Rising With The Wind Episode 16 Recap
> Rising With The Wind Recap
Ren Bing from Free Unicorn pitches a collaboration to Xiang Zhaoyang, suggesting she "learn from" and "pay tribute to" foreign designs. Xiang Zhaoyang dismisses this as a euphemism for plagiarism, pointing out their proposed app is merely a tool for laundering content. Ren Bing defends the practice as common, but Xiang Zhaoyang, feeling nostalgic for the old, non-plagiarizing Free Unicorn, firmly rejects the project, refusing to compromise her principles despite the high offer.
After she leaves, Ren Bing criticizes Xiang Zhaoyang's professionalism to Song Zhi and asks her to find a different, more "modest" artist. Song Zhi sarcastically declines, suggesting they should just copy designs directly and use the resulting lawsuits for free publicity. In a separate meeting, Xu Si rejects a team presented by Du Botao. After hearing their app proposal, Xu Si bluntly calls it plagiarism and a waste of time.
While Du Botao argues for the quick returns of the entertainment industry, Xu Si states his core investment principle is not to harm the industry's ecosystem, a matter he considers professional ethics. Realizing the project is doomed, Du Botao leaves. Later, while dining at the C Club, Xu Si notices his favorite stewed pork dish tastes different. The waiter informs him that the chef, Master Lin, was poached by Jiang Hu to cook for the Teng Yue factory staff.
She not only offered a higher salary but also helped the chef's relatives with their pork business. Xu Si muses that the club should reflect on why it can't retain top talent. Meanwhile, Song Zhi meets with Du Botao to discuss the Shangchun Art Project. She questions why his company, Baoxing, is involved, as it had already exited her company, TT Media. Du Botao vaguely cites personal connections and Baoxing’s commitment to post-investment service.
He then probes Song Zhi about whether their project collaborations are reported directly to Xu Si, which Song Zhi confirms, noting Xu Si’s thorough oversight. While Xu Si is on a call approving Xiang Zhaoyang for the Shangchun project, Wu bursts in with news: Jiang Hu caught the production director, Liu Jun, stealing materials and fired him on the spot. Worried, Xu Si rushes to the Teng Yue factory and questions Jiang Hu for confronting Liu Jun alone.
She clarifies she had backup and dismisses his concern, slightly irked that he, the boss, is meddling in minor management issues. To placate him, she takes him to the factory cafeteria. Following Liu Jun's dismissal, many workers loyal to him submit their immediate resignations, leaving the factory critically short-staffed for a major order.
Jiang Hu is moved to see Master Zhang and a few other senior workers voluntarily staying late to catch up, citing their loyalty to her for treating them well during difficult times. Overwhelmed, Jiang Hu steps away to cry, but Xu Si appears and offers her a tissue. She quickly composes herself and urges him to leave, insisting she is not alone. The situation escalates when the in-laws of Huang Xiaolin, a skilled needleworker, storm the factory.
They demand she either return to her abusive husband or repay the 200,000 yuan dowry her mother took. Huang Xiaolin tearfully recounts how she was sold into the marriage and abused before escaping. Yue Shan advises Jiang Hu not to get involved in the complex private matter, but Jiang Hu feels compelled to protect the young woman's chance at a new life. She brings in Lawyer Qin, who announces he is representing Huang Xiaolin in her divorce.
He unnerves the in-laws by mentioning a three-year-old injury report and the impending lawsuit, effectively neutralizing their threats. As the disloyal workers exit the factory, Pei Zhiyuan, Jiang Hu's uncle, arrives, leading a large group of new employees. Jiang Hu then addresses the remaining staff, thanking the veterans for their loyalty and welcoming the new hires. Yue Shan announces a new compensation system: a seniority wage, a base-plus-piecework salary to reward productivity, and a more frequent bonus structure.
Later, Wu explains the full picture to an impressed Xu Si. The entire crisis was a "chain stratagem" orchestrated by Jiang Hu and Pei Zhiyuan. They staged a conflict to provoke Liu Jun into resigning and taking his disloyal faction with him, thus cleaning house without paying severance. The timely arrival of new workers and the revised salary structure were designed to increase efficiency without raising overall labor costs.
Xu Si concludes that to survive in business, one has to be formidable. The plan's success is confirmed when Huang Xiaolin calls Liu Jun to inform him she is staying, citing Jiang Hu's kindness and the new factory policies. When she mentions that Pei Zhiyuan has already brought in new workers, Liu Jun finally realizes he was completely outmaneuvered. In the office, Jiang Hu, Pei Zhiyuan, and Yue Shan celebrate their victory.
Yue Shan admits she was unaware of the risky plan, observing that Jiang Hu is becoming as bold and resourceful as her father. With the staffing issue resolved, Pei Zhiyuan turns to the next challenge: they must urgently find a real designer, as gimmicks like colored shoelaces are not a sustainable strategy.
