Episode Summary
Lu Guangfa launches an aggressive, multi-pronged attack to force a hostile takeover of Tengfei, using a price war and sowing internal dissent to push Liu Jun to the point of surrender. Just as Liu Jun is about to sell the company, his shareholders and employees make a dramatic stand, choosing to risk their financial security to stand by him. Their loyalty inspires Liu Jun to fight on, and with renewed support and favorable government policies, Tengfei recovers, looking toward a brighter future.
Spoiler Alert
Created in China Episode 34: A Hostile Takeover and a Test of Loyalty
The episode opens with Lu Huadong in a funk, having locked himself away at home for days. His father, Lu Guangfa, a man driven purely by profit, shows up and, disappointed by his son's state, drags him to the Tengfei factory. Without warning, Lu Guangfa announces his plan to acquire Tengfei, a move that completely blindsides his own son, Lu Huadong.
Liu Jun, knowing that Lu Guangfa would abandon Tengfei's commitment to high-tech manufacturing, flatly rejects the generous takeover offer. In response, Lu Guangfa reveals his ruthless strategy: he has already initiated a price war, causing all of Tengfei's old clients to cancel their contracts and reducing Luo Qing's sales team's performance to zero. He coldly uses the suicide of Qian Hongming as a warning to Liu Jun not to push himself into a corner. Lu Huadong is furious with his father for turning what should have been a cooperation discussion into a hostile attack.
Just as Lu Guangfa leaves, Liu Jun receives confirmation that all his clients have pulled out. Song Yunhui hears of the situation and feels a pang of sympathy, unwilling to see such a promising company destroyed by a financial crisis.
That night, Liu Jun prepares to mortgage all his properties to survive the crisis. His wife, Cui Bingbing, offers her own stock shares to support him, but he refuses to drag her into his financial troubles. Meanwhile, Lu Guangfa escalates his assault. He uses the Municipal No. 1 Machine Works to snatch Tengfei's low- and mid-range market orders and sends acquisition letters directly to Tengfei's shareholders, aiming to isolate Liu Jun by turning them against him. He is confident that no one would choose loyalty over personal gain, especially when they have families to support.
The shareholders receive the letters, and the lucrative offer leaves them in silent contemplation. Lu Huadong feels helpless and distraught over Liu Jun's predicament. In a moment of emotional turmoil, his girlfriend, Chen Qifan, comforts him and proposes marriage, moving him to tears.
A despondent Liu Jun wanders to the lakeside where Qian Hongming took his own life. Fu Qiufang sees him and rushes over, fearing the worst, but Liu Jun reassures her he is just clearing his head. Later, filled with guilt, he calls Song Yunhui to apologize for letting down his years of support. Song Yunhui, however, maintains his faith that Liu Jun and his shareholders can weather the storm together.
The next morning, Liu Jun signs the acquisition papers. But as he prepares to meet Lu Guangfa, he finds his entire team waiting for him outside his office. One by one, they declare their loyalty and tear up the acquisition letters in front of him. Deeply moved by their solidarity, Liu Jun abandons the sale. His father, Liu Shitang, also steps in, offering all his property deeds to help his son's company survive. Watching from the sidelines, Lu Huadong feels a mix of disappointment and admiration, inspired by a group of people who still fight for their dreams.
In the aftermath, Tengfei gradually gets back on track. Lu Huadong and Chen Qifan send Liu Jun an invitation to their wedding. Justice is served as Qian Hongying is sentenced to ten years in prison for illegal fundraising; Liu Shitang visits her, bringing photos of her daughter, Xiao Taozi. Shen Jiali's mental state also shows signs of recovery.
Just as things are looking up, the government introduces new policies to support small and medium-sized enterprises. Seizing the opportunity, Liu Jun travels to Germany for business and has a chance encounter with Lin Yue at the airport. While Lin Yue praises Liu Jun's business acumen, he advises him to invest in real estate. Liu Jun, however, remains true to his original mission. As they part, they reflect on the ten years since Liu Jun returned from Germany, with Lin Yue acknowledging that the future of "Created in China" belongs to people like him.
