Episode 35 recap: Xu Ban Xia is preparing to file for bankruptcy.
As rain fell from the sky, the wind blew Xu Ban Xia's hair and clothes as she stepped out of the car, umbrella in hand. She walked directly towards Chairman Gao, who was standing by the dock. Chairman Gao had been taking care of her grandson at home and occasionally attending interrogations, which had caused her to grow white hair. Xu Ban Xia couldn't help but feel saddened by the sight of Chairman Gao, who had always been full of energy, losing her former vigor.
Xu Ban Xia felt like a small grass growing on saline-alkali land, self-sufficient and now quietly withering away, afraid of disappointing Chairman Gao. Chairman Gao understood Xu Ban Xia's feelings. It would be impossible for anyone facing charges of smuggling and misappropriating state-owned assets to bear it, but Chairman Gao still hoped that Xu Ban Xia could hold on, encouraging her with the idea of the phoenix's nirvana, as written by Guo Moruo.
With many things weighing on her mind, Xu Ban Xia couldn't sleep at night. She took out a photo and looked at every memorable moment with her friends. As her heart calmed down, she thought that since she came from nothing, if she could let go of all the grudges, she would reconsider her life in the second half. Tong Xiao Qi knew that the company's situation was not optimistic. It had been shut down for several months, and salaries couldn't be paid. Feeling frustrated, he went to Chen Yu Zhou's grave and lit a cigarette, telling him about the current situation. He wished Chen Yu Zhou were still alive so they could discuss it together. Unfortunately, Chen Yu Zhou had passed away. So he asked Chen Yu Zhou to pass on a dream to Xu Ban Xia, hoping that everything would pass.
At the company, Xu Ban Xia instructed someone to call for a meeting with mid-level and higher-ranking leaders. Jia Chang An brought news that the workers were about to cause trouble, so Xu Ban Xia immediately went to the factory. As soon as Xu Ban Xia's car entered the factory, the workers noticed and surrounded her.
Xu Ban Xia walked up to the pavilion and looked at the crowd of workers. She remembered how she had once been full of enthusiasm in the Northeast, bringing them to her new steel factory, hoping to give everyone a better life. But fate had not been on her side, with consecutive smuggling and misappropriation of state-owned assets cases. Now she was at her wits' end and could only apologize to the workers. She promised to compensate them as much as she could.
Some of the workers started to complain, but Jia Shu and Aunt Sun arrived, helping Xu Ban Xia resolve the situation. They reminded the workers that Xu Ban Xia had truly solved their problems before and that they still had two months of residence in the factory. Perhaps there would be a solution by then, temporarily pacifying the workers. Aunt Sun knew that Xu Ban Xia didn't have time to eat, so she brought freshly made dumplings, warming Xu Ban Xia's heart. On her way back, Xu Ban Xia looked at the dumplings in the lunchbox and couldn't help but think of the grand goals she had set with Chen Yu Zhou and Tong Xiao Qi—to build a new steel factory within three years and make the dock area brightly lit with lights.
Back at the company, Xu Ban Xia gathered the loyal employees who had stayed with the company through such difficult times. She announced that today would be their last day of work, as everyone would be laid off. However, she expressed that if she were to make a comeback in the future, she would welcome them back. Xu Ban Xia instructed Gao Xin Yi to handle her house and car, dividing the money into three parts. One part would go to Chen Yu Zhou's parents, another part would be used to compensate the owners of the polluted beaches, and the remaining part would be kept as her living expenses.
Regarding the company's funds, Xu Ban Xia instructed Gao Xin Yi to pay each worker an additional two months' salary as compensation before applying for bankruptcy. Tong Xiao Qi walked with Xu Ban Xia on the familiar streets, reminiscing about the old boss they used to know. But times had changed, with people being born and passing away, and the streets were no longer the same as they were in their childhood.
The next morning, as Xu Ban Xia got out of bed, she saw Zhao Lei, who never cooked, busy in the kitchen, frying two eggs with smiling faces. Zhao Lei advised Xu Ban Xia not to think about the troubles of the steel factory anymore. Xu You Ren specifically called him to urge them to have a baby.
At that moment, Xu You Ren secretly took out his bankbook at home. Just as he put the bankbook in his pocket, Qian Qian's mother sensed that something was off and forcefully held Xu You Ren, searching his pockets and finding the bankbook. She became furious, crying and making a scene, warning Xu You Ren that if he took the bankbook away today, she would divorce him.
Worried about Xu Ban Xia facing difficulties, Xu You Ren, for the first time, left resolutely. When he arrived downstairs where Xu Ban Xia was, he saw her being surrounded by a group of people demanding steel. He quickly went to protect her. While driving, Xu Ban Xia told Xu You Ren, who sat in the passenger seat, that she used to think he was a jerk, but today he was a hero. She urged Xu You Ren to take the bankbook back. However, when Xu You Ren got out of the car, not only did he leave behind the explosive situation, but he also left the bankbook hidden in the seat crack. Xu Ban Xia couldn't help but be moved, her eyes welling up with tears.
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