Episode Summary
In this episode, Xia Yan works with Ba Jin to show the other writers that their copyright lawsuit is a political trap. After realizing they are being used, the writers agree to withdraw the suit if the publisher apologizes. Xia Yan then cleverly manipulates the publisher into a public confession and a subsequent apology, resolving the crisis and defeating their opponents' scheme.
Spoiler Alert
The Political Stakes
So, Xia Yan and Wang Luyan had a major miscommunication. Xia Yan knows this lawsuit is a trap, but Wang Luyan is still focused on writer's rights. Xia Yan decides he needs backup. He goes to talk to Ba Jin.
At first, Ba Jin is on the writers' side. He's a writer himself. He believes they should fight for their copyright. It makes perfect sense. But Xia Yan breaks it down for him. He carefully explains the political danger. This isn't just a simple legal case. It's a weapon designed to hurt them. After hearing the full story, Ba Jin realizes this is much bigger than just copyright. He agrees to talk to Wang Luyan again.
The Trap Becomes Clear
A Scene at the Courthouse
Ba Jin goes to the courthouse to see for himself. He finds the place crawling with reporters. They're all gathered around the public notice board. A reporter wonders aloud why this small case is getting so much attention. It has almost no news value. Another person starts getting angry, asking why the publisher would print books without securing the rights.
Watching the crowd, Ba Jin gets a bad feeling. He sees that Xia Yan's predictions are already coming true. The media is eating this up. If this keeps going, it will completely undo the cultural victory they just achieved in Guilin.
The Intervention
Ba Jin doesn't waste a second. He rushes to find Wang Luyan. He finds him in a bookstore, totally focused on his writing. The man has no clue what's brewing outside. When Ba Jin tells him about the reporters, Wang Luyan just thinks he's overreacting.
But Ba Jin is dead serious. He warns Wang Luyan that someone is manipulating this whole situation. They are using the writers' lawsuit to secretly kill Guilin's publishing and printing departments.
Putting Out the Fire
Hearing this, Wang Luyan finally understands. He's a patriot, and the thought of being used as a pawn horrifies him. He immediately gets the other writers together. He explains the true danger of their lawsuit. Most of them agree to withdraw the case.
There's just one condition. They want the publisher, Wang Wenbin, to print a public apology. Wang Luyan agrees. To get this done, he knows he has to go back to Xia Yan.
The meeting is pretty awkward. Wang Luyan is clearly embarrassed. He knows he misjudged the situation and treated Xia Yan poorly. He basically admits his perspective was too narrow. Xia Yan doesn't hold a grudge. He just agrees to help make the publisher apologize.
Xia Yan's Master Plan
Xia Yan has a ton of real-world experience. He knows exactly how to handle this. He calls in Ren Suning and lays out a plan to pressure the publisher.
We find the shady publisher, Wang Wenbin, drinking at a small shop. He's feeling pretty sorry for himself. Suddenly, a group of reporters ambushes him. They start snapping photos with their bright flashes. They taunt him, saying he's going to lose the lawsuit for sure.
The publisher is drunk and shoots his mouth off. He boasts that he can't lose. He lets it slip that the Minister of Culture, Wen Yanbai, has a stake in his bookstore. If the store goes down, it will cause problems for people in high places.
The reporters start writing this down like crazy. The publisher realizes his huge mistake and starts to panic. Just then, Xia Yan shows up. He plays the role of the reasonable mediator, calming the reporters down until they leave.
Once they're alone, Xia Yan gives the publisher some "advice." He tells him a simple, few-word apology in the newspaper will make this whole crisis go away. The publisher is all about profit. An apology doesn't affect his money. He agrees without a second thought just to end the problem.
The next day, the publisher's apology is printed in all the papers. Wang Luyan and the other writers see it and go straight to the court to withdraw their lawsuit. The court has no choice but to agree. The copyright battle, which was really a planned attack, is finally over. Liu Hancao's entire scheme falls apart.
