Episode Summary
Dong Qian blackmails Lianbao into forcing a partnership with Chunsheng. Ma Weiguo takes Wang Fei to a rural village for strict discipline. The four main men reunite to run the restaurant, but Ma Weiguo rejects a massive investment from Mr. Xie because he dislikes the deception involved. Ma Weiguo also criticizes Chunsheng's current roast duck recipe.
Spoiler Alert
Blackmail and Boot Camp
Dong Qian is playing a dangerous game. She sees Li Lianbao is out of work and struggling. She acts like a savior. She offers him a hand. Lianbao is desperate. He drops his guard completely. He begs for her help. This is exactly what she wanted. She secretly records their entire conversation on her phone. The trap snaps shut. She uses the video to blackmail him. Her demand is simple. She wants him to force Wang Chunsheng into a partnership.
Meanwhile, Ma Weiguo is ready for phase two of his project. That project is fixing Wang Fei. The kid actually worships Ma Weiguo now. He is eager for the next step. Ma Weiguo takes Wang Fei and Wang Chunsheng deep into the mountains. The plan is brutal. He wants to leave Wang Fei in a rural village. No city comforts. No meat. Chunsheng watches his son and feels guilty. He wants to back out. Ma Weiguo refuses. Chunsheng promised to listen, so he has to cave. Wang Fei tries to make a run for it. Ma Weiguo shuts that down instantly. He takes the kid's phone. There is no escape.
The Four Brothers Reunite
Back in the city, Li Jing is worried. She cooks for Chunsheng while he polishes his vintage motorcycle. She notices Lianbao hasn't been around. She fears he holds a grudge because Chunsheng rejected him before.
Lianbao makes his move. He brings in Tong Qiu to help persuade Chunsheng. He wants Chunsheng to agree to a deal so he can get Dong Qian off his back. Chunsheng agrees to work with Lianbao. But he has one condition. They must bring Ma Weiguo into the fold.
Chunsheng calls Ma Weiguo. He was waiting nearby the whole time. Ma Weiguo plays hardball. He demands one percent of the shares. He also demands veto power. Lianbao thinks this is crazy. It is too much power. Chunsheng sides with Ma Weiguo. Lianbao has no choice. The four brothers are officially back together.
The Roast Duck Reality Check
Tong Qiu tries to fake success for their restaurant, Penglexuan. She hires a crowd of extras to fill the tables. She wants to trick a potential investor named Mr. Xie. Mr. Xie arrives and sees a packed house. He is impressed. He is ready to talk money. But he is really just waiting for Ma Weiguo.
Ma Weiguo walks in and sees the charade. He hates it. He refuses to build a business on lies. He tells all the paid actors to leave. Mr. Xie is still interested. He offers 80 million to invest. He clearly just wants to buy a connection to Ma Weiguo. Ma Weiguo sees right through it. He rejects the money. He refuses to cooperate. Mr. Xie leaves angry.
Lianbao is furious. He thinks Ma Weiguo threw away a fortune. Chunsheng asks for an explanation. Ma Weiguo points out the obvious. If Xie offered 80 million that quickly, the brand is worth much more. Then Ma Weiguo hits them with the real problem. He critiques Chunsheng’s cooking. He says the roast duck tastes different than it did 20 years ago. The quality isn't there.
Lianbao goes to pick up his daughter from school. Dong Qian has a family emergency. Her nanny hands Dong Qian’s child over to Lianbao to babysit.
