Chapter Summaries

Key plot points

• Old Master Lan takes Liang Ying and Lan Lin to inspect government-offered land outside the city. Liang sees its road access, nearby labor pool, and ample space as ideal for a clothing factory.
• Lan Yeping encourages Liang to expand beyond her small home-based operation and offers to lend her several hundred thousand yuan if needed. At home, Liang discovers she has already earned over 400,000 yuan.
• Liang raises the factory idea with her family. Gu Jinshui, Gu Yousi, and He Chunlian all support her, giving her the confidence to pursue it. A flash-forward reveals that Liang later builds Youyou Clothing into the country’s leading clothing chain and becomes the nation’s richest woman.
• At school, Gu Yousi finds several girls bullying Song Chaohua and steps in. The bullies back down when they learn Gu Yousi is Lan Lin’s younger sister.
• Gu Yousi gives Song Chaohua an 800-yuan reward for helping catch a human trafficker. Song wants to use it to help her deskmate, Lin An’an, whose family’s financial troubles may force her to leave school.
• Gu advises Song not to hand over the money yet, suggesting they meet Lin An’an and find a lasting way to help. Song readily agrees.
• After school, Lan Lin notices Gu Yousi is troubled. Gu Jinshui then brings up the person who swindled him at a museum in Shandong, but the chapter ends before he reveals the person’s identity.

Character developments and interactions

• Liang Ying grows more confident as an entrepreneur, moving from uncertainty about expansion to receiving wholehearted family support. Lan Yeping acts as a mentor and potential financial backer.
• Gu Jinshui and He Chunlian take pride in Liang’s success; Gu Jinshui jokes that he hopes to live off her, while Gu Yousi playfully echoes the idea.
• Gu Yousi shows courage by confronting Song’s bullies, then compassion and practical judgment by offering help while looking for a solution that could protect Lin An’an’s education.
• Song Chaohua is shown as sharp-tongued and resilient under pressure, but also deeply generous: despite her own hardship, she wants to use the money to help a friend. Her immediate trust in Gu Yousi marks a shift in their relationship.
• Lan Lin quietly looks after Gu Yousi at home, noticing her mood and bringing her water.

Significant themes

• Women’s independence and ambition: Liang’s business success challenges expectations and becomes a source of family prosperity.
• Family support: The encouragement Liang receives helps her take the next step toward building her business.
• Compassion with practical action: Gu Yousi and Song both want to help Lin An’an, while recognizing that money alone may not solve the causes of her hardship.
• Poverty and unequal opportunity: Song’s worn uniform and Lin An’an’s risk of leaving school expose how economic hardship can limit girls’ futures.
• Trust and changing judgments: Gu Yousi begins to see Song as more than the product of her family’s reputation.

Key plot points and events

• Gu Jinshui recruits his daughter, Gu Yousi, to help him get revenge on Sun Zhiping, who previously undermined him. Yousi brings along Lan Lin, and the two pose as children watching a stall at Panjiayuan.
• Sun Zhiping tries to buy a bronze Buddha cheaply, assuming the children are easy to fool. Yousi and Lan Lin play along, letting him believe it is a valuable antique while carefully warning him that it is a “handicraft.”
• After Sun Zhiping pays 600 yuan, Gu Jinshui arrives and reveals that the Buddha is a modern reproduction. Sun demands his money back, but the neighboring stall owner confirms that Yousi disclosed what it was. Gu Jinshui refuses to reverse the sale, and Sun leaves furious.
• The stall’s other goods are genuine; Gu Jinshui had correctly anticipated that Sun’s greed would make him focus on the Buddha.
• Yousi then reminds her father that he promised to help her in return. She asks for help with an unstated personal matter. Gu Jinshui is taken aback, but agrees to assist and suggests finding out whether the girl involved has family skills or connections rather than simply giving her money.

Character developments and interactions

• Gu Yousi proves sharp, composed, and committed to her father’s plan. She and Lan Lin coordinate their act, and she confidently holds Sun to the terms of the sale.
• Lan Lin supports Yousi throughout, backing up her story and checking the soda before she drinks hers. He also urges Gu Jinshui to help when he suspects the man might hesitate.
• Gu Jinshui enjoys getting even with Sun, but his banter with Yousi reveals that her request for help may be more complicated than he expected. He ultimately keeps his promise and considers a practical, lasting solution.
• Sun Zhiping is undone by his own greed. He tries to exploit the children, then becomes enraged when he realizes he has bought a fake.
• The neighboring stall owner acts as a witness and supports the children, helping ensure Sun cannot credibly dispute the transaction.

Significant themes

• Greed and its consequences: Sun’s eagerness for a supposed bargain blinds him to the children’s warnings.
• Cleverness and role reversal: Adults underestimate the children, who use their assumptions to control the deal.
• Justice and retaliation: Gu Jinshui’s revenge is playful but pointed, turning Sun’s own dishonest tactics against him.
• Meaningful help: The closing exchange suggests that lasting support requires more than money; practical opportunities and connections may matter more.

Key plot points and events

• Lin An’an tells Gu Yousi that her father’s hand was crushed at work, but his factory refuses compensation, claims he was drunk, and has fired him. With treatment costs and debts mounting, the family can no longer afford An’an’s schooling; her mother has also collapsed from exhaustion.
• Rather than simply offer sympathy, Gu Yousi learns that An’an’s mother is a skilled Sichuan cook and invites her to prepare food as a trial for her father’s planned restaurant. An’an’s mother initially refuses the money for ingredients, showing her pride and honesty.
• The classmates enjoy her cooking, and Gu Yousi arranges for her father to contact her about becoming the restaurant’s head chef.
• At home, the family discusses factory layoffs and worsening conditions for workers. Gu Yousi suggests that her uncle Douzi’s travel agency could direct customers to the restaurant. Her family is impressed by her business sense.
• The restaurant opens near a school, serving affordable boxed meals: three dishes and soup for 1.50 yuan. Strong aromas and low prices draw student customers on opening day. An’an helps, and Gu Jinshui hires two other women.
• After three days, An’an’s mother quietly calculates the restaurant’s earnings; the chapter ends before revealing the result.

Character developments

• Gu Yousi shows compassion paired with practical initiative: she finds a way to turn An’an’s mother’s cooking talent into paid work and proposes a strategy for attracting customers.
• Lin An’an is torn between her education and responsibility for her younger siblings. She is shy about accepting help, but begins to hope she may not have to give up her future.
• Lin An’an’s mother emerges as a talented cook and a principled, hardworking woman, reluctant to accept money without earning it.
• Gu Jinshui and the family support Gu Yousi’s plans and recognize her growing judgment and business ability. Gu Yinxing is especially enthusiastic.

Significant themes

• Poverty and unequal expectations for girls: Financial hardship pushes families to sacrifice daughters’ schooling and futures.
• Workplace injustice and insecurity: Injured workers may be denied compensation, while factory layoffs leave families vulnerable.
• Practical compassion and opportunity: Gu Yousi helps not through charity alone, but by creating a job that makes use of someone’s abilities.
• Family and community support: The restaurant plan offers a path forward for An’an’s family and employment for other women.

Character interactions

• Gu Yousi listens to An’an’s circumstances while Song Chaohua urges her not to abandon school; An’an explains that she feels responsible for her siblings and mother.
• Gu Yousi, Lan Lin, and Song Chaohua visit An’an’s crowded home and encourage her mother to cook for them. Lan Lin helps reassure her that the offer is genuine.
• At dinner, the family praises the food and discusses factory conditions before Gu Yousi brings the conversation back to the restaurant idea.
• Gu Yinxing teases and celebrates Gu Yousi, while Gu Jinshui jokingly claims her intelligence comes from him; Liang Ying playfully corrects him.

Chapter 124 Summary

Key plot points and events

• Lin An’an learns she can remain in school because her mother’s cooking job at the restaurant will earn enough to cover school fees and childcare for the younger children. Song Chaohua thanks Gu Yousi, but Gu Yousi credits Song for investing in the restaurant and promoting it at school. She lends Song How the Steel Was Tempered.
• Professor Bai invites Gu Jinshui to join an academic exchange trip to Japan, arranged by Professor Yamamoto. The Japanese hosts will cover his lodging and meals. Gu agrees after checking with his family, partly because he wants to make more of himself now that his wife and daughter are succeeding.
• Gu Jinshui’s family enthusiastically supports the trip, joking that he should bring back Japanese cosmetics and appliances. He prepares by arranging his visa, exchanging currency, and studying books on Japanese collectibles.
• Gu learns that Sun Zhiping will also be on the trip. Though wary, he agrees to coexist with him, while warning that he won’t tolerate trouble.
• As Gu Jinshui prepares to leave, Liang Ying reveals that his sister Gu Yinxing is more than two months pregnant. The family is delighted, especially since Yinxing and her husband Yan Ren had hoped for a child for years.
• After Gu Jinshui departs, Liang Ying continues overseeing construction of a factory outside the city, aided by Shanhu. That evening, former workshop colleagues visit her with troubling news: their factory is to be sold, and management plans to lay off the workers, offering each only 3,000 yuan in severance.

Character developments and interactions

• Gu Yousi and Song Chaohua: Gu Yousi refuses to take sole credit for Lin An’an’s continued schooling, recognizing Song’s financial and promotional contributions. Their exchange shows mutual respect, and Gu encourages Song to read.
• Gu Jinshui: He becomes more ambitious and open to new experiences, agreeing to travel abroad and preparing seriously. His family teases him affectionately, while he remains protective of Liang Ying and the household.
• Liang Ying and Gu Yinxing: Liang shares the happy pregnancy news with Gu Jinshui, who is thrilled. The news brings relief and joy to the wider family.
• Liang Ying and her former coworkers: Liang welcomes them warmly and discreetly sends her mother-in-law away so they can speak privately. Zhang Xing’er explains the layoffs, and the group looks to Liang for help and guidance.

Significant themes

• Family support and shared responsibility: Song and Gu Yousi’s cooperation helps keep Lin An’an in school, while the Gu family supports one another through travel, pregnancy, and work.
• Changing roles and ambition: With Liang Ying and Gu Yousi earning money, Gu Jinshui feels motivated to pursue opportunities of his own.
• Good fortune alongside uncertainty: The chapter celebrates education, international travel, and a long-awaited pregnancy, but ends on the insecurity facing Liang Ying’s former coworkers.
• Community and solidarity: Liang’s former colleagues turn to her because of their trust in her, setting up a potential conflict over their livelihoods.

Key plot points and events

• Laid-off Textile Factory workers, including experienced weaver Zhang Xing’er, tell Liang Ying they may receive only 3,000 yuan in compensation after decades of work. Liang is outraged and agrees her garment factory should hire the textile workers it can use.
• Liang consults Lan Yeping, who confirms the factory is being sold to a foreign company. He warns that Director Xu appears well-connected and advises Liang not to challenge him directly, while offering former workers jobs at his own factory.
• At the factory gates, Liang learns that most employees have been sent home and that the sale price is reportedly just 10 million yuan for the land, machinery, and production lines. The factory’s decline and recent equipment purchases make her suspect its leaders have mismanaged or siphoned off public assets.
• Liang’s family discusses whether anyone can intervene. Yan Ren doubts they can act without higher-level support; Gu Yinxing is furious on the workers’ behalf, but Liang gently discourages her from getting involved while pregnant.
• Gu Yousi quietly decides to seek help from Song Chaohua, whose mother once worked at the factory. Song recalls a future event: on the twelfth, someone will break into Director Xu’s home and steal money, but Xu will not report it. She identifies the thief as Zhang Dabiao, an old associate of her younger aunt.

Character developments and interactions

• Liang Ying shows compassion for her former coworkers and growing anger at suspected corruption. Though she recognizes the danger of confronting Director Xu, she remains troubled by the workers’ plight.
• Gu Yousi acts independently and pragmatically, approaching Song for information that might expose or obstruct Xu. Her concern for the workers is suggested by her choice to pursue the matter.
• Song Chaohua is reluctant to help, but eventually shares a potentially crucial memory from her previous life. Gu’s confidence in her surprises and reassures her.
• Gu Yinxing displays her strong sense of justice, while Liang and He Chunlian try to keep her safe. Yan Ren appreciates Liang’s effort to steer her away.
• Lan Yeping offers practical help without encouraging a risky confrontation; the gatekeeper gives Liang an ordinary worker’s angry, confused perspective on the sale.

Significant themes

• Corruption and privatization: The apparent bargain sale and unexplained decline raise suspicions that public property is being diverted for private gain.
• Workers’ vulnerability: Long-serving employees face inadequate compensation and sudden unemployment despite years of service.
• Justice versus power: Characters want to protect the workers, but Director Xu’s apparent connections make direct action dangerous.
• Memory and responsibility: Gu Yousi turns Song’s recollection of future events into a possible lead, suggesting that knowledge can create an opportunity—and an obligation—to act.

Chapter 126 Summary

Key plot points and events

• Gu Yousi arranges for Song Chaohua to help expose Zhang Dabiao, the man who once tried to frame Gu’s father. In return, she thanks Song warmly, making Song feel unexpectedly proud.
• Lan Lin invites Gu Yousi to the opening of his grandfather’s new department store. She declines, but agrees to accompany him to art class the following day and have dinner together.
• At dinner, Gu Yousi tells her family she overheard Zhang Dabiao planning to rob Textile Factory Director Xu’s home. Liang Ying and He Chunlian play along, and Liang decides to involve Yan Ren so the crime can be reported through the family.
• Liang also encourages Textile Factory workers to question the fairness of the layoffs and severance terms. Workers discover that other factories offer better compensation and transfers, while their own factory’s terms seem especially harsh.
• Anger spreads through the factory. Zhang Xing’er leads a large group of workers to confront Director Xu, who promises to review the layoffs and severance—an assurance Liang recognizes as a delaying tactic.
• The chapter ends as Director Xu receives a phone call at his secluded courtyard home, beginning a conversation about “that foreign devil,” which is left unfinished.

Character developments and interactions

• Gu Yousi is resourceful but reluctant to involve her family directly, so she presents what she knows as something she overheard. Her easy kindness toward Song Chaohua contrasts with her determination to protect her family and help uncover wrongdoing.
• Song Chaohua responds strongly to Gu’s trust and praise, suggesting their practical alliance is becoming personally meaningful to her.
• Lan Lin clearly wants Gu’s company and is disappointed when she refuses his first invitation. Her compromise—joining him for art class and dinner—cheers him, while Gu privately recognizes how easily she gives in to him.
• Liang Ying proves politically shrewd: she turns the workers’ existing grievances into collective action without making direct accusations herself.
• Zhang Xing’er emerges as a forceful organizer, voicing the workers’ anger and leading the confrontation. Sister Deng tries to calm the crowd but is ignored.
• Director Xu is caught off guard by the workers’ protest and tries to regain control with a vague promise to reconsider the terms.

Significant themes

• Fairness and workers’ dignity: The workers resent not only inadequate compensation but also unequal treatment compared with employees at other factories.
• Collective action: Once workers share information and recognize a common grievance, individual frustration becomes organized resistance.
• Strategic influence and accountability: Gu and Liang use careful, indirect tactics to expose wrongdoing and push for consequences.
• Family and affection: Gu’s interactions with Lan and her relatives show her balancing personal obligations, tenderness, and a desire to live without too much effort.

Plot points and events

• Director Xu assures foreign buyer Anson that protests over the Textile Factory’s sale are under control, and privately reveals that he and his young wife expect another $300,000 before going abroad.
• Zhang Dabiao, a thief who has been watching Xu, concludes that Xu hides money in his kitchen. He and an accomplice break in and find stacks of dollars inside the refrigerator.
• Xu hears the intruders, grabs a pistol, and confronts them. The thieves escape with some of the money, unaware that Captain Yan Ren’s team has already caught their lookout and is waiting outside.
• Yan arrests the thieves as nearby residents come running. When Xu claims the recovered dollars are his savings, Zhang exposes the larger stash in the refrigerator and accuses Xu of embezzlement.
• Yan uses the allegation and the circumstances to search Xu’s home. Officers find nearly $100,000 in the bathroom and discover a concealed space in the kitchen stove, where more money may be hidden.

Character developments and interactions

• Director Xu shifts from confident schemer to increasingly desperate and exposed. He tries to conceal the source and extent of his wealth, intimidates Yan, and blocks the search, but his lies unravel.
• Xu’s wife shares his ambition to profit from the factory sale and move abroad. Though initially anxious about protecting their money, she is unable to hide it quickly enough.
• Zhang Dabiao is greedy and opportunistic, risking everything for the cash. Once caught, he retaliates against Xu by revealing the hidden money.
• Yan Ren remains composed and resourceful. He turns the theft and Zhang’s testimony into grounds to search the house, despite Xu’s threats.
• The neighbors’ concern for the apparent theft quickly turns to shock as they see the dollars and hear Zhang’s accusation.

Significant themes

• Corruption and self-interest: Xu’s private deal with the foreign buyer and his hidden fortune contrast with his public role as a factory director.
• Greed and betrayal: Xu and Zhang are both driven by money; once arrested, Zhang readily exposes Xu to protect himself or take revenge.
• Justice and exposure: The attempted robbery unintentionally brings Xu’s secret wealth into public view, while Yan’s persistence begins to uncover the full scale of the wrongdoing.

Key plot points and events

• Director Xu’s home is raided after Yan Ren orders officers to break in. They discover more than two million yuan in cash, including money hidden inside the stove. The scandal spreads across Beijing’s newspapers.
• Liang Ying tells He Chunlian that the textile factory may still be sold, but the scandal should ensure the authorities scrutinize the deal and protect the workers. He Chunlian credits Gu Yousi for her role and affectionately insists on calling her by her childhood nickname, “Second Girl.”
• In Tokyo, Gu Jinshui explains to Li Xing that he bought a Han Dynasty jade pendant for his daughter because its rare Silk-Thread Engraving makes it valuable.
• Japanese student Fuyubi confronts Gu over Gu’s earlier identification of his family antiques as Qing-era objects—some apparently looted Chinese imperial treasures. Fuyubi challenges Gu to an antiques contest, wagering an antique and demanding Gu publicly admit inferiority if he loses.
• Sun Zhiping encourages the confrontation and dismisses it as a joke. Chinese professors object, but Professor Yamamoto supports the contest and offers 500,000 yen as an additional prize. Gu accepts, confident he can win and hoping to reclaim a Kangxi blue-and-white plate. Professor Bai agrees on the condition that the contest is fair and Li Xing can interpret.

Character developments and interactions

• Gu Yousi is recognized by her family for helping expose the corruption, though she is embarrassed by her grandmother’s affectionate nickname.
• Gu Jinshui shows both deep expertise in antiques and a strong sense of national pride. He sees the challenge not merely as personal, but as an attempt to humiliate the Chinese delegation.
• Li Xing becomes increasingly interested in archaeology and, despite concern about escalating tensions, supports Gu and helps translate.
• Professor Bai tries to protect the delegation and preserve goodwill, but ultimately backs Gu once the contest is unavoidable.
• Sun Zhiping sides with the Japanese students and provokes the dispute, while Fuyubi moves from mockery to an explicit challenge.
• The Chinese professors and Japanese students clash over whether the contest is harmless fun or a deliberate insult.

Significant themes

• Anti-corruption and public accountability: Director Xu’s hidden wealth becomes public evidence of embezzlement, raising hopes that the factory and its workers will be treated fairly.
• Cultural heritage and historical injustice: Gu’s remarks about the antiques challenge Japanese claims to Chinese artifacts and point to their likely connection with wartime looting.
• National pride and diplomacy: The contest becomes a test of status between the delegations, while the professors struggle to balance dignity with maintaining friendly relations.
• Expertise and confidence: Gu’s knowledge turns the confrontation into an opportunity to demonstrate his skill and recover a valuable artifact.

Chapter 129 Summary

• The challenge is set: Professor Yamamoto accepts Gu Jinshui’s conditions for an antique-finding contest. Gu and Fuyubi each have 10,000 yen and two hours to buy the most valuable item. Although Gu tells Li Xing he is not confident, he stays calm and is quietly prepared: he already knows the nearby antique district.
• The search: The rivals independently head to the Ginza–Nihonbashi area, where Fuyubi has a follower secretly track Gu and Li Xing. Gu rejects several ordinary items because they are worth only their asking price. He eventually buys a picture frame for just 300 yen, despite Li Xing’s growing anxiety and Fuyubi’s group’s ridicule.
• The return: Fuyubi returns first with an ivory fan. The Chinese professors judge it to be genuine and potentially valuable, worth roughly 700–800. When Gu arrives with the frame, both the Japanese group and his own colleagues assume he has made a foolish choice. Gu remains composed, while Sun Zhiping openly joins in the mockery.
• The frame’s significance emerges: Professor Yamamoto asks to inspect the picture inside the frame. He recognizes that Gu may have identified it as a work by the celebrated Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai. Gu confirms that the style and age-related yellowing led him to that conclusion. Fuyuri Takeshi challenges the attribution, pointing out that the picture bears the name “Katsukawa Shunro”; the chapter ends before Yamamoto explains the connection or the contest’s result.

Character developments and interactions

• Gu Jinshui shows patience, confidence, and a sharp eye for overlooked value. He uses humor to unsettle Sun Zhiping but does not reveal his reasoning until the frame is examined.
• Li Xing acts as Gu’s anxious companion and interpreter, repeatedly urging him to hurry. His concern contrasts with Gu’s composure, and he becomes hopeful once Yamamoto takes interest in the purchase.
• Fuyubi is wary of Gu’s knowledge of the area and relies on an underling to follow him. He returns with a strong-looking item but joins the others in dismissing Gu’s frame.
• Sun Zhiping continues his antagonism toward Gu and publicly humiliates him, turning the rivalry into a personal conflict.
• Professor Bai trusts Gu’s diligence and preparation, though the cheap-looking frame initially leaves him uncertain. Professor Yamamoto remains measured and ultimately treats Gu’s purchase seriously.
• The contrast between the professors’ initial assessment of the fan and the sudden interest in Gu’s frame heightens the contest’s suspense.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus value: The frame looks mass-produced and worthless, but its picture may be a significant artwork.
• Knowledge and preparation: Gu’s recent study of Japanese art gives him an advantage beyond local familiarity.
• Confidence under pressure: Gu’s restraint contrasts with Li Xing’s worry and the rivals’ loud certainty.
• Rivalry and humiliation: The contest exposes both professional competition and personal hostility, especially through Sun Zhiping’s attacks.

Chapter 130 Summary

• Gu Jinshui wins the antique contest in Japan. He identifies the painting as an early work by Katsushika Hokusai, signed with the artist’s youthful name, Katsukawa Shunro. He explains that the paper and pigments—not just the signature—helped confirm its authenticity. Yamamoto accepts his judgment, rebukes Fuyuri Takeshi for not knowing this part of Japanese art history, and declares Gu the winner. Fuyuri is made to hand over the Kangxi blue-and-white bowl; Yamamoto tells Gu to collect the promised money from his home the next day.
• Gu celebrates by treating Professor Bai and the others to a wagyu meal. Yamamoto watches him thoughtfully, suggesting Gu’s expertise has made a strong impression.
• Gu and Liang Ying discuss the possible purchase of their former textile factory. Liang explains that, after Director Xu’s arrest, the planned sale was paused, but the authorities still intend to sell the factory. Old Mr. Lan has encouraged her to consider taking it over. Gu backs her enthusiastically, arguing that it would complement their garment business and that she is the right person to run it. His support helps Liang resolve to try.
• Liang attends a government briefing with Old Mr. Lan and learns that the factory will be sold by bidding. The minimum bid is fifteen million yuan, with half due within a month and the remainder within six months. The payment terms overwhelm her finances. Lan offers to provide the capital in exchange for a share of the business, leaving Liang grateful but cautious about mixing money with family relationships.
• Back home, Liang discusses the proposal with her family. He Chunlian is stunned by the amount involved, while Gu Yousi sees no reason to reject Lan’s investment. Liang remains concerned about how money might affect their relationships; the chapter ends as she begins to explain those worries.
• Meanwhile, Li Xing learns that Liang may acquire a factory employing hundreds of people. Impressed by her success, he asks Gu to find him a wife with even a fraction of Liang’s ability. Gu agrees to ask her, prompting Li Xing to offer to buy her gifts.

Character Developments and Themes

Gu proves both knowledgeable and generous, then becomes a supportive partner who encourages Liang to take on a daunting challenge. Liang grows more confident about pursuing the factory, though she remains prudent about its financial and personal risks. Lan demonstrates trust in her judgment by offering to invest, while Li Xing’s matchmaking request adds comic relief.
The chapter emphasizes expertise and earned recognition, ambition and taking calculated risks, and the tension between business opportunity and financial responsibility. It also highlights mutual support in marriage and the importance of preserving personal relationships when money is involved.
The chapter text provided ends mid-conversation, before Liang’s concerns are fully explained.

Key plot points and events

• Liang Ying and Lan Yeping settle the factory-investment arrangement. Liang initially offers to accept only 10% because Lan is contributing most of the money. Lan insists on a 70/30 split, then gives the extra 20% to Lan Lin and Gu Yousi—10% each—as a gift.
• At the bidding, Liang sees much stronger competition than expected. Lan urges her to bid 30 million, and she does, despite worrying about the cost.
• Gu Yousi and Lan Lin run into Liu Hongxia, the mother of Xiaoman, whom they helped earlier. Yousi explains how much the factory means to her mother and shares Liang’s hopes of selling domestic products overseas.
• Liu, who oversees the bidding, discovers that a 29-million bid has been pushed by a well-connected businessman seeking special treatment. She refuses to favor him and ensures Liang’s 30-million bid is recognized as the highest. Youyou Clothing wins the factory.
• Liang later donates ten television sets to the Industry and Commerce Bureau in the company’s name.
• Gu Yinxing celebrates Liang’s success with a feast and gifts. The family jokes about Gu Yousi’s new shares and her promise to buy everyone a villa someday.
• Liang speaks by phone with Gu Jinshui, who says he expects to return from Japan in about fifteen days. He admits he misses home, and Liang reassures him. The chapter ends as Li Xing begins to tell him something.

Character developments and interactions

• Liang Ying shows integrity and modesty by offering to take a smaller share, while her determination to reclaim and expand the factory is clear. Winning the bid brings her great relief and joy.
• Lan Yeping proves generous and supportive: he trusts Liang’s ability to run the factory and gives shares to the children rather than increasing his own stake.
• Gu Yousi is resourceful and socially perceptive. Her conversation with Liu Hongxia may have helped ensure a fair bidding process. She is also playful and good-natured as her family teases her about her future wealth.
• Lan Lin accompanies Yousi and receives a 10% share, while gaining experience at the bidding.
• Liu Hongxia responds warmly to the children and acts fairly despite pressure from a powerful connection.
• Gu Yinxing and Yan Ren add comic warmth: Yinxing is openly envious of the children’s shares, while Yan quietly tries to get her attention. The family’s joking shows their affection.
• Gu Jinshui and Liang Ying share a tender long-distance exchange. His homesickness contrasts with his initial excitement about Japan, and her concern comforts him.

Significant themes

• Integrity and fairness: Liang’s honesty and Liu Hongxia’s refusal to manipulate the bidding contrast with the attempted favoritism.
• Trust and shared prosperity: Lan’s confidence in Liang and his gifts to the children make the factory venture a family partnership.
• Ambition and perseverance: Liang’s wish to rebuild the factory and take local products abroad drives the chapter’s central business success.
• Family affection and humor: Teasing, gifts, meals, and promises of future villas underline the family’s closeness.
• Home and belonging: Gu Jinshui’s growing homesickness emphasizes the comfort and importance of family.

Chapter 132 Summary

• Gu Jinshui and Li Xing visit Professor Yamamoto, whose lavish Tokyo home hints at his great wealth. Yamamoto gives Gu an envelope containing one million yen—twice the amount previously promised. Gu counts it openly and offers the excess back, insisting he will accept only money he has earned.
• Yamamoto then offers Gu the chance to make tens of millions of yuan. Suspicious of the offer and offended by its implications, Gu refuses to hear the details and leaves. He tells Li Xing that such a huge offer must come with a dangerous or compromising price.
• The next day, Yamamoto calls again with a more explicit proposal: Gu should change his nationality and become Yamamoto’s adopted son in exchange for his entire estate, as well as an introduction to a woman he could marry. Gu angrily rejects the offer and hangs up.
• Word of Yamamoto’s proposal spreads among the visiting scholars. Japanese researcher Fuyuri Takeshi and others become hostile toward Gu, while Sun Zhiping mocks him for attracting Yamamoto’s attention. Gu ignores the provocation, and the Chinese scholars defend him, affirming that they would not trade their principles—or their identity—for wealth.
• Li Xing arrives in a panic with news that Yamamoto has been hospitalized with late-stage cancer and may not survive the night. Yamamoto has asked to see Gu. Though Gu hesitates because he is neither family nor close friend, Professor Bai reminds him that Yamamoto helped their academic exchange. Gu agrees to go, after hearing that Yamamoto wants to discuss antiques.

Character developments and interactions

• Gu Jinshui is established as principled, wary of easy riches, and firm in his loyalty to his country. He remains unmoved by both Yamamoto’s financial offers and Sun Zhiping’s taunts, but shows compassion when he learns Yamamoto may be dying.
• Yamamoto shifts from a wealthy, somewhat enigmatic host to a dying man urgently seeking Gu as an heir. His motives remain unclear, and his persistence suggests Gu is valuable to him for a particular reason.
• Li Xing is dazzled by the promised fortune and struggles to understand Gu’s refusal, but continues to act as his translator and messenger.
• Professor Bai and the other scholars support Gu against Sun Zhiping and agree that visiting the hospitalized Yamamoto is the humane and appropriate thing to do.
• Sun Zhiping tries to undermine Gu by portraying the adoption offer as evidence of disloyalty, but his taunt falls flat and exposes his own resentment.

Significant themes

• Integrity versus wealth: Gu insists that money should be earned honorably, even when the offer is life-changing.
• National loyalty and identity: Yamamoto’s request that Gu change nationality makes the stakes more explicit; Gu rejects the idea of abandoning his principles for inheritance.
• Suspicion and hidden motives: Gu believes an enormous offer must carry a cost, while Yamamoto’s true purpose remains undisclosed.
• Compassion and obligation: Despite their strained relationship, Gu and the scholars decide that Yamamoto’s illness warrants a visit, especially given his past assistance.

Chapter 133 Summary

Key plot points

• Gu Jinshui and his companions visit Professor Yamamoto in hospital and learn he is gravely ill, with only days to live.
• Yamamoto insists on speaking to Gu alone. Once the others leave, he reveals that he speaks Chinese and shows Gu a photograph of himself with Premier Z, along with decades of preserved articles and photographs documenting political repression in Japan.
• Yamamoto confesses he is a member of a Japanese political group and has spent years collecting Chinese cultural relics to return them to China. Facing terminal cancer and trusting no one at home to carry out his plan, he chose Gu after secretly testing his character.
• Gu is deeply moved by Yamamoto’s intentions and thanks him on behalf of China. When he rejoins the group, however, he conceals the truth, saying Yamamoto merely offered to make him an apprentice.

Character developments

• Gu Jinshui moves from suspicion and irritation to surprise, respect, and gratitude. Though he had assumed Yamamoto was arrogant and manipulative, he recognizes the sincerity behind the professor’s tests and restitution effort.
• Yamamoto is revealed as a principled, remorseful man who has quietly tried to make amends for his country’s wrongs. His illness gives urgency to his wish to return the relics.
• Professor Bai and the others remain concerned about Gu’s private meeting but respect his decision to speak with Yamamoto alone.

Character interactions

• Professor Bai handles the initial conversation and warns Gu not to act rashly before leaving the room with the others.
• Alone, Yamamoto explains his motives and challenges Gu’s assumptions; Gu assists him physically as his condition worsens, then bows in respect.
• Outside, the group questions Gu about the long meeting, but he keeps Yamamoto’s secret and gives them a plausible cover story.

Significant themes

• Reconciliation and atonement: Yamamoto seeks to address historical wrongdoing by returning looted or displaced cultural treasures.
• Integrity and trust: He tests Gu’s character, and Gu’s conduct convinces him that the relics will be safe with him.
• Legacy and mortality: With little time left, Yamamoto hopes to complete one meaningful act before he dies.

Chapter 134 Summary

• Gu Jinshui refuses to betray his teacher, insisting that everything he has learned came from his master. Though some people admire his loyalty, others begin weighing Yamamoto’s offer for themselves.
• Before leaving Japan, Gu buys a large number of appliances for his family. Since he cannot safely transport them by plane, he arranges to return by ship and has them sent ahead. He also agrees to carry ten crates of antiques and cultural artifacts entrusted to him by Professor Yamamoto.
• Gu is uneasy about the trip and especially about the valuable cargo. At the port, Fuyuri Takeshi and several companions confront him, accusing him of accepting Yamamoto’s money because he bought appliances. Gu denies it and worries that their commotion could expose the crates.
• Sun Zhiping arrives with Yamamoto in a wheelchair and announces that Yamamoto has accepted him as a disciple. Fuyuri, enraged, attacks him, and a fight breaks out. Yamamoto explains that he came because he heard Fuyuri meant to trouble Gu. He urges Gu to board, and Gu reluctantly leaves after a heartfelt farewell.
• Gu reaches Beijing safely with the crates intact. His family welcomes him warmly, and he hides his grief by joking about missing home-cooked food. After eating, he calls Professor Bai and learns that Yamamoto died two nights earlier. The news overwhelms Gu, and he breaks down in tears.
• Bai reports that Sun Zhiping had hoped to inherit Yamamoto’s estate by becoming his disciple, but Yamamoto had already donated his remaining property, including his house, to an orphanage. Sun’s attempt to challenge the decision caused trouble. Gu asks about Yamamoto’s funeral, and begins to tell Bai the truth about his involvement.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Gu Jinshui remains loyal and principled, but his attachment to Yamamoto deepens. He is anxious about protecting the entrusted artifacts and is shaken by Yamamoto’s final act of kindness and his death.
• Professor Yamamoto appears frail but determined. He protects Gu from Fuyuri, gives him a dignified farewell, and leaves his estate to an orphanage rather than to someone seeking personal gain.
• Sun Zhiping boasts that he will inherit Yamamoto’s legacy, but his motives appear self-interested. His announcement provokes Fuyuri, leading to a public fight.
• Fuyuri Takeshi acts aggressively toward Gu and Sun, while Gu tries to avoid a scene that could endanger Yamamoto’s cargo.
• Gu’s family, especially his mother and wife, welcome him home and notice his troubled mood, though he initially conceals the reason.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and gratitude: Gu’s fidelity to his teacher contrasts with those who see Yamamoto’s offer as an opportunity.
• Legacy and generosity: Yamamoto chooses to benefit an orphanage, defining his legacy through compassion rather than inheritance.
• Parting and mortality: Gu’s departure becomes a final farewell, and his grief shows how meaningful their bond has become.
• Appearance versus motive: Sun’s claim to discipleship masks his hope of inheriting property, while Gu’s purchases are misread as evidence of corruption.

Key plot points and events

• Gu Jinshui tells Professor Bai that the late Professor Yamamoto had secretly tried to return Chinese cultural relics. Bai is deeply moved and offers to help carry out Yamamoto’s intentions.
• Gu Jinshui and Chen Dengxing organize the transfer of Yamamoto’s crates to the Cultural Relics Bureau. The collection includes exceptionally valuable bronzes, pottery, porcelain, swords, and fossils, all in remarkable condition.
• Though Yamamoto had asked for no recognition, the group decides to record his donation so future generations will know what he did. A photograph is taken, and Gu Jinshui later sends a copy to Yamamoto’s steward.
• Gu Yinxing cries over Yamamoto’s tragic fate. Gu Jinshui comforts her, then leaves to visit his master, Xi Han, carrying dumplings.
• Over lunch, Gu Jinshui raises Xi Han’s long-standing grievance against Lin Dahai, a former disciple who betrayed him. He promises to find Lin and recover justice for his master.
• Xi Han reveals that Lin stole several rare treasures from his collection, including a Shang-Zhou bronze vessel, a Song incense burner, a Qianlong porcelain bowl, and a dragon robe reportedly worn by Emperor Kangxi.
• After a month of searching, Gu Jinshui learns from An Yi that a robe matching the stolen one was recently auctioned in the United States. Xi Han confirms it is his: a distinctive dye stain on one sleeve proves its identity. Gu Jinshui immediately asks An Yi to investigate the sale.

Character developments

• Gu Jinshui feels increasingly troubled by his earlier harsh treatment of Yamamoto, but honors the man’s wishes by ensuring the relics return to China and his contribution is quietly documented. He also commits himself to helping Xi Han.
• Professor Bai and Chen Dengxing move from surprise and excitement to a shared determination to honor Yamamoto without making a spectacle of him.
• Xi Han reveals how deeply Lin Dahai’s betrayal still affects him. Gu Jinshui’s pledge gives him hope and moves him to tears.
• Gu Yinxing is especially emotional about Yamamoto’s death, while Gu Jinshui gently deflects her grief.

Significant themes

• Redemption and moral responsibility: Yamamoto seeks to make amends by returning the relics, while Gu Jinshui accepts responsibility for helping his master.
• Honor without recognition: Yamamoto refuses public credit, yet the others believe his good deed should be preserved in the historical record.
• Cultural heritage and homecoming: The returned artifacts are treated as part of China’s cultural inheritance, and their recovery bridges personal and national histories.
• Loyalty and betrayal: Gu Jinshui’s devotion to Xi Han stands in stark contrast to Lin Dahai’s betrayal.
• Memory and evidence: The photographs, written records, and distinctive stain on the robe preserve the past and help identify what was lost.

Character interactions

• Gu Jinshui confides in Bai, who responds with respect and offers practical support.
• Chen Dengxing and the Cultural Relics Bureau staff work with Gu Jinshui to recover, document, and acknowledge the relics.
• At home, Gu Yinxing mourns Yamamoto while He Chunlian urges her to protect her health; Gu Jinshui distracts her with humor before slipping away.
• Gu Jinshui shares food and wine with Xi Han, then turns their warm, familiar exchange into a serious promise to pursue Lin Dahai.
• An Yi’s casual remark about the American auction gives Gu Jinshui the first concrete lead, and Xi Han’s recognition confirms the robe’s identity.

Chapter 136

Key plot points and events

• Gu Jinshui learns that the man who sold the antiques stolen from Xi Han may be a Chinese-American collector known by the English name Hank. He suspects Hank could be Lin Dahai, the person who betrayed Xi Han, but lacks proof.
• An Yi offers to take Gu Jinshui to the United States with a shipment going to his contact Joseph, whose family may help investigate Hank. Gu Jinshui accepts and obtains an old photograph of Lin Dahai from Xi Han; the identifying feature is a large black mole on his nose.
• He Chunlian insists that the whole family go. Liang Ying supports the trip, partly to learn about American clothing and fabrics. Their daughter Gu Yousi is free for summer vacation, and the family raises money for the journey. Xiao Lin will join to help with his English, while Gu Yinxing stays behind because she is pregnant and agrees to look after Xi Han.
• Song Chaohua tells Gu Yousi that her father, Song Jianshe, may also travel to the United States because he assumes Gu Jinshui is going there to make money. Chaohua admits she has not told him anything this time, then adds that she dreamed Gu Jinshui would find a bargain overseas: Wang Xizhi’s Sunny After Snowfall.
• Gu Yousi passes the warning and the tip about the calligraphy to her father. Gu Jinshui recognizes the significance: An Yi recently mentioned that someone in America wanted to sell that very work. He keeps his thoughts to himself but says he has an idea.
• After more than ten days, the family’s visas arrive. They put their businesses and household affairs in order and prepare to leave. The chapter ends as Gu Yousi says goodbye to her grandfather and urges him to take care of himself.

Character developments and interactions

• Gu Jinshui is determined to uncover what happened to Xi Han’s stolen antiques. He relies on trusted friends, prepares carefully for the trip, and grows intrigued by the unexpected lead about Sunny After Snowfall.
• Xi Han provides the photograph that may help identify Lin Dahai. Gu Jinshui gently persuades him to remain in Beijing, worried the encounter could distress him.
• He Chunlian and Liang Ying turn the investigation into a family journey, each supporting the trip for practical and personal reasons. The family’s cooperation is evident as they arrange care for Xi Han and their businesses.
• Song Chaohua shows growing concern and honesty toward Gu Yousi. She warns her that Song Jianshe may follow the family, admits she previously shared information with him, and offers a potentially valuable clue before hurrying away.
• Gu Yousi handles the warning tactfully, relaying it to her father without exposing Chaohua too harshly. Her family’s playful reaction while she passes on the dream adds warmth to the scene.
• An Yi remains a trusted ally, helping Gu Jinshui find a route to investigate abroad.

Significant themes

• Family loyalty and mutual support: The Gu family commits to the journey together and makes arrangements to protect those staying behind.
• Justice and restitution: Gu Jinshui’s central purpose is to identify the person who betrayed Xi Han and recover the stolen antiques.
• Trust, confession, and changing relationships: Chaohua’s willingness to warn Gu Yousi suggests a shift toward greater honesty and goodwill.
• Chance and opportunity: The dream about the calligraphy piece coincides with information Gu Jinshui has already received, creating a second mystery alongside the search for Lin Dahai.

Key plot points and events

• At the airport, Lan Lin reluctantly says goodbye to his grandfather, Lan Yeping, and warns him not to drink while he is away. Lan Yeping promises, unaware that Song Jianshe passes nearby on his way to the United States.
• Song Jianshe travels with Guo Pu and his daughter, Song Chaohua. He insists Chaohua come because he believes she can help them obtain the national treasure Sunny After Snowfall. Their antique business has been struggling, especially after Gu Jinshui claimed the Imperial Green jadeite they had hoped to acquire.
• Gu Jinshui’s family arrives in New York with An Yi and his brother. Their host, Joseph, welcomes them to his spacious villa. An Yi and Joseph discuss the replica crafts An Yi has supplied, while Gu Jinshui’s family settles in.
• Liang Ying, He Chunlian, and Gu Yousi marvel at American life. Liang Ying is inspired by local fashion and begins sketching designs; the next day, the women go shopping with Lan Lin as their interpreter.
• Gu Jinshui asks Joseph to identify Lin Dahai from a photograph, but Joseph is uncertain. An Yi suggests investigating the person selling the dragon robe instead. Through Joseph, they contact Jelene, a Sotheby’s employee whom Joseph is courting.
• Gu Jinshui tells Jelene they want to sell antiques and meet the collector, identified only as Mr. Wu. Jelene agrees to arrange a meeting, though Gu Jinshui and An Yi have no antiques with them yet.
• To prepare, they plan to visit a local flea market the next day, where Gu Jinshui can find something suitable. The women return from shopping at dusk with many bags.

Character developments and interactions

• Lan Lin and Lan Yeping share a warm, affectionate farewell. Lan Lin’s concern shows how responsible and attached he is, while Lan Yeping’s worry reflects his devotion to his only grandson.
• Song Jianshe becomes more determined and assertive, insisting that Song Chaohua join the trip despite Guo Pu’s objections. Guo remains suspicious and focused on making money; Chaohua appears uncomfortable and marginalized.
• Gu Jinshui stays cautious and strategic, using a plausible sales inquiry to avoid alerting the dragon-robe collector to his real purpose.
• An Yi acts as Gu Jinshui’s practical adviser and social connector, steering the investigation through Joseph and Jelene.
• Joseph is hospitable and enthusiastic, but his feelings for Jelene make him conspicuously awkward. Jelene is sharp and professional, and their romance becomes a light comic thread.
• Liang Ying’s curiosity about American clothing turns into creative inspiration, while He Chunlian and Gu Yousi encourage her shopping plans.

Significant themes

• Family affection and responsibility: Lan Lin’s farewell and Lan Yeping’s concern emphasize their close bond.
• Ambition and rivalry: Song Jianshe and Guo Pu pursue fortune while competing with Gu Jinshui, whose success has damaged their business.
• Caution and strategy: Gu Jinshui avoids revealing his true goal while trying to trace the dragon robe’s owner.
• Cross-cultural discovery: The family’s reactions to American homes, cars, and fashion highlight both surprise and curiosity.
• Romance and humor: Joseph’s bashfulness around Jelene provides comic relief amid the antique investigation.

Chapter 138 Summary

Key events

• Liang Ying and He Chunlian give clothes to An Yi and An Xin, and a Hermès belt to Joseph in appreciation for his help. Joseph is delighted, while the women joke about the cost of luxury brands.
• The group splits up for the next day. Gu Yousi agrees to go with her father, Gu Jinshui, after a tiring day of shopping with her mother and grandmother. Lan Lin offers to bring her snacks, prompting affectionate teasing.
• Joseph takes Gu Jinshui, Gu Yousi, and the others to Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market. Gu Yousi enjoys the unfamiliar surroundings and says the market reminds her of Panjiayuan, which she still prefers.
• The group admires a 1917 Ford priced at $200,000. An Xin is captivated but accepts that it is unaffordable and impractical to take home.
• At an antiques stall, Gu Jinshui dismisses the seller’s plates as unremarkable despite her claim that they are centuries old. He spots a small, vividly glazed plate and suspects it may be valuable Chenghua-period five-color ware.
• Gu Jinshui and Gu Yousi quietly bargain over chocolate as payment for her help, then stage a parent-child disagreement to make her apparent desire for the plate seem genuine. The chapter ends as Gu Yousi pretends to cry and Gu Jinshui acts reluctant to buy it; the purchase has not yet been resolved.

Character developments and interactions

• Liang Ying’s gift to Joseph shows that the family understands they should reciprocate his practical support. Joseph’s enthusiastic reaction keeps the exchange warm and humorous.
• Gu Yousi appears curious and culturally grounded: she enjoys the market but still favors familiar Chinese places and food. Her quick understanding of her father’s plan shows her cleverness.
• Gu Jinshui’s expertise emerges in contrast to Joseph’s and the dealer’s assumptions about antiques. His cooperation with his daughter reveals both his resourcefulness and his willingness to indulge her—though only after negotiating the chocolate.
• An Xin’s brief excitement over the vintage car shows his enthusiasm for beautiful objects, while An Yi gently helps him accept its price.

Significant themes

• Family affection and reciprocity: Gifts and teasing reflect the group’s closeness and consideration for one another.
• Cultural perspective: The characters encounter unfamiliar American customs and goods while comparing them with what they know from home.
• Appearance versus value: Gu Jinshui rejects items that are old but not necessarily valuable, then recognizes the potential significance of a modest-looking plate.
• Clever cooperation: Father and daughter coordinate a convincing performance to conceal their real interest in the plate.

Key plot points

• Gu Jinshui pays thirty dollars to recover a cracked Chenghua Five-Color Ware saucer after Gu Yousi pretends to cry. He reveals that the “ordinary” dish is an imperial Ming-era treasure worth hundreds of thousands of yuan.
• He takes it to Jelene, who offers favorable auction terms but agrees instead to contact a wealthy collector, Mr. Wu. Wu calls that evening and arranges a meeting.
• Gu Jinshui suspects Wu may be the man they are searching for. He recognizes him at his Beverly Hills villa as Lin Dahai, an older, heavier version of the man in a photograph.
• Lin Dahai initially keeps Gu Jinshui waiting and offers far too little for the saucer. After Gu Jinshui threatens to take it to Sotheby’s—and An Xin and An Yi’s imposing presence adds pressure—Lin agrees to pay $30,000.
• Before leaving, Gu Jinshui and Gu Yousi deliberately hint that they may have access to a priceless calligraphy work by Xi Zhi. Lin Dahai becomes intrigued and suspicious.

Character developments and interactions

• Gu Jinshui shows his expertise, patience, and negotiation skills, concealing his real intentions behind a seemingly greedy persona. He also uses Gu Yousi as part of a calculated hint to draw Lin Dahai’s interest.
• Gu Yousi quickly stops crying once she gets the saucer, demonstrating her cleverness and composure. She later plays along with her father’s scheme.
• Lin Dahai (“Mr. Wu” / “James”) comes across as arrogant, calculating, and avaricious. He undervalues the saucer, but his interest in the alleged calligraphy reveals how readily temptation overrides caution.
• An Yi and An Xin support Gu Jinshui: An Yi recommends bringing Yousi, while An Xin’s intimidating build helps strengthen Gu Jinshui’s bargaining position.
• Lan Lin insists on accompanying Yousi to protect her, misunderstanding the father-daughter act as genuine scolding. Jelene, meanwhile, assists Gu Jinshui by connecting him with Wu.

Significant themes

• Knowledge and value: The saucer’s small size and crack disguise its extraordinary worth; expertise lets Gu Jinshui recognize and negotiate its true value.
• Performance and deception: Gu Jinshui, Yousi, and the others carefully manage appearances to influence Lin Dahai.
• Greed and leverage: Lin’s low offer exposes his avarice, while Gu Jinshui uses the threat of an auction and a tantalizing hint to gain leverage.
• Trust and loyalty: The group’s willingness to accompany and support one another contrasts with Lin’s transactional approach.

Plot points and events

• At James’s villa, Gu Yousi pretends to let slip that her father is hiding something valuable. James takes the bait and becomes eager to learn more. Gu Jinshui leaves quickly with the others.
• Gu Jinshui spots a black car following them from the villa and concludes James is interested in a national treasure—not merely their money.
• Back at Joseph’s home, the group discusses Wang Xizhi’s Sunny After Snowfall, which Joseph believes may be genuine. Gu Jinshui says it is a fake, but plans to make James believe it is real so he will pursue it.
• Gu Jinshui offers the group his $30,000 check in thanks for their help. After An Yi objects to being paid, they agree to accept $15,000 and return the rest.
• Gu Jinshui plans to make the fake seem valuable by letting James think someone else is competing for it.
• In a separate scene, Gu Jinshui encounters Song Jianshe and his daughter, Song Chaohua, who have been following his group. He invites them to eat, and Liang Ying shows compassion toward Chaohua.
• In private, Chaohua asks Gu Yousi to help place a newspaper notice to locate Grandma Lin’s family in New York. She explains that Grandma Lin had concealed having overseas relatives during the political turmoil. Fearing her father will take the money Grandma Lin gave her, Chaohua asks Gu Yousi to hold onto it; Gu Yousi declines but agrees to help.

Character developments and interactions

• Gu Jinshui shows strategic thinking: he uses Yousi’s staged hint to manipulate James, recognizes the surveillance, and devises a plan to exploit James’s greed. He also insists on compensating his companions fairly.
• Gu Yousi supports her father’s scheme and, separately, responds kindly to Chaohua’s appeal, offering help without taking her money.
• An Yi and An Xin are loyal to Gu Jinshui and initially refuse payment; they accept a reduced amount after he frames it as fair compensation.
• Joseph remains hopeful that the calligraphy might be genuine, while An Yi and An Xin are skeptical.
• Song Chaohua shows courage and independence by seeking help to find Grandma Lin’s family, despite her father’s controlling attitude toward money. Liang Ying’s sympathy helps her feel safe asking.

Significant themes

• Trust and deception: Gu Jinshui deliberately feeds James false information to draw him into a trap.
• Loyalty and fairness: The group’s friendship is tested through the question of accepting payment, which Gu Jinshui presents as a matter of respect.
• Compassion and mutual aid: Gu Yousi and Liang Ying help Chaohua despite their reservations about the Song family.
• Family separation and remembrance: Grandma Lin’s photograph and newspaper appeal point to families divided by past turmoil, and the risks people once faced in acknowledging overseas ties.