Footprints of Change Episode 27

Shenanigans

BeiChuan is getting more recognition from faculty head and students. But as his popularity rises, his colleague Guo is becoming more and more jealous. He originally defended BeiChuan, but when students say how they prefer his colleague’s classes to his, trouble is brewing. For XiNing trouble is also on the horizon. The manager handling their sale with foreign trader ran off with the money after collecting it from the buyer. Lu makes a deal to sell with a local buyer who reduces to half price after contract signed. They have run him out of factory and considering their options. Now that Jiuling is being allowed to offer input she and XiNing are agreeing more with how to do things. The story is shifting to make Lu the incompetent poor manager. So far, Jiuling is the character I like best. She has reasons for her behavior and she sees to the heart of things. I think she is spot on rolling her eyes at XiNing’s behavior with BeiChuan. I think XiNing does truly like him, but she is shameless in putting herself up on a pedestal to be adored. He annoys me being so subservient. He lectures like a professor when correcting, but in regular conversation he comes across as a weak servant to be taken advantage of. Case in point, BeiChuan bought some shirts to help them out and gave two to he faculty head to see if wife and he would like. He offered a shirt to Guo and was asked if color could be exchanged. When another color was found he kept both instead of just the one offered. He nods his head at BeiChuan who says nothing to stand up for himself. This bugs me about his character. Yan shows up at the stall and accepts offer to buy 50% of the merchandise for 20% off. He ups salary to 3k and invites her to work for him. JiuLing isn’t slow, she says offer 6k and both will work for him.🤣 XiNing makes excuse to clean up the mess at company first. She knows working for Yan will ‘fast track’ her, but she also thinks Yan does unethical business practices and that’s not how she wants to do things. In this, I have growing respect because even customs looks down on honesty. Scene goes back to college and Guo trying to butter up boss for a place in the dorms. The sr cannot verify if placement is based on seniority or popularity of classes. He recommends applying early because spaces go fast. He is quickly drawing his line in the sand reminding BeiChaun he eas ther a semester earlier. Going to stall XiNing is trying to find Lu and BiChuan shows up and tasks the professor to work stall. TongTong shows up and does a significant purchase. BeiChuan knows this isn’t proper considering teacher/student status but Jiuling just sees dollar signs. The company is in trouble and she’s not turning down any cash offers. Again, BeiChuan concedes instead of making a firmer stance with Jiuling why it wasn’t proper for him to be selling to students. BeiChuan is having tea with a colleague. He is a publisher wanting to publish BeiChuan’s book. It comes up in conversation that his student showed up demanding to be published. She wants to publish smutty romance stories. The student is TongTong who misrepresents her status with professor. This student is a problem and he should be reporting her, but he’s letting himself get boxed in with her and Guo.😝 Yan is now adding to mix because Yin only got to Canada and not US as agreed. He is a bit slow witted but what he lacks in quick thinking, he makes up for in per determination. There is a closeup on burner after both men left, but at least Yan remembered to unplug it. Shan is helping XiNing because of Yan. The ladies are at dinner and XiNing is trying to get a Visa to Hungary to make a case with the buyers. She wants to give Shan money, but doesn’t see how this looks like she’s bribing an official. She is warned to stop or no assist will be given. It goes back to the school and Guo is helping TongTong instigate trouble. He is giving bad advice to BeiChuan who is buying it.😝TongTong is selling the goods she bought from Jiuling’s stall and selling them for top dollar to ‘help’ professor Xiang. The dorm supervisor found out and Guo involved himself because he wants to live in dorm and just happens to know her. He promises he took care of it and nobody else would know. BeiChuan should have reported it immediately and explained circumstances, but he is too busy being a shmuck and accepting things at face value without standing up for himself. Maybe he finally will when they toss him in jail.😝 Time must have passed because the conversation between BeiChuan and XiNing is like a long engaged couple getting ready to establish a home. She knows the business world is going to compromise her ethics and challenges BeiChuan how steadfast his love would be comparing herself to Shan and Yan. What starts as a jest leads to a serious conversation. She is not enthused with the humble surroundings of an educator and she’s wondering how they are going to combine lifestyles. Skipping to Yan, he knows the proper bribe for Shan is shoes. There is more cash to come for Ye’s Visa. She wonders why he’s so determined to help her and he admits to unrequited love. BeiChuan and XiNing are interrupted by Yin who has made it back to China and wants his money back to get to US as promised. BeiChuan is headed out with him to find Yan. He confronts Yan in a calm but resolute way wanting what was promised. When he got to Canada they sent him back home. Yan is annoyed due to the rumors he heard that Yin would deal with him. He has no plans of assisting or returning the money. Here BeiChuan intercedes because he knows the guy’s story and Yan kicks them both out and makes a call to his stockbroker. Yin doesn’t leave. When he finds out that isn’t possible he hit himself with a cup. I thought he was going to pretend he was beaten by Yan, but he is just that distraught. This guy has mental issues. He promises to borrow whatever needed and BeiChuan is tagged with taking him to the hospital. This entire episode is shifting the moral compasses of the characters. It is yet to be determined if that is a positive or negative direction. It is using their circumstances to make them decide where they truly stand on things. This is interesting.

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