My Bargain Queen Episode 5 Recap
> My Bargain Queen Recap
Sheng Zhening and Xia Qian both had their sights set on Ms. Yan, having noticed her desire for a destination wedding on social media, which made her wedding banquet hall slot a highly coveted prize. After securing Ning Meng's consent, Xia Qian made a house call to Ms. Yan, only to find Sheng Zhening already there. The two rivals rushed in, each eager to present their case.
Xia Qian offered Ms. Yan a free Aegean luxury liner package in exchange for transferring her May 8th wedding slot. Sheng Zhening countered by proposing a 50% discount on all banquets if she kept her wedding at Evergreen Hotel. Ms. Yan, however, explained that her husband, Han Chao, was handling the wedding arrangements and was currently away inspecting his orchard, not returning until the following week.
She handed them Han Chao's business card, which included his address, suggesting they speak to him. Determined to reach Han Chao first, Xia Qian hailed a taxi, but it was rush hour. Sheng Zhening, driving his car, provocatively honked at her, only to get stuck in a traffic jam caused by an accident further down the road.
He argued with the other driver about who was at fault, blaming them for speeding on a turn, while the other driver accused him of not slowing down. Meanwhile, Xia Qian successfully navigated through traffic in her taxi, arriving at the remote orchard before Sheng Zhening. Since the location was quite secluded, both Xia Qian and Sheng Zhening had to proceed on foot.
They found an old farmhouse and asked the elderly owner for directions to Han Chao's fruit and vegetable stand. The old man informed them it was still a considerable distance away and, noticing the impending rain, suggested they stay the night. He mistook them for a couple, which both Xia Qian and Sheng Zhening quickly denied, with Xia Qian insisting she didn't know him.
They spent the night at the farmhouse, taking turns sleeping under a mosquito net while the other sat on a chair, combating mosquitoes. Sheng Zhening complained about Xia Qian's restless movements, and when he offered insect repellent, she politely declined, disliking the scent of floral water, prompting him to ask what scent she preferred.
Meanwhile, Fu Shuangshuang received a package of organic vegetables from her mother, which warmed her heart but also brought the familiar pressure to get married and move back home. Her mother suggested she could run a small business there and find a local, reliable boyfriend. Annoyed by the persistent topic, Fu Shuangshuang pretended her phone signal was bad and ended the call.
Later that night, feeling down, Fu Shuangshuang found herself on the rooftop, confiding in a cat when Qin Hebo appeared. He teased her about a possible breakup, but she playfully rebuffed him. He then wondered if she was lost or frustrated by career setbacks in the big city. Fu Shuangshuang asked if he had ever started a business.
Qin Hebo claimed he once had over 100 million in assets before going bankrupt, a boast Fu Shuangshuang didn't believe, calling it bragging. He simply smiled, saying it didn't matter as long as she was happy. He then led her to the Deputy General Manager's office. He unlocked it, explaining he'd memorized the password after seeing the Deputy General Manager enter it once. Fu Shuangshuang was astonished by his audacity.
Despite her concerns about being discovered, Qin Hebo reassured her, stating he knew the Deputy General Manager's schedule better than anyone and that the Deputy General Manager was on a business trip. They settled in and shared a bottle of red wine, with Fu Shuangshuang joking that his daring would cost him his job, to which he replied they should "drink back their money."
The next morning, Xia Qian tried to slip away while Sheng Zhening was still asleep, but she accidentally kicked over a bottle, waking him. They both hurried uphill, but in their haste and struggle, they tumbled down a slope and landed in a deep pit. Realizing they needed to work together to escape, Xia Qian proposed Sheng Zhening carry her up so she could then pull him out.
Sheng Zhening scoffed at the idea, suggesting they play rock-paper-scissors to decide who carried whom. Xia Qian won, and as Sheng Zhening hoisted her up, she accidentally pulled down his pants, leading to an extremely awkward moment. Xia Qian successfully climbed out of the pit, but the distance proved too great to pull Sheng Zhening out by hand. She promised to find help and urged him to wait.
She then rushed to Han Chao's fruit and vegetable stand and, without preamble, explained her purpose. She passionately urged him to honor his wife's dream of a destination wedding, highlighting the Aegean luxury liner package as a unique, time-sensitive opportunity. Han Chao, a man of business and social connections, expressed his dilemma, explaining that he had already informed family and friends about the Evergreen Hotel wedding and couldn't simply cancel.
He admitted he understood the sentiment but was hesitant to change plans. Just as he wavered, Sheng Zhening dramatically appeared. He introduced himself as the General Manager of Evergreen Hotel and offered to cover all of the wedding expenses if Han Chao continued with their venue. Han Chao, swayed by the offer, agreed, handing Sheng Zhening the victory. Later, Xia Qian confided in Ning Meng, disheartened that she had come "so close" but lost the deal.
Back at home, Han Chao observed Ms. Yan's continued longing for a destination wedding. Realizing how much his focus on work had caused him to neglect his fiancée, he had a change of heart. He called Xia Qian, asking if her wedding transfer agreement offer was still valid. Overjoyed, Xia Qian confirmed its validity and immediately rushed to his house to sign the agreement.
She then called Ning Meng with the exciting news and arranged to meet at Evergreen Hotel to finalize the transfer. However, Sheng Zhening called Xia Qian and informed her that Evergreen Hotel would be closed on May 8th, the very date of the wedding. Xia Qian, enraged, accused him of breach of contract and abandoning his principles.
Sheng Zhening defiantly stated that he would never allow Ning Meng to marry He Zhijuan, whom he called a "jerk," refusing to watch his sister "jump into a fire pit." During their heated exchange, Sheng Zhening received an urgent call from the hospital: Ning Meng had been in a car accident. He rushed to the hospital, asking about his sister.
The nurse reassured him that Ning Meng was merely frightened and resting, but He Zhijuan had sustained more serious abrasions on his arm, though his injuries were not life-threatening. Sheng Zhening then inquired about the driver who caused the accident, presumably seeking information. Xia Qian, still at the hospital, approached Sheng Zhening. She showed him dashcam footage from the accident, which clearly depicted He Zhijuan heroically pushing Ning Meng out of the path of the oncoming vehicle.
Xia Qian observed that despite He Zhijuan's questionable character, he undeniably loved Ning Meng. This revelation prompted Sheng Zhening into deep contemplation. Later, Sheng Zhening visited He Zhijuan in his hospital room. He Zhijuan, downplaying his injuries, claimed his arm would heal in a few days. To He Zhijuan's surprise, Sheng Zhening told him to proceed with the wedding preparations for the 8th.
Sheng Zhening confessed that he had initially opposed Ning Meng's early marriage, but after witnessing He Zhijuan's genuine love for her, he now offered his sincere blessings. He described Ning Meng as sometimes willful and difficult to appease when angry, but deeply serious and responsible in her affections.
Sheng Zhening then laid out two conditions for He Zhijuan: first, always to prioritize Ning Meng's emotional well-being and protect her from harm, given her condition; and second, to maintain a distance from Xia Qian to prevent Ning Meng from ever discovering their past relationship, for the sake of everyone involved. He Zhijuan readily agreed to both demands, thanking Sheng Zhening and promising to cherish Ning Meng.
Sheng Zhening then visited Ning Meng, who, upon hearing of He Zhijuan's well-being, was overjoyed that her brother had finally approved of her marriage. Sheng Zhening affectionately told her that as long as she had no regrets, his only wish was for her happiness, then advised her to rest. Sheng Zhening later called Qin Hebo, who noted Sheng Zhening's somber tone despite the wedding approval.
Qin Hebo invited him for a drink, and at their usual spot, Qin Hebo surmised that Sheng Zhening was feeling a complex mix of emotions, akin to giving away a daughter. He encouraged Sheng Zhening to trust Ning Meng, reminding him that she was a grown woman capable of making her own choices and taking responsibility.
Qin Hebo then light-heartedly suggested Sheng Zhening consider his own marital status, to which Sheng Zhening playfully retorted that Qin Hebo was also single and they could be bachelors together, a prospect Qin Hebo quickly rejected. Following this conversation, Sheng Zhening met with Xia Qian and handed her the wedding transfer contract signed by Mr. and Mrs. Han, confirming the May 8th wedding slot was now officially hers.
As Xia Qian prepared to leave, Sheng Zhening asked if she would reconsider taking on the car group buying case. He claimed that Manager Sun had highly praised her business acumen and recommended her, as the procurement department had struggled to secure the desired pricing, and Xia Qian had already completed much of the preliminary work. He offered the original remuneration. Though surprised, Xia Qian accepted.
However, as she departed, she ran into Manager Sun and thanked her for the recommendation. Manager Sun, bewildered, denied having recommended Xia Qian. This exchange immediately made Xia Qian realize Sheng Zhening had fabricated the story. She pondered why he would insist on giving her the case and concluded that he might be feeling guilty for something he had done to her and was attempting to make amends.
Meanwhile, Ning Meng and He Zhijuan, with Ning Meng's arm in a sling, happily left for their wedding photoshoot, with Ning Meng expressing how fortunate she felt to have He Zhijuan and her brother, determined to have the most perfect wedding to declare her love to the world. He Zhijuan promised to make all her wishes come true.
