Our Times Episode 27 Recap
> Our Times Recap
Xiao Chuang and Zhang Ping Ping arrived in Guangzhou, immediately going to Lu Hainiu's shop. Lu Hainiu, happy to see Xiao Chuang back, was told that Xiao Chuang had recovered a large portion of the stolen money. Xiao Chuang planned to thoroughly understand a VCD player he had, produce it himself, and use it to recover his losses, explaining that he and Zhang Ping Ping would need to stay at the shop temporarily.
While Lu Hainiu suggested paying back Zhao Si Hu first, Xiao Chuang insisted on repaying the small business owners, as they were in greater need. He was determined to win this battle for redemption and would not rest until he succeeded. He intended to deal with Zhao Si Hu’s debt later, relying on the success of the VCD. Xiao Chuang then called Xie Hang to wish her a Happy New Year.
He shared the good news of catching Huang Youwei and recovering most of his money, which meant he could finally return to Guangzhou. He optimistically stated their lives would soon improve. He awkwardly inquired if the Guangzhou office would provide Xie Hang with dormitory accommodation. Understanding his unspoken desire, Xie Hang hinted that she could choose not to stay in a dorm.
Xiao Chuang then revealed he had given his bed at Lu Hainiu's shop to Zhang Ping Ping and needed to find a new place to stay, asking Xie Hang to live with him. She agreed, and he expressed his wish that she would be the first and last person he saw every day.
Meanwhile, at the Huayan R&D launch event, Lin Yimin introduced the new "Feng Ya Song" computer series, explaining that Vice General Manager Tan Qizhang had chosen the names, drawing from the essence of national culture. Lin Yimin outlined their strategy to "hit high," prioritizing the high-end "Song" series, which would account for 50% of production, followed by the "Ya" series at 30%, and the "Feng" (economic) series at 20%.
He even suggested further reducing the "Feng" series if sales were poor. When a reporter questioned how Huayan would stand out against foreign brands, Lin Yimin acknowledged internal debates but affirmed Huayan’s commitment to being a pioneer in national computer development, aiming to prove their capabilities through quality. Tan Qizhang also spoke, praising Huayan's ambition but subtly hinting that executing such a vision would be challenging.
After the event, Lin Yimin confidently told the Director that Tan Qizhang would confront him within three minutes, also complaining about being "overburdened." True to his prediction, Tan Qizhang soon arrived, challenging Lin Yimin's production ratios. Tan argued that Huayan’s new high-end products couldn't compete with established foreign brands yet, advocating for a focus on the economic "Feng" series (50% production) to quickly gain market share, emphasizing that their low price was their main advantage.
Lin Yimin retorted that high-end machines offered greater profits and accused Tan of cowardice and his strategy as mere ambition. The Director stepped in, acknowledging their different approaches but shared goals. He then assigned Tan Qizhang to supervise the factory's production line, stating that this was Huayan's "lifeblood" and he trusted Tan with the critical task, instructing him to set aside other concerns for the time being. Back in Guangzhou, Xiao Chuang continued researching the VCD.
During a phone call, he informed Pei Qinghua that he had mostly figured out the machine's principles but was stumped by a "little black card." Pei Qinghua, who had seen similar decoding chips during a business trip to Hong Kong, explained that this "black card" utilized dynamic image technology for decompression. He assured Xiao Chuang that with the right chip and decoder, the VCD's mechanism was simpler than a video recorder.
Xiao Chuang asked Pei Qinghua to draft a blueprint, to which Pei Qinghua readily agreed, saying Xiao Chuang's problems were his own. Pei Qinghua also mentioned that Tan Qizhang had been sent to the factory and he might join him. Xiao Chuang warned him to be cautious, anticipating a "bloody storm" with Huayan's independent research. Pei Qinghua then offered to have Xie Hang, who was taking the train to Guangzhou that Friday, deliver the blueprint.
Relieved, Xiao Chuang enthusiastically recalled their past success with the Chinese language card and expressed confidence that the VCD's final technical challenge was overcome. He instructed Lu Hainiu to procure the necessary accessories, who confirmed he could source even large-scale components. Xie Hang later received the VCD circuit diagram from Pei Qinghua, who praised her for sacrificing a great opportunity to move to Guangzhou for Xiao Chuang.
Xie Hang countered that there were also good opportunities in Guangzhou, specifically mentioning Huayan's independent research and its impending competition with major brands like Jefferson. Later, Lydia sent Xie Hang an imported movie disc as a transfer gift, eagerly awaiting Xiao Chuang to finish the VCD. Xiao Chuang promised to complete it that very night. After Xie Hang's arrival, she and Xiao Chuang found a small apartment. Though modest, Xie Hang was content to be with him.
Buoyed by her presence and his progress on the VCD, Xiao Chuang was already dreaming of their future, promising to buy her a large villa with floor-to-ceiling windows once he made his fortune. At the factory, Tan Qizhang was given a tour by Xu Yiwan, who informed him that Lin Yimin had bypassed company procedures to import parts for the Feng, Ya, and Song series in a 2:3:5 ratio.
Tan Qizhang met Yue San, a senior section chief in charge of production, who proved uncooperative. Tan Qizhang discovered a high PCB scrap rate of 6%, significantly above the company's 2% target. He demanded Yue San reduce it to 2% within 20 days for the acceptance test, but Yue San dismissed him, suggesting he find someone else.
Tan Qizhang proposed an evening meeting to discuss the process, but Yue San rallied the workers to leave early, claiming it was a tradition to celebrate a new leader. The workers enthusiastically departed, leaving Tan Qizhang so enraged he collapsed and was hospitalized. Man Huansheng and Xu Yiwan visited Tan Qizhang in the hospital, where he was diagnosed with high blood pressure and coronary heart disease. Despite his condition, Tan Qizhang remained concerned about the company.
Xu Yiwan updated him on the skyrocketing CPU prices and Lin Yimin’s trip to Hong Kong with Qi Rongbin to find new suppliers. Tan Qizhang sighed, hoping his judgments were not wrong. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, Lin Yimin secured a batch of high-end CPUs at a reduced price. He felt triumphant over Tan Qizhang but acknowledged Tan’s resilience and anticipated he would retaliate. Lin Yimin then learned that Conpo was demanding an explanation from Huayan about its independent R&D.
He deliberately sent Tan Qizhang, who was still recovering, to handle the confrontation, viewing it as a chance to undermine him. Despite his doctor’s warnings against anger, Tan Qizhang, having just been discharged, met Conpo’s representatives, who initially demanded to see Lin Yimin. Tan Qizhang, asserting his full authority, explained that Lin Yimin was in Hong Kong. The representatives accused Huayan of breaching their contract by developing its own computers while acting as Conpo’s agent.
Tan Qizhang skillfully countered that Huayan’s computers were not yet on the market, so no breach had occurred. He then proposed a supplementary agreement, allowing Huayan to sell its own brand alongside Conpo products. He emphasized that Huayan's independent brand was a national aspiration and an unhindered part of the country's strategic development. He reminded them of their successful two-year partnership and warned that terminating their deep-seated collaboration would be mutually detrimental, urging them to consider carefully.
The Conpo representatives agreed to report his position to their headquarters, expressing hope for continued relations. Tan Qizhang was confident they wouldn't terminate the contract. He instructed Pei Qinghua to handle the remaining issues and planned to return to the factory. Concerned for Tan Qizhang’s health, Pei Qinghua volunteered to oversee the factory and resolve the scrap rate problem, promising to reduce it within ten days, to which Tan Qizhang reluctantly agreed.
Back in Guangzhou, Lu Hainiu's shop was ransacked, and Zhang Ping Ping was kidnapped by Zhao Si Hu's men, who were searching for Xiao Chuang. Only 50,000 yuan of the recovered money remained. Determined to rescue Zhang Ping Ping, Xiao Chuang decided to take a gamble. He presented Zhao Si Hu with a suitcase filled with money (padded with white paper to appear full) and the VCD.
Zhao Si Hu, however, stated that money was not the issue, but rather "deception and betrayal," and ordered his men to tie them up. Xiao Chuang intervened, introducing the VCD as a rare, compact device with high resolution, multiple functions, and greater storage capacity—a definitive future trend. He promised to make Zhao Si Hu the first owner of a VCD karaoke parlor in China, assuring him that he would produce the machines himself.
Despite Zhao Si Hu's skepticism, he granted Xiao Chuang a chance to demonstrate the VCD, with the condition that if it failed, Xiao Chuang would jump into the Pearl River. The VCD initially malfunctioned, but Xiao Chuang quickly fixed it just as Zhao Si Hu lost patience. The television then successfully played a movie.
Impressed, Zhao Si Hu released Xiao Chuang and Zhang Ping Ping, leaving the money as a deposit for 50 VCD machines to be delivered next month, and even gave them a mobile phone. At the factory, Pei Qinghua proposed extending the plating time to resolve the high scrap rate. The workers, led by Yue San, complained, accusing him of exploitation and demanding to go home.
Yue San argued that their existing method had always worked for Kunlun and blamed faulty circuit boards. Pei Qinghua refuted this, asserting it was the plating time. He challenged Yue San to a bet: if Pei Qinghua lost, he would call Yue San "Master" and give him full control of the factory. If Yue San lost, he would have to follow Pei Qinghua’s procedures. Confident in his experience, Yue San accepted.
Pei Qinghua then explained that while previous low-volume production used low current density, increased production with shortened plating times led to a significant increase in current density, especially in small, isolated areas. This caused excessive coating thickness, inevitably resulting in a high scrap rate. Following Pei Qinghua's instructions to extend the plating time, the scrap rate dramatically dropped from 6. 5% to 1. 7%.
Yue San, genuinely impressed by Pei Qinghua's knowledge, admitted defeat and knelt to acknowledge him as his master. Pei Qinghua quickly helped him up, offered overtime pay, but reiterated that essential procedures and timeframes could not be compromised. Yue San then instructed all workers to follow Pei Qinghua’s lead on all future production matters. Adding to the good news, Conpo had officially agreed to sign the supplementary agreement, paving the way for Huayan to proceed with acceptance testing.
