given her more free time. Qiu Jianing was annoyed by her sister's antics. Back at the office, Li Chunran and Zheng Wei saw Qiu Jianing's social media post during work hours and criticized her, deeming it excessive. Zhou Xiaoshan quietly smiled at the sight.
Meanwhile, Qiu Jiaxin, returning to the hospital with coffee, was late and received a scolding from Qin Bin. She explained her tardiness was due to comforting her sister, the "pretty scientist," who was having trouble at her new company and being bullied by colleagues. Qin Bin remarked that "it takes two to make a quarrel" and expressed his strong dislike for office politics. Zheng Wei went to Su Qian to complain about Qiu Jianing's post, calling it mockery.
Su Qian, remaining calm, suggested Qiu Jianing was "too young and impatient" and the post might make her "feel better." However, she pondered what Professor Wang would think, hinting at its potential negative impact on Qiu Jianing's reputation. Qiu Jianing returned to the company late, just as others were leaving. Zhou Xiaoshan was the first to approach her, acknowledging her post was inappropriate for work hours but admitting it felt satisfying. Qiu Jianing clarified that she didn't post it.
Zhou Xiaoshan, deducing it was her sister, didn't press further when Qiu Jianing didn't deny it, only vaguely mentioning some "family issues." Rumors spread throughout the company, orchestrated by Zheng Wei, that Qiu Jianing was undermining the project, which could jeopardize everyone's year-end bonus. Zheng Wei then deliberately excluded Qiu Jianing from an emergency meeting called by Professor Wang. Fortunately, Zhou Xiaoshan noticed and discreetly informed Qiu Jianing. Qiu Jianing rushed to the meeting, arriving just as it concluded.
She started to explain her tardiness to Professor Wang but, recalling Su Qian's earlier admonition about acting like a child complaining to a teacher, she simply stated she had been delayed and would not be late again. After the meeting, she tried to get the meeting minutes from Zheng Wei, but Zheng Wei ignored her. Zhou Xiaoshan confronted Qiu Jianing, asking why she didn't tell Professor Wang the truth about what was happening.
Qiu Jianing calmly replied that there was no point, as her ability to stay depended on her own actions, not on Professor Wang. She was fully aware that Zheng Wei was turning colleagues against her to force her resignation, but she saw it as further proof of issues with Su Qian's report. She declared that she would only leave after uncovering the truth, even if it meant starting the experiment all over again.
Later, while Qiu Jianing was exiting a vehicle, a pickpocket attempted to steal her phone from her coat pocket. Zhou Xiaoshan quickly pulled her into his embrace, warning her not to store her phone in such an easily accessible spot again. Zheng Wei reported to Su Qian that everyone in the company wanted Qiu Jianing to leave, especially since their year-end bonuses were at risk. She noted Qiu Jianing's strange composure at the meeting, where she didn't explain her lateness.
Su Qian, however, recognized Qiu Jianing's intelligence. She reasoned that complaining about colleagues would only make Qiu Jianing seem like she was making excuses or had poor interpersonal skills, which is crucial for researchers. Su Qian believed Professor Wang would initially support Qiu Jianing due to her background, but it was up to Qiu Jianing to seize the opportunity. Su Qian warned Zheng Wei not to underestimate Qiu Jianing, acknowledging she wouldn't give up easily.
The following day, Qiu Jianing went to collect cell culture materials. The staff, secretly colluding with Zheng Wei, informed her that all the items she needed were out of stock. When Qiu Jianing asked for alternative sizes, those too were mysteriously unavailable. The staff then deliberately dropped and shattered the last remaining set of materials, blaming Qiu Jianing for being careless and refusing to pick them up.
Zhou Xiaoshan, witnessing the scene, stepped in to help Qiu Jianing collect the broken pieces. As they left, Qiu Jianing sternly told the staff that a material manager who knew about shortages but failed to restock was useless. The staff member, infuriated, later ranted to colleagues, calling Qiu Jianing "crazy" and a "ticking bomb" who lacked "interpersonal skills" and posed a threat to the project.
Zhou Xiaoshan found Qiu Jianing in a stairwell, deeply distressed and on the verge of tears. Despite her strong facade and assertions of not caring, the weight of past injustices she had suffered, both abroad and now in China, finally broke her composure. Zhou Xiaoshan offered her a tissue and urged her to consider giving up, reminding her that no matter how strong an individual is, they cannot survive alone without societal support.
Qiu Jianing, however, invoked the myth of Sisyphus, explaining that he was a happy person because he always had a goal and remained motivated, thus never truly losing. She expressed her aspiration to be like Sisyphus, fearless of any difficulties in pursuit of her ambitious goals.
Meanwhile, Zheng Wei assured Su Qian that all measures were in place to prevent Qiu Jianing from conducting any experiments without Su Qian's explicit approval, confident that Qiu Jianing would soon resign on her own. Su Qian, though, still cautioned Zheng Wei not to let her guard down. Late that night, Qiu Jianing called Qiu Jiaxin. She sarcastically thanked her sister for the social media post, which had made her the topic of conversation at work.
To "compensate" her, Qiu Jianing asked Qiu Jiaxin to find out the time and location of Vice President Wu's academic conference. Qiu Jiaxin initially expressed reservations, calling it "spying," but eventually agreed. The next day, Qiu Jiaxin quickly called back with the details: the conference was at 2:00 p. m. that day, in the ballroom of Jiangcheng Hotel. Qiu Jianing, eager to act, promptly hung up, unaware that Qiu Jiaxin had not yet mentioned a crucial detail: the conference required an invitation for entry.
