Episode 5 recap: Xu Ban Xia rented the mudflats and felt guilty, using her own money to clean up and compensate for the pollution.
Chen Yu Zhou planned to take the blame for the incident and confess, but Tong Xiao Qi disagreed because he knew that Chen Yu Zhou was Xu Ban Xia's right-hand man, and if he stayed behind, he would be useless and have no role. Moreover, he had experience being in jail and knew how to act to become a prison leader and receive a faster sentence reduction.
Chen Yu Zhou regretted it so much that tears streamed down his face. At that moment, Tong Xiao Qi received a call from a stray cat, who wanted to meet him. Tong Xiao Qi reminded Chen Yu Zhou not to let anything slip in front of Xu Ban Xia. The next day, while Xu Ban Xia was still in a deep sleep, she suddenly received a call from the village chief. As soon as he spoke, he asked her if she was still interested in renting.
Xu Ban Xia expressed her desire to rent but explained that she didn't have enough money. Surprisingly, the village chief was willing to negotiate and told her to come and discuss it further. On the way, Xu Ban Xia was excitedly thinking about the mudflats, but Chen Yu Zhou, who knew the truth, felt uneasy, and the car was driven less steadily. Xu Ban Xia noticed this and felt puzzled, but she didn't dwell on it.
When they arrived at the fishing village, as soon as Xu Ban Xia got out of the car, she saw many fishermen gathered around the mudflats. She sensed that something was wrong and went to take a look, only to discover that the mudflats had been contaminated. The village chief cunningly claimed that the incident happened after they expressed their intention to rent the mudflats. Xu Ban Xia looked at Chen Yu Zhou with a questioning gaze, but he avoided her eyes, and she knew that it was Tong Xiao Qi's doing, so she turned and walked away.
Seeing that the village chief was still causing trouble, Chen Yu Zhou straightforwardly suggested that he should call the police if he had evidence instead of falsely accusing them without proof. The village chief panicked when he saw that Chen Yu Zhou was also leaving and quickly asked if they were still interested in renting. Chen Yu Zhou nodded. Once Xu Ban Xia returned, she went to find Tong Xiao Qi.
Chen Yu Zhou tried to stop Xu Ban Xia, who was furious, but she was full of anger and pushed him away, engaging in a physical fight with Tong Xiao Qi. Tong Xiao Qi knew that Xu Ban Xia was angry, so he offered his face for her to hit, allowing her to vent her frustrations.
After Xu Ban Xia stopped, Tong Xiao Qi picked up his pre-packed luggage and left. As he reached the doorway, he turned back and reminded Xu Ban Xia that now that he would be in jail, she must come and visit him. Tears instantly welled up in Xu Ban Xia's eyes, and Chen Yu Zhou also felt uneasy, his eyes moistened.
Tong Xiao Qi left, leaving only Chen Yu Zhou and Xu Ban Xia in the company. Xu Ban Xia was worried that Tong Xiao Qi would cause trouble, so she instructed Chen Yu Zhou to send the paperwork for the fleet to Tong Xiao Qi, giving him something to do.
The pollution of the fishing village mudflats caused significant losses to the fishermen. Xu Ban Xia felt sorry for them and not only signed a contract for 200,000 yuan per year but also provided an additional 50,000 yuan as compensation. Chen Yu Zhou believed it wasn't necessary to do so, as the fishing village brought this disaster upon themselves due to their greed. However, Xu Ban Xia insisted that she was at fault and could only compensate with money.
The stray cat named Gao Xin Yi played video games with Tong Xiao Qi and learned that he had a fleet of vehicles. She insisted on following him to take a look. To prove his words were true, Tong Xiao Qi brought her to the fleet and they all had hot pot together.
The members of the fleet were all former prisoners and lacked refinement. When the hot pot arrived, they eagerly rushed forward, even fishing out all the cooked items. Tong Xiao Qi felt embarrassed by this and apologized, asking Gao Xin Yi to wait for the next pot. However, Gao Xin Yi didn't mind at all and found it fun, appreciating their genuine and carefree nature.
Chen Yu Zhou specifically came to find Tong Xiao Qi and tried to persuade him, eventually convincing him to accept the paperwork for the fleet. Chen Yu Zhou always felt that Tong Xiao Qi took the blame for him. He told Tong Xiao Qi that it was because Xu Ban Xia cared about him that she got so angry.
Su Guo Dong had feelings for Xu Ban Xia and specifically bought groceries to cook at her home. Xu Ban Xia praised his cooking skills after eating his food. Understanding Su Guo Dong's intentions, she intentionally showed her tough side, trying to discourage his pursuit.
Su Guo Dong was not deterred and, upon hearing that she needed money, came back with 70,000 yuan he had saved. Xu Ban Xia allowed him to cook but refused to accept his money, apologizing to him and politely rejecting his advances because she couldn't repay him.
Disappointed, Su Guo Dong left. Xu Ban Xia looked at the warm note he had left on the wall and couldn't help but become teary-eyed. Xu Ban Xia had already spent an additional 200,000 yuan to clean up the pollution, while Chen Yu Zhou stayed in a makeshift room on the construction site, monitoring it day and night, but the progress of the storage yard was slow.
After Zhao Zong's inspection, he reminded Xu Ban Xia that the contract he signed with her would only take effect once the storage yard was completed. Xu Ban Xia had already risked everything she had, and she was desperate for money. She asked Zhao Zong how she could borrow money for herself.
No matter how strong one's will is, it cannot resist everything. Not showing vulnerability doesn't mean it doesn't exist. The look in Banxia's eyes, a mix of obvious reluctance and watching her father walk away decisively towards his new family, the expression on her face as she sees them being "a family." It truly pierced my heart.
Delayed watching the drama, Xu Ban Xia setting up Tong Xiao Qi to recruit a driver was a foreshadowing. If Tong had followed Ban Xia's advice to recruit externally instead of hiring those with criminal records, those people wouldn't have later polluted the marshland.
So after everyone else got scammed, they abandoned Xu Ban Xia and returned. Xu Ban Xia worked her butt off and established a channel for importing scrap steel on her own. Now these people are coming back, all eager to cooperate. But Xu Ban Xia has gained confidence and the qualifications to challenge others.
She doesn't need to beg those people to play with her anymore.
While watching the interaction between the father and the little girl, Banxia reminded me of my own situation. My parents divorced, and I stayed with my mom, but my father spent more time with me. During my middle school years, he remarried and started a new family, having a younger son.
Every time he picked me up to go to his house, I felt a heavy sadness and wanted to cry. He was still my father, but he was no longer the same person to me.
Heroes are made in times of turmoil, and people go with the flow. Even in an era where gold is everywhere, it doesn't mean pie will fall from the sky. First, one must strive and dare to take risks. If everyone were to return dejectedly like those four men who were deceived, of course, there would be no opportunities ahead.
However, Ban Xia was also pushed to the brink and possessed resilience, which led to the subsequent story.
It's often said that Xu Ban Xia meeting Nina again is too coincidental, but coincidences are often used as a narrative technique to drive the story forward. Let me give you an example.
In the classic Chinese novel "Water Margin," Lin Chong seeks shelter from a snowstorm at the Mountain God Temple, where he happens to overhear a conversation involving Lu Yuhou.
This encounter further propels Lin Chong's journey to join the outlaw band on Liangshan. "Coincidences" like these are quite common in literary works.
Throughout the process of being deceived and the decision-making to go back, I feel that Xu Ban Xia is more like an onlooker. In the end, after confirming the outcome, she still wants to stay overseas and find another opportunity.
In fact, Xu Ban Xia didn't suffer much loss. General Wu didn't give her many quotas, but being deceived means that the entire channel is cut off. So what she's saying is, "I don't believe there's only one steel mill.
Will Chen Yu Zhou turn dark? The incident with the oil spill was clearly instigated by Chen Yu Zhou, and Tong Xiao Qi was just the executor. Sister Kuan (referring to a character) got angry and slapped Tong Xiao Qi, but Chen Yu Zhou, apart from initially admitting to being the mastermind, has been playing the peacemaker role.
It feels like Chen is not as innocent as portrayed. Fans who have read the original material, can you please share if Chen will later turn dark and betray Sister Kuan?