Episode Summary
Wang Chunsheng overcomes a cheating scandal and a severe physical reaction to win the Duck King competition against Master Sun. Ma Weiguo reveals his ultimate business plan to merge Dong Qian's restaurant with Penglexuan, while Jin Tong tries desperately to find a cure for Ma's illness.
Spoiler Alert
The Duck King Finals
Wang Chunsheng actually did it. He made the finals of the Duck King competition. The whole crew is buzzing, and the drinks are flowing. But Dong Qian is not in a partying mood. She still wants to buy out Penglexuan. Wang’s success throws a wrench in her gears. She corners Ma Weiguo. She demands to know if he played her. Ma Weiguo brushes her off and leaves. He runs straight into Li Lianbao. Li saw the meeting. He knows something is up. He grills Ma about why Dong Qian seems to take orders from him.
Dirty Laundry
The atmosphere at the finals is thick. Everyone is on edge. Wang Chunsheng and Master Sun end up with the exact same score. The judges call for a tie-breaker round. That is when things get messy. A video surfaces. It shows Master Sun tampering with Li Lianbao’s sauce ingredients. It is clear evidence of cheating. Master Sun doesn't even flinch. He throws his apprentice under the bus. He claims the kid did it alone. The apprentice takes the fall.
Li Lianbao is furious. He wants Sun disqualified. The organizers hesitate. Wang Chunsheng steps up. He refuses to win on a technicality. He wants to beat Sun in the kitchen. He agrees to the final duel. Dong Qian sees Sun’s true colors. She cuts ties with him immediately. She wants to win, but she hates dirty tactics. Sun ignores her. He is obsessed with crushing Wang.
Mind Over Matter
The final cook-off is brutal. Wang Chunsheng hits a wall. Every time he tastes the duck, he vomits. It is a severe physical reaction. The crowd watches in horror. Wang fights his own body. He thinks about his friends. He thinks about his wife. He forces himself to focus. He pushes through the nausea. He finishes his answers. He is faster than Sun. He gets one more answer right. Wang Chunsheng wins the championship.
The Master Plan Revealed
The neighborhood erupts in celebration. Ma Weiguo is relieved. This victory was part of his bigger plan. Jin Tong pulls him aside. She missed the competition. She was busy digging up medical records. She found a case similar to Ma’s illness where the patient survived. Ma shuts her down. He has already accepted his death. He doesn't want false hope.
Ma slips away from the party. Li Lianbao tails him. Ma gets into Dong Qian’s car. She demands an explanation. Ma finally lays his cards on the table. He wants her restaurant, Chunjiang Shuinuan, to merge into Penglexuan. He wants Wang Chunsheng, Li Lianbao, and Li Jing to run the whole empire together. Dong Qian refuses. Li Lianbao interrupts them. Dong tries to turn Li against Ma. It doesn't work. The two men were working together the whole time.
Elsewhere, Tong Qiu makes a big decision. He supports Zhang Xiaoshi staying in Xi'an. He backs her run for the Director position.
