Episode Summary

After Qiu Lisu humiliates Hu Manli by buying her bags, Hu Manli retaliates with a public spectacle, shaming Qiu Lisu for her third marriage. Facing financial hardship, Hu Manli reluctantly sells her car. Meanwhile, Xue Xiaozhou offends Dean Kang by beating him decisively in tennis, angering Wu Ya who wants him to learn social graces. Feeling guilty after learning Wu Ya paid his mother's nursing fees, Xue Xiaozhou seeks business leads from Hu Manli's notebook. His attempt to approach Ai Linjiang fails spectacularly, partly due to Hu Manli interfering. However, after learning more about Xue Xiaozhou's potential and character, Hu Manli proposes a partnership, offering her valuable client list and notebooks. Xue Xiaozhou accepts but faces immediate rejection from her former clients. The episode ends with him meeting Hu Manli's father, Hu Degong, who plans to test him.

Spoiler Alert

A Better Life: Episode 6 Recap & Spoilers - Payback and Partnerships

Alright, so the episode kicks off with some major drama between Qiu Lisu and Hu Manli. Remember how things ended last time? Well, Qiu Lisu tries to flex by buying all of Hu Manli's designer bags for a cool 100,000 yuan, basically just to rub her face in it. Ouch. But Hu Manli? Oh, she's not one to take that lying down.

Instead of sulking, Hu Manli goes full-on revenge mode. She rents a truck, fills it to the brim with wedding supplies (yes, really!), parks it right outside Qiu Lisu's place, grabs a megaphone, and starts announcing to the whole neighborhood that Qiu Lisu is on her third marriage. She even calls out Qiu Lisu for stealing her man (presumably Ding Zhiyuan, though the drama's unfolding fast!) and loudly invites Ding Zhiyuan to come collect the "wedding gifts." Qiu Lisu is absolutely mortified with all the neighbors watching. Talk about a public shaming! In the end, completely red-faced, Qiu Lisu has no choice but to accept the truckload of unwanted wedding stuff. Hu Manli definitely got her payback, feeling pretty satisfied after that stunt.

Feeling momentarily vindicated, Hu Manli crashes back to reality: she's still broke. This leads her to the painful decision of selling her beloved car. It gets worse when potential buyers disrespectfully toss out the little lucky cat charm inside – she immediately tells them the deal's off. She eventually takes it to a dealership, but the appraisal is way lower than she hoped. Still, needing the cash, she bites the bullet and sells her ride. You could feel the heartbreak there.

Meanwhile, we switch gears to Wu Ya and Xue Xiaozhou. Wu Ya brings Xue Xiaozhou along to a hospital tennis tournament, clearly trying to network. She introduces him to Dean Kang. The Dean invites Xue Xiaozhou to play. Now, Xue Xiaozhou used to be a star player in college, so he initially tries to play it cool and let the Dean win a few points. But Dean Kang sees right through it and tells him to play for real. Xue Xiaozhou unleashes his skills and, well, the Dean, not being in peak physical shape, quickly gets worn out and loses. Everyone has to help the exhausted Dean off the court.

Later, Wu Ya is furious. She tears into Xue Xiaozhou for not understanding the social game – he was supposed to let the Dean win! Xue Xiaozhou argues he didn't do anything wrong by playing honestly. Wu Ya storms off, telling him he needs to go back next week, play again, and lose badly this time. Xue Xiaozhou hates the idea of sucking up like that. The argument leaves things tense.

But then, Xue Xiaozhou gets a call from his mother's caregiver and finds out Wu Ya recently paid a hefty 20,000 yuan for his mom's nursing fees without telling him. Hit with a wave of guilt and realizing the pressure he's under (and maybe appreciating Wu Ya's support despite the argument), he decides he needs to make something happen now. He digs out that notebook he got from Hu Manli (remember that?) and starts looking for leads, quickly focusing on a father-son duo: Ai Zhonghua and Ai Linjiang.

Back to Hu Manli, she's trying to drum up business by messaging old clients, but nobody's biting. She learns that one potential contact, Ai Zhonghua, is actually in a nursing home, stressed out after his wife passed away. So, Hu Manli pivots and goes to see his son, Ai Linjiang, at his company, even bringing a thoughtful gift (some special tonic wine her father treasures).

Just as Hu Manli is making her pitch, who bursts in? Xue Xiaozhou! He tried going through the front desk, got blocked, and just charged into Ai Linjiang's office. He introduces himself as an insurance agent from Taiying International. Hu Manli, right there in the room, immediately jumps in, claiming she's never heard of Taiying International and calling Xue Xiaozhou a scammer. Poor Xue Xiaozhou gets dragged out by security on Ai Linjiang's orders. Later, he gets picked up by Yi Chang (sent by Tang Ling), who also gives him an earful for messing up.

Just when things look bleak for Hu Manli too, she gets a call from an informant, Uncle Ma. He tells her that one of her old colleagues from Lan Yang Company, Yuan Lang, is currently trying (and failing) to sell insurance to a guy named Wei Yuanxiang, who apparently hates dealing with insurance agents. Hearing this sparks an idea for Hu Manli...

Intrigued, Hu Manli does some digging. She calls another ex-colleague, Lao Xu, and learns some interesting things about Xue Xiaozhou: apparently, he was used by someone named Chen Fang, but later defended Hu Manli to Jin Zhenhua (names dropping left and right!). She also finds out Xue Xiaozhou has some solid ideas about the insurance business and even got his accounting certification. Seeing potential and maybe a path forward, Hu Manli decides to change tactics. She adds Xue Xiaozhou back on WeChat and messages him, asking to meet the next day. Xue Xiaozhou is hesitant, but Wu Ya encourages him to go, return the notebook, and try to bury the hatchet.

So, Xue Xiaozhou meets with Hu Manli and gives back the notebook. Hu Manli surprises him by saying she thinks he's actually a decent guy and proposes they team up. Xue Xiaozhou immediately refuses – I mean, he blames himself for her losing her job, and she just got him humiliated in Ai Linjiang's office! They have history. But Hu Manli brushes it off, offering him the ultimate prize: her entire client list and her meticulously compiled notebooks filled with 20 years of industry knowledge and contacts. Xue Xiaozhou is visibly tempted. That's a goldmine!

The episode ends with Xue Xiaozhou taking the deal. He starts making the rounds, visiting Hu Manli's old clients, but keeps getting the door slammed in his face. He doesn't give up, though, continuing to go door-to-door. Finally, he ends up at the home of Hu Manli's own father, Hu Degong. Turns out, Hu Manli called ahead, and her dad is ready to put Xue Xiaozhou through some kind of test...

Whew! So, Hu Manli gets some revenge but faces harsh realities, Xue Xiaozhou tries navigating tricky social situations and finds new motivation, and against all odds, these two rivals might just become partners. But it looks like Xue Xiaozhou has a tough road ahead winning over those clients, starting with Hu Manli's dad! Can't wait to see what happens next.