My Name Is Zhao Chu Xi

Plot Synopsis

My Name Is Zhao Chu Xi: A Rags-to-Riches Saga of Revenge and Redemption.

If you've ever felt underestimated because you lacked connections, or questioned the meaning of hard work late at night, this show offers a raw andpowerful answer: even a nobody can shatter the ceiling of fate.

Core Story: From Rural Roots to Urban Conquest

Set against the backdropof 1990s rural NortheasteChina,My Name Is Zhao Chu Xifollows the life-altering journey of Zhao Chu Xi (played by Zhao Bing Rui) as he strives to defy his destiny.

• Fateful Beginnings:Zhao Chu Xi loses hisparents during a blizzard at birth and is raised by his elder sister, Li Qing Yi (played by Zhang Xin Yu). Witnessing thepoverty of his hometown,Phoenix Village, and the deaths of fellow villagers, he vows "no success, no return," embarking on a quest to change his fate in the city.
• Trials of the Underclass:Arriving in Jia Cheng, he takes on menial jobs as a construction worker, security guard, and driver. He befriends fellow underdogs like Lin San Wu (played by Shi Yuan Ting) and Han San Qiang (played by Liu Bo), navigating the brutal realities of construction site brawls and workplace bullying. The taunt "no matter how hard you work, you'll always be at the bottom" fuels his determination to rise.
• Deadly TurningPoint:Protecting Su Xi Luo (played by Feng Li), a returning-from-overseas female CEO, Zhao Chu Xi crosses thepowerful scion Xu Shao Qing (played by Lu Hong). Forced to flee to San Jiang City after an assassination attempt, he unexpectedly takes over the near-bankrupt San Jiang Group, only to become entangled in a decades-old feud involving his father, who was framed after saving someone's life – with Xu Shao Qing's father as the mastermind.
• Revenge and Redemption:Zhao Chu Xi ruthlessly eliminates his business rivals, transforming from a "country bumpkin" into a formidable businessman while uncovering the truth behind his family's tragedy. Ultimately, he returns to his hometown with his loyal comrades to build roads and factories, achieving not onlypersonal success but also giving back to his community.

High-Octane Drama: Three Major Conflicts Blending Gritty Realism with Cathartic Release

1. Extreme Class Warfare:Xu Shao Qing, representing the elite, insults Zhao Chu Xi with slurs like "toad lusting after swan meat" and even runs over his friend in the street. Zhao Chu Xi's retaliation is visceral: he fights ten men single-handedly on the construction site, overturns tables during business negotiations, and finally confronts Xu Shao Qing in a life-or-death showdown on a snowy mountain, delivering the explosive line, "You think money can buy everything? I'll make you kneel and beg for forgiveness."
2. Hidden Family Ties:Sister Li Qing Yi appears to be a simple convenience store owner but secretlyprotects her brother. A hidden clue: an oldphoto she treasures holds evidence of Zhao's father saving a life. Later, she takes a knife for Zhao Chu Xi, becoming his ultimate motivation to "win at all costs."
3. Bloody Feud from thePast:Zhao Chu Xi's father died saving Xu's father (Xu Cheng Qian,played by Shi Xiao Hong), leading to his wife's death in childbirth. However, Xu's father framed the Zhao family. When Zhao Chu Xi discovers his father's blood-written letter in the basement of the San Jiang Group, his anguished cry, "Twenty years of hatred, all for nothing!" becomes one of the show's most heart-wrenching scenes.

Why It's a Hit: A Genre-Bending Underdog Story

• Authentic Grit:Details like blisters from bricklaying, being humiliated for eating instant noodles, and sleeping under bridges make theprotagonist's rise resonate deeply. Director Ma Cheng Cheng used on-location filming in Jiamusi, Northeast China, recreating the era's atmosphere with 1990s supply cooperatives, old-fashioned trains, and otherperiod-accurate settings.
• "Unfiltered" Brotherhood:Lin San Wu, despite his crippled leg, shields Zhao Chu Xi from harm, while Han San Qiang's line, "We're sopoor we only have our lives, what's there to fear?" encapsulates the raw spirit of the underclass. Unlike typical "Mary Sue"protagonists, this group's growth is marked by hardshipand bloodshed.
• Complex Female Characters:Li Qing Yi isn't a "damsel in distress" but a street-smart woman with hidden gun skills. Su Xi Luo rejects the "naive and sweet" trope, activelyplotting to trapXu Shao Qing, delivering a memorable "high-heel-to-the-face" scene that showcases female empowerment.
• Visceral Action:The trailer features construction site brawls, snowy car chases, and office showdowns, filmed with real stunts and long takes. Viewers havepraised it as "more raw thanThe Knockout" and "more exciting thanWild Bloom."

Key Character Breakdown: A Cast of Flawed and Fierce Individuals

• Character:Zhao Chu Xi

  Actor:Zhao Bing Rui

  Character Highlights:Seemingly honest but ruthless at his core. He smiles after being slapped, saying, "Remember, I'll retuthis slaptenfold." His inherent "rebellious spirit" makes his rise all the more satisfying.

• Character:Li Qing Yi

  Actor:Zhang Xin Yu

  Character Highlights:The convenience store owner who hides a knife. Her line, "Anyone who dares to touch my brother won't see the sun rise tomorrow," embodies the fierceprotectiveness of a Northeastesister.

• Character:Xu Shao Qing

  Actor:Lu Hong

  Character Highlights:A sociopathic villain with a veneer of civility. He wears gold-rimmed glasses but enjoys torturing stray cats. When forced to his knees by Zhao Chu Xi, he cries, "My dad has money, let me go," creating a compelling contrast.

• Character:Lin San Wu

  Actor:Shi Yuan Ting

  Character Highlights:An orphan who was crippled after stealing bread. Zhao Chu Xi's "shadow," he loses a fingerprotecting his friend and can still deliver flying kicks despite his disability.

• Character:Su Xi Luo

  Actor:Feng Li

  Character Highlights:A returning-from-overseas female CEO who isn't blinded by love. She uses Zhao Chu Xi to counter the Xu family, and their "partnershipin making money" is a more compelling form of mutual redemption than a typical romance.

Viewing Guide: The Must-Watch Chinese Drama of 2025

• Pacing:30 episodes with no filler. The first three episodes feature construction site fights and the initial encounter with Su Xi Luo, while episode 8 showcases the snowy mountain showdown with Xu Shao Qing. The intense moments arepacked like a "male-oriented version ofThe Knockout."
• Resonance:Anyone from a rural background who's struggled academically, faced workplace bullying, or been dismissed for lacking connections will find a cathartic outlet in Zhao Chu Xi's journey.

Zhao Bingrui
Zhao Chu Xi

Zhang Xinyu
Li Qingyi

Lu Hong
Xu Shaoqing

Feng Li
Su Xiluo