Episode Summary
Chu Shaohua cleverly deals with the corrupt Police Chief Wang Guodong by pretending to accept his marriage proposal, which ultimately leads to his assassination by an unknown party. Just as things calm down, Tian Tongdao seeks revenge on Kang Erniu for breaking up with his brother. He exposes her past as a prostitute at her movie premiere, causing a massive scandal. Devastated, Kang Erniu attempts suicide but is saved by her friends, who then plan a press conference to fight back against the slander.
Spoiler Alert
The Wang Guodong Problem
A Sleazy Ultimatum
The episode kicks off with trouble. Tian Tongdao reported the Wen family for smuggling, which is a lie. But it gives the corrupt Police Chief Wang Guodong an excuse to act. He seizes a huge shipment of the Wen's "Oriental Brain-Nourishing Pills" on its way to Hangzhou. The shipment is worth a fortune.
Chu Shaohua goes to get their property back. Wang Guodong then reveals what he really wants. He tells her to become his eighth wife. It's as gross as it sounds. Chu Shaohua has to think fast and play along. While stalling, she snoops around. She finds evidence that he's the real criminal, smuggling opium and selling military weapons.
Playing a Dangerous Game
Chu Shaohua tells the group what she found. Xia Yuan, Wen Zhiqiu, and the others agree on a risky plan. She needs to keep stringing Wang Guodong along. They need solid proof to take him down for good. Wen Zhiqiu is worried for her safety, so he has her move into his house.
Of course, Wang Guodong shows up there anyway. He literally kicks Wen Zhiqiu out of his own home. He pressures Chu Shaohua again about the marriage. She gives him an ultimatum of her own. She'll marry him if he gets rid of his seven other wives. He refuses. So, she tells him she’ll keep seeing Wen Zhiqiu even after they're married. This makes him furious.
Later, she serves him tea laced with a strong laxative. It works fast. He's soon doubled over in pain, begging for an antidote. Chu Shaohua sees her chance. She tells him she wants a grand, passionate romance. He’s so thrilled by the idea that he agrees to dismiss all his current wives. By the time Wen Zhiqiu sneaks back into his house, Wang Guodong is long gone, nearly passed out from his stomach issues.
An Explosive End
Wang Guodong actually does it. He sends his wives packing. They don't go quietly. They storm a local newspaper office, crying about how they can't survive without him. They also call Chu Shaohua a homewrecker for all the city to hear.
Next, Wang Guodong books a fancy room at a luxury hot spring hotel. He has it decorated by foreigners to impress her. He calls Chu Shaohua for their big night together. She shows up as planned, but so do his angry ex-wives. They cause a massive scene. In the middle of the chaos, Chu Shaohua slips away and changes into a cleaner's uniform.
Just as she changes, a gunshot rings out from downstairs. Someone has shot and killed Wang Guodong. The hotel erupts into panic. Cheng Hui finds Chu Shaohua and helps her escape the scene.
A New Scandal Brews
Revenge is a Dish Served Publicly
With Wang Guodong out of the picture, things look up. Mr. Lu's nephew becomes the new police chief. He immediately clears the Wen family's name and promises to return their seized goods. Everyone is relieved.
But the peace doesn't last. Kang Erniu breaks up with Tian Tongxin. He takes it badly and tries to kill himself by drinking poison. He survives, but his brother, Tian Tongdao, is enraged. He blames Kang Erniu and vows to ruin her. He sends a man to Beijing to dig up dirt. The man is looking for a prostitute named Lu Ningxiang, who looks exactly like Kang Erniu.
The investigator finds a man named Xiao Wu. He learns that Chu Shaohua paid for Lu Ningxiang's freedom years ago. Tian Tongdao puts two and two together. He realizes Kang Erniu is Lu Ningxiang. He immediately leaks the story to the press.
At the premiere of Kang Erniu's new film, "Rebirth of Fury," a reporter ambushes her. He publicly outs her as a former prostitute. To make it worse, Tian Tongdao's man shows up with Xiao Wu, who confirms the story and humiliates her in front of everyone. Kang Erniu is devastated and runs away.
The Aftermath
Chu Shaohua, Wen Zhiqiu, and Sun Longyin search everywhere for Kang Erniu. They can't find her. They split up to cover more ground, agreeing to meet up later that night. The newspapers have a field day, printing every sordid detail they can find.
Kang Erniu feels completely hopeless. She decides to end her life. She gets dressed up beautifully and then drinks poison. Chu Shaohua and Wen Zhiqiu finally track her down to an inn. They rush her to the hospital just in time.
Fighting Back
Kang Erniu survives the suicide attempt, but she has lost the will to live. Chu Shaohua stays by her side and refuses to let her give up. She promises to always be there for her, and Kang Erniu is moved to tears. Sun Longyin suggests they all run away to the countryside to escape the scandal. But Wen Zhiqiu disagrees. He says she needs to face her accusers head-on.
The group decides to hold a press conference for Kang Erniu. As they are preparing, Mu Ziru makes a surprise appearance. He apologizes for not being there for her. Then he says he wants to stand by her at the press conference as her boyfriend.
