Episode Summary

A fatal workplace accident involving employee Cao Fei triggers a major crisis at the Tengfei factory. The incident sparks a fierce conflict between Liu Jun, who advocates for compassionate compensation, and his father, Liu Shitang, who insists on strictly following company regulations. The situation escalates when the victim's family protests and blockades the factory, halting production. Amid the chaos, technician Fan Xiaolong steals confidential blueprints and flees. Liu Jun enlists the help of his former flame, Lin Chuan, to set up a sting operation, successfully capturing the thief but creating new emotional complexities in his personal life.

Spoiler Alert

Created in China Episode 12 Recap & Spoilers: A Factory in Crisis

A sudden tragedy at the Tengfei factory spirals into a full-blown management crisis, testing the strained relationship between a father and son, while a brazen act of theft threatens to bring the company to its knees.

A Fatal Accident Ignites a Powder Keg

The episode opens with Liu Jun rushing to the hospital, where his father, Liu Shitang, is already waiting outside the emergency room. An employee, Cao Fei, the only son in his family, has died in a workplace accident. Liu Jun, driven by compassion, immediately proposes an additional compensation package for the family on top of the standard insurance payout.

His father flatly rejects the idea. As this is the first fatality in the factory's history, Liu Shitang is adamant about sticking to the rules, fearing that any deviation will undermine his authority and set a dangerous precedent. This clash of management philosophies—Liu Jun's modern, human-centric approach versus Liu Shitang's rigid, old-school discipline—explodes into the open.

The situation quickly deteriorates. The Safety Supervision Department arrives to investigate, sealing the heat treatment workshop and halting all subsequent production processes. This shutdown couldn't have come at a worse time, as it jeopardizes a crucial bank loan the factory is trying to secure.

Protests, Ultimatums, and a Shocking Revelation

While Liu Jun arranges to host the investigators, they opt to dine in the factory's canteen, a move that shows their approval of the plant's overall safety management. They promise to unseal the workshop within three days. The factory agrees to pay for funeral expenses in addition to the legal compensation, but this isn't enough for Cao Fei's grieving family. They escalate their protest by setting up a memorial altar inside the workshop, effectively preventing any chance of resuming work. Liu Shitang, determined to handle the chaos himself, orders his men to keep his son away from the volatile scene.

The crisis reaches a boiling point when Cao Fei's relatives incite local villagers to blockade the factory's main gate, bringing the entire production line to a standstill. Just when all seems lost, a factory veteran named Old Zhu comes forward with a game-changing piece of evidence: Cao Fei's blood alcohol report, proving he had been drinking before his shift. Old Zhu had initially concealed it to ensure the family received the insurance money, but their unreasonable demands forced his hand.

When Liu Jun presents the report to the family, they furiously tear it up, accusing the factory of forgery. The police are called to control the scene and detain the main instigators. Watching Cao Fei's devastated parents leave, a resolute Liu Jun announces a new, ironclad rule: any employee found drinking on factory grounds will be fired immediately.

Blueprints, Betrayal, and a Budding Alliance

While venting his frustrations to his friend Qian Hongming, Liu Jun receives another devastating call from the factory: a technician, Fan Xiaolong, has vanished, and with him, a set of confidential blueprints. The consensus is that he exploited the chaos to steal company secrets. Liu Shitang, weary from the conflict, suggests letting it go to avoid more trouble. But Liu Jun refuses, insisting on holding Fan accountable.

He reaches out to an unlikely ally: Lin Chuan. He asks her to use her company's name, Municipal No. 1 Machine Works, to lure Fan out by pretending to be an interested buyer for the stolen blueprints. Lin Chuan readily agrees, seeing it as an opportunity to finally resolve her lingering issues with Liu Jun. This newfound cooperation doesn't go unnoticed. Liu Jun's girlfriend, Yu Shanshan, grows intensely jealous of his frequent contact with Lin Chuan, a suspicion that deepens after she secretly checks his phone. Meanwhile, Lin Chuan confides in her sister-in-law about the plan, asking her to arrange a blind date afterward so she can finally move on from Liu Jun.

The sting operation is a success. Lin Chuan meets Fan Xiaolong in an alley, while Liu Jun, disguised as a passerby on a bicycle, confirms his identity before tackling and subduing him.

Unresolved Feelings and Lingering Threats

As the police lead Fan away, the episode weaves through the tangled personal lives connected to the factory. Liu Shitang and Qian Hongying share a warm moment at a bowling alley, but their potential romance is stalled by old family grievances. Liu Shitang wryly notes that since his son took over, his business card now reads "Marketing Manager." Later, they spot Qian Hongming leaving a hotel with an unknown woman, an incident Qian Hongying wants to confront but is stopped by Liu Shitang, who dismisses it as a likely business dinner.

With the workshop set to reopen and the thief caught, the immediate crises appear to be over. However, the episode ends with a sense of unease. Liu Jun's strict new no-alcohol policy may create new management challenges, and the resentment from Cao Fei's family still simmers. The cooperation between Liu Jun and Lin Chuan has subtly shifted their relationship, Yu Shanshan's jealousy is a ticking time bomb, and the personal secrets of Qian Hongming and Liu Shitang hint at more drama to come.

Spoilers & Key Moments:

  • A Clash of Generations: Liu Jun's desire for compassionate compensation for a deceased worker clashes directly with his father Liu Shitang's by-the-book approach, exposing a deep rift in their management styles.
  • Factory Under Siege: Cao Fei's family blocks the factory gates with the help of villagers, paralyzing production and escalating the financial crisis.
  • The Alcohol Report Twist: The revelation that Cao Fei was drinking before his fatal accident completely changes the narrative, though his family refuses to accept the evidence.
  • The Blueprint Heist: In the midst of the chaos, technician Fan Xiaolong steals confidential technical drawings, creating a second major crisis for the company.
  • An Unlikely Team-Up: Liu Jun and his old flame, Lin Chuan, set aside their past to orchestrate a sting operation to catch the thief, altering the dynamic between them.