Episode Summary
Gu Pingyuan executes a risky plan to sell Anhui tea directly to foreigners, bypassing Li Wantang's monopoly. A tense standoff at the wharf involves arrests and a warship aiming cannons at customs boats. Gu wins the trade war when local officials panic. Jin Mistress pushes Gu to propose to Chang Yuer. Meanwhile, Bai Yimei leaves Gu's home to avoid being a burden.
Spoiler Alert
The Great Tea Heist
Gu Pingyuan finally convinced Manager Li to join forces. They are going after foreign money now. Manager Li hesitated at first. He eventually agreed. Gu Pingwen sprinted back to Anhui with the news. He filled in Old Master Hu. The old man loved the plan. He felt safe enough to reject Li Wantang. He actually tore Li Wantang’s invitation into pieces. He then faked an illness to stay home.
Li Wantang got desperate. He needed to move that tea to Shanghai. Old Master Hu refused to see him. Li Wantang showed up at Hu's door uninvited. He walked in on a business meeting. A wealthy man named Wu from Hangzhou was there. Wu wanted to buy every leaf the Anhui Tea Guild had. Li Wantang asked who this guy was. Wu showed him a letter from Gu Pingyuan. Li Wantang realized he lost. The tea was already at the Sixteen Shillings Wharf. This was a direct challenge to the court. Li Wantang rushed to the docks to stop it.
Gunboat Diplomacy
Gu Pingyuan and Manager Li met Captain Todd at the wharf. They signed the contract. Todd even invited Manager Li to India. Hart showed up to ruin the party. He accused Gu of breaking imperial laws. Gu stood his ground. He claimed Todd was buying tea as a private citizen. It had nothing to do with the government. Hart couldn't find a legal loophole to stop them. He suggested a compromise with Li Wantang. Gu shut that down immediately.
Wealthy Man Wu and Old Master Hu arrived. Gu handed over the payment. The warship prepared to leave. Gu swore he would own a steamship one day. Then the trouble started. Officials from the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Bureau arrested Gu. Customs boats blocked the warship. Manager Li and Hart argued with the officers. Hart bought them one hour.
Cannons and Contracts
Li Wantang tried to leverage the law. He went to the official's office. He flashed his monopoly permit. He accused Gu of smuggling. Gu produced his contract with Todd. The two men yelled over each other. The official got confused. He told them to settle it outside. Gu refused to budge. Li Wantang tried to cut a deal with Old Master Hu. He offered to buy the tea at the old price.
Then the situation escalated. The official received a terrifying message. Manager Li had aimed the warship's cannons at the customs boats. He was ready to fire. The official panicked. He cared more about his position than the tea. He forced Li Wantang to surrender. Li Wantang had no choice. He folded. Todd received the signal. He pulled back the cannons. Manager Li finally relaxed. The gamble paid off.
Proposals and Goodbyes
Jin Mistress brought Gu Pingyuan back. She congratulated him on the victory. She wasted no time pivoting to romance. She wanted Gu to marry Chang Yuer. Gu hesitated. He didn't want Chang Yuer to live a dangerous, unstable life. Jin Mistress played hardball. She said she would find someone else for Chang Yuer. Gu made up his mind. He decided to propose. Jin Mistress already had a carriage waiting for his trip to Shanxi.
Gu had one loose end to tie up. He heard Bai Yimei left his house. He rushed home. His mother told him the news. Bai Yimei woke up and left immediately. She refused to be a burden. Gu felt guilty. He promised Mr. Bai he would protect her. His mother stopped him from chasing her. She took him to Mr. Bai’s grave instead. Gu realized Bai Yimei was tougher than he thought.
