Episode Summary
Qiao Zhengjun's smear campaign backfires. A newspaper article meant to ruin Yu Leshan ends up making him a celebrated reformer after he publishes a letter to clear his name. While Qiao Zhengjun secures a promotion through deceit, Yu Leshan lands a huge order, impresses city leadership, and turns his factory around. Meanwhile, Yu Leying publicly forces her brother's employers to formally clear his name, and Sheng Xuezhu decides she needs to have a serious talk with Yu Leshan.
Spoiler Alert
The Fallout from a Fake Story
A Public Takedown
So, Qiao Zhengjun is playing dirty. He gives reporter Wang Xiao a bunch of fake information. Wang Xiao, not doing his homework, runs with it. He publishes a newspaper article that completely trashes Yu Leshan and Xie Jingsi.
The story spreads fast. Everyone starts talking. People are yelling at Yu Leshan and Xie Jingsi in the street. It gets worse for the Qiaotou Hardware Factory. Customers start canceling their orders. They are tearing up contracts. Yu Leshan is panicking. He has no idea what to do.
Sheng Xuezhu Steps In
Sheng Xuezhu sees the whole mess. She tells Yu Leshan he needs to fight back. Her idea is simple. He should write a letter to the newspaper and tell his side of the story. She even offers to write it for him.
After she finishes the letter, she finally tells him how she feels. She lays her heart out. But Yu Leshan just shuts her down. He says he isn't good enough for her. Then he tries to push her towards Wang Xiao. Sheng Xuezhu has to spell it out for him. She and Wang Xiao are just friends. The whole thing is super awkward. Luckily, Chen Zhiqiang shows up and asks them to dinner, breaking the tension.
Sheng Xuezhu later gives the letter to Bai Yufei. She asks her to get it published in the paper. Bai Yufei agrees right away.
The Schemers Get What They Want (For Now)
Qiao Zhengjun's Promotion
Qiao Zhengjun's plan was bigger than just hurting Yu Leshan. He framed a Director Gao, who was about to get a promotion. Qiao Zhengjun made it look like Director Gao was Yu Leshan's corrupt backer. With Gao out of the way, Qiao Zhengjun gets the job himself. He's the new Director of the Bureau of Industry.
He's thrilled he gets to move back to Liangchuan. Liu Tianyao calls him, just as happy. She tells him all about their baby kicking. He's ruining lives and celebrating his own.
An Old Ally Wants His Cut
The victory tour doesn't last long, though. Xiao Shude shows up. He's the guy Qiao Zhengjun hired to dig up dirt on Yu Leshan. The original deal was simple. If Xiao Shude helped ruin Yu Leshan, Qiao Zhengjun would make him the manager of the hardware factory. But the plan failed. Yu Leshan cleared his name and the factory is doing better than ever. Now Xiao Shude wants a payout. He demands a good job. Qiao Zhengjun gives him a vague promise and tells him to go home and wait.
Yu Leshan Fights for His Factory
A New Plan and a Big Win
Yu Leshan doesn't just sit around waiting for his letter to fix things. He gets to work. He changes the factory's production. They start making common household hardware that people always need. He also sends his workers out across the region to act as salesmen.
He goes out himself to drum up business. He visits an agricultural machinery factory. The leadership there loves his products. They place a huge order on the spot.
The Big Boss Takes Notice
A man named Liu Dasheng reads Yu Leshan's letter in the paper. He's a powerful guy. He reads it carefully and decides to investigate. He talks to leaders from the relevant departments. He quickly confirms the newspaper story was completely biased.
So, Liu Dasheng organizes a trip. He brings a bunch of city leaders to the Qiaotou Hardware Factory for a tour. Yu Leshan shows them everything. He explains his business model and his ideas for reform. Liu Dasheng is incredibly impressed. He wants to use Yu Leshan's factory as a model for the entire city.
The Fight for a Good Name
Yu Leying Won't Back Down
Yu Leshan's letter also clears Xie Jingsi's name. His old factory bosses tell him he can come back to his job in the tech reform department. His sister, Yu Leying, is furious. She doesn't think that's enough. She tells Xie Jingsi he needs to demand a real apology. He's too scared to do it.
So, Yu Leying drags him to confront Manager Shen. The manager is slippery. He says the company won't pursue the matter any further. That's not good enough for Yu Leying. She demands a formal, written document clearing her brother's name. Manager Shen refuses. Yu Leying warns him she'll handle it her own way.
Later, she organizes a public "award ceremony" for her brother. She gets a loudspeaker and reads the letter of praise from Qiaotou Hardware Factory for everyone to hear. A workshop director rushes over and drags her away. But her stunt works. The director takes her to Manager Shen, who finally caves. He agrees to issue the official document. Yu Leying celebrates with her brother and their friends.
Wang Xiao Faces the Music
The newspaper editor is not happy with Wang Xiao. He tells him he can't just publish things without checking the facts. Wang Xiao knows he messed up and admits his mistake. He writes up a formal self-criticism report. The editor decides he will go to the factory himself to do an interview. Wang Xiao insists on going with him.
It's All Coming to a Head
Family Drama and Awkward Feelings
Things are tense at the Sheng family dinner. Bai Yufei mentions that Sheng Xuezhu wrote the letter for Yu Leshan. Sheng Bijie is proud of his daughter and impressed with Yu Leshan. But Nuan Nuan has been listening to Wang Xiao's bad-mouthing. She gets upset just hearing Yu Leshan's name and runs to her room.
Bai Yufei can see that Sheng Xuezhu likes Yu Leshan. Sheng Bijie can see that Wang Xiao is crazy about his daughter. He has a talk with Sheng Xuezhu. He tells her she needs to make a choice. She can't keep leading Wang Xiao on. She just avoids the question.
A Final Victory and a New Beginning
Sheng Xuezhu has a house call to make at Nanling Commune tomorrow. Before she leaves, she wants to talk to Yu Leshan. She calls him to arrange a meeting. This feels like it could be it for them.
