Episode Summary
Hu Manli, after being fired and banned from the insurance industry for two years, seeks a way to continue leveraging her client list. After failed attempts with others, she partners with Xue Xiaozhou, who quit in solidarity and shares her animosity towards Qiu Lisu. Hu Manli initially tries to manipulate Xue Xiaozhou into working under her terms by having her father, Hu Degong, pose as a difficult client. This plan backfires but ultimately convinces Xue Xiaozhou to collaborate. They negotiate a 70/30 commission split (favoring Hu Manli). Hu Manli then tries to style Xue Xiaozhou and introduces him to You Qi, who is interested in him, but he reveals he has a girlfriend. Later, Hu Manli uses Wang Xue, a student, to get Xue Xiaozhou into an exclusive book club to meet potential client Wei Yuanxiang, falsely claiming Xue Xiaozhou is related to Qiu Lisu.
Spoiler Alert
A Better Life: Episode 7 Recap & Spoilers - When Plans Go Sideways
Alright, so Hu Manli just got hit with a double whammy. Not only did she get the boot from her company, but the industry association slapped her with a two-year ban! For someone who's spent two decades building a solid client base in insurance, this is basically career death. But is Hu Manli going down without a fight? Heck no.
She knows her client list is gold, so she tries to team up with her old colleague Wang Chunlu and some other agents. She even gets her bestie Zhong Ning to pose as a potential client to test their loyalty. Surprise, surprise – they all try to cut her out and poach her contacts. Shady!
Finally, she lands on Xue Xiaozhou. Why him? Well, he actually quit his job in solidarity with her (talk about loyalty!), and they share a common enemy: Qiu Lisu. Perfect partner material, right?
Hu Manli's initial plan is pretty bold (and kinda sketchy): she wants to give Xue Xiaozhou all her contacts and twenty years' worth of industry know-how, essentially using his license to keep selling while giving him a small cut. Xue Xiaozhou, however, isn't keen on being a front. He wants to build his own client base, the hard way.
So, Hu Manli decides to teach him a lesson, or maybe just manipulate him into seeing things her way. She gets her own father, Hu Degong, to pretend to be a potential client from Xue Xiaozhou's list. The goal? Make things so difficult that Xue Xiaozhou gives up trying to go it alone.
Hu Degong really leans into the role, making Xue Xiaozhou run errands – doing chores, buying groceries – before finally agreeing to buy a whole life insurance policy. He even sets a specific time for signing the contract the next day. Xue Xiaozhou is ecstatic! He’s finally made a sale just before Tang Ling's deadline. His colleagues even congratulate him.
He goes to Tang Ling to claim the promised reward/bonus item, but she's suspicious. She wants to wait until the contract is actually signed. Plus, she knows the details: the policy isn't really suitable for someone over 60, and that neighborhood? It's full of elderly folks who are notoriously resistant to insurance pitches. Another agent, Yi Chang, struck out there multiple times. Tang Ling smells a rat – it all seems way too easy.
And she's right. The next morning, Xue Xiaozhou shows up early, prepped with documents and even fruit for the client. Ten o'clock rolls around... no Hu Degong. Calls go straight to voicemail. Tang Ling, probably feeling smug, rips up his bonus request form right in front of everyone. Public humiliation, check.
A desperate Xue Xiaozhou rushes to Hu Degong's place. No answer. Neighbors say he left early. Xue Xiaozhou camps out on the stairs, waiting. When Hu Degong tries to sneak back home later, Xue Xiaozhou confronts him. Cornered, Hu Degong pretends he doesn't even know Xue Xiaozhou and hides inside. Xue Xiaozhou waits outside all day, starving. Finally, Hu Degong calls Hu Manli, basically saying, "Your plan worked too well, get this guy off my doorstep!"
Hu Manli shows up, realizing her dad took the "discourage him" act way too far. She takes Xue Xiaozhou out to eat, gives him a pep talk about her own early struggles, and insists she believes he can be a great agent. This mix of manipulation and genuine encouragement finally works. Xue Xiaozhou agrees to partner up.
Now for the negotiation! Hu Manli whips out a contract (claiming a lawyer vetted it, sure). Her proposal: she uses his license, does the selling, and gives him 10%. Xue Xiaozhou immediately calls her out – that's illegal! He presents his own contract: she refers clients, he does the selling and legwork, and they split the commission 80/20 (him getting 20%). Hu Manli balks, worried he can't close deals, and demands 80% for herself. They haggle like pros and finally land on a 70/30 split (Hu Manli getting the bigger share). Eager to start making money again, she signs on the spot.
Partnership sealed, Hu Manli decides Xue Xiaozhou needs a wardrobe upgrade. She takes him shopping for discounted designer clothes, picking out a green suit he absolutely hates. He storms off, insisting on choosing his own clothes. Meanwhile, the saleswoman, You Qi, is totally smitten with Xue Xiaozhou and asks Hu Manli to play matchmaker. Hu Manli tries, but Xue Xiaozhou flatly states he already has a girlfriend. Hu Manli jumps to conclusions and assumes he's still hung up on Qiu Lisu.
Later, Xue Xiaozhou finds a suit his estranged father gave him when he was 18. We get a glimpse into his past pain – he resents his cheating father deeply and remembers being forced to wear that suit just to please him (even getting slapped by his mom over it). He angrily packs the suit away again. Oof, daddy issues much?
The next step in Hu Manli's plan involves networking. She wants Xue Xiaozhou to meet a potentially valuable contact, Wei Yuanxiang, at a book club event. Problem: you need an invite. Xue Xiaozhou is still wearing his regular clothes, much to Hu Manli's annoyance. She suggests he call Qiu Lisu, who happens to be organizing the event. Xue Xiaozhou flatly refuses – no way is he contacting her.
So, Hu Manli resorts to Plan B (or C, or D... who's counting?). She calls Wang Xue, a graduate student of Ding Zhiyuan (someone important enough that Wang Xue respectfully calls Hu Manli "師母" - Shimu, a term for a teacher's wife, implying a connection). Hu Manli lays it on thick, pretending she called just to apologize for something, then casually asks Wang Xue to sneak Xue Xiaozhou into the book club and introduce him to Wei Yuanxiang. The crucial (and false) detail she adds? Tell everyone Xue Xiaozhou is Qiu Lisu's relative. Yikes.
Wang Xue, seemingly unaware she's being used, agrees. She gets Xue Xiaozhou into the event and makes the introduction. Xue Xiaozhou tries to add Wei Yuanxiang on WeChat (a popular messaging app), but Wei Yuanxiang politely dodges. Then, Wang Xue innocently drops the "he's Qiu Lisu's relative" line.
And... scene! Episode 7 leaves us hanging with Xue Xiaozhou caught in Hu Manli's web of schemes, navigating tricky partnerships, unresolved feelings, and now, a potentially awkward case of mistaken identity at a high-profile event. Can't wait to see how this blows up!
