Episode Summary
The Japanese invasion puts everyone's business in jeopardy. Chu Shaohua rejects a coercive government deal for her Miracle Pill formula, while Xia Yuan makes a morally questionable pact with a Japanese officer to save his pharmacies. After being brutally dismissed by Xia Yuan, Kang Erniu finds an unlikely ally in Chu Shaohua. The episode culminates with Xia Yuan confronting Chu Shaohua, claiming he legally bought the rights to her family's formula years ago, setting up a legal and personal battle.
Spoiler Alert
Business Under Siege
Hard Times for the Pharmacies
The episode kicks off with bad news. The Japanese invasion of North China is hitting everyone hard. Gao Qianyi runs to Xia Yuan with a terrible update. All of their Shouyuan Pharmacy branches in the north have been looted and destroyed. Even their old flagship store in Qizhou is sealed shut. Xia Yuan, Xu Hongnian, and Mei Sandu are at a complete loss. They have no idea what to do.
Chu Shaohua Gets a Shady Offer
A government official named Ma Juncai shows up to talk to Chu Shaohua. He says the government wants to partner with her to produce her Miracle Pill. The deal is terrible. They'll cover the costs, but she only gets a 10% stake for her priceless family formula. Cheng Hui immediately calls him out. He argues that by international standards, her formula alone is worth 50%. Her modern production techniques should get her another 20%.
Ma Juncai won't budge. He tries to pressure her by talking about the war effort. But Chu Shaohua is no pushover. She demands 60% and makes it clear they will never own the formula. She also adds a critical condition. The pills can only be used to fight the Japanese, not for any civil war. Ma Juncai agrees to her terms verbally and says he'll get the contract ready.
Xia Yuan's Moral Crisis
A Deal with the Devil
Desperate to save his business, Xia Yuan goes to Komura Moriichi for help. Komura says he can pull some strings with the Japanese army to get the pharmacies back. But there's a catch. He wants a 30% stake in the business and the Miracle Pill formula. Xia Yuan knows he can't make that decision alone and leaves to think it over.
His partners are divided. Mei Sandu and Gao Qianyi are furious. They refuse to be traitors by working with the Japanese. Xu Hongnian, however, thinks it's their only option to survive.
A Crushing Reminder of Loyalty
Xia Yuan is torn. He wanders over to his other pharmacy, Jujing Tang, to clear his head. There, he meets a new employee named Yu Xin. Xia Yuan learns that the man's father and grandfather both worked for him and were incredibly loyal. Yu Xin even wants his own son to work there someday. This display of three generations of loyalty completely breaks Xia Yuan. He collapses on the floor, sobbing with shame over the deal he's considering.
The Deals Fall Apart
Chu Shaohua Outsmarts the Government
Ma Juncai returns with the contract. Chu Shaohua reads it carefully and spots a huge red flag. The contract isn't with the government. It's with a private company called Great China Pharmaceutical Factory. She demands that her "no civil war" clause be added in writing. Ma Juncai claims it has to be a secret verbal agreement. She refuses to sign.
He then kicks everyone else out of the room and tries to threaten her. It's a big mistake. Chu Shaohua tears the contract to pieces right in his face. Ma Juncai storms out, furious. Later, she's eating at a food stall and sees Wen Zhiqiu. They sit in silence, eat their food, and go their separate ways.
Kang Erniu Hits Rock Bottom
Things get messy for Kang Erniu. Xia Yuan's wife finds her in a cafe and offers her 20,000 dollars to leave her husband. Kang Erniu fires back by offering the wife 200,000 to leave Xia Yuan. That doesn't go over well. The wife's servants beat Kang Erniu badly.
She runs to Xia Yuan for help, but he couldn't care less. He just throws some money at her and leaves. With nowhere else to go, Kang Erniu turns to Chu Shaohua. She confesses she was only with Xia Yuan to learn about business and make money. Seeing her desperation, Chu Shaohua offers her a job.
Alliances Are Drawn
Xia Yuan Makes His Choice
After everything, Xia Yuan decides to partner with Komura. Gao Qianyi refuses to sign the agreement at first, but Xu Hongnian convinces him it's the only way. Xia Yuan is now officially in business with the Japanese.
Meanwhile, Ma Juncai isn't finished with Chu Shaohua. He sends her a threatening letter with a bullet inside. She is completely unfazed.
The Ultimate Betrayal
The episode ends with a massive confrontation. Xia Yuan and his partners show up to see Chu Shaohua. He claims he already owns the Miracle Pill formula. He produces a contract, supposedly signed by Chu Shaohua's mother and Zhou Yan, selling him the rights. Chu Shaohua is certain it's a fake. Xia Yuan threatens to take her to court.
Chu Shaohua immediately sends Kang Erniu to find Zhou Yan. She decides to go to Qizhou herself to ask her brother what really happened all those years ago. In a final, tense moment, she asks Gao Qianyi if her mother sold the formula. He can't give her a straight answer and tells her to ask Xia Yuan.
