Arc 8Chapters 176–200
No recap yet.
No recap yet.
Wang Xiaoliang managed Store Two smoothly until inspections and a labor complaint disrupted his routine. He went with Kong Xiuyun to the Labor Supervision Brigade, where they found Liang Yanni waiting for them.
At a mediation hearing, Kong Xiuyun produced evidence that Liang Yanni had received her wages and that the supermarket had prepared to promote her, sign a contract, and provide social insurance. Liang Yanni admitted her complaint was a misunderstanding, and Wang Xiaoliang asked what consequences she could face for making false accusations and damaging the company's reputation.
Wang Xiaoliang prepared to report Liang Yanni for her false accusations, but Kong Xiuyun persuaded him to accept a signed written pledge instead. As they drove back, Kong explained how careful business practices had protected the supermarket, then revealed she knew Wang Xiaoliang's girlfriend was a big star.
Wang Xiaoliang reflected on how his pity for Liang Yanni had blinded him to her character and resolved to judge people more carefully. He told Wei Zijin about Liang Yanni’s failed scheme and asked her not to post a video about her.
Wang Xiaoliang was approached by Tian Jiayi, the student he had rescued after a delivery rider struck her outside the Library. After thanking him and explaining how close she had come to dying, Tian Jiayi added him on WeChat so she could treat him to a meal.
Wang Xiaoliang watched the relationships of supermarket customers unfold and recognized He Runya shopping with another man, who bought condoms. He Runya later confronted Wang and asked him not to tell Xiao Weijin, revealing that she wanted to keep the man as another option.
Wang Xiaoliang reflected on the Book of Fate’s Way of Husband and Wife and understood how trust and unity could strengthen a relationship, comparing his bond with Wei Zijin to He Runya and Xiao Weijin’s fragile one. The next morning, Sun Ting returned to Store Two after handling her family matters, and Wang Xiaoliang decided not to pry.
Wang Xiaoliang learned that Liu Xinyu, Yang Qingyu, and others were visiting Jiangcheng for the supermarket opening and helped arrange their Saturday plans. After coordinating dinner and airport pickups, he longed to own a car so he could drive to meet his family and Wei Zijin.
Wang Xiaoliang checked the private dining room at Old Sichuan before visiting Anyang Snacks to buy fruit and examine its products and sales approach. He discovered that the store stocked Liu Xinyu and his wife's Grandpa Liu dried tofu and considered whether he could introduce its fresh-cut fruit model at his own supermarkets.
Wang Xiaoliang ran into Wang Fen, Chen Xiaoying, Ouyang Hai, and Zhao Shengkai at the supermarket, then was called back there by Liu Xinyu. He met An Peiwen, Hu Yang, Li Liting, and Shangguan Rui, and Hu Yang told him to call him Third Brother.
Wang Xiaoliang arrived at Anyang Snacks with Hu Yang and An Peiwen, where Liu Xinyu and the others gathered to meet them. After the group left for a restaurant, Liu Xinyu stopped Zhao Shengkai, Chen Xiaoying, Ouyang Hai, and Wang Fen from tagging along, promising to treat them another day.
At a meal with Liu Xinyu’s friends and family, Wang Xiaoliang asked whether his supermarket could sell the secret-recipe dried tofu, and An Peiwen agreed to supply it through Anyang’s warehouse. An Peiwen then explained Hu Yang’s childish pranks against Fat Boss, which Hu Yang said were meant to keep Luo Bisheng from returning to his old ways.
Hu Yang pushed Luo Bisheng to introduce himself to the people at lunch, revealing how severe his social anxiety was. After the group reminisced about their busy lives and joked about growing old together, Zhou Qiang asked Hu Yang about buying a storefront in the Phase Two development.
Hu Yang agreed to sell Zhou Qiang a storefront at an insider rate after hearing he wanted to reopen a restaurant for his former staff. He then explained why he had taken responsibility for helping Luo Bisheng become more independent, and the story left with Liu Xinyu suggesting Wang Xiaoliang might help Bisheng overcome his shyness.
Wang Xiaoliang explained how selling his first bottle of soda helped him overcome his shyness, and Hu Yang asked how Bisheng might take a similar first step. The conversation turned to Hu Yang and Shangguan Rui’s courtship, but Hu Yang refused to tell the story until Liu Xinyu had three kids.
Hu Yang and his friends finished their meal in Fucheng, while Liu Xinyu discussed the upcoming launch of three local snacks. After Hu Yang and his family left, Liu Xinyu agreed to a classmates’ dinner in Jiangcheng, where the group teased him about trying for a baby.
Liu Xinyu and his friends toured Jiangcheng University while Zhou Qiang explained how Hu Yang planned to help Luo Bisheng build a future through an internet café. Wang Xiaoliang realized Zhou Qiang was deliberately befriending people to get closer to Hu Yang, and the group continued their walk joking together.
Zhou Qiang returned to Hongbin Tower for a class farewell dinner and saw how much the place had changed since he gave it up. At the gathering, Wang Xiaoliang revealed that he called Hu Yang “Third Brother,” prompting Chen Xiaoying to understand his connection to Wei Zijin and choose her seat accordingly.
Wang Xiaoliang watched the classmates gather for their reunion and noticed that Zhao Shengkai, Ouyang Hai, and He Runya had placed their phones face down. He Runya, whom he knew was unfaithful to her partner, received a call and left the room after glancing toward him.
Yang Qingyu and Liu Xinyu took charge of the classmates’ dinner, ordering more food and insisting on paying as a wedding-hosting gesture and an apology. As the meal resumed, the classmates complained about the restaurant’s prices, and Li Lanxiang clarified that Hongbin Tower had a new owner; He Runya then returned to the private room.
At a reunion dinner at Hongbin Tower, Zhou Qiang defended the restaurant’s prices after Xiao Weijin accused it of overcharging. The gathering resumed its celebration, though He Runya remained weary of Xiao Weijin.
At a dinner hosted by Liu Xinyu and Yang Qingyu, Zeng Haiyan and the other guests toasted Liu Xinyu, Zhou Qiang, Wang Xiaoliang, and the women while seeking advice and connections. Liu Xinyu revealed that Mr. An had personally offered Wang Xiaoliang a job at Anyang, but Wang Xiaoliang had chosen to try making his own way first.
Wang Xiaoliang enjoyed the respect he received at the gathering, but the evening turned sour when Fang Dongxu got drunk and vomited on Zhou Qiang and the private room. Liu Xinyu ended the gathering after the waitresses complained about cleaning up.
After the gathering, Wang Xiaoliang, Zhou Qiang, and Huang Xueli carried the unconscious Fang Dongxu to Huang Xueli’s dorm and left him with water and a message. As they headed to meet their friends, Huang Xueli was asked to break up an argument outside Women’s Dormitory Nine, where Wang Xiaoliang recognized Xiao Weijin confronting He Runya.
Huang Xueli stopped Xiao Weijin from assaulting He Runya and cleared away the students watching them. He Runya reaffirmed that she wanted to break up, leaving Xiao Weijin sobbing outside her dorm as Huang Xueli arranged to have security monitor him.