Our Times Episode 7 Recap
> Our Times Recap
Xiao Chuang discovered that stock subscription certificates could not be legally bought or sold when he sought help from Xu Yang. Initially skeptical, as he had seen many people trading them at Ditan Park, Xiao Chuang was shown a newspaper article by Xu Yang confirming the strict crackdown by the municipal authorities. He immediately realized the trouble he had inadvertently caused Xie Hang.
Meanwhile, at the bank, Lei Min furiously confronted Xie Hang, accusing her of ruining his meticulously arranged internal purchase of the certificates. He raged about losing the bank's "progressives" status for three consecutive years, the bank governor being reprimanded by superiors, and himself being "scolded as if I were nothing." Xie Hang attempted to apologize to the bank governor, taking full responsibility and insisting that Lei Min was not at fault.
However, the governor was frustrated by her tears and ordered Lei Min to "take her out of here" before instructing him to hand over the files for his upcoming Hong Kong training opportunity. Lei Min protested, explaining he had worked three years for the chance, but the governor, who felt shamed in the newspaper, dismissed his pleas. Devastated, Lei Min turned back to Xie Hang, blaming her for sabotaging his carefully planned career.
He reminded her that he had pulled many strings to get her a job at the bank and transferred to Shanghai, only for her to ruin his life. Xie Hang could only offer apologies, admitting she hadn't known the certificates were illegal to sell. Lei Min angrily called her a "liability" and useless, then insidiously suggested a way for her to "redeem herself," pointing out that the bank governor was "quite fond of her."
Xiao Chuang, unable to reach Xie Hang, called her workplace and learned from a colleague that she was in the hospital due to a "critical condition," though the details were unknown. Alarmed, he pressed for the hospital's location. Driven by worry, he quickly arranged to swap assignments with Qi Rongbin, taking the Shanghai route while assigning Qi Rongbin the lucrative Baosong mainframe deal in Liaoning. He even gave Qi Rongbin his fur coat, demonstrating his desperate concern.
Xie Hang, recovering in the hospital, had nightmares of Lei Min calling her a "stumbling block" and suggesting she "offer herself" to the governor. Upon waking, she found Xiao Chuang by her bedside. She expressed her frustration, telling him she didn't want to see him and to leave her alone. The nurse then revealed that Xie Hang had taken "half a bottle of sleeping pills."
Xiao Chuang was shocked and threatened to confront Lei Min, but Xie Hang weakly begged him not to "cause her more trouble" and to leave. Despite having a business meeting in Shanghai where eager clients wanted more Conpo computers, Xiao Chuang remained distracted, making quick work of his professional duties so he could return to Xie Hang. He visited her daily, bringing different flavors of porridge.
He apologized for his role in her predicament, explaining that he rushed to Shanghai as soon as he heard of her hospitalization. He then proposed a plan to absolve her of blame: she should report him to the police, claiming he "stole" her stock subscription certificates and sold them, as stealing carried a lighter sentence. Xie Hang, however, was irritated by his presence and just wanted him to disappear. To make him leave, she hastily drank the porridge.
As he departed, he told her he would return the following night. Determined to escape his constant visits, Xie Hang immediately informed the nurse that she wished to be discharged the next morning. Meanwhile, back at Huayan, other colleagues were preparing for their own business trips. Pei Qinghua appeared "a little upset," a sentiment observed by Lin Yimin, who dismissed Pei Qinghua's previous sales achievements as Xiao Chuang's doing.
Lin Yimin deemed Pei Qinghua "obtuse" and unsuitable for sales, contrasting him with Xiao Chuang, whom he recognized as "a good material for doing business," though he wondered if Xiao Chuang would respect authority. Lin Yimin then announced he would be going abroad for an exchange for "at least a month" and instructed Xu Yang to "keep an eye on them" in his absence.
Before leaving, he also expressed reluctance to depart from his director's office and asked Man Huansheng to care for his balcony plants. Wang Manlin organized a gathering to watch a foreign romance movie, noting that the male protagonist resembled Pei Qinghua, which amused Tan Yuan. The screening was interrupted by a spot check from the Academic Affairs office, causing students to scatter. Tan Yuan, caught hiding under a desk, was apprehended.
Tan Qizhang later questioned Pei Qinghua about knowing of Xiao Chuang's secret trip to Shanghai. Pei Qinghua defended Xiao Chuang, suggesting he "must have a good reason" to go, possibly to expand sales. Tan Qizhang, concerned about Lin Yimin's reaction, warned Pei Qinghua to tell Man Huansheng and Qi Rongbin not to disclose Xiao Chuang's actions. He also acknowledged Pei Qinghua's unspoken frustration about Lin Yimin keeping him from going on business trips.
Pei Qinghua voiced his desire to contribute to the sales department. At the Academic Affairs office, the counselor attempted to pressure Tan Yuan into revealing who organized the movie viewing. Tan Yuan steadfastly refused, saying she "cannot tell." When threatened with parental involvement, Tan Yuan called Pei Qinghua, asking him to impersonate her uncle since her father was on a business trip. Pei Qinghua, glancing at a seemingly approving Tan Qizhang, hesitantly agreed.
At the school, Pei Qinghua initially encouraged Tan Yuan to apologize. However, when the counselor insisted she "rat out a friend," Pei Qinghua intervened. He eloquently argued against forcing betrayal, stating that "ratting out a friend is not something to be proud of," and praised Tan Yuan's integrity, describing her as responsible and moral.
He criticized the counselor for employing outdated disciplinary tactics akin to the long-abolished collective punishment system of Shang Yang, accusing her of regressing to outdated methods and undermining students' confidence. The counselor was left speechless. Pei Qinghua warned her not to trouble Tan Yuan further. Afterward, Tan Yuan offered to treat Pei Qinghua to a meal, thanking him for supporting her. Pei Qinghua admitted the confrontation had also provided a welcome outlet for his own pent-up frustrations.
He left the meal early to return to soldering circuit boards, leaving Tan Yuan thoroughly impressed by him. Despite returning to work after being discharged, Xie Hang faced gossip from colleagues, and Lei Min continued to ignore her. Xiao Chuang, though, waited outside the bank entrance. He tried to speak with her, acknowledging her "prejudice" against him and expressing his genuine desire to help.
Xie Hang, however, remained cold, telling him to leave her alone and to go back to wherever he came from, asserting that they had no past "bond" and would have none in the future. Xiao Chuang reminded her of her suicide attempt and the fact that no one had visited her in the hospital. She dismissed his concern.
He then confessed to having "some feelings for her" and suggested they could at least be "drinking buddies" if a deeper connection was impossible, but she again told him to leave. His business in Shanghai continued to thrive, with buyers eagerly offering increased prices for priority supply of Conpo computers. Yet, Xiao Chuang remained preoccupied with Xie Hang, even brewing medicine for her at a colleague's place.
He informed a colleague he would be taking the train back to Beijing the next morning, but his thoughts clearly lingered on Xie Hang. One rainy evening, as Xie Hang prepared to walk home in the downpour, she saw Xiao Chuang waiting for her with an umbrella. She unexpectedly announced she no longer wished to go home and instead wanted to eat Beijing cuisine.
Xiao Chuang procured an assortment of Beijing delicacies, including hand-sliced mutton, tripe, sesame flatbread, and pickled garlic, improvising with peanut butter in place of sesame sauce. He set up a makeshift hotpot in a VHS hall, where he had befriended the owner. He then formally apologized to Xie Hang, taking a drink. Xie Hang, however, thanked him, revealing that Lei Min had never once visited her in the hospital.
She told Xiao Chuang that he had helped her to "open her eyes to everything" and see Lei Min for who he truly was. Xiao Chuang urged her to return to Beijing, calling it "their place" and asserting they could "thrive" there, rather than endure mistreatment in Shanghai. Xie Hang felt it was impossible to return, as she had alienated her Beijing bank connections by insisting on a transfer to Shanghai for Lei Min.
She lamented that her "world had crumbled" after Lei Min's betrayal. Xiao Chuang reassured her, stating that if her heart had not "collapsed," her world would not either. As Xiao Chuang walked a tipsy Xie Hang home to 167 Wenhui Alley, she referenced a line from "Casablanca", her favorite movie, remarking that it was her "first time a stranger walks me home." Xiao Chuang appeared momentarily disheartened, acknowledging their limited meetings made them seem like strangers.
However, he then launched into a heartfelt confession, declaring that from their initial acquaintance five months and seven days ago, she had become "the person I know the best." He added that he had once believed they would never meet again after Beijing, but fate had brought them together in Shanghai, and he was determined not to "miss the opportunity again." The following morning, Xie Hang awoke with a hangover to find a prepared breakfast and a note from Xiao Chuang on her table.
