Our Times Episode 10 Recap
> Our Times Recap
Lin Yimin returned from his business trip and inquired about the institute's affairs. Tan Qizhang explained that he had sent Pei Qinghua to assist Xiao Chuang with the Baosong Steel order, which had been complicated by a competitor, Jefferson. The issue was resolved, and the signed contract had been faxed half an hour prior. Later that evening, Xiao Chuang and Pei Qinghua arrived, joining the others for a celebratory dinner.
During the meal, Lin Yimin, reflecting on insights from his HQ trip about the importance of branding and marketing, specifically mentioned that Director Song of Lab 5 had inquired about Pei Qinghua. He suggested that Pei Qinghua should report to Lab 5 to formalize his affiliation, even if just for an appearance. This public remark dampened Pei Qinghua's spirits, prompting Qi Rongbin to express dismay at the idea of him leaving Huayan after achieving two significant merits.
Xiao Chuang quickly diffused the tension by proposing a toast to Lin Yimin, celebrating their dual successes. As the evening progressed, the group gathered to talk about their dreams. Xiao Chuang, pointing to the brightest star, fondly called it "Hero Star," a name he had given it in his youth, associating it with his lifelong aspiration of becoming a great hero.
Pei Qinghua, ever the academic, clarified that it was actually Venus, known as Phosphorus in the morning and Hesperus at night, symbolizing both death and revival. Xiao Chuang admitted he simply loved its dazzling and unique presence. Qi Rongbin chimed in, praising Xiao Chuang as a hero for always supporting them and securing the recent Baosong deal.
Qi Rongbin then shared his own dream, which had evolved from saving money to marry and build a home, to finding profound satisfaction in his business endeavors. Xu Yiwan expressed her desire to one day find her own "great hero." Man Huansheng, feeling he lacked such grand ambitions, was encouraged by Xiao Chuang, who told him that dreams emerge as one embarks on life's journey. Eventually, Xiao Chuang directly appealed to Pei Qinghua, urging him to remain with Huayan.
Pei Qinghua confessed he was still undecided but promised to share his decision once he was certain. Xiao Chuang, understanding Pei Qinghua's lingering concerns about his commitment to his parents, reassured him of his unwavering support, no matter what path he chose. Unable to sleep, Pei Qinghua arrived at the institute long before dawn, cleaning the office and preparing for the day. In the morning, Man Huansheng and others greeted him, offering him fresh buns and congee.
Xiao Chuang, feigning a hangover and claiming to be unprepared for any major announcements, listened nervously. Pei Qinghua then declared his decision: he would stay. He explained that while his childhood ambition was to be a scientist, his recent experiences, from the transformation of Lab 3 into Huayan to his successful sales ventures in Guangzhou and the Baosong deal, had revealed profound meaning in various pursuits.
He realized that both research and trade, though seemingly different, ultimately led to a common goal, with trade often offering a more direct path. Though he hadn't fully "figured everything out," he was committed to doing meaningful work alongside his colleagues. Overjoyed, Xiao Chuang embraced him, his headache seemingly vanished, while Tan Qizhang looked on with satisfaction. Pei Qinghua reassured a still-skeptical Xiao Chuang that he would not go back on his word.
During lunch, Xiao Chuang excitedly called Xie Hang to share the good news of Pei Qinghua's decision to stay. However, Xie Hang’s voice was low. She revealed that she might not be able to return to Beijing because her company demanded a 20,000 yuan "training fee" for her resignation, as stipulated by their regulations. Xiao Chuang was instantly disheartened and offered to find a solution, but Xie Hang felt the situation was more complex than he imagined.
She apologized, believing she would have to break her promise to return. In the afternoon, during a company meeting, Lin Yimin announced that Huayan had completed its first phase, achieving market stability and securing a base of loyal clients. Consequently, he suggested reducing the frequency of business trips while still emphasizing the importance of maintaining client relationships.
Tan Qizhang then officially assigned Pei Qinghua to manage the Beijing zone, while other regional responsibilities, like Qi Rongbin's Shanghai and Xiao Chuang's Northeast territories, remained unchanged. Pei Qinghua expressed his gratitude. Xiao Chuang, however, seemed distracted and dejected, barely registering Qi Rongbin’s attempts to console him about no longer needing to travel frequently. Pei Qinghua received a call from Lu Hainiu, who was in Beijing scouting locations to expand his business, specifically focusing on used Conpo computers.
Xiao Chuang joined their meeting and, without preamble, asked to borrow 20,000 yuan from Lu Hainiu, explaining he was facing an urgent difficulty and offering to pay high interest. Lu Hainiu, having just invested all his funds into his new shop, couldn't help financially. However, he suggested a quick way to make money: acquiring "stock subscription certificates" for upcoming new stock IPOs in Shenzhen.
He explained that with enough ID cards to enter the lottery, they were guaranteed to earn money. Xiao Chuang, having previously failed with similar certificates, was reluctant to repeat the same mistake. Lu Hainiu, however, urged him to "get up where he fell" and left a newspaper detailing the IPO. Later, Xiao Chuang confessed to Pei Qinghua that the money for Lunar New Year came from selling such certificates, which Xie Hang had given him as compensation.
These internally issued bank certificates had led to Xie Hang's investigation, putting her in a difficult situation and requiring a 20,000 yuan training fee to resign. Xiao Chuang admitted he didn't know how else to help her and desperately asked Pei Qinghua if he could collect ID cards from his village, which had over 200 residents.
Pei Qinghua cautioned against speculative ventures, but Xiao Chuang insisted it was a "good thing" as the government encouraged public participation in the stock market for economic contribution. Pei Qinghua agreed to try to help, observing that Xiao Chuang tended to become utterly single-minded when it came to Xie Hang's well-being.
Tan Yuan was seen writing a playful "invitation letter" to Pei Qinghua, listing activities she wanted them to do together, such as visiting Yuyuantan Park, enjoying a hotpot at North Street's Mutton Hotpot, and having him make her paomo when her father was out. Her friend, Man Lin, teased her for being so forthright, but Tan Yuan defended her straightforward approach to expressing her feelings.
Xiao Chuang, who had been discreetly following Tan Yuan, approached her seeking assistance with collecting ID cards for the stock subscription certificates. He inadvertently discovered her "invitation letter" to Pei Qinghua, which greatly annoyed her. Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Chuang offered a deal: he would reveal a loophole in her "contract"—the absence of a quantifier for the invitation meant she could add unlimited requests, and Pei Qinghua would be bound by his thumbprint.
In exchange for this advice and his commitment to help orchestrate her relationship with Pei Qinghua, Tan Yuan agreed to assist him in gathering 100 ID cards. Meanwhile, Pei Qinghua visited the university library, where he tried to borrow several books, including "The Art and Skills of Sales." The librarian informed him that he had already borrowed 38 books that month, nearing his 40-book limit.
After a brief misunderstanding where she mistook him for Man Huansheng from Lab 3, Pei Qinghua humorously played along to secure additional books. Xiao Chuang invited his friends, including Qi Rongbin and Man Huansheng, to a lamb hotpot dinner. There, he abruptly asked to borrow 12,000 yuan, or at least 10,000, citing an urgent difficulty. His friends were stunned into silence, unable to offer such a large sum.
Xiao Chuang quickly diffused the awkwardness by pretending it was all a joke to "lighten the mood." Later, he expressed disappointment at his failed attempt to borrow money. Pei Qinghua, who had been quietly reading, offered his entire savings of 800 yuan, which Xiao Chuang, knowing it was too little and all he had, refused. Pei Qinghua then offered to help with the ID cards instead. That night, Xu Yiwan, showing surprising chivalry, approached Xiao Chuang.
She offered him 600 yuan in cash and promised another 2,000 yuan from her savings account the next day, explaining she had initially saved for a new watch but decided her current one was fine. Xiao Chuang thanked her, promising to repay with interest. Following this, Xiao Chuang playfully broached the topic of Tan Yuan with Pei Qinghua, remarking on her "exceptionally well" treatment of him, even mentioning their late-night visit to see the mainframe.
Pei Qinghua, completely oblivious to any romantic undertones, quickly dismissed the notion, claiming Tan Yuan was merely expressing gratitude for his past help. Xiao Chuang, undeterred and calling Pei Qinghua "dumb," declared his intention to act as a matchmaker, a suggestion Pei Qinghua vehemently rejected. Huayan's sales figures were declining, prompting a crucial meeting to discuss strategies. One speaker attributed the decline to competitors like Jefferson, who offered comparable 486 microprocessors and employed a more advanced distribution model.
He cautioned against partnering with distributors and agents, describing them as "unruly thugs" and likening such a move to "quenching thirst with poison." Tan Qizhang countered, asserting that the widespread adoption of computers was inevitable and that their current direct sales model would soon impede growth. He proposed an advanced distribution model, believing it could drastically increase annual sales.
However, Lin Yimin expressed skepticism, pointing out the high cost of computers (over 20,000 yuan) compared to average monthly wages (496 yuan), and dismissing the idea of mass popularization as "wishful thinking." He suggested an open discussion on the distribution model's pros and cons. During the debate, some argued against it due to reduced profit margins and management difficulties, portraying distributors as demanding.
Others argued that high sales volume, even with lower individual profits, would lead to overall higher returns, and if their product became indispensable, they would hold ultimate power over the distributors. When asked for his opinion, Pei Qinghua remained undecided, wanting to hear more perspectives. Xiao Chuang, seemingly distracted, claimed a stomachache from spicy food and abruptly excused himself from the meeting.
Tan Yuan presented her "great idea" to Xiao Chuang for obtaining 100 ID cards: she suggested Huayan could launch a mock summer internship program, similar to one offered by Changcheng Farm Machinery at their university. Many students were lining up with ID cards to apply, driven by course requirements. Tan Yuan proposed that Huayan simply "fake" an internship, using a "random chop" to legitimize it, as students primarily needed the certificate.
Xiao Chuang immediately rejected this, calling it "open fraud" and unethical, stating he couldn't participate and had no means to create a fake stamp. Tan Yuan, knowing Pei Qinghua would also disapprove, warned Xiao Chuang not to tell him about the plan. Despite Xiao Chuang's refusal, Tan Yuan pressed him, reminding him of his promises.
The meeting continued, where Tan Qizhang proposed "recruiting previous rivals"—hiring former sales agents from the now-defunct Batong channels, which Jefferson had recently acquired, to work for Huayan. Lin Yimin, disliking autocratic decisions, suggested a vote, but it resulted in a tie. As a compromise, Lin Yimin proposed that both sides prepare detailed evaluation reports for a future meeting. Later, Xiao Chuang criticized his colleagues for being naive, saying Lin Yimin’s vote was just a test of loyalty.
Pei Qinghua defended his actions, stating he acted from the company's perspective and would support the best plan. Later, Xiao Chuang and Pei Qinghua were having dinner when Tan Yuan unexpectedly joined them. Pei Qinghua was surprised by her arrival. Xiao Chuang playfully chided her about her "indecorous" behavior, but Tan Yuan retorted that she was straightforward and not afraid of her father seeing her.
Just then, Tan Qizhang appeared, much to Tan Yuan’s dismay, who quickly claimed her presence was coincidental. Pei Qinghua, after careful consideration, voiced his support for Tan Qizhang's distribution model, believing it was the right way to popularize computers. Encouraged, Tan Qizhang took Pei Qinghua to see the Director. The Director, initially wary of Huayan expanding too rapidly, listened as Tan Qizhang argued that developing agents was a "crucial and inevitable step" to prevent future crises.
Pei Qinghua added that while the benefits of the distribution model weren't immediately obvious, they would grow over time. The Director, after hearing their arguments, instructed them to submit an evaluation report, reaffirming his commitment to support whoever could demonstrate a path to profitability for Huayan. Separately, Tan Qizhang learned from Tan Yuan that Pei Qinghua's mother was unaware of his new business ventures.
Pei Qinghua admitted his mother was traditional and stubborn, and he was struggling to find the right way to inform her. Tan Qizhang advised against concealment or deception, urging Pei Qinghua to seek her understanding and even offered to write a letter to his mother to explain the situation if needed. Pei Qinghua, while grateful, decided to ponder the matter himself first.
Meanwhile, Xiao Chuang, still desperate, tried to bribe Tan Yuan by offering her half the profits from the ID cards, but she refused. When Pei Qinghua returned and asked what they were discussing, Xiao Chuang quickly changed the subject, launching into a debate about famous actors to divert attention, and then subtly tried to remind Tan Yuan about her "invitation letter" to Pei Qinghua, causing Tan Yuan to hastily warn him against "spouting nonsense."
