Lady of Law Episode 23 Recap
> Lady of Law Recap
Posing as potential bulk buyers, Xu Jie and Chen Ran followed Mr. Yin, a local contact, to a discreet sample shoe workshop. Xu Jie, feigning poor Chinese, had Chen Ran convey their desire to visit the actual production factory to ensure quality. After Chen Ran offered Mr. Yin an intermediary fee, he agreed to take them. They soon arrived at the factory and met President Cai, where they finally saw counterfeit Yadian shoes being produced.
To bait the real mastermind, Xu Jie placed a massive order for 100,000 pairs of sports shoes for overseas sales, giving President Cai just one day to confirm. Later, they successfully photographed President Cai meeting his superior. Back at their hotel, which was fully booked with only a standard room available, Xu Jie initially expressed her discomfort with sharing, even offering to pay for a separate single room, but eventually conceded.
Chen Ran then messaged Jian Peiran, who was packing, promising to return home as soon as her work was done. Meanwhile, Damao brought Jian Peiran a variety of local gifts, including Changbai Mountain ginseng and homemade beef tendon jerky, as well as a toy for his daughter, Yangyang. Sensing Damao's feelings for him, Jian Peiran tried to decline the gifts and offered to reimburse her, but she insisted.
Before he left, Damao hugged him goodbye and wished him a safe trip, which took Jian Peiran by surprise. Bai Ning, growing increasingly concerned, had a laboratory report confirming that materials for both genuine and counterfeit Yadian shoes originated from Fumen and were supplied by Feilaiyin's vendors. She worried that Chen Ran and Xu Jie's trip to Fumen would lead them to "snatch" the Feilaiyin case, which she and Song Xiu had secured.
Though her mentor, Tang Ying, advised her to think with a broader perspective suitable for a senior partner, Bai Ning remained anxious. She called Chairman Wan of Feilaiyin, subtly asking if Chen Ran had approached him for OEM work. His denial did little to ease her mind, and her unease persisted, prompting her to meet Song Xiu, hoping to learn the true reason for Xu Jie's trip.
She accused Xu Jie of trying to steal their case, but Song Xiu reassured her that Xu Jie would not do such a thing and suggested that Li Gongming might have assigned the case to her. Bai Ning then urged Song Xiu to mend his relationship with Li Gongming, believing a master-apprentice bond shouldn't be strained over a misunderstanding.
Song Xiu, reflecting on his professional struggles, recalled a past conversation where he sought Li Gongming's help to advance, but Li Gongming emphasized the need for designated lawyers in core cases, telling him "when the time comes, I'll help you." He also remembered Li Gongming's firm stance on accountability for mistakes, citing a temporary suspension as a necessary lesson. Furthermore, he recalled Director Huang from Chengtai offering to clear his disciplinary record and inviting him to join their firm.
Later, Song Xiu invited Li Gongming to dinner, where he again tried to apologize for his impulsiveness and asked him to intervene with the bar association to revoke his punishment. Li Gongming refused, stressing that lawyers must take responsibility for their errors, as small mistakes can accumulate into bigger ones. He saw the punishment as a valuable life lesson and a constant reminder. Song Xiu then confided that he had received an offer from Chengtai.
Li Gongming, understanding the aspirations of young lawyers, acknowledged the increasing competition in their profession. He ultimately told Song Xiu that it was his choice and he would not hinder his career development, as long as he was prepared. Xu Jie and Chen Ran continued their investigation. While Chen Ran attended a dinner with Chairman Wan, who claimed ignorance of any counterfeiting activities by Feilaiyin, Xu Jie searched the parking lot for the car they had previously photographed.
She identified the license plate "Fu C24116" and, by fabricating a story about scratching the vehicle, learned it belonged to Chen Shuo, Feilaiyin’s workshop manager. Xu Jie shared this information with Chen Ran, who corroborated that Chairman Wan seemed genuinely unaware of the counterfeiting. Xu Jie then returned to the factory to negotiate directly with President Cai, her "interpreter" (Chen Ran) conveniently absent.
President Cai, confident in his local dominance, agreed to the 100,000-pair order but demanded a 70% share of the profits. Xu Jie initially balked, citing the risk. President Cai, boasting of his long experience in Fumen and his extensive knowledge of the local shoe market, asserted that he was likely the only one capable of fulfilling such a large order.
He revealed his connections at Feilaiyin, the sole factory in Fumen that produces OEM shoes of that type, and confidently stated they used genuine imported raw materials, making their counterfeits difficult to distinguish. After some negotiation, Xu Jie secured a 65% profit split for President Cai, recording his revealing statements. Meanwhile, Song Xiu met with his friend Wang Tao, who advised him to prioritize practical benefits and career advancement.
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Sun Zhewei and Zhang Chuang. Sun Zhewei, seemingly to provoke Song Xiu, recounted the wedding incident, implying Xu Jie’s reaction was merely "playing hard to get," and expressed his intent to win her back. He even referenced a circulated photo of Xu Jie, further agitating Song Xiu, who was barely restrained by Wang Tao. Later, Xu Jie showed Chen Ran the recording of President Cai's confession.
She explained that Li Gongming's strategy was to have them secure the Yadian client without directly involving Mingtang in a conflict with Feilaiyin, which was also a significant client. Xu Jie passionately argued that successfully acquiring Yadian would significantly elevate Mingtang's standing in Jinghai's legal community and improve Chen Ran's family's living situation. As Xu Jie prepared for a run, Song Xiu unexpectedly called and appeared, rushing to embrace her. He reaffirmed his deep love for her.
However, while Xu Jie was showering, Song Xiu saw a message on her phone from Sun Zhewei that read, "I miss you. This is Sun Zhewei." Visibly disturbed, Song Xiu tried to hide his feelings when Xu Jie emerged. He then asked her, his voice tinged with worry, what he should do if Li Gongming refused to allow him back into Mingtang, still not mentioning the offer from Chengtai. Xu Jie reassured him, believing that Li Gongming was merely teaching him a lesson, not truly letting him go.
