Our Times Episode 29 Recap
> Our Times Recap
Tan Qizhang arrived at the company directly from the factory and found Pei Qinghua to inquire about the current situation. Pei Qinghua admitted that the sales for the Song Series were not optimistic. He explained that despite active promotion by dealers nationwide, consumers generally did not accept the high-end machines, leaving them in a difficult position.
Pei Qinghua also mentioned that Director Lin Yimin had been in a bad mood, holding frequent meetings about sales strategies that Pei Qinghua felt were not addressing the root cause. He urged Tan Qizhang to speak with the President and Director Lin again, as the Song Series had only sold less than one-fifth of its target, and time was running out. Tan Qizhang sighed, revealing he had already discussed it with them, but the issue was beyond simple conversation.
Nevertheless, he agreed to speak with the President again next week, though he expressed uncertainty about the outcome. Pei Qinghua then bravely confessed a personal matter to Tan Qizhang, revealing that he was currently in a relationship with Tan Yuan. Tan Qizhang reacted calmly, stating he would not interfere with young people's affairs, but emphasized that their relationship should not affect their work or studies.
Pei Qinghua assured him that he would not neglect his responsibilities or Tan Yuan's academic pursuits. Later that evening, at home, Tan Qizhang gently probed Tan Yuan about her romantic life. Tan Yuan confirmed she was indeed dating Pei Qinghua and had been for a year. Tan Qizhang was a bit displeased at being kept in the dark for so long, especially upon learning that Tan Yuan was the one who pursued Pei Qinghua.
However, when Tan Yuan jokingly mentioned an Indian classmate in America who was interested in her, Tan Qizhang quickly clarified that he had no objections to her relationship with Pei Qinghua, even quipping that Pei Qinghua would be fortunate if Tan Yuan didn't bully him. Meanwhile, Xiao Chuang arrived at Linghang, where he found Lu Hainiu. Xiao Chuang excitedly explained his vision for an advertising campaign.
He believed that securing a prime-time commercial slot on Donghai TV, which had the highest national viewership, especially during the broadcast of "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre" starring Ma Jingtao, would skyrocket Linghang's reputation across the country. He confidently declared that an investment of five million yuan would yield fifty million in sales.
However, Lu Hainiu, citing the company's need for funds to expand production, informed Xiao Chuang that they could only afford a maximum of three million yuan, to which Xiao Chuang reluctantly agreed. In a parallel development at Huayan, Lin Yimin dispatched Xu Yang to Shanghai to bid for the same coveted Donghai TV prime-time advertising slot.
Xu Yang expressed concern about the high cost, estimating it would be several million, especially given that Huayan’s current funds were less than five million, calling it a "last resort." He had tried to reason with Lin Yimin, but the director had issued a firm order. Tan Qizhang, who was visiting the President's office and encountered Lin Yimin, voiced his strong disapproval of the plan, warning that it could push Huayan to the brink of ruin.
Lin Yimin, however, remained resolute, believing he was leading Huayan to its peak. Tan Qizhang urged him to call Xu Yang back for further discussion, but Lin Yimin stated it was already too late. Disappointed by Lin Yimin's recklessness, Tan Qizhang announced he was taking a leave of absence to rest. In Shanghai, Xiao Chuang and Xu Yang crossed paths at the bidding location.
The air was thick with tension as Xu Yang, recalling Xiao Chuang's past sales prowess at Huayan, warned him about Huayan's strong determination and financial backing. Xiao Chuang confidently retorted that while Linghang might not have Huayan's extensive funds, their resolve was far greater, declaring he would not leave empty-handed. The auction for the 30-second prime-time slot on Donghai TV began with a starting bid of 1. 6 million yuan. Bidding quickly escalated, with Huayan's representative consistently raising the stakes.
Eventually, Xiao Chuang shocked everyone by bidding eight million yuan, successfully winning the advertising slot and becoming Donghai TV's first "bid winner." Reporters immediately swarmed Xiao Chuang, questioning his seemingly audacious bid for a young brand. He confidently proclaimed Linghang's unlimited potential and its commitment to high-quality products. With the prime-time slot lost, Lin Yimin instructed Xu Yang to secure the rerun advertising slot for "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre" the following day as a contingency plan.
News of Xiao Chuang's victory spread rapidly, even making it into the newspapers. Lu Hainiu, frantic about the eight million yuan expenditure, confronted Xiao Chuang, accusing him of merely seeking fame. Xiao Chuang dismissed these accusations, reassuring Lu Hainiu that the investment would not be in vain and urged him to trust his judgment. Later, Pei Qinghua visited Tan Qizhang at his home, arriving just after Qi Rongbin had paid a visit on behalf of the staff.
While there, Pei Qinghua received a phone call from Man Huansheng, who informed him of "position changes" within the company due to development requirements. Pei Qinghua was being transferred to focus on manufacturing and would no longer be responsible for sales, with Xu Yang taking over the Marketing Department. His office would also be temporarily reassigned.
Pei Qinghua relayed the news to Tan Qizhang, who sighed, lamenting that Lin Yimin was "straying further away from the path he thought was right." He believed that their only hope now was for the advertisement to have an unexpectedly positive impact. Tan Yuan then announced that she was returning to America the next day. Pei Qinghua, feeling guilty amidst Huayan's crisis, apologized for not being able to spend more time with her.
Tan Yuan, ever understanding, comforted him, expressing her belief that Huayan would overcome its difficulties with both him and her father working together. As dusk settled, Pei Qinghua wished the moment could last longer, and Tan Yuan, after requesting a kiss, shared a tender embrace with him before heading home. Following his visit, Qi Rongbin reported to the President and Lin Yimin that Tan Qizhang was recovering well.
The President suggested that Tan Qizhang should be brought back to work soon, but Lin Yimin disagreed, blaming the poor sales on the marketing team and expressing unwavering confidence that his new advertisement would single-handedly save the company. A few days passed, and while Lu Hainiu grew anxious over the lack of new orders at Linghang, the Huayan team gathered to watch their own commercial during the rerun slot.
Lin Yimin felt a wave of relief, believing the crisis was finally over. His relief was short-lived. While Huayan's sales remained stagnant, Linghang's fortunes dramatically reversed. True to Xiao Chuang's word that newspapers were already reporting on Linghang's "bid winner" status, large orders for VCDs suddenly poured in, delighting Lu Hainiu. Xiao Chuang returned home to watch the broadcast of Linghang's commercial with Xie Hang, explaining that he wanted to share this significant moment with her.
He also joyfully informed Zhang Pingping that her 25% share in Linghang, now valued at over ten million yuan, officially made her a millionaire. Zhang Pingping eagerly pledged her loyalty and offered to buy a truck for deliveries, to which Xiao Chuang agreed, provided she obtained a driver's license first. Meanwhile, Lu Hainiu was seen flirting with the company's receptionist, Qianqian, giving her a dress originally bought for his wife.
At Huayan's factory, Pei Qinghua continued to work, diligently managing inventory. However, the Song Series' sales remained stagnant, and inventory continued to pile up, causing unrest among the workers whose salaries were overdue. Xiao Chuang called Pei Qinghua, asking him to have Tan Yuan, who was in America, investigate a crucial piece of information.
Xie Hang had learned from a client about an American company named BNE that had developed a Central Processing Unit (CPU) comparable to a 486 but significantly cheaper. Xiao Chuang warned that if true, this could have a massive impact on the entire computer market, affecting not only Huayan but also major brands like Compo and Jefferson. After the call, Xiao Chuang, while drying Xie Hang's hair, shared his desire to build Linghang's own factory to meet the surging demand.
He acknowledged that this would deplete their current funds and delay their dream of a grand house and luxurious lifestyle. Xie Hang, however, lovingly reassured him that what she truly desired was simply for them to be together, not material wealth. At Huayan, the financial situation grew dire.
Xu Yang reported to Lin Yimin that the severe stagnation of the Song Series meant that the commission from ten Compo computers was barely enough to cover the loss from a single Song Series unit, severely impacting cash flow. With workers' salaries unpaid, there was a risk of unrest. Xu Yang proposed selling some of their computer components, including CPUs, at a discounted price to generate immediate funds.
Lin Yimin, however, vehemently rejected the idea, criticizing Xu Yang for even suggesting "cheaply selling CPUs." He angrily blamed Xu Yang for the low sales despite the advertising campaign, accusing him of failing to capitalize on the hype. Lin Yimin issued a stern warning, holding Xu Yang personally responsible if sales did not improve. Despite Xu Yang's desperate attempts to contact former clients and promote the Song Series, his efforts yielded minimal results.
