Legend of the Magnate Episode 16 Recap
> Legend of the Magnate Recap
Gu Pingyuan helped his brother, Gu Pingwen, acquire a shop and hired two trustworthy assistants for him, providing 200 taels of silver as startup capital. Gu Pingwen was unsure what kind of business to run, suggesting boating supplies due to the nearby dock, believing they could make a fortune. However, Gu Pingyuan deemed it unideal, citing too many existing suppliers.
He suggested a general merchandise store instead, carrying premium goods like Jinhua Ham, Osmanthus Duck, wind-dried chicken, wind-dried fish, and jerky, though Gu Pingwen worried about storage. Gu Pingyuan clarified that the shop wasn’t primarily for making money but for Gu Pingwen to learn how to interact with people and to use his observations and insights to find opportunities. He emphasized that in business, information is paramount.
Gu Pingyuan then revealed a promising business opportunity they had just passed, which could earn thousands of taels of silver. He instructed the assistants to buy a thousand chi of finger-thick hemp rope, fishing line, silk ribbons, five water vats, and adhesive clay for ink. He explained to Gu Pingwen that the hemp rope would be cut into four-chi sections, soaked in ink until black, then tied with fishing line and silk ribbons.
Gu Pingwen realized they would resemble braided queues. Gu Pingyuan calculated that over 200 such queues could be made, and suggested selling each for ten taels of silver. Gu Pingwen doubted anyone would buy mere hemp rope, but Gu Pingyuan explained the context: Hefei had just been occupied by the Southern Army, who were now surrounded by imperial troops.
Many of these Southern Army recruits were opportunistic ruffians who had cut off their queues and would seek to blend in once the situation turned dire. Without queues, they faced execution, making the fake queues a life-saving necessity they would readily pay for, even at an exorbitant price. Gu Pingyuan strictly warned that this business could only be done once, as a second attempt would be fatal.
He reassured Gu Pingwen about the tea plantation, stating that the assistants could manage it while he focused on this venture, reiterating the importance of staying informed and alert. With that, Gu Pingyuan departed, leaving Gu Pingwen in charge. Meanwhile, Bai Yimei’s marriage to Li Cheng had been formalized, and she was now Princess Consort. Seeing Mr. Bai daily saddened by his daughter’s absence, Gu Pingyuan felt compelled to intervene.
He confronted Su Zixuan, accusing her of orchestrating Bai Yimei’s departure. He pleaded with Su Zixuan to take him to Hefei to see Bai Yimei, emphasizing that Mr. Bai, his mentor, was in a critical state and “barely half his life left.” Su Zixuan confirmed she had personally escorted Bai Yimei to the Prince’s Mansion and warned Gu Pingyuan against bothering the Princess Consort, asking if he was tired of living.
She also retorted that she herself dared not face Mr. Bai or her mother due to the situation. Despite Su Zixuan’s attempts to dissuade him, Gu Pingyuan persisted, eventually convincing her to let him accompany a group of porters into Hefei, disguised as one of them. Upon arriving at the city gate in Hefei, guards meticulously checked their goods, as Prince Cheng had warned of spies.
A guard spotted Gu Pingyuan’s braided queue and accused him of being a Qing bandit. Gu Pingyuan cleverly argued that his braided queue was necessary to transport goods from Huizhou without being executed. Su Zixuan intervened, confirming he was with her and that his comment was a joke, allowing him entry. She then playfully chided him for nearly getting her killed, to which Gu Pingyuan retorted with equal wit.
Elsewhere, Gu Pingwen and his assistants were successfully selling the fake queues to Southern Army soldiers. One soldier complained the price of ten taels for hemp rope was steep but agreed to buy them for an escape route. After successfully selling the first batch, Gu Pingwen and his assistants were overjoyed by the unexpected profits. Overcome with greed and dismissing Gu Pingyuan’s earlier warning, Gu Pingwen decided to make and sell another batch.
However, Li Cheng’s men apprehended him and his assistants, throwing them into prison. Gu Pingyuan, having waited outside the heavily guarded Prince’s Mansion, finally spotted Li Cheng and Bai Yimei returning. He called out to Bai Yimei, leading to his own immediate arrest and imprisonment. In jail, Gu Pingyuan discovered Gu Pingwen and the assistants.
Learning they had sold the queues a second time, Gu Pingyuan was furious and physically reprimanded Gu Pingwen for his disobedience, sarcastically remarking on their "reunion in Hefei, waiting to die together." Gu Pingwen frantically pleaded with Gu Pingyuan to find a way to save them. Shortly after, soldiers took Gu Pingyuan away, making Gu Pingwen and the others believe he was being led to his execution. However, Gu Pingyuan was brought before Li Cheng and Bai Yimei.
Li Cheng explained that his arrest was a necessary pretense to avoid suspicion, as Bai Yimei had frequently spoken of Gu Pingyuan. He offered Gu Pingyuan wine and expressed his deep gratitude for Gu Pingyuan’s kindness to Bai Yimei, a debt he felt he and Bai Yimei could never repay. Gu Pingyuan then relayed Mr. Bai's critical condition to Bai Yimei, urging her to visit her father immediately, as it might be their last farewell.
Though Bai Yimei worried about returning safely, Gu Pingyuan insisted, suggesting they might have to sneak in at night. Unexpectedly, Li Cheng declared he would accompany Bai Yimei, dismissing his princely title and proclaiming himself her husband. He affirmed his trust in Gu Pingyuan, stating they would face any consequences together.
As Li Cheng left to change into more suitable attire, Gu Pingyuan asked Bai Yimei to arrange the release of Gu Pingwen and the assistants, who had been beaten in prison. He promised to wait for them outside. Gu Pingyuan rushed back to Mr. Bai's home, where he found his mentor awake but weakened. Mr. Bai confided that he couldn't sleep or eat and had dreamed of Bai Yimei’s mother, sensing his own end was near.
Gu Pingyuan urged him not to resent Bai Yimei. He then brought Bai Yimei and Li Cheng into the room. Li Cheng, as Bai Yimei’s husband, knelt with her before Mr. Bai. Mr. Bai, though initially guarded, offered courtesy and asked them to rise. Bai Yimei tearfully apologized for her unfilial behavior, stating her sincere desire to be with Li Cheng. Mr. Bai responded that since they hadn't sought his approval for their union, his forgiveness was unnecessary.
Li Cheng then vowed to care for Bai Yimei for life, invoking a curse upon himself if he ever broke his promise, assuring Mr. Bai of his sincerity. Gu Pingyuan quietly excused himself. Afterward, Li Cheng and Bai Yimei knelt before Gu Pingyuan, expressing their gratitude for his tireless care of Mr. Bai. Mr. Bai, having taken new medicine, finally fell asleep.
Gu Pingyuan escorted Li Cheng and Bai Yimei to the village entrance, watching them depart with a mix of emotions. Soon after, Gu Pingwen and the two assistants were released, battered and bruised. Gu Pingyuan vented his pent-up frustration and anger on them, refusing to let them ride home.
He ordered them to walk the long distance back to the shop, instructing them to move slowly and not lie on the damp ground to rest, as they wouldn’t be able to get up again. Later, Mr. Bai sent Gu Pingyuan to find Mr. Liao. Gu Pingyuan arrived at Mr. Liao's residence, calling out for him. Mr. Liao’s daughter, Miss Liao, initially denied her father's presence and was annoyed by Gu Pingyuan's persistence.
However, upon learning Gu Pingyuan was sent by Mr. Bai of Shanjian Village and was not a debt collector, she let him in. She called out to her father, who emerged from hiding in the stove, jokingly asking if Gu Pingyuan was there to deliver money.
