Episode 8 recap: # The Tapir
In Episode 8, the only son, Arden, cannot show up in the bustling market, so Tisa has to admit that she isn’t the mastermind behind it all and can’t make decisions. Cai Shu immediately takes Tisa to Maniu Town, where Tisa reveals the truth in front of Ai Suo. Ma La Nian seems to realize something and turns to make a phone call. Ai Suo, now aware of the truth, becomes furious and pulls a gun, but no one gets hurt.
Shen Xing encounters the manager of the slaughterhouse while running for his life, with the manager in hot pursuit. Ai Suo wants to speak with Cai Shu and tells Ma La Nian to step aside just as Chapu arrives. Ai Suo calls Chapu over, who claims that he has taken control of Tisa's slaughterhouse and cold chain, while Cai Shu and Ai Suo watch him put on a show.
Eventually, Ai Suo tells Cai Shu to step back for a moment, as he wants to have a word with Chapu. Shen Xing finds himself cornered and unexpectedly discovers the trapped tapir. Lan Bo sees Shen Xing being chased, rushes over with a gun, and saves him, inadvertently rescuing the tapir as well. After finishing his conversation with Chapu, Ai Suo agrees to make Ma La Nian disappear.
Ma La Nian is aware that Ai Suo has many women outside, so she feels no guilt. Instead, she believes it is she and Chapu who have given Ai Suo real power; otherwise, the villagers would have already trampled his cattle shed. Cai Shu has done so much, yet only wants a 30% share.
This time Ai Suo concedes, suggesting a split of 60-40 instead of 50-50, implying that if he collaborates with Cai Shu and Chapu, they would only get 40, which is a loss compared to a fair split. Shen Xing returns with the tapir, and more villagers come forward to support him. After twelve years, the tapir has reappeared in Sanbianpo, which is a delightful surprise, especially since it was found by a Chinese man.
After hearing Cai Shu's words, Ai Suo ultimately decides to let him join the cold chain business. Chapu tries to persuade him further, but Ai Suo is resolute. Ma La Nian, an ambitious woman, ultimately miscalculates and is punished by Ai Suo for the crime of stealing the golden couple tapir.
Shen Xing, having found the tapir, is seen as fortunate and gains the favor of many. Cai Shu successfully strikes a deal with Ai Suo, and everything seems to be heading in a positive direction. Moreover, Ai Suo receives news about Shen Jian Dong.
Shen Jian Dong has been captured by Ban Long's men and forced into labor. He can be released, but the condition is that Shen Xing must trade the tapir for his freedom. Without hesitation, Shen Xing agrees, and Cai Shu sends Xi Gou to accompany him into the restricted area for the exchange.
Meanwhile, Mao Pan from the Zhou Bin lumber mill forces his way through, and after being discovered by Lan Bo and two kids, he resorts to underhanded tactics. He captures Lan Bo and one of the kids and kills the one who tries to escape. Ai Suo informs Cai Shu, who contacts Wu Hai Shan, and through various channels, Wu Hai Shan uncovers that it was Mao Pan from the Zhou Bin lumber mill.
Mao Pan favors resolving conflicts through force and despises the idea of bribing for passage rights, leading to significant disagreements with Zhou Bin. With the tapir in tow, Shen Xing and Xi Gou successfully navigate through numerous checkpoints into the restricted area. Although they face no immediate danger, they encounter heavily armed individuals, leaving them both on edge.
Shen Xing notices that the dead wear the same clothes as the living soldiers from Nan Bo, except the live soldiers have purple cloth tied around their arms. He begins to suspect that there is infighting within the Nan Bo soldiers, clearly indicating that they have come at the wrong time. Just when they thought it couldn't get worse, the tapir, exhausted from the journey, suddenly collapses.
Xi Gou, terrified, says that if these people find out they are delivering a dead tapir, they will surely not survive. In a panic, Xi Gou runs away before they arrive, leaving Shen Xing alone to face the storm.
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