Episode Summary
In Episode 15, Liu Jun sparks controversy by selling core technology to a rival to fund an upgrade, a move Qian Hongming sees as burying a feud. The "9/11 incident" disrupts the market, impacting Qian's business. Despite this, Liu Jun's new technology helps him win a crucial contract from Donghai Group, impressing Song Yunhui. A bank officer, Cui Bingbing, highlights a critical flaw in his company's asset valuation, earning his respect. Their professional relationship is complicated when Liu Jun discovers she was his father's choice for a blind date. They agree to keep things professional, but a late-night dinner after he helps her with repairs hints at a budding personal connection.
Spoiler Alert
Created in China Episode 15: A Risky Bet and an Unexpected Alliance
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This Episode , Created in China navigates a landscape of strategic gambles, global shocks, and the intricate dance between professional and personal lives. Liu Jun bets the farm on a controversial technology transfer, only to find his path crossing with a sharp-witted bank officer who might be more than she seems.
A Controversial Deal in a Shifting World
The episode opens with the fallout from Liu Jun's decision to sell his core technology to his rival, Lu Huadong. His partner, Lin Yue, is furious, calling the five-million-yuan deal a foolish and irrational move. But Liu Jun remains unfazed, immediately using the capital to purchase new equipment for developing high-precision components. Later, at a bar, the ever-perceptive Qian Hongming reveals the deal's true nature: it was an unspoken agreement to finally bury the hatchet on a years-long feud between Liu Jun and Lu Huadong.
As they toast to this new chapter, their conversation is cut short by breaking news on the television: the World Trade Center in New York has been attacked. The 9/11 attacks send immediate shockwaves through the global financial markets, casting a dark cloud over foreign trade and securities. Qian Hongming’s business, heavily reliant on these sectors, is the first to feel the impact.
The Donghai Gambit
Undeterred by the global turmoil, Liu Jun makes his next move. He calls Liang Sishen and invites Donghai Group to inspect his newly acquired equipment. At the bidding presentation, he’s surprised to find the formidable Song Yunhui presiding personally.As Liu Jun presents his technical data and engineering diagrams, he captures Song Yunhui's full attention. A key performance parameter in Liu Jun's design—one that has been a persistent bottleneck for Donghai—has been successfully overcome by Tengfei Factory.
During the review, Donghai’s production supervisor raises valid concerns about Tengfei's limited production capacity. However, Song Yunhui firmly overrules him, stating, "Only Liu Jun's team can meet our stringent quality requirements." With that endorsement, Tengfei wins the coveted Donghai contract against all odds.
A Painful Lesson in Valuation
Just as the good news arrives, Cui Bingbing, a loan officer from the Industrial and Commercial Bank, makes an unannounced visit to Tengfei. She explains that the Donghai project on his loan application caught her eye. Liu Jun proudly shows her his asset lists and gives her a tour of the workshop.
But Cui Bingbing’s sharp eye pierces through his pristine books. She points out a critical flaw: his industrial land is severely undervalued, which, despite the perfect-looking finances, raises a major red flag for risk control. Her advice to "immediately initiate a land re-evaluation" is a wake-up call for Liu Jun, who realizes he has a blind spot in local business logic. He is left with a newfound and profound respect for her professional acumen.
From Blind Date to Business Partner
At the official launch ceremony for the new Donghai production line, Song Yunhui tells Liu Jun he chose Tengfei in the hopes of cultivating a domestic manufacturer that could rival European standards. The next day, while inspecting the land plot as Cui Bingbing advised, Liu Jun is ambushed by his father, Liu Shitang, who is still trying to marry him off. In the process, his father accidentally reveals that Cui Bingbing was the woman he had arranged for Liu Jun's blind date.
Mortified, Liu Jun immediately clarifies his position with Cui Bingbing, stating he is focused solely on his career. To his surprise, she calmly admits she was also resistant to the setup but has grown to admire his engineering talent and industrial ambition. They mutually agree to maintain a purely professional relationship.
Sparks After Dark
The web of relationships grows more tangled as Qian Hongying, distressed over her brother Qian Hongming's marital crisis—he's been hiding a mistress—appeals to the Liu family for help.
Later, as Cui Bingbing gives Liu Jun a ride, her car's fuel gauge malfunctions. Liu Jun, ever the engineer, insists on taking a look. After fixing the car, he accompanies her home and ends up repairing a leaky pipe and a broken lightbulb.The episode closes with Liu Jun back at his factory, lost in thought as he gazes out the window, the weight of his business and his unexpectedly complicated personal life resting on his shoulders.
What's at Stake:
- Qian Hongming's Financial Peril: The 9/11 crisis is just the beginning of his troubles, which are compounded by his messy personal life.
- The Liu-Cui Dynamic: Their professional pact is already being tested. The dinner suggests a deeper connection is forming, whether they're ready for it or not.
- Tengfei's Restructuring: Cui Bingbing's financial advice has set Liu Jun on a new path. Re-evaluating his company's assets is a critical step that will force major strategic changes for Tengfei Factory's future.
