My Bargain Queen Episode 1 Recap
> My Bargain Queen Recap
A heavy rain led to an unexpected encounter at a bus stop between Xia Qian and Sheng Zhening, whose large advertisement graced the nearby Evergreen Hotel billboard. Xia Qian recognized him instantly, thinking to herself how many times she had imagined such a meeting with this seemingly out-of-reach person. Upon calling his name, Sheng Zhening, clearly not recognizing her, asked if they knew each other.
Xia Qian, surprised by his lack of recall and silently noting his arrogance, just said she was saying hello since everyone knew him. As Xia Qian tried to leave, deeming the encounter an unfortunate clash with an "enemy," Sheng Zhening abruptly pulled her back to shield her from a passing car's splash, an action that unexpectedly resulted in him losing his first kiss.
Xia Qian was indignant, accusing him of being crazy, while Sheng Zhening explained his intention was only to prevent her from getting wet. Later, Sheng Zhening’s assistant, An An, picked him up, having witnessed what appeared to be a "kiss" at the bus stop. He jokingly asked if it was Sheng Zhening's first kiss, a remark that cost An An his bonus for the month. Xia Qian confided in her assistant, Fu Shuangshuang, about running into Sheng Zhening.
Fu Shuangshuang, witnessing Xia Qian's visible distress, noticed Sheng Zhening seemed to have no recollection of her. Xia Qian, however, remembered him vividly and vehemently stated she wanted him to forget and wished to have no further dealings with Evergreen Hotel due to bitter past memories, particularly her first engagement there two years prior, where she was stood up, leaving a deep scar. Just then, another assistant, Mu Xiaoyan, announced a new, significant client, Ning Meng.
Ning Meng wanted to book a wedding banquet in May, but her only choice was Evergreen Hotel, and she prioritized securing a date over any discounts, even offering a substantial deposit of 50,000 yuan. This request triggered a painful flashback for Xia Qian: two years prior, at her own engagement ceremony at Evergreen, her fiancé, He Zhijun, abruptly left her, sending a message that he couldn't marry her.
Despite her pleas and warning that she would never take him back, he abandoned her, leaving a deep scar. Returning to the present, Xia Qian tried to dissuade Ning Meng, explaining that it was already mid-April and Evergreen's May schedule was likely fully booked, suggesting other venues. However, Ning Meng insisted Evergreen held special significance and was the only place she envisioned for her and her husband's happiness. Torn, Xia Qian asked for time to consider.
Later, with her landlord pressing for overdue rent, Xia Qian called Ning Meng back, agreeing to take the order on the condition that the deposit be paid that very night. She explained to her team that her personal history with Sheng Zhening shouldn't prevent their growing company from seizing opportunities, emphasizing that the banquet hall booking would primarily involve Evergreen's sales department, not Sheng Zhening himself.
Xia Qian arrived at Evergreen Hotel, hoping to secure the May 15th date for her client's wedding in Banquet Hall No. 8. She spoke with a sales manager, who informed her that the hall was undergoing renovations and the decision to postpone them rested solely with General Manager Sheng. Unaware of Sheng Zhening's whereabouts, Xia Qian then encountered him disguised as a gardener, watering plants.
Without recognizing him, she offered detailed advice on caring for the "blue daze" flowers, much to Sheng Zhening's surprise at her horticultural knowledge. Xia Qian then asked him if he knew where Mr. Sheng was, which only reinforced Sheng Zhening's mistaken belief that she was a fangirl searching for him. Back at her office, Xia Qian's assistant, Fu Shuangshuang, questioned her "man-marking" strategy of waiting in the lobby, but Xia Qian insisted on its effectiveness.
Meanwhile, Sheng Zhening, observing Xia Qian from surveillance cameras, ordered lobby security to monitor her. An An reported that the "fangirl" had been asking for him, believing she was obsessed since their bus stop encounter and of pestering the hotel for his whereabouts. Sheng Zhening, annoyed, decided to use the basement entrance from then on to avoid her.
Later that night, still seeing Xia Qian waiting in the lobby, Sheng Zhening called Manager Wang, instructing him to tell Xia Qian that he resided at the hotel and would not pass through the lobby, effectively sending her away without a meeting. Xia Qian, disheartened, left the hotel after Manager Wang delivered the message.
Upon Qin Hebo's return from a business trip, Sheng Zhening surprised him with a promotion to Deputy General Manager of Evergreen Hotel, a decision made by the board. Sheng Zhening expressed his hope that they would work together closely. Simultaneously, financial news reported that Lihe Capital, a powerful financial giant, was poised to enter the hotel industry and intended to acquire Evergreen, leading to an economic storm in Jinhai City.
During a subsequent board meeting convened by Sheng Zhening to discuss the potential acquisition, some shareholders suggested formally engaging with Lihe Capital to secure a favorable price if a merger was inevitable. However, others, citing Evergreen’s strong performance and ongoing listing preparations, disagreed, advocating for a long-term vision and warning against potential compromises to service quality and reputation. Sheng Zhening, reassuring the board of his commitment to improve Evergreen, adjourned the meeting, tabling the acquisition discussion for now.
After the meeting, Qin Hebo made a phone call to a shareholder, Mr. Lin, revealing that the day's board discussion about the acquisition was merely a "test" and that he had further plans. He assured Mr. Lin that his three percent shares would be held by a proxy until the right moment for transfer, at their pre-agreed price.
The following morning, Xia Qian returned to Evergreen Hotel, where a sales manager reiterated that Banquet Hall No. 8 was unavailable due to stalled multimedia hardware upgrades. In the lobby, Xia Qian encountered An An, who immediately confronted her, calling her a "fangirl" and accusing her of being obsessed with Sheng Zhening since their bus stop encounter and of pestering the hotel for his whereabouts. Xia Qian clarified that she was merely waiting for Sheng Zhening on business.
As security guards moved to escort her out on Sheng Zhening’s order, An An rushed to intervene, explaining the two-year-old misunderstanding. He reminded Sheng Zhening about the girl whose fiancé abandoned her at Evergreen and whom Sheng Zhening wrongly accused of triggering the hotel’s alarm due to a circuit problem. Realizing Xia Qian was that same woman, Sheng Zhening instructed An An to let her in.
An An then escorted a slightly injured Xia Qian upstairs to meet Sheng Zhening, apologizing for the misunderstanding. After settling in Sheng Zhening’s office, Xia Qian politely declined a drink and presented her business proposal. She explained that her client wished to hold a wedding at Evergreen in May and noted that Banquet Hall No. 8 was unexpectedly available on May 15th, despite being scheduled for renovation.
She recognized that the renovation delay was due to un-negotiated prices for hardware equipment. Xia Qian then offered free bargaining services to help Evergreen procure the necessary equipment quickly, enabling the renovation to be completed in time. She handed Sheng Zhening a detailed comparative pricing plan she had prepared, tailored to the hotel’s needs. Sheng Zhening accepted the plan, promising a reply within two days.
As Xia Qian left, he noticed her sprained foot and instructed An An to drive her home. Sheng Zhening shared Xia Qian’s comparative pricing plan with Qin Hebo, who found it impressive. Qin Hebo praised its clear structure, how it aligned hotel needs with product functions, and its effective elimination of overpriced, impractical items. He noted that Xia Qian’s problem-solving approach was more flexible than their own Procurement Department's and even suggested hiring her, acknowledging their need for such talent.
Sheng Zhening, however, pointed out that Xia Qian owned her own company. Qin Hebo then inquired if Sheng Zhening showed him the plan merely for comment. Sheng Zhening confirmed he intended to give Xia Qian a chance by entrusting her with the hardware equipment order for Banquet Hall No. 8, to see if her proposed solutions were practical or merely theoretical.
Xia Qian’s mother visited her at her Liping BBQ stall, giving her a bank card, knowing she was struggling financially. Xia Qian gently refused, secretly tucking the bank card back into her mother's meal box. Her mother expressed concern about Xia Qian's unconventional job as a bargainer, admitting she couldn't explain it to neighbors. Xia Qian playfully demonstrated her skills by "bargaining" for kabobs, explaining that a bargainer's job is to achieve the most with the least money.
She promised to take over the BBQ stall if her company failed, but her mother’s real concern was Xia Qian settling down and getting married. Xia Qian then proceeded to demonstrate her bargaining prowess for Evergreen. With Sheng Zhening and Qin Hebo observing, she expertly negotiated with Manager Ma from Xinyuan Technology for new media projection equipment. Manager Ma initially pushed back on price, citing the product's Bluetooth feature.
Xia Qian, however, revealed her thorough research, exposing the Bluetooth as unreliable, a common complaint from consumers. She also informed him of a new, superior product launching in three months at a similar price, implying that his current product would soon be devalued. When Manager Ma tried to appeal to Sheng Zhening’s wealth, Sheng Zhening sided with Xia Qian, stating that Evergreen, as a consumer, deserved fair pricing.
After Xia Qian suggested waiting for the newer model, Manager Ma reluctantly agreed to her lower price, asking her to keep it confidential. Qin Hebo was highly impressed, noting Xia Qian’s speed and effectiveness compared to their own Procurement Department. Xia Qian modestly attributed her success to understanding the opponent’s "ace" through psychological and information warfare.
Sheng Zhening confirmed that with the projection equipment and fresh air system orders secured at unexpectedly low prices, she only had one more contract to win to claim Banquet Hall No. 8. An An, observing Xia Qian eating simple meals to save time and money, reported this to Sheng Zhening, who then ordered an elaborate staff meal for her, asserting that she was effectively an Evergreen employee now.
Xia Qian, on a phone call, expressed satisfaction that Ning Meng's wedding schedule would be secured by her successful bargaining efforts, even though it meant undertaking extra free work for Evergreen. As Xia Qian continued her diligent work, securing the final contract for Evergreen, Sheng Zhening observed her tireless efforts and grew increasingly impressed, realizing he hadn't misjudged her capabilities. Xia Qian informed Ning Meng that she had successfully secured Banquet Hall No. 8 for her wedding.
Ning Meng expressed immense gratitude, thanking Xia Qian not just for her professional skills, but for her genuine desire to help her achieve an ideal wedding at Evergreen, especially since her own family disapproved of the marriage. Xia Qian confessed that Ning Meng's situation reminded her of her own past engagement, also held at Evergreen, which was ultimately called off when her fiancé, whom she called a "jerk," disappeared and was never heard from again.
Ning Meng sympathized, remarking that leaving Xia Qian was his biggest loss. Just then, Ning Meng received a call from her "husband," who had arrived and was waiting on the second floor. As Ning Meng excitedly went to greet him, Xia Qian watched in shock as her former fiancé, He Zhijun, walked in.
