Wild Ambition Bloom Episode 6 Recap
> Wild Ambition Bloom Recap
After being rescued by Chu Shaohua, Kang Erniu expressed her profound gratitude. Shaohua encouraged her to embrace a new life, living happily, beautifully, and with dignity. Having heard from customers that Shanghai was more prosperous than Peking with more opportunities, Kang Erniu decided to seek her fortune there. Shaohua, however, told Kang Erniu there was one last matter she needed to settle before leaving.
Mr. Zhao, the gang leader, brought Wu, who had been severely beaten, claiming he was stubborn and wouldn't reveal anything about a top-notch Renshen. Seeing Kang Erniu free, Wu became emotional, repeatedly apologizing and expressing deep regret for his past actions. He vowed to never leave her and to make amends, claiming he now realized she was the most important person to him. Kang Erniu, however, was hardened by his words.
She asked him to stick out his tongue, mockingly saying she wanted to see what a tongue that "could say such beautiful words" looked like, and then, in a shocking act, cut it off. Before Kang Erniu departed for Shanghai, Chu Shaohua went to the station to see her off. Shaohua gave her some money for emergencies and asked her to write as soon as she arrived. Kang Erniu, shedding tears, promised to return "with glory."
Shaohua reassured her, also telling her that her daughter, Xuan, would be like Kang Erniu's own child, as Kang Erniu could never have children of her own. Meanwhile, back at Chen's Apothecary, Mrs. Chen overheard the clerk, Shitou, discussing how Chen Dashun had taken two hundred silver dollars from the accounts. Mrs. Chen immediately concluded that Shaohua was secretly diverting money to her poor family and angrily reported this to Mr. Chen.
Furious, Mr. Chen confronted Chen Dashun about the missing money. Chen Dashun initially tried to take the blame, claiming he spent the money on "drinking and gambling." However, Chu Shaohua arrived and intervened, confessing that Dashun had taken the money to help her redeem Kang Erniu because she lacked the funds. Mr. and Mrs. Chen were enraged that the shop's money was used for someone from a brothel.
To appease them, Chu Shaohua boldly promised to repay one thousand silver dollars by the end of the year, vowing to work without pay or dividends if she failed. Mr. Chen, though still upset, accepted her terms. Shaohua later confronted Dashun about not telling her, concerned he might have been severely punished. Dashun explained he didn't want to burden her or cause her distress if Kang Erniu couldn't be saved. Shaohua appreciated his selfless act.
Determined to fulfill her promise, Chu Shaohua intensified her efforts, developing a range of Yurong beauty products, including Yurong Serum, Cream, Powder, Mingmou Balm, and Mengtian Toner. She tirelessly promoted them door-to-door. Despite her hard work, she had only earned 150 silver dollars, far from the promised one thousand, and regretted her impulsive vow. An unexpected opportunity arose when Gao Qianyi from Shouyuan Apothecary, a prominent national pharmacy, visited Chen's Apothecary, impressed by the reputation of their Yurong Powder.
Mr. Chen directed Gao Qianyi to Chu Shaohua, admitting he knew little about women's products. Shaohua detailed the entire Yurong product line and its benefits. Gao Qianyi, discerning Shaohua's greater ambition behind the product's branding and marketing strategies, proposed a partnership to widely develop and distribute the Yurong Powder series. Mr. Chen was delighted by the prospect. Gao Qianyi invited the Chen family to a banquet at the Grand Hotel that evening to discuss the collaboration.
Chen Dashun was hesitant, feeling uneasy about partnering with Shouyuan Apothecary because its owner, Xia Yuan, was Xia Chu's brother. Chu Shaohua reassured him, affirming that she had chosen him and the Chen family, and her sole focus was on their business. Dashun apologized for his petty concerns.
For the formal occasion, Mr. Chen wore his best long gown, and Mrs. Chen lent Chu Shaohua her prized gold and silver jewelry to ensure the Chen family made a respectable appearance, reminding her to return them afterward.
At the opulent Grand Hotel, Gao Qianyi welcomed them, explaining that Xia Yuan, the head manager, was unable to attend because the Military Governor of Shanxi, Mr. Yan, had sent a procurement delegation from the largest Taigu pharmaceutical trader to Peking, and Xia Yuan was busy entertaining them. Chu Shaohua, curious why the Taigu traders would procure in Peking rather than locally, learned from Gao Qianyi that they were buying critical military medical supplies for an impending North-South conflict.
While Chen Dashun lamented the suffering of the common people in war, Mr. Chen eagerly congratulated Shouyuan Apothecary, assuming they had already secured the lucrative 30,000-silver-dollar military supply order. Gao Qianyi, however, clarified that the order was still hotly contested, with the top ten apothecaries in China all vying for it, and even Shouyuan Apothecary was not guaranteed to win.
As they left the Grand Hotel, Chu Shaohua observed a pharmacy owner escorting Special Envoy Xu from Military Governor Yan's delegation, instructing that he be taken to the Peking Hotel. Inspired, Shaohua discussed with Chen Dashun the possibility of pursuing the military supply order themselves, estimating a potential profit of at least five thousand silver dollars. Dashun dismissed the idea as a fantasy, believing such a large order was out of their league.
The next morning, Chu Shaohua went to the Peking Hotel to meet Special Envoy Xu, but found a long line of pharmacy owners, including those from Hanchun Apothecary, Qingyu Apothecary, and Shanghai Tian's Apothecary, all waiting to see him. She disguised herself as a hotel maid to get closer. Inside, she witnessed Special Envoy Xu's wife's uncle, Mr. Lan, and his concubine's cousin violently arguing over who had final say on the procurement.
Mr. Shang, an adjutant, tried to break up their fight but held little sway. Mr. Lan made lecherous advances toward Chu Shaohua, causing her to flee in fear. Outside, Chu Shaohua found a hotel worker who had been beaten. She tended to his wounds and invited him to eat, subtly extracting information about the Special Envoy's entourage.
The worker confirmed the lecherous man was the Military Governor's wife's uncle and the violent one was his concubine's cousin, both constantly fighting over procurement. He also mentioned Mr. Shang, the adjutant, was a good man but powerless to stop them. Back at the apothecary, Chu Shaohua caught Gao Qianyi as he was leaving.
She inquired about the military order, and Gao Qianyi revealed that it had not been signed, explaining that Shanghai's Tian Apothecary had used other connections, causing complications for Shouyuan Apothecary. Later, Gao Qianyi returned to discuss the cooperation agreement with Mr. Chen. He proposed that Shouyuan Apothecary would only proceed if Chen's Apothecary shared the secret formula for Yurong Powder and agreed to a 60-40 profit split, with Shouyuan taking the larger share.
Both Mr. Chen and Chen Dashun vehemently disagreed, feeling the terms were unfair as they had developed the product. However, Chu Shaohua surprised them by suggesting they accept the terms. She argued that while Chen's Apothecary currently sold 2,000 boxes monthly, earning 1,000 silver dollars profit, Shouyuan Apothecary's vast network could sell at least 6,000 boxes monthly. Even with only 40% of the profits, Chen's Apothecary would earn 1,200 silver dollars, an increase of 200 per month. She reasoned that the Yurong Powder formula itself wasn't inherently valuable; its current success stemmed from their initial market advantage.
