Debit Queen Episode 1 Recap
> Debit Queen Recap
In Linchun City, the most popular food stall owner was Ling Se, known for her fervent love of money, which meant no haggling at her stand. Every copper coin mattered to her. She had taken in a young woman named Ping'er some months prior, hoping for help, but Ping'er, claiming to be a maid from a wealthy family, was useless at chores and ate constantly.
Ling Se felt she had taken a significant loss, and if she weren't so good at making money, Ping'er would have eaten her into poverty. However, after closing her stall each day, Ling Se transformed into the young lady of the Ling family's silk shop. This title didn't bring comfort, as her birth mother was gone, and her stepmother was determined to raise her like a maid. Her father seemed to share this ambition.
Stepmother often scolded her for not looking like a proper young lady and threatened to disown her if not for her (the stepmother's) supposed protection. Ling Se's true goal was to buy a shop, expand her business, and live freely away from the Ling mansion. The day arrived when she had saved enough money. She found a shop that Ping'er thought was too small and deserted.
But Ling Se insisted she had insider information that the street would become bustling within a year, even busier than the East Market. The shop owner asked for 100 taels, but Ling Se countered with 50. When he refused to sell at that price, she told him she would be back tomorrow. Returning home, Ling Se encountered a noble guest invited by her family.
Preferring to avoid maids, Xu Zilu, the richest man in Linchun City, entered through a side door. Ling Se, surprised by the handsome stranger, tripped and fell while wondering who he was. Xu Zilu avoided catching her. Annoyed after her fall, Ling Se tried to leave, but Xu Zilu stopped her, having stepped in dog excrement. He ordered her to get him new shoes and socks.
Ling Se refused unless he paid, asking for 10 coins for socks and 3 taels for shoes. When he revealed he had no money, she insulted him, suggesting he take stepping in dog poop as a sign of good luck. Meanwhile, Ling Se's father was meeting with Xu Zilu, hoping to become Xu's Perfume Shop's new packaging supplier. Ling's father offered a 10% discount on top of competitors' prices.
Xu Zilu countered, stating that as Xu's was soon to become an Imperial Merchant supplier, a significant deal involving continuous palace shipments, they required at least a 30% discount. He advised Ling's father to think long-term. After leaving the Ling mansion, Xu Zilu was met by Wang Zhujue, the son of the Linchun City Governor and a known rival. They exchanged taunts, with Xu Zilu calling Wang Zhujue a 'haunting ghost.'
Wang Zhujue noticed Xu Zilu was wearing his limited edition cloud-embroidered shoes, worth 20 taels. Fuding explained that Xu Zilu had stepped in dog poop, and Ling's father had provided the shoes. Wang Zhujue became frantic, believing Xu Zilu had stepped on his beloved dog, Wealth. Xu Zilu then mocked Wang Zhujue for failing the provincial exam four times and still attending school.
Wang Zhujue retorted that his father was tirelessly working on the West Market development plan and hadn't been home in days. Ling Se returned to the rice shop the next day, expecting to negotiate further, only to find the shopkeeper packing up. He informed her that someone else had already bought the shop for 49 taels. Just then, Xu Zilu appeared, revealing he was the buyer. Ling Se was furious, arguing about 'first come, first served.'
Xu Zilu calmly asked if she had signed a contract or paid a deposit. When she admitted she hadn't, he stated that ownership goes to whoever pays first. He confirmed he bought the shop specifically because Wang Zhujue's comment revealed his father was planning the West Market, making the location valuable. He dismissively told her to go find somewhere else. Disappointed, Ling Se returned home.
Ping'er blamed Ling Se's stinginess for not paying the deposit, causing her to lose the shop. Ling Se, though upset, said they still had the 100 taels to find another place. Searching for the money, she realized she had left the banknote in her dirty clothes. To her horror, she found the clothes had been washed and were ruined, along with the banknote.
Her brother, Ling Shuo, appeared, explaining he had tried to be kind and wash her clothes, thinking she would be touched. Furious at the loss of her six years of savings, Ling Se chased after Ling Shuo, who claimed innocence but had clearly caused the damage. With only three taels left, Ling Se was desperate. Ping'er jokingly suggested asking the 'black-hearted bird,' Xu Zilu, for help.
Ling Se seized on the idea, deciding she would ask Xu Zilu to rent her the shop. She didn't care what kind of person he was, as long as he would rent her the location. Meanwhile, Xu Zilu returned home late. His mother was waiting, immediately pressuring him to marry. She claimed he had avoided marriage and women since his former fiancée, Xie Wanrong, ran away, suggesting he had a hidden illness or peculiar preferences.
She insisted he must marry to fulfill a requirement for becoming an Imperial Merchant. The mother revealed the selection was earlier than expected, in about ten days, due to reforms. She presented him with a list of potential brides and threatened to replace him as the family head with Yushan if he didn't comply. Cornered, Xu Zilu promised to get married within three days. His mother accepted this tight deadline, warning she would not change her mind even if he begged her afterward.
