Our Times Episode 31 Recap
> Our Times Recap
Lin Yimin, wary of Tan Qizhang potentially gaining full control of Huayan after March, feared it would undermine his cousin's trading company in Hong Kong. He resolved to prevent this and asked his cousin to arrange a meeting with Conpo's representatives. Lin Yimin saw Tan Qizhang as a reckless individual who would soon face the consequences of his actions.
He told the Conpo representatives that the contract renewal would be complicated due to Huayan's indigenous brand, subtly questioning their desire to continue the partnership. He then presented them with a plan, assuring them that if they followed his instructions, Huayan's computer operations would cease, giving Conpo significant leverage. Confident in his scheme, he believed March 9th would mark Tan Qizhang's downfall. Meanwhile, Xiao Chuang met with Lu Hainiu to discuss the factory construction.
Xiao Chuang reiterated that Chen Village was only a temporary measure and that a proper factory needed to be built immediately. He showed Lu Hainiu several proposed locations, but Lu Hainiu found reasons to object to each one, citing issues with wastewater, unfavorable feng shui, and barren land. Angered by the obstruction, Xiao Chuang declared that if Lu Hainiu continued to impede the factory's establishment, their partnership would be severed.
Lu Hainiu eventually relented, agreeing to let Xiao Chuang decide the location and to provide startup capital from their company's account. Xiao Chuang was convinced that once the factory was operational, Lu Hainiu would understand that his persistent vision was indeed the correct path, leading to exponential growth and profit. Despite a significant improvement in Huayan's financial situation, with inventory clearing faster and losses substantially reduced under Tan Qizhang's leadership, bad news soon followed.
Man Huansheng reported that Conpo intended to terminate their contract and refused any form of negotiation, placing Huayan in a critical predicament. The President was visibly upset. Lin Yimin quickly blamed Tan Qizhang’s risky strategy of selling off inventory at a loss, claiming it had given Conpo complete control over Huayan. He then offered to intervene, leveraging his "connections" at Conpo, but demanded the position of General Manager in return, insisting his actions were solely for Huayan's benefit.
Frustrated by the politicking, the President declared that whoever could resolve the Conpo issue would earn the right to negotiate terms for themselves. During a subsequent meeting, Tan Qizhang expressed his suspicion of an internal leak being responsible for Conpo's sudden change in attitude, believing someone was actively trying to sabotage him. Xu Yang appeared nervous.
Tan Qizhang pointed out the critical timing of Conpo's decision, which coincided with Huayan's crucial bank loan application, and remarked on Conpo's "too precise" response, suggesting they possessed insider information. He concluded that such a coordinated move could not be a mere coincidence if no internal source had divulged confidential details. Lin Yimin vehemently denied any involvement, accusing Tan Qizhang of making baseless claims.
At this point, Xu Yang stepped forward and confessed that he had, on the night of the Lantern Festival, revealed the confidential information about the Conpo contract renewal to Lin Yimin, whom he perceived to be under immense stress. Tan Qizhang confronted Xu Yang about his disclosure, implying that he had been exploited. Lin Yimin, enraged, denounced Xu Yang's statement, accusing him of defaming him and of being "bought off" by Tan Qizhang.
Xu Yang, heartbroken, poured out his feelings, recounting years of tireless work and emotional suppression under Lin Yimin, all for a single word of approval, which he now only received as a bitter insult. Still unconvinced that Lin Yimin would conspire to destroy Huayan, the President listened as Tan Qizhang presented his second point: if they could secure a partnership with another major computer company, they could navigate the current crisis and terminate the Conpo contract.
Coincidentally, Pei Qinghua arrived with two distinguished guests: James, the Vice President of Hongbo's U. S. headquarters, and Alex, the General Manager of Hongbo's China region. Hongbo expressed significant interest in collaborating with Huayan, revealing they had been in discussions with Tan Qizhang and Pei Qinghua for some time, awaiting Conpo’s official termination.
Witnessing this unexpected development, the Conpo representatives quickly retracted their earlier stance, claiming they never intended to abandon the contract renewal and revealing that Lin Yimin had instructed them to act in bad faith. Lin Yimin reacted with uncontrolled agitation, his pants tearing, as he appeared utterly defeated. Recognizing Lin Yimin’s undeniable complicity, the President assigned Tan Qizhang to lead the ongoing negotiations.
Ultimately, Huayan secured a favorable agreement where both Hongbo and Conpo agreed to a non-exclusive agency partnership, marking a decisive victory for Huayan. Pei Qinghua lauded Tan Qizhang for his brilliant strategy in orchestrating such an impressive turnaround. Tan Qizhang admitted that the entire situation was a calculated trap for Lin Yimin, whose desperate eagerness to eliminate him ultimately led to his downfall.
He explained that Xu Yang, in leaking the information, had played an unwitting role in his plan, as Tan Qizhang had gambled on Xu Yang’s inherent integrity to eventually expose the truth. Xu Yang, now fully understanding the extent of his manipulation, acknowledged that Lin Yimin’s defeat was well-deserved and candidly remarked that Tan Qizhang was a far more formidable adversary.
Despite Tan Qizhang acknowledging his capabilities and offering him a significant role, Xu Yang chose to resign, believing he could not remain at Huayan after publicly turning against his former mentor. He decided to venture out independently. Xu Yang later visited Lin Yimin, clarifying that his actions were not driven by revenge or a desire to align with Tan Qizhang, but to prevent Huayan's destruction and to assert his own independent identity, proving he was not merely Lin Yimin's subordinate.
Lin Yimin, dejected, maintained that Huayan was his creation and he had only engaged in this desperate struggle against Tan Qizhang because he felt pushed into a corner, consumed by the desire to win. He admitted his defeat. Xu Yang bid his former teacher a final farewell, addressing him as "teacher" one last time. As Lin Yimin departed Huayan, only Pei Qinghua was there to see him off.
Lin Yimin offered a parting warning to Pei Qinghua, suggesting that Tan Qizhang, having used such complex schemes against him, might eventually treat Pei Qinghua in a similar manner, urging him to be cautious. However, Pei Qinghua affirmed his trust in Tan Qizhang. Later, Tan Qizhang further explained his intricate plan to Pei Qinghua, likening Lin Yimin's initial underhanded tactics to using a "hidden weapon" in a traditional duel.
He acknowledged that his victory, though decisive, might be seen as "not entirely glorious," but he justified it as a necessary response to Lin Yimin's attempts to destroy him. Pei Qinghua, though impressed by the brilliance of the strategy, still expressed some reservations about its ethical implications. Pei Qinghua called Tan Yuan, expressing his weariness and noting the rapid changes around him: Xiao Chuang's departure, Tan Yuan's move abroad, Lin Yimin leaving Huayan, and now Xu Yang's resignation.
He lamented how quickly everything had transformed and conveyed his nostalgia for the past, recalling the vibrant Huayan where Xiao Chuang's boisterous energy, Xu Yang's quiet dedication, and Man Huansheng's thoughtful gestures were commonplace. Tan Yuan comforted him, suggesting that perhaps these changes were for the better and that he, in her eyes, was evolving positively.
Pei Qinghua expressed a desire for one thing to remain constant, and Tan Yuan assured him of her unchanging presence, a sentiment he reciprocated before hanging up. Tan Qizhang was later interviewed by reporter Shu Zhihong, officially confirming his appointment as Huayan's General Manager. When asked to summarize his life's journey with a single word and describe his mental resilience through career challenges, Tan Qizhang chose "faith."
He declared that Huayan was like his own child, a venture he never considered abandoning, even during its most dire periods. A celebratory dinner followed, attended by the representatives of both Hongbo and Conpo, marking the beginning of a new, collaborative era for Huayan.
