Episode 30 recap: A Bao retreats from the hustle and bustle to return to the countryside.
A Bao reflects on the ups and downs he has experienced over the past seven years. He worked in foreign trade and stock trading, and his life went through many fluctuations, ultimately amounting to nothing. A Bao leaves the Peace Hotel, reverting from the moniker of "Mr. Bao" back to just A Bao. Little Guo sees him off at the door, thanking him for his help and support all along. Little Guo has learned 26 languages now and believes A Bao will return here again someday.
In March 1994, Strongman Jie was arrested by the police. His involvement with the clothing company had caused heavy losses for the Southern Corporation, leading to a thorough investigation by the Shenzhen headquarters. He was charged with dereliction of duty, resulting in significant state property losses, and sentenced to three years in prison. He was taken away on March 1st, just seven months before the opening of the Oriental Pearl Tower.
After three months of overtime work, Wangming finally completed her first order for the opening of her business. In March, Wangming left Shenzhen and returned to Shanghai, specially ordering a large cake to share with her foreign trade company colleagues. She saved the best slice for Jin Hua, who sincerely congratulated her. Wangming hugged Jin Hua tightly, expressing her gratitude for the support and help.
As the country's foreign trade industry flourished, the existing macro-management model could no longer meet the needs of foreign trade development. The state proposed reorganizing state-owned enterprises according to the modern enterprise system to promote the overall development of foreign trade scale. After the restructuring of the foreign trade headquarters, the notion of the "Five Flowers of Jin Hua" became history. Jin Hua is about to go abroad, and Ye Shu has someone deliver a stamp album to her as a wedding gift. Jin Hua asks Wangming to sell the emergency funds, and Ye Shu inadvertently sees the stamp album and buys it back to return to Jin Hua. Jin Hua runs out and watches Ye Shu's retreating figure, feeling bittersweet.
Wangming brings a Singaporean client to dine at Night Tokyo, where it happens to be the client's birthday. Ling Zi arranges the best private room for them and also serves Wangming's favorite sushi rolls. Wangming and her friends sing the birthday song together, and Ling Zi is reminded of the times when A Bao, Ling Hong, and others celebrated her birthday, feeling a mix of emotions.
Weihongqing and Wangming's new company in Lujiazui, Pudong, is opening today. Weihongqing prays in front of the Maneki-neko (lucky cat) for both business and love to flourish. Wangming pays the appropriate fees with the 80,000 yuan she earned from the first order, and gives half of the remaining 10,000 yuan to Weihongqing. Weihongqing doesn't want the money, only wanting to discuss their relationship. Wangming clearly states that they are just business partners.
Wangming goes to ask Ling Zi about A Bao's whereabouts, but Ling Zi doesn't know either. Wangming returns from Shenzhen to find that everything has changed - some have left, and others have scattered. She feels guilty, believing that A Bao was defeated in the stock market because he helped her get rid of Ye Shu.
Ling Zi is leaving to go to Beijing, and Wangmingzhu believes she will eventually come back, and then they can raise a glass together. In Ling Zi's world, it doesn't matter if people come and go, the business just carries on as usual - work hard, earn more. Wangmingzhu wants to return the Cadillac to A Bao, so she drives to Mr. Pan's place to drop off the keys, only to find that Huanghe Road has changed dramatically - the Zhinzhen Garden has closed down.
The small tobacco stall owner Jing Xiu suddenly stops Wangmingzhu - he's turned his stall into a cold beverage shop, naming it "Passing Traveler". Jing Xiu tells Wangmingzhu about the changes on Huanghe Road in the past few months - a week ago, Mr. Pan was the last one to leave, and Li Li signed a two-year contract, wanting to return to the Garden Hotel. Jing Xiu casually asks about the relationship between A Bao and Li Li, but Mr. Pan doesn't know how to respond.
With Mr. Pan gone, Wangmingzhu doesn't know who to get to transfer the car to A Bao. Jing Xiu persuades her to keep the car, but that's not what she wants. She gives the car keys to Jing Xiu, asking him to find a chance to give them to A Bao. A disoriented person walks by, shouting "Boss Bao", and Wangmingzhu feels saddened, realizing that hardly anyone remembers the once-powerful A Bao. Seeing the "Passing Traveler" sign, Wangmingzhu reflects that she too is just a passing traveler on Huanghe Road.
On October 1, 1994, the Oriental Pearl Tower officially opened, attracting many people to the Huangpu River. A Bao stands in the crowd, watching the fireworks, remembering his promise with Wangmingzhu five years ago to watch the tower's opening from the Foreign Trade Building. At the same time, Wangmingzhu watches the spectacle from the company building, separated from A Bao by the Huangpu River.
On June 30, 1997, A Bao goes to Hong Kong to witness the handover. That night, the five-star red flag rises on time, and the bustling Lan Kwai Fong night market is crowded with celebrants. Amidst the excitement, A Bao's friend Xue Zhi, who he had made a promise with, is no longer there to witness this historic moment.
After '97, new opportunities and challenges emerge. A Bao goes to Chuansha, co-operating a piece of land with his son A Si. The end.
Miss Wang's presence in the TV series is unnecessary. Ling Zi is somewhat better. In reality, President Bao would only like someone like Li Li.
Wang and Mr. Wei are the most suitable match. Why create a romantic storyline with President Bao?
And all for the sake of proving herself to him. Love doesn't work that way. It ended poorly.
They should have stuck to the original story and focused on Li Li and President Bao. The drama was ruined by the inclusion of unreliable romantic subplots.
It portrays President Bao as someone he's not. It seems that Wong Kar-wai has a confused perspective on love in his heart.
Stock trading is just collusion between insiders and outsiders, exploiting the money of fools, using it for capital operations. The more it rolls, the dirtier it gets. For example, real estate may appear as capital from a distance, but up close, it's a budget deficit.
Furthermore, it can even lead to selling out the country. The people's money is limited, and if it's all given to them, there will be less for basic necessities. Eventually, these things can only be exported and used to please foreigners.
Originally, these things could have been consumed domestically, leading to prosperity for the nation and the people. But now, the nation is dirty and the people are resentful. In the end, these things erode the trust of the people and undermine the country's progress.
It can be said that human nature is very complex. Everyone has their own perceptions and opinions, so there's no need to argue and quarrel. It's good to embrace different perspectives.
No one is born decisive and straightforward.
It is precisely because of the hesitations, ambiguities, and twists of fate that we experience the profound and ever-changing beauty in relationships.
Certainly, resolute and conclusive outcomes have their own beauty, but the beauty that comes from unpredictable changes and leaves a lingering impression is more difficult to achieve.
Regardless of the art form, some people say that A Bao focuses on personal gain and manipulates his friends, especially with Miss Wang and Ling Zi. Others say that A Bao values emotions and fulfills his promises to every character in the drama.
These are all different perspectives. By looking a little more, you'll discover that he cannot be simply described with a single term. A Bao treats Ling Zi and Miss Wang well, and often reminisces and misses his first love, Betty.
It may appear ambiguous, and some may even consider A Bao to be a scoundrel. But if you look a little closer, when Miss Wang was about to be relocated, she waited for A Bao at the rice cake and pork stall, but he didn't show up.
He didn't enjoy the various activities that night and instead showed obvious melancholy and sadness. He gave Miss Wang a clear answer, and throughout the rest of the story, he consistently helped her from a distance.
There was no ambiguity; he simply wanted the best for her. This is one aspect of A Bao's commitment to Miss Wang in terms of emotions, and the same goes for other characters. The complexity of human nature is hidden in every detail.
Some may wonder why he didn't reject and maintain distance from the very beginning, being straightforward and decisive. However, emotions between people are not intense right from the start. There aren't so many love at first sight moments in the world.
Intensity builds gradually through interactions. Moreover, there aren't many people who have such decisive and straightforward personalities, nor can many accurately judge their own feelings and emotions.
People are complex, and they aren't easy to understand. It's almost 2 a.m., and I need to sleep. I won't say anymore. Every scene is beautiful, and it's a style I truly adore. The composition, lighting, and colors are all amazing.
I love this colorful world of humanity.
Goodnight.
Mr. Bao's ability to become the boss of Huanghe Road is because he won the money from the Shenzhen gang. Mr. A took responsibility for his own life, and Li Li opened Zhizhen Garden on Huanghe Road to help Mr.
Bao repay the debt. In the end, no matter who buys Zhizhen Garden, it's Mr. Bao who foots the bill.
By repaying Mr. A's debt and entering the monastery, it's also a way for Mr.
Bao to seek redemption for Mr. A and find his own liberation.
This woman is truly impressive.