Episode Summary
Zhang Xiaoshi rescues Tong Qiu from a misunderstanding at a store and later admits she is ready to have children. Li Lianbao bets everything on Master Sun for a cooking competition, only to be betrayed when Sun signs with Dong Qian. The team is left scrambling because their original chef, Wang Chunsheng, has developed a psychological aversion to cooking duck. With only four days left to register, Ma Weiguo and the group try various tactics to restore Wang Chunsheng's confidence.
Spoiler Alert
The Bag Incident and Baby Fever
Things get messy at the luxury store. The staff accuses Tong Qiu of trying to scam them. They claim he brought in a fake bag. They refuse to let him leave. It is humiliating. Zhang Xiaoshi has to rush back to the store with the real bag to prove his innocence. That clears up the misunderstanding.
Later that night, the vibe shifts. Zhang Xiaoshi hangs out with Jin Tong and Li Jing. The conversation turns to kids. Li Jing asks a hard question. She wants to know if Zhang Xiaoshi actually wants a baby. She points out that Zhang Xiaoshi and Tong Qiu have been married for years. If they wanted one, it would have happened by now. Zhang Xiaoshi gets honest. She admits she wants a child now. She didn't before. Seeing Tong Qiu's father in the hospital changed her mind. She realized they are aging. She wants someone to be there for them later.
Back at home, Zhang Xiaoshi talks business with Tong Qiu. She thinks Ma Weiguo is doing a great job. She pushes Tong Qiu to take a risk. She wants him to quit his job and build something with Ma Weiguo. Tong Qiu hesitates. He values the stability of his current opportunity too much.
The Duck King Gamble
Li Lianbao is making moves. He secures Master Sun for the upcoming "Duck King" competition. He runs this by Ma Weiguo. Ma Weiguo isn't sold. He still wants Wang Chunsheng to represent them. He wants to wait. Li Lianbao doesn't have the luxury of time. He made a dangerous bet with investors. He promised to get Penglexuan into the top ten rankings within three months. If he fails, they pull the funding. He has no way out.
Master Sun looks like the safe bet. He was the runner-up last year. The previous champion retired due to age. Sun is the favorite to win. Ma Weiguo vents to Dong Qian about the situation. Dong Qian isn't surprised. She thinks Li Lianbao is addicted to shortcuts. She predicts he will pay the price eventually.
Betrayal at the Sign Ceremony
It is time to rebrand. They prepare to take down the Penglexuan sign. Wang Chunsheng does the honors himself. You can tell he has mixed feelings. It is a heavy moment. Li Lianbao tries to hype up the crowd. He introduces Master Sun to the neighbors. He proudly displays the competition registration form.
Then the truth comes out. The crowd notices something wrong. The restaurant name on Master Sun's form isn't Penglexuan. Master Sun played them. He already signed a contract with Dong Qian. He never intended to join Li Lianbao.
The Chef's Block
The situation at the restaurant gets worse. Wang Chunsheng is struggling mentally. This psychological block manifests physically. He has developed a severe aversion to ducks. The smell alone makes him nauseous. He wants to vomit. Master Sun is gone. Penglexuan's only hope for the competition is Wang Chunsheng. But a chef who can't smell his own ingredients is useless. Li Lianbao is in full panic mode.
Four Days Left
The clock is ticking. Only four days remain to register for the Duck King contest. The group holds a crisis meeting. They need to fix Wang Chunsheng. Li Lianbao tries to go back to Dong Qian. He is desperate for a chef. Dong Qian shuts him down. She tells him he missed his chance. She tells him to give up. She offers to buy Penglexuan instead.
Ma Weiguo and Jin Tong try a different approach. They find Wang Fei. They hand over the competition notice. They want him to pass the message along. They hope the potential glory of being the "Duck King" will snap Wang Chunsheng out of his funk. Jin Tong has another idea. She suggests getting Tong Qiu's father involved. Wang Chunsheng respects him. A talk from him might work. Li Lianbao tries to confront Master Sun one last time. He gets blocked before he can get close.
