Episode Summary
In episode 10 of "Created in China," Liu Jun reluctantly agrees to a settlement with his attacker, Lin Yue, to protect his father and his workers. In a stunning countermove, his father, Liu Shitang, forsakes his usual diplomacy to ensure the woman who stole their company's technical secrets, Aunt Fu, faces legal prosecution. As construction begins on the new, highly-automated "Tengfei" factory, the human cost of progress is highlighted by the rejection of an old, skilled mechanic. Amidst these challenges, Liu Jun's relationship with Yu Shanshan deepens, sparking a rivalry with Lu Huadong. The project is thrown into jeopardy when a senior industry figure warns that their high-end focus is doomed to fail, and simultaneously, all their bank loans are rejected, triggering a severe financial crisis.
Spoiler Alert
Created in China, Episode 10 Recap: The Price of a Truce
After the brutal attack that cost him part of his finger, Liu Jun faces an impossible choice. His adversary, Lin Yue, lays out the terms for a settlement: drop all charges, and the conflict ends. For Liu Jun, the decision is agonizing. The desire for revenge wars with the responsibility he feels for his factory's hundreds of workers and the safety of his father, Liu Shitang. In the end, pragmatism wins. He swallows his pride and accepts the deal. As Lin Yue leaves the hospital room, Liu Jun stares at his bandaged hand, the missing joint a stark symbol of how easily capital can crush a man. The cold reality of his compromise sinks in, a pain sharper than the physical wound.
For Lin Chuan, the news of the settlement is a final, devastating blow. She understands that this truce, built on her brother's violence and Liu Jun's submission, is an uncrossable chasm between them. Curled up in her car, she weeps, single-handedly burying a love that now has no future.
A Father's Fury and the Cost of Betrayal
A quiet confession shatters the tense peace. Aunt Fu, while delivering food, breaks down and admits to Liu Jun that she stole his technical notebooks. Her son, desperate for a job at the Municipal No. 1 Machine Works, sold the crucial data to Lin Yue. Liu Jun’s fury erupts as he denounces her shameless betrayal. His friend, Qian Hongming, quickly intervenes, pulling Aunt Fu from the room before the confrontation escalates.
Word travels fast, reaching Liu Shitang. The news transforms the usually diplomatic and smooth-talking father. He storms into the Municipal No. 1 Machine Works, his face a mask of cold fury. He confronts Lin Yue, not to argue, but to amend their agreement with an iron-clad condition: the Fu family must face legal consequences. When the police later arrive to arrest Aunt Fu and her son for corporate espionage, Liu Shitang watches without a flicker of emotion. His counterattack is as swift and merciless as it is unexpected.
The Casualties of Progress
As the Municipal No. 1 Machine Works prepares to relocate to a new, modern facility in the suburbs, a sense of melancholy hangs in the air. Chief Engineer Wang looks upon the old machinery with sorrow, though Lin Chuan sees the move as a necessary step in industrial evolution. The human cost of this progress becomes painfully clear in the form of Old Huang, a veteran mechanic made redundant by the new automated production lines. He finds Liu Shitang and begs for a job at the new "Tengfei" (Soaring) factory. The refusal is blunt and absolute. "The core of the new Tengfei factory is intelligent automation," Liu Shitang tells him, leaving no room for argument. Old Huang's stooped figure disappearing into the snow becomes a poignant image of a generation left behind by the relentless march of technology.
The winter of 1999 is harsh as construction on the Tengfei factory begins. Liu Jun’s obsessive, near-paranoid insistence on high standards immediately creates friction with the construction contractors. His father vetoes his attempt to create a menial position for Old Huang, seeing it as a chance to cure the old guard's resistance to change. In a bid to smooth things over, Liu Shitang gives his son money to hand out as bonuses to the workers. But the gesture is met with mockery. The next morning, a stone pier appears at the site, anonymously inscribed with four characters:Cement Head(水泥脑袋,means rigid thinking), a clear jab at Liu Jun's inflexibility.
New Alliances and Simmering Rivalries
Amidst the professional turmoil, a personal connection begins to blossom. Yu Shanshan visits the construction site, wracked with guilt. She blames herself for his attack, as she was the one who provided the corporate data that put him in Lin Yue's crosshairs. Liu Jun, however, laughs it off and lightens the mood. "There's a simple way to make it up to me," he says, his breath fogging in the cold air. "Just see me more often." The hint of romance is unmistakable. From that point on, Liu Jun operates on two fronts: by day, he aggressively recruits top technical talent, and by night, he begins dating Yu Shanshan. His recruitment drive pays off when an applicant named Luo Qing impresses him with a sharp, thirty-second self-introduction and a stellar professional background.
The budding romance soon develops into a quiet love triangle. When Yu Shanshan has trouble getting a taxi in the suburbs, she calls her friend, Lu Huadong. He arrives in a flashy display of driving meant to impress her but falls flat. Later, he asks her to a movie, but she politely declines, claiming she's too tired. When she arrives home, she finds Liu Jun waiting for her downstairs with the very same invitation. With Lu Huadong still present, she feels compelled to refuse a second time. The two men shake hands, their smiles doing little to hide the undercurrent of rivalry in the cold winter air.
A Double Crisis
Just as things seem to be moving forward, two major crises emerge, threatening to derail the entire Tengfei project. Dong Qiyang, the general manager of Municipal No. 1, pays a surprise visit. After touring the workshop, he delivers a chilling verdict: Liu Jun's obsessive focus on high-end technology is a dead end. "The only way to survive is with mid-range products," he declares, his words like a bucket of ice water.
Before Liu Jun can even process this strategic challenge, a bigger disaster strikes. The bank rejects all of their loan applications. The new factory, lacking a credit history or significant collateral, is deemed too high-risk. With their capital frozen, Liu Jun is plunged into a desperate scramble. He tells his father to keep production stable at the old plant while he braves the snow, seeking funds from any source he can find. The episode closes with Liu Jun fighting a war on two fronts: his vision for the future is being challenged, and his financial reality is collapsing.
