Original subtitles

Sub by iQiyi & Ripped by skysoultan ♔ Follow @skysoultan on Instagram ♔

The Ideal City

This is a work of fiction

Ep21

Pick a seat.

Anywhere is fine.

What do you think of this place?

It's elegant.

Elegant.

You don't come here often, do you?

Order anything you want today.

Order something you can't make at home.

I don't know much about Japanese food.

I'll leave the choice to you.

Let Ming do it.

His dad used to be a visiting scholar

in Japan.

Ming went there with his dad for over a year.

He met the restaurant owner's

wife around that time.

She treats him really well

and even wanted her daughter to marry him.

These years,

I've been trying to help him so much

and I almost went to People's Park

and put up a notice.

But after seeing so many girls,

I realized

not many girls

are a match for Ming.

They either have a good family background but aren't pretty or well-educated,

or the other way around.

Up till now, I've only

found one girl

who matches all the criteria.

Uncle Huang.

Yao.

Come in.

Well...

Su Xiao, let me introduce her.

Miss. He.

It's been a while.

Yeah. Now we meet again.

Do you know each other?

That's great, then.

Is your father busy recently?

I planned to visit him

but I don't want to interrupt his work.

He is always busy.

But he still has time

for lunch and dinner.

Two days ago, he mentioned you.

He said that next time,

we'd invite you to our place again.

When we have time,

I will definitely drink with him.

I will tell him for sure.

What are you busy with recently?

Nothing much.

I want to travel to France for a few days.

Here. Taste this.

It's their specialty.

A friend of mine

bought a chateau in France.

France?

You should go. Come on.

Let's go together.

No, thanks. I have to work.

You need a life too, not just work.

You can never finish working.

I still need to earn my rent.

Otherwise, I wouldn't

have a place to live when I'm back.

Su Xiao,

why do you work so hard?

Find a boyfriend.

Don't you have a boyfriend?

What height, age, and appearance requirements

do you have?

No requirement but one.

He can give me what's worthy of 100 years of work.

Well...

I know someone with the family name Zhu.

His ancestral home is Fengyang.

One ancestor used to be a cowherd and a monk.

Do you have any interest?

That's worthy of 600 years of work.

Excuse me.

My company needs me to work overtime.

I won't stay here.

Enjoy the meal and the chat.

Let me send you off.

Let me do it.

Sit down.

I'll go.

You asked for her help a lot, did you?

You can't just come to her when you need her

and turn around when you don't need her.

Our family doesn't do that.

Have fun chatting with her.

Come on. Have fun chatting.

I'll send her off.

Su Xiao.

Slow down.

Mr. Huang,

stop acting.

Today, Mr. Huang

called me and said that he'll invite me to dinner.

Meanwhile, I want to apologize to you

in person for what happened last time.

I didn't know that Miss. Su would be here too.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have come.

My uncle is just like this.

He does whatever he feels like.

Please don't mind.

But you do mind, don't you?

I just don't want to

mix work with relationships.

You're not afraid to mix work

with relationships.

You are afraid that people will say you rely on me

and my father.

Do you think I chose

to be born in a family like this?

Doesn't the daughter

of He Shengli deserve to be loved?

I'll leave, too. Enjoy the food.

Why did you let her run away?

Don't try to set me up again.

I put in so much effort

and fished her here for you.

You screwed up everything.

You're out of your mind.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Give me the bill.

Xia Ming

Everyone knows

Comprehensive Cost Control

how difficult it is to do a project

nowadays.

It's not as easy as before.

All the other companies are promoting scientific management.

We can't just stay like fools

and muck about.

Our profit used

to be 20 percent, right?

Now, over 10 percent

is more than acceptable.

Therefore, we have to change

the management method.

We have to promote comprehensive cost control

right now.

Guys,

all of us need to work with Director Su

and get in full swing. Okay?

Rest assured, Mr. Wang. This is good.

We will surely

cooperate with Director Su.

I won't speak too much.

I'll leave the time to Director Su.

Su Xiao. Come on.

Comprehensive cost control.

The first step

is that all departments

need to submit historical data,

including project budgets, costs

and final amounts that were

approved by audits.

Why are you here, Zhengming?

Dong Lin, Yu.

I heard that Director Chen

pays you a high salary.

I'm here for Su Xiao.

Director Su?

Are you coming back?

Director Su is in a meeting.

How about this?

When she finishes,

I'll tell her to call you back.

Go back now.

OK.

Thank you, Dong Lin.

It's alright.

Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

Later on, don't tell Director Su

that Lu Zhengming was here.

Why?

Don't you remember?

They used to fight for

the manager's position.

It was really awkward.

Then, Lu Zhengming helped Director Chen

set Director Su up.

Anyways,

don't tell Director Su.

I fear it'll upset her.

Bye-bye.

Yeah. Plan it properly when you go back.

Don't worry.

The work is too heavy.

Are you sure it will work?

It has to work.

There is no turning back.

If it doesn't work, we'll hire more people.

More people.

Also,

it's been over a week.

Has Lu Zhengming contacted you?

Not yet.

Look.

I don't think he will come back.

Search recruitment sites and hire someone else.

Don't delay.

OK.

Dong Lin.

Director.

Has Lu

contacted you recently?

Zhengming?

He didn't.

Do you need me to contact him?

I'll call him, then.

It's alright.

Director Su,

I'm back.

Come on. Put aside your work,

everybody.

Let me introduce

the manager of the business contract department.

Lu Zhengming.

Manager.

Bravo.

Not bad. You finally come back.

Thank you.

Thank you, everyone.

It's great.

Zhengming.

I've brought you

all your stuff.

Thank you, Dong Lin.

Just now,

I thought you were here

to make trouble for Director Su.

That's why I didn't...

It's alright. I understand.

Let me tell you,

I'm feeling like having

a dream recently.

Why?

When I left,

Su Xiao told me

to wait 15 days for her.

At that time, I thought

what for?

I wouldn't come back anyway.

Before this, I wasn't satisfied

with her promotion.

Yeah.

But now,

there's no reason to feel like that.

Are you saying

that you had a hard time

with Director Chen?

It's not like that. I was fine.

I'm just used to TC Construction

and still want to come back.

Of course.

Listen,

after you come back,

we have to drink

and chat just like before.

Of course.

Of course.

That's an agreement. Come on.

Dong Lin.

Did you urge the materials department

to submit data?

Not yet. Can you do it?

I don't feel well.

What's the matter?

Maybe I ate something bad.

My stomach doesn't feel right.

It's alright. I'll go downstairs and get some medicine.

I'll be fine.

OK.

Hello. Is Dong Lin there?

He said that he ate something bad

and has a stomachache.

He's downstairs getting some medicine.

How long has it been?

Half an hour.

OK. Thanks.

Sorry.

The subscriber you dialed

is not in service.

Please try again later.

Madam, a bottle of water.

OK. Just scan the code.

It's eight in the morning.

At ten in the morning,

you will have a regular meeting on the All Stars Project

with the chief financial manager of TC Construction.

At eleven in the morning,

you'll have an internal evaluation and review

on the final account for the completed Yili Project.

At two in the afternoon,

you will carry out a geological survey in parcel A706.

Is Director Su here?

Probably. She's in the meeting room.

Director Xia.

Where is Director Su?

She is at the construction site

and told me to come here.

OK.

Let's begin.

OK.

Director.

Come in.

Here're part of the historical data submitted

by the departments.

I asked Dong Lin and the guys to verify.

There're many problems.

What are you looking for, director?

The daily accounts of assets from the finance department.

We don't have it.

No?

Why not?

You have to ask Mei.

Why?

Director Su,

you have been in this company for one year.

Don't you know the situation

of our company?

There're only a few people

in the finance department.

Every month, we have to do cost accounting

and final accounts on so many projects.

There're reports, too.

We're normal people.

We don't have extra arms or brains.

The data of accounts of assets

are right there.

You just need to fill in the form

every day and send it to me.

It takes only a few minutes.

You don't need extra arms or brains.

Easier said than done.

If only our work

can be done just by your

empty words.

Tell me then, Mei.

What's so difficult about it?

We are short of hands. We don't have time.

Su Xiao.

It's not that I don't want to help you.

We are really short of hands.

How about this?

Tell Mr. Wang about it

and ask him to recruit.

Doesn't he

value your opinions the most?

Who does she think she is?

It's not enough to take over

the business contract department.

She also wants the finance department.

Tell me. Why does

a young girl crave power so much?

Yeah. She's too ambitious.

Right. Young girls nowadays

are ambitious.

They're hungry for powers,

wanting to skin and eat others alive.

Unlike us.

We were so simple.

Finally, I feel good.

This time, I took her down a notch.

We shall see if she dares

to boss us around again.

Well said.

Don't be mad, director.

Mei is a senior employee.

She is just like that.

Don't be bothered.

I'm not bothered,

She delays our work.

Comprehensive cost control

is the big picture and the main strategy.

How can she not see it?

You're right.

Maybe she can't realize it all of a sudden.

You can slow down

and work on explaining it to her.

Tell Tong and Cai to come

to the company and settle accounts tomorrow.

OK.

Can I ask Mei and see

if we have money tomorrow

or if we can settle accounts?

No.

But Tong and Cai have bad tempers.

If we don't have the money tomorrow,

there will be a fight.

How long have you been delaying the payments?

You told us to come and get them. Here we are.

Who told you to come? No money.

You're doing it again.

Are you playing us?

No money in any case.

Let me tell you...

No money.

If we don't get the money today,

we won't leave.

Suit yourself. I don't care.

If you cross us,

there will be consequences.

I'm not afraid.

Who are you threatening?

Who the hell are you?

Who are you talking about?

What happened?

Ask her.

Come to my office,

the two of you.

Mr. Wang. Be the judge.

Tell me.

Is Director Su tyrannical?

She didn't even tell me

about it before

telling the subcontractors to come.

But we don't have the money.

They made trouble in the finance department.

Two days ago, we just received

payment for the JS River Project.

Why doesn't the finance department have money?

We paid

the interest to the bank yesterday.

Why did no one tell me

about paying the interest?

According to the comprehensive cost control,

you need to inform me of all income and expenses

of the finance department.

I'll keep accounts of assets

and monitor.

You paid the interest

without telling me.

You took the liberty.

When Director Chen was here,

we never had such rules.

After Mr. Wang signed the papers,

I could do things.

It's not that we didn't have rules.

We just didn't follow them.

Before, exactly because

our management was too loose,

we didn't make proper use of money.

We either didn't have money

or had too much cash in our account

and didn't make short-term investments.

That's why we need

comprehensive cost control.

You're trouble.

When Director Chen was here,

he didn't require this.

You're complicating things.

It's not complicating things.

Comprehensive cost control

is a must in modern companies.

Monitoring cash flow is

an important part of the control.

Alright. Stop giving me lessons.

I can't understand any of these.

I'll only ask one thing.

Is it so difficult

to talk to me before

telling the subcontractors

to come here?

It was my fault today.

I apologize to you, Mei.

Next time, I will definitely tell you

in advance before

asking subcontractors to come.

But Mei,

please follow the rules

of comprehensive cost control.

Tell me about all the expenditures

of the finance department, okay?

A tyrant. Look, Mr. Wang.

She's such a tyrant.

I'm not.

Xiao. Stop it.

Stop arguing.

They say that one woman

is as loud as 500 ducks.

How true.

The two of you are like 1,000 ducks.

Quack, quack, quack.

My head hurts.

Mr. Wang. She is so bossy.

Mei.

That's enough.

Go out now. Don't be angry.

I know it now.

Sit over here.

Why?

Comprehensive cost control has been

implemented for over half a month.

Mei never follows the procedure.

I know nothing about our money.

How am I supposed to

stagger payments

and use money efficiently?

Is that why

you deliberately didn't tell Mei

that the subcontractors would come?

With Mei's temper, she'd get

into a fight the moment

the subcontractors arrive.

Then,

I would know.

Right?

What do you plan to do now?

Mr. Wang.

To develop,

everyone must keep up.

You really sound like one person.

Zhao Xiankun.

The president?

You're just like him.

Both of you want to reach the summit.

To develop,

everyone must keep up.

Hello.

Where are you, Wang?

I'm in a traffic jam. I'll be there soon.

Enjoy.

We're waiting for you.

I know.

Have fun.

Alright.

See you later.

OK.

Yesterday...

I thought about it the whole night.

We really have to

slow down implementing

comprehensive cost control.

We need to allow Mei

and other older people

time to catch up.

We never followed

the previous procedures.

All departments are used to it.

They have their own ideas

and slack off as much as possible.

To implement comprehensive cost control,

we need to make up for

the work we didn't do in the past years.

When the workload increases,

the seniors will surely find it hard to adapt.

But it's just

a problem at this stage.

It'll be fine after this.

You're a talent.

But you're too strict.

Hello.

It's alright.

Yes. We haven't met for a while.

See you next time.

OK.

Mei's husband called.

He said that Mei is sick.

But she was perfectly well yesterday.

Why is she sick today?

Mei's husband works in

the Bureau of Retired Officials.

He's not a high-ranking official and he doesn't administer us.

But we are businesspeople.

Many friends mean more options.

If there's no need to cross

someone, let's not do that.

Will Mei be sick for one day

or several days?

We need to make payments to several projects.

What should we do if she's not here?

Her days of sickness probably depend on you.

Me?

I can tell right from wrong.

But Mei

just wants an out.

No one else can give her an out

but you.

She's so much older than you.

It's not embarrassing to apologize.

If that's the case,

I have more reason not to do it.

If I apologized,

everything I did before will be for nothing.

In the future,

it will be more difficult to get things going.

Director.

Well...

What's our plan for the payment

of the East Hill Bridge Project?

The project group called again to press us.

Mei is sick.

Let's wait a few days.

Sick?

But she was well yesterday.

Why is she suddenly sick?

Where's Dong Lin?

Dong Lin just called and said he doesn't

feel well all of a sudden.

I can understand

that he's unhappy.

He must've thought that he'd

probably become the manager

if I didn't come back.

Even if you didn't,

he wouldn't have become the manager.

A lot of things rely on him.

A lot of work will be delayed without him.

If he can never work it out,

we will have no choice but to recruit someone else.

Director, I need to answer a call.

You have no idea

how aggressive that girl is.

She took down the boss

in her department

and wants to boss me around.

She wants me to submit

accounts of assets every day.

If I don't teach her a lesson,

she won't know her place.

But you're at home.

How can you teach her a lesson?

It's exactly how

I teach her a lesson.

I'm not there when they need to make payments.

They won't have the money.

I shall see if she comes and apologize.

Green dragon.

It's been two days.

Hasn't she apologized?

She's stubborn.

Even my boss

called a few times.

She didn't even call me once.

Fine.

I wonder how long she can last.

Bamboo 7.

Mahjong!

I feel so much better.

Me too.

I'm happy.

Mei, you are frustrated at work

but very lucky in mahjong.

My husband is back.

I'll open the door.

She's got luck.

Hello, Mei.

Why are you here?

I'm here to visit you.

Are you feeling better?

Do you have visitors?

I will make it short.

Mei,

I stepped over the line the other day.

You have a big heart.

Please don't be bothered.

Don't worry

about work.

Take care.

Nothing is more important than health.

OK.

I brought you something to eat.

I'll leave them here.

You...

Travel safe.

Take care, Mei.

Who was it?

That girl.

Why did she pick this time?

She didn't even call.

Sneaking around.

These are a lot.

What's this?

What's this?

Tremella soup with red dates. It's nice

and easy to drink.

Is that so?

Does it mean that she knows

you pretended to be sick?

Whatever.

Do you think she doesn't?

She snuck around

only for catching me off guard.

She had her way.

However,

she apologized to me just now.

That'll do. Come on.

Director.

Come in.

I just saw Mei

in the elevator.

She recovered

and told me we have money this weekend

for the payments.

I went to her place yesterday.

She was playing mahjong.

You did it in the end.

Then it'll be more difficult to make her

cooperate in the future.

Let's solve the current payments first.

We'll deal with it later on.

Please read the email.

I had a discussion with Manager Lu.

To improve the professional skills

of staff in our department,

we need job rotation.

You have seen the details,

right?

I'll show you an example.

Between Dong Lin and Yu Can,

Dong Lin's role A

is the installation manager.

His role B is Yu Can's role,

which is the cost manager.

Yu Can's role A

is the cost manager.

His role B is Dong Lin's role,

the installation manager.

Apart from your roles and duties,

you need to learn the others'.

Director.

We have so much work every day.

We can't finish.

There's too much to learn.

Most importantly, I don't understand.

Director.

Be considerate.

Recently, we need to analyze

historical data from all departments.

With the job rotation,

we'll be too tired.

Yeah.

Can't you just

give us a break?

We worked overtime a lot for bids

and haven't had enough days off.

You can't treat us

like machines.

Can you allow Director Su

to finish first?

But it won't...

Alright.

Job rotation

aims at streamlining.

In this case, if an employee

can't work, the company

will still operate.

Also,

it's for your benefit.

You're working.

It's always good

to have one more skill.

Director.

Think twice.

Anyone?

What are role A and role B?

It must be another one of

Concubine Su's reforms.

Why does she have so much to do?

She's reforming everything

every day.

A new official applies strict measures.

I don't know what got into Mr. Wang's mind.

He lets her mess the company

around without end.

Exactly, Mei.

Because of her

comprehensive cost control,

the administration department

works overtime every day.

I can't stand it.

Back to work.

What's wrong with the administration department?

Don't you know we're running out of toilet paper?

We're too busy recently.

What are you so busy with?

Well...

Director Su asked us to process

data from two years ago.

But this department

only has a few workers.

We're already short-handed.

Now we have more to do.

That's why we didn't realize

toilet paper was gone.

Come on. Show me.

It's just historical data.

How can it be so difficult?

Director Su asked us to collect

all procurement data in the past two years.

We even need to

precisely count the pins.

I don't think it's too much work.

I just feel that it's almost meaningless

with that much effort.

Also, it interrupts

daily work a lot.

Director Su must

have her reasons behind this.

Talk to her.

Right now, all departments

are complaining about her.

Even the people in the business

contract department

are complaining a lot, too.

Is it so serious?

Why did no one tell me?

Mr. Wang.

We all know

that you value Director Su a lot.

Even Director Chen left.

Who dares to speak badly

about her in front of you?

So...

they only dare to talk to me in private.

They say that Director Su is taking over.

Before wearing us out,

she won't stop.

Is there humanity in her?

Rather than wanting Concubine Su to have humanity,

wait for pennies from heaven.

Mr. Wang.

Mr. Wang.

Mr. Wang.

Is it convenient?

I want to talk to you.

What?

Director Su...

We must stop the comprehensive cost control.

Mr. Wang, it's easy to stop

but difficult to start again.

Then we don't do it.

There're too many complaints from all departments,

your department included.

If it continues,

not only we won't manage comprehensive cost control

but the whole company will fall apart.

If we compare companies to human bodies,

cash is the blood flow.

The metabolism of human bodies

depend on the blood flow.

The operation of companies

depend on cash flow.

The responsibility of a chief financial manager

is to increase income and decrease expenditure.

If I know nothing about the cash flow,

how can I manage that?

For example, let's talk about

the administration department and the toilet paper.

Do you know, Mr. Wang?

In the past six months,

our company used

240 rolls of toilet paper

each month.

We have 60 regulars.

It means that everyone

used 4 rolls per month.

How many times did they

go to the toilet every day?

Where's the rest of the toilet paper?

Have you thought about it, Mr. Wang?

Let's talk about the finance department now.

During this Spring Festival,

we had over 30 million cash

in our account.

The money was there for over half a month.

If we bought short-term finance products

from the bank before the New Year

and sell them after the festival,

we could've had thousands

of income through interest.

It'd be enough to buy

ten years of toilet paper.

Mr. Wang.

If we change actively now,

there's still time.

When the market forces

us to change,

there won't be time.

Look at nature documentaries.

All the slow gazelles

were eaten by lions.

Do remember

the law of jungle.

Only the fast gazelles

can survive.

I'll invest 50 million.

Everything else depends on you.

You will understand me in the future.

Cheers.

What are you thinking? Let's drink.

Come on.

Bottoms up. Let me fill it up.

Where's the drink?

Cheers.

Cheers.

Bottoms up.

Pour the drink.

Cheers.

Fill it.

Come on. Bottoms up.

Mei.

Let me help you.

Dam it.

Even Mei was fired.

Mr. Wang

is possessed for real.

He listens to everything she says.

Well said.

It seems that we'll have to live

under Concubine Su's reign of terror.

I think it's great.

In all companies, competent staff gets promoted.

It's not easy to be Concubine Su.

Do you want to try it?

Let's go.

Thanks.

I'm so pissed.

What's wrong?

You're famous now.

You have a powerful

nickname in the company now.

What nickname?

Concubine Su.

You're also pissed, right?

I was angry, too.

And I roasted them on the spot.

They can do nothing

but making up nicknames.

As the party involved,

I'm not even as angry as you.

Don't pretend to be strong.

I'm on your side.

What do they know?

In my mind, you're the best.

Don't be brainwashed by them.

Director Xia.

I'll go back

and report to Director Su

before giving you a reply.

OK.

I'll leave you to it.

Can you not be affected by others?

I have trust in you now.

It's this much

and this much.

You're shy. Any gossip?

Never mind.

I'll leave.

Thanks for your coffee.

Hello.

How long do you plan

to hide from me?

Why would I do that?

Are you a beast?

If you're not,

why didn't you attend two regular meetings in a roll?

What's wrong?

Are you unsatisfied

with Manager Lu?

Yes.

I'm very unsatisfied.

But not with him. With you.

What it is that you can't ask me in person?

Can you solve problems by avoiding them?

Sorry.

I don't have anything to ask.

I also don't need

to avoid anything.

I have never seen someone

as stubborn as you.

If you have nothing to say to me,

fine. No problem.

But I have something to say.

Half-past seven this evening.

Let's meet at the usual place.

Director Xia.

Your office environment

is not bad.

Why are you here, Mr. Lin?

I'm here for you.

I don't come except for business.

This way.

There isn't much left.

You're listening to music again during office hours.

How many times have I told you?

Concubine Su,

I will never do it again.

Lend me your cosmetic products.

I only brought a bag of snacks.

I left my bag of cosmetics at home.

Look.

I'm not wearing makeup today.

What? Do you have a date?

It's alright.

I have a plan.

Did Miss. He gift you this?

How do you know?

There's one in my office, too.

I bought it

when she held the photo exhibition.

She signed He Yao.

It's just Yao on yours.

I didn't notice.

It seems

that she hasn't got

your attention.

Huang.

Do you have land

in rural areas?

What land?

A large piece of land

next to the art museum.

The location is not bad.

That's agricultural land.

The owner

owed us project payment

and used the land as collateral.

It's a vegetable field now.

It doesn't have much use.

Wasted.