Legend of the Magnate Episode 8 Recap
> Legend of the Magnate Recap
General Bao Qingde, the commander of the Bao Regiment and the greatest warrior of the Qing Empire, sought out Gu Pingyuan to express his gratitude. He had pawned his beloved sword and Imperial Yellow Jacket to secure military funds for his soldiers, and Gu Pingyuan had offered a generous thousand taels for them.
As a token of appreciation, Bao Qingde deposited all of Pingyao's allocated funds into Li Qin's Wanyuan Bank, a sum so significant that even the provincial governor's office wouldn't question it. Meanwhile, Wang Tiangui, observing Li Qin's growing influence in Pingyao, chastised his own head, second, and third managers at Taiyufeng Pawnshop. He attributed Li Qin's success to their actions, which had effectively driven Gu Pingyuan away.
He warned them that if they wished to remain in the business, they must thoroughly review their accounts and clarify everything, otherwise, they should go home and tend to their children. During a celebratory banquet hosted by Bao Qingde, Li Qin expressed his admiration for Gu Pingyuan and his desire to have him join Wanyuan Bank, even suggesting his father, Li Wantang, could help clear Gu Pingyuan's name.
However, Gu Pingyuan remained resolute, explaining that his primary goal was to clear his own name and secure the release of Chang Si. He emphasized that his current collaboration with Li Qin to disrupt the pawnshop market was solely for Chang Si's freedom, and once that was achieved, their paths would diverge. Gu Pingyuan then met with Wang Tiangui, expecting Chang Si's release after successfully unsettling Taiyufeng's managers.
To Gu Pingyuan's surprise, Wang Tiangui declared that he no longer wanted Chang Si's house and would not release Chang Si. Instead, Wang Tiangui presented a new, more formidable task: finding King Li's treasure hidden within the powerful Eight Families.
He revealed that after King Li's defeat, 70 million taels of silver were abandoned in a Shanxi valley, discovered by eight local families who used it as their initial capital, leading to the lasting prosperity of the Eight Families of Hedong. To facilitate this mission, Wang Tiangui appointed Gu Pingyuan as the Head Manager of Taiyufeng Pawnshop, organizing a grand ceremony and banquet to mark his official assumption of the role.
Heizi, upon hearing of Gu Pingyuan's new prestigious position, felt resentful that Gu Pingyuan was thriving while his father, Chang Si, remained imprisoned. Chang Yu'er, however, defended Gu Pingyuan, asserting that he was not someone who would abandon his principles for personal gain. At the banquet, Li Qin extended his congratulations to Gu Pingyuan.
Wang Tiangui seized the opportunity to publicly admonish Li Qin, urging him to cease his disruptive "antics," which led Li Qin to offer a public apology to the other draft bank managers in Pingyao. Gu Pingyuan, having learned that Su Zixuan had brought dozens of skilled appraisers to Pingyao, warned Li Qin to be wary of her.
Li Qin, still hoping for an alliance, reiterated his offer for Gu Pingyuan to join Wanyuan Bank or for his father to clear Gu Pingyuan's name. Gu Pingyuan once again declined, emphasizing his commitment to Chang Si's liberation. Meanwhile, Su Zixuan assembled a large group of Shanxi's most renowned pawnshop appraisers and bank managers. She provided them with money, hosted a lavish banquet, and then dramatically revealed herself as a revolutionary from the south.
She sought to recruit them to reorganize the economy of Jiangnan, promising to safely relocate their families to Nanjing and help them establish prosperous businesses within three years. After this period, they would be free to choose whether to stay in the south or return. However, by having already moved their families without their knowledge, she implicitly held their safety hostage, ensuring their cooperation.
From Beijing, Li Wantang expressed satisfaction at Li Qin's success in securing Bao Qingde's millions in allocated funds but worried about the enemies his son was making and his association with Gu Pingyuan. He instructed his manager to send a letter to Li Qin, advising him to distance himself from Gu Pingyuan, asserting that business acquaintances were the least trustworthy.
Concurrently, Wang Tiangui learned that the Kang family, one of the Eight Families, faced severe repercussions from the imperial court for losing military supplies. He saw this as an opportune moment to purchase their assets, thereby gaining entry into the Eight Families and a share of King Li's treasure. As Gu Pingyuan left Wang Tiangui's residence, he encountered Chang Yu'er. She was distressed, having not seen him for days and subjected to Heizi's negative remarks about him.
Gu Pingyuan explained his predicament, which helped ease her worries. Noticing someone observing them from above, Gu Pingyuan deliberately staged a loud argument with Chang Yu'er, then they parted ways, creating a false impression for their observer. Li Qin later confronted Su Zixuan, accusing her of sending the appraisers to the south and warning her to stay away from his father.
Su Zixuan calmly admitted that her presence in Pingyao was to use Li Qin as a shield for her revolutionary endeavors. When Li Qin brandished a pistol, she revealed it was an unloaded gift from a Russian friend, then swiftly disarmed him, fired a warning shot into the ground, and declared that she would not let go of either his father or him.
She then ordered Li Qin to accompany her to Jinyang Villa the next day to bid for the Kang family's assets and instructed him to warn Gu Pingyuan not to interfere. The following day, Gu Pingyuan arrived early at Jinyang Villa and sought out First Madam Jin. He found Master Jin gravely ill and, respecting their privacy, stepped aside. First Madam Jin confirmed her husband's lifelong frailty, which she attributed to his extraordinary business acumen draining his life force.
Gu Pingyuan then conveyed Wang Tiangui's wish to purchase the Kang family's property and join the Eight Families. First Madam Jin, however, offered vague responses, claiming the Eight Families were fragmented. Undeterred, Gu Pingyuan left and encountered Li Zhongdeng, another prominent member of the Eight Families. Li Zhongdeng initially scoffed at Wang Tiangui's ambition but became impressed by Gu Pingyuan's insightful explanation of the Kang family's predicament.
As Su Zixuan and Li Qin arrived at Jinyang Villa, along with other interested buyers, Gu Pingyuan advised Li Qin to inform Su Zixuan that Wang Tiangui was determined to acquire the Kang family's assets. Inside, the Eight Families convened to discuss the Kang family's fate.
Mr. Kang explained that his family was forced to sell their property not merely to repay debts for the lost military supplies, but to dispel the imperial court's suspicions that the Eight Families were secretly guarding King Li's treasure. He reasoned that quietly settling the debt would only confirm these rumors. First Madam Jin then cynically suggested that they allow outsiders to buy the Kang family's assets, as it would expose the truth that there was no such treasure.
