Episode 1 recap: Tong Xiao Qi was imprisoned
Xu Banxia was driving the car on the highway, with Tong Xiaoqi sitting beside her, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes as he stared blankly at the scenery outside the car window. Xu Banxia told him that there was food in the back of the car. As Tong Xiaoqi ate the bread, Xu Banxia broke the silence and hoped he would say something. However, at that moment, Tong Xiaoqi was in no mood to talk. He simply replied curtly, "You can't talk while eating."
Xu Ban Xia drove Tong Xiao Qi to the underground parking lot of a hotel. He took out a pre-prepared branch, wet it with mineral water, and started tapping Tong Xiao Qi's body, which had shed its outer clothing. As he tapped, Xu Ban Xia recited words, hoping to wash away Tong Xiao Qi's misfortune and bring him good luck from now on.
After the ceremony, Xu Ban Xia led Tong Xiao Qi to the elevator. When the elevator doors opened, the people inside saw Tong Xiao Qi dressed so lightly, which contrasted with everyone else. They couldn't help but look at them with surprise. Xu Ban Xia felt a bit embarrassed and put on sunglasses. She took Tong Xiao Qi to the designated room, where she had prepared clothes, bags, money, and a cell phone in advance.
Xu Ban Xia knew that Tong Xiao Qi had spent several years in prison and probably didn't know how to use a cell phone, so she decided to teach him tomorrow and let him rest for today. Tong Xiao Qi stood under the showerhead, hot water flowing down his head and body. He couldn't help but close his eyes, tilting his head back to feel the rush of water and his thoughts drifting back to 1991.
In pouring rain, Tong Xiao Qi struggled to push a tricycle while walking on the road. He exerted all his strength to pull up the manhole cover and put it in the tricycle's cargo area, completely unaware that he was already soaked. He pushed the tricycle to the scrap collection point and forcefully pounded on the iron gate. Xu Ban Xia was alone in the shop today. When she heard the thunderous sound, she picked up a steel rod and took an umbrella to see what was happening. When she saw Tong Xiao Qi, she told him that it was too late for scrap collection and asked him to come back during the daytime tomorrow.
Tong Xiao Qi had come in the rain because his mother was hospitalized and urgently needed money. He refused to leave and squatted by the gate, waiting. Xu Ban Xia couldn't bear it and secretly went to check the situation. She found that Tong Xiao Qi had come alone. Although she still had some guard in her heart, she opened the gate and let him in.
Tong Xiao Qi sensed Xu Ban Xia's wariness towards him and waited in the rain even after entering the courtyard. Xu Ban Xia felt compassion and asked him to come inside to take shelter from the rain. She also gave him two steamed buns and water.
The next day, Xiao Chen went to the scrap recycling station and saw the manhole cover on Tong Xiao Qi's car. He knew that it was related to being imprisoned, and couldn't help but feel angry and resentful. He hurried Tong Xiao Qi to leave.
Upon learning that Tong Xiao Qi's mother was hospitalized and in urgent need of money, Xu Ban Xia borrowed money from Xiao Chen in her own name and gave it to Tong Xiao Qi. Xiao Chen believed that Tong Xiao Qi was a scammer, but Xu Ban Xia had a kind heart. After hearing Tong Xiao Qi's pitiful story, she felt compassion and not only gave him money but also took Xiao Chen to help Tong Xiao Qi return the manhole cover.
Outside the breakfast shop, Tong Xiao Qi claimed to be a driver at the factory. Xu Ban Xia, upon hearing this, remembered that a classmate's father was an employee at a steel mill, where there was a lot of waste material that no one was cleaning up. She suggested that Tong Xiao Qi drive to haul the scrap while Xiao Chen contacted the purchasing station in the city. They would split the profits from the price difference among the three of them.
Tong Xiao Qi had just learned to drive, and his skills were not great, but he managed to drive the car out. The three of them went to the steel mill and successfully completed the deal. When Tong Xiao Qi drove the car back to the factory, everyone there was already in a frenzy. Some people were so furious that they nearly sent him to jail, but fortunately, someone stopped them. However, Tong Xiao Qi lost his job.
Dejected, Tong Xiao Qi went to the scrap recycling station to find Xu Ban Xia and Xiao Chen, coincidentally just when they were dividing the money. They knew the situation at Tong Xiao Qi's home and voluntarily gave him a larger share. Learning that Tong Xiao Qi was unemployed, the three of them decided to start a business together. Xu Ban Xia noticed that Tong Xiao Qi had a similar build to her husband, so she asked him to accompany her to buy clothes and then drove her home.
As soon as Xu Ban Xia arrived home, she caught her husband cheating on her, and a fight broke out. Hearing the commotion, Tong Xiao Qi rushed up to help Xu Ban Xia. Seeing Xu Ban Xia injured, he went into a frenzy and severely injured the man, resulting in a five-year prison sentence for himself. Xu Ban Xia, however, took Tong Xiao Qi to attend a steel exchange conference, where she learned from Wu Jian She's mouth about a business opportunity involving 50,000 tons of scrap steel. Immediately seizing the opportunity, Xu Ban Xia flattered Wu Jian She, hoping he would take her along.
Zhao Li Ying's explosive performance and sharp lines are so powerful! She's one of the rare fierce female leads in Chinese dramas. With her red lips, black hair, and trench coat, she acts decisively and swiftly.
How does she manage to maintain such a dominant presence while still having a sweet and charming face?
I can understand why fans of silly and innocent characters might find it hard to tolerate this kind of woman. My roommate said Xu Banxia's ambition and pursuit are written all over her face. She has her own ideas and is assertive.
It makes her uncomfortable to see such a driven and aggressive woman.
Xu Ban Xia is ambitious, decisive, and opinionated. She is resolute in her actions. However, she also values loyalty and treats her brothers well. She has her principles when it comes to doing things.
She is a flesh-and-blood character, and I think this kind of person is great because you can learn a lot from them. Most people can't achieve what she does, which is why many only prefer sweet and naive characters.
Did Guo Qi Dong betray Qiu Bizheng by pretending to be loyal while secretly working against him? I was quite convinced by the investigation results presented by Banxia and the others earlier, but Guo Qi Dong's convincing arguments have thrown me off!
Now I'm as confused as Qiu Bizheng, not knowing what to believe anymore.
Xu Banxia is such a two-faced person! To Qu Zong's face, she calls him "General Qu," but behind his back, she calls him "Baldy!" The moment she sees an opportunity to backstab him, she immediately says something like "I'll let you wake up at the doorstep" before he even finishes his drink.
Xu Ban Xia is in great need of love. Her mother passed away, her father started a new family, and she grew up stumbling and falling all by herself. That's why she got married right after graduation.
She longs for a home of her own. That scene in the car where she had a heart-to-heart with her father, it was like if he showed her just a little bit of love, she would be completely drawn to it.
She yearns for a warm and loving home.
During the scene where Xu Ban Xia goes home to borrow money, the background music is so ironic. It perfectly matches with her father scolding Xu Ban Xia. Although Xu Ban Xia is in a tough situation, I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
It's just so hilarious.
I really like the scene where Xu Ban Xia and Tong Xiao Qi stop by the roadside and talk about why Xu Ban Xia hadn't visited Tong Xiao Qi for 5 years. There were so many things that needed to be said, and it's good that they finally opened up.
The phone call from the little wildcat was also perfectly timed.
I love Xu Ban Xia so much, a strong-willed individual who strives for success. The female lead's personality is truly remarkable. She doesn't rely solely on herself or ignore men, but instead focuses on cooperation, mutual benefit, and utilizing the resources available to her.
Xu Ban Xia's character is so rare in Chinese dramas. She's all about cooperation, strategic borrowing, and having both courage and wit. Right from the beginning, she's a career-oriented woman, not someone waiting to be disappointed by a man before being forced into a career.
She has the ability and ambition to start a company, make money, and pursue her career.
Let's not overanalyze too much. I'm getting a bit of PTSD from the "redemptive" interpretations. I think Tong is a somewhat eccentric character, but it's just part of his personality.
It doesn't mean he'll devote himself to Banxia and then get redeemed by a wild cat. (Honestly, I find the notion of "redemption" quite exaggerated. There are many things that don't really warrant redemption.)
Xu Ban Xia is ambitious, decisive, and opinionated. She is resolute in her actions. However, she also values loyalty and treats her brothers well. She has her principles when it comes to doing things.
She is a flesh-and-blood character, and I think this kind of person is great because you can learn a lot from them. Most people can't achieve what she does, which is why many only prefer sweet and naive characters.
I saw someone discussing if there were mobile phones in 1996. I did a search, and some people said that mobile phones didn't become popular until the new millennium, so in 1996, people were still using pagers and brick phones.
I searched online, and it turns out there were indeed mobile phones. It seems that Xu Ban Xia in the drama was using a flip phone, and based on the search results, it could be a Motorola phone. But don't blame me if I'm wrong, I'm not an expert, just making an educated guess.
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The cinematography in this TV drama is absolutely stunning! Every shot is like a work of art, with excellent color coordination and skillful use of lighting and shadows. Every time I see those beautiful scenes, it feels like I'm actually there.
It's truly a visual treat!