Our Times Episode 13 Recap
> Our Times Recap
Director Tan assigned his daughter, Tan Yuan, to intern under Pei Qinghua, explaining that she had insisted on interning at a familiar place. He instructed Pei Qinghua to treat her strictly and equally, also warning Tan Yuan that he would check her internship reports. Tan Yuan was visibly happy to be working with Pei Qinghua.
During the interns' orientation, Pei Qinghua welcomed them to Huayan, explaining that the company primarily serves as the Chinese agent for Conpo computers, selling various models like 386 and 486, and also larger systems for enterprise data management. He mentioned their expanding sales network with distributors across eight provinces.
When some interns expressed disappointment about selling computers instead of doing scientific research, Pei Qinghua challenged one intern, Xiang Yi Fei, by describing his own past research on "fault-tolerance design technology of the database system with the dual database structure," which he had studied in his second year of university. He then shared his perspective, admitting he once focused solely on academics but later recognized the critical role of sales in bringing new technologies to society.
He firmly stated his belief that while Huayan currently only sells computers, it would eventually develop its own national computers, even if the journey was long. His speech garnered an appreciative comment from a colleague, though Lin Yimin, who overheard it, dismissed it as nonsense. Meanwhile, Lin Yimin approached Director Tan, expressing concern about unusual fluctuations in distributor sales reports, particularly in Beijing.
Director Tan initially suggested it was normal for new distribution systems, but Lin Yimin remained uneasy and proposed using the interns to investigate all Beijing stores. Pei Qinghua announced this as the interns’ first task, requiring them to work in pairs for field investigations. Tan Yuan cleverly manipulated the drawing of lots to ensure she was paired with Pei Qinghua.
Xiao Chuang, having settled his Changchun clients with a few phone calls, dressed sharply to accompany Xie Hang to her interview. Pei Qinghua, himself uncharacteristically well-dressed, questioned Xiao Chuang's attire for a supposed business trip. Xiao Chuang confessed he was going with Xie Hang, asking Pei Qinghua to cover for him.
Before the interview, a nervous Xie Hang received Xiao Chuang's watch, with him assuring her that if she felt anxious, looking at it would remind her of his unwavering support. At a distributor's shop, Tan Yuan was dismissed as just an intern by the manager, who engaged solely with Pei Qinghua.
While Pei Qinghua went to inspect records and the warehouse, Tan Yuan waited and overheard a customer purchasing a "Conpo" computer for 22,000 yuan, mentioning it was the second purchase for his office. This sparked her suspicion. Concurrently, Xie Hang was at her foreign company interview, where she met another candidate, Su Xi. Naively, Xie Hang shared details of her extensive research on the company. During the interview, Su Xi shamelessly repeated Xie Hang's prepared answers verbatim.
When it was Xie Hang's turn, she was left speechless. After leaving the distributor's office, Tan Yuan immediately led Pei Qinghua to intercept the customer she had observed. Upon closer inspection, Pei Qinghua confirmed that the computer was an OEM assembled machine, not a genuine Conpo product. The customer admitted he chose the cheaper 22,000 yuan option over more expensive ones of the same brand.
Realizing the distributor had a hidden warehouse and ledger, Pei Qinghua and Tan Yuan confronted him. The manager tried to bribe Pei Qinghua, begging them not to report him. It was then that Tan Yuan revealed her identity, stating, "I'm Tan Yuan. Tan Qi Zhang is my father," much to the manager's shock. Xiao Chuang met a disheartened Xie Hang, who was frustrated by Su Xi's unethical behavior.
He called Su Xi "shameless" and tried to cheer Xie Hang up by buying a bubble wand from a child. Xie Hang expressed her disappointment, feeling she had underestimated the competition. Xiao Chuang reassured her, praising her intelligence, kindness, and beauty, declaring her the "prettiest in this world."
He even said meeting her made him feel like a "toad eating swan meat" and that it would be "worthwhile if I die," though Xie Hang quickly made him retract the morbid statement. Later, while eating pan-fried buns, Pei Qinghua commended Tan Yuan for her crucial discovery, acknowledging that the fraudulent sales explained the suspiciously low figures from some distributors.
Tan Yuan felt she had made amends for her previous actions, and Pei Qinghua, no longer angry, realized the significant impact of price on consumers. Later that evening, as Xiao Chuang and Xie Hang shared an intimate moment, Xie's mother appeared. She angrily confronted Xie Hang for secretly returning to Beijing and abandoning Lei Min for Xiao Chuang, pulling her away.
Back at the dorm, a cheerful Tan Yuan recounted her successful internship day to her roommate, who reminded her about graduation and her plans to study abroad, urging her to consider her feelings for Pei Qinghua seriously. Pei Qinghua was about to call a worried Xiao Chuang when he returned. Xiao Chuang informed him about the encounter with Xie Hang’s mother and decided to visit her home the next day with gifts to apologize.
The next day, Xiao Chuang visited Xie Hang's family with gifts. Her parents were unwelcoming, and her father prevented Xie Hang from seeing him. Xiao Chuang formally introduced himself as a Yanjing University graduate whose parents were scientific researchers, but Xie's father dismissed him as merely a salesman, accusing him of ruining Xie Hang's life by making her lose her bank job and break up with Lei Min.
Her mother added that Xie Hang, who never used to lie, had been corrupted. Despite Xiao Chuang's fervent promises, her parents remained unconvinced and asked him to leave. Meanwhile, Pei Qinghua reported the distributor's fraud to Director Tan and Lin Yimin. Director Tan was delighted by his daughter's acumen, boasting to Lin Yimin. Pei Qinghua further praised Tan Yuan, suggesting she was more capable than her father imagined.
Following this, during a company meeting, Director Tan instructed the sales team to re-evaluate all distributors and terminate agreements with any found engaging in similar fraudulent practices. He also proposed recruiting experienced sales talent. Lin Yimin hesitated due to financial constraints but compromised on recruiting two experienced staff members from society. Xu Yang was put in charge of this. During the meeting, Xiao Chuang's absence was covered by his colleagues, who claimed he was on a business trip.
Later, at home, Director Tan praised Tan Yuan and, acknowledging Pei Qinghua's words, finally agreed to support her desire to study abroad. However, Tan Yuan appeared subdued, confessing she hadn't yet passed the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). That evening, Xie Hang told her parents she was going out. Her mother suspected she was meeting Xiao Chuang and demanded she break up with him. Xie Hang defiantly declared, "I love Xiao Chuang," asserting that he had taught her valuable life lessons.
Her mother, horrified by her "shameless" behavior, warned her of future regret. Xie Hang retorted, "I'm 25 years old. I'm not only your daughter, I'm Xie Hang. I'm my own person," before leaving. Xiao Chuang sought out Xu Yang to plead for an interview opportunity for Xie Hang at Huayan. Xu Yang initially refused but eventually relented, acknowledging Xiao Chuang's impressive sales performance.
While practicing his apology to Xie's parents, Xiao Chuang received a call from Xie Hang, who was at his dorm. Realizing they had gone to each other's locations, they agreed to meet at their "usual place." There, Xie Hang told him she had clarified things with her parents. Xiao Chuang excitedly revealed he had secured an interview for her, but she declined.
She explained that at 25, inspired by his independence, she wanted to become an autonomous individual and not rely on opportunities given by others, even him. Xiao Chuang told her she was already "shining brightly," but Xie Hang insisted she had a long way to go. They then folded paper airplanes, making silent vows: Xie Hang would catch up to Xiao Chuang, and he would never let her down. Back at the dorm, Tan Yuan looked worried after seeing a notice for the GRE exam registration.
