Our Times Episode 1 Recap
> Our Times Recap
In 1991 Beijing, Xiao Chuang and his team were covertly manufacturing and selling Chinese language cards from a bustling commercial building. After selling five cards and taking payment for fifteen, they could not immediately produce the remaining ten. Xiao Chuang promised a customer the rest for delivery the day after tomorrow. Celebrating their swift earnings, which far exceeded a year's salary, the group was suddenly alerted to an inspection by the Trade and Industry Bureau.
Remaining composed, Xiao Chuang instructed his companions to gather their equipment and escape through the window, while he stayed behind to face the authorities. When the officials entered, Xiao Chuang identified himself and took full responsibility, claiming he acted alone. At the Yanjing University Computer Research Institute, the Director was admonishing Xiao Chuang for engaging in profiteering under the institute’s name.
Director Tan Qizhang arrived and quickly recognized the sophisticated design of the confiscated Chinese language card as the work of Pei Qinghua, a member of his own lab. Pei Qinghua expressed surprise, admitting the design was identical to his graduation project but asserting he had not made it. Xiao Chuang then confessed that he had stolen Pei Qinghua's blueprint, produced the cards, and sold them, dismissing Pei Qinghua as a naive bookworm unaware of the scheme.
However, an officer found money hidden in Pei Qinghua's desk drawer. Xiao Chuang frantically tried to explain that he had secretly placed the money there and Pei Qinghua knew nothing about it. Despite Xiao Chuang's insistence, the Director, citing evidence of them being caught red-handed and referring to lessons from political studies, refused to listen and ordered Tan Qizhang to hand the money over to the Trade and Industry Bureau.
Feeling unjustly accused and incensed by Xiao Chuang’s claim of righteousness, Pei Qinghua shoved him. Later, Man Huansheng and Qi Rongbin thanked Xiao Chuang for not exposing them after they had fled the inspection, but Xiao Chuang worried about the grave consequences for himself and Pei Qinghua. Director Tan Qizhang attempted to intercede for Pei Qinghua, highlighting his rural background, financial struggles, and exemplary performance at the institute.
However, the Director, angered by Tan Qizhang's attempt to downplay the incident as a "small" matter, dismissed the plea and criticized his political awareness. He then decided to postpone the institute's plans to act as an agent for importing computers. At a subsequent Arts Show, the Director publicly announced the expulsion of both Xiao Chuang and Pei Qinghua, citing their unauthorized profiteering activities under the institute's banner as having caused an "extremely adverse impact."
Pei Qinghua, desperate to continue his research, pleaded with Tan Qizhang, offering to accept any punishment if he could remain at the institute. Tan Qizhang conveyed that he had done everything he could and informed Pei Qinghua that his household registration would be sent back to his hometown if he couldn't find new employment. Xiao Chuang protested Pei Qinghua’s expulsion, arguing that his technical skills were too valuable and that Pei Qinghua was an unwitting participant only because of him.
Pei Qinghua, born in a fishing village in Shandong Province, shared that he was the only person from his village to attend Yanjing University, a feat his mother achieved by borrowing money from everyone. He spoke of his love for computer science and his dream of becoming a respected scientist, creating a "fairytale" life. He acknowledged Xiao Chuang's help but lamented that he had also ruined his future, concluding that they were fundamentally different.
Later, Pei Qinghua called his mother, who spoke of his work, but he couldn't bring himself to disclose the truth, only offering reassurance. Pei Qinghua's excellent academic record, usually a guarantee for desirable positions, was now overshadowed by his expulsion, making job hunting difficult. Meanwhile, Xiao Chuang was in a dire situation, having been beaten for failing to deliver the ten Chinese language cards he owed. Pei Qinghua witnessed Xiao Chuang's predicament upon returning to the dorm.
Man Huansheng, Xu Yiwan, and Qi Rongbin rallied to Xiao Chuang’s aid, pooling all their valuables, but the customers refused money, demanding only the cards. With the components confiscated and two crucial parts out of stock for at least a month, they faced an impossible deadline. Unexpectedly, Pei Qinghua offered a solution: modify the circuit diagram to a half-bridge rectifier.
He explained that this method, though requiring only two diodes and simpler in structure, demanded exceptionally high technical skill, precise tuning, and calibration, a task only he could perform within the tight timeframe. Despite feeling guilty for his role in Pei Qinghua's plight, Xiao Chuang accepted the help, while Pei Qinghua clarified he was acting only to prevent his friends from facing the same fate as him, given the difficulty of securing a place at the institute.
Director Tan Qizhang pressed the Institute Director again about the imported computer agency, presenting news of private entrepreneurs being honored at the Great Hall of the People as evidence of shifting national policy. He argued that representing a brand like Conpo would benefit the institute's research and development by providing access to advanced international technology and offering professional guidance to domestic users. While the Director acknowledged he was considering the idea, he cautioned against the complexities of business.
Tan Qizhang then vowed to take only his core team and accept full responsibility if their venture failed. Amidst these discussions, Pei Qinghua received a job offer from the Deli Cement Plant in Handan, Hebei, as a cement proportioning technician. He hesitated, noting the mismatch with his computer science background, but the job market representative emphasized his unique situation and warned that without accepting it, his household registration would be returned to his rural hometown.
Pei Qinghua reluctantly decided to accept the cement plant position, stating that his personal feelings were secondary to securing a job. Xiao Chuang and the others expressed dismay that such a talented researcher was forced into an unsuitable role, especially after he had helped them despite his own troubles.
Inspired by the idea that there was "strength in numbers," Xiao Chuang, along with Man Huansheng, Qi Rongbin, and Xu Yiwan, decided to collectively appeal to the Director once more, with Xiao Chuang personally visiting dormitories to rally support from other colleagues. After a tireless effort, the ten Chinese language cards were finally completed.
As Pei Qinghua prepared for his departure, Xu Yiwan, Qi Rongbin, and Man Huansheng made their impassioned plea to the Director, confessing their involvement in the card sales and offering to be expelled in Pei Qinghua's place. The Director, however, dismissed their appeal, asserting that his decision was final and could not be rescinded without undermining his authority.
Just then, Xiao Chuang arrived with a large group of institute members, who collectively praised Pei Qinghua’s character and technical prowess, recounting instances of his helpfulness and diligence, and imploring the Director to give him another chance. The Director was furious at the disruption.
Tan Qizhang quickly stepped in, scolding the crowd and ushering them away, then turned to the Director to calmly argue for Pei Qinghua's return, suggesting he could help sell computers, thus allowing him a chance to atone. The exasperated Director reluctantly agreed. Pushing his luck, Tan Qizhang then asked for Xiao Chuang to be reinstated as well.
In a final gambit, Tan Qizhang made a pact with the Director: if his team successfully secured the agency contract for Conpo, both Pei Qinghua and Xiao Chuang would be reinstated; otherwise, he himself would resign along with them. Tan Qizhang excitedly confirmed their success to his team, but cautioned them that their positions were still contingent on securing the Conpo agency. Realizing that Pei Qinghua would already be on his way, Xiao Chuang rushed to find him.
On the bus to the train station, Pei Qinghua reflected on his first meeting with Xiao Chuang, his roommate. He recalled Xiao Chuang, a Beijing native, expressing his ambition to achieve "something great" like the heroes in action movies, promising to always have Pei Qinghua’s back. Pei Qinghua, a humble young man from a Shandong fishing village, had always simply wanted to pursue research and contribute to the country, prioritizing substance over flashy ambition.
Despite their differing aspirations, Xiao Chuang had once told him to protect his eyes for his future as a scientist. Arriving at Beijing Station, Pei Qinghua took a photograph of the station sign as a keepsake of his time in Beijing, before proceeding to the ticket gate.
As he prepared to board his train, Xiao Chuang's desperate voice suddenly boomed over the station's loudspeakers, announcing that Pei Qinghua no longer needed to go to the cement plant and could stay in Beijing.
