City of Streamer Episode 12 Recap
> City of Streamer Recap
Rong Jiashang opened up to Feng Shizhen, recalling how his father sent him away when he was young. He told her that he used to be full of resentment but has gradually found peace. He often remembers her advice from their first class about becoming a responsible man, and he now intends to move past old injustices, focus on the future, and protect his family.
Feng Shizhen, however, was internally conflicted, knowing her true purpose was to destroy the Rong family. She realized that they were destined to become irreconcilable opponents. Despite this, she thanked Jiashang for saving her life, although he downplayed his actions, stating his captor simply released her. Feng Shizhen insisted that his presence had scared her captor, preventing him from harming her further. Suddenly, a servant rushed to Rong Jiashang, reporting a poisoning.
Rong Jiashang asked Feng Shizhen to accompany him to investigate. They arrived to find a guard dead. A fellow servant explained that the deceased, who was supposed to deliver food to Guo Dazhuang, had greedily eaten a marinated egg from the meal and died instantly. The small kitchen staff, however, vehemently denied preparing any marinated egg, stating they only sent rice and greens. Rong Jiashang ordered the deceased to be properly buried.
Witnessing this, a terrified Guo Dazhuang pleaded for his life, vowing to confess everything. Rong Jiashang remarked that a dead man could be a more effective persuader than a bullet. Guo Dazhuang confessed that he had been recruited last April by individuals who paid off his gambling debts.
His task was to retrieve intelligence from a fist-sized hole in an old locust tree by the octagonal pavilion and deliver it every two days to the Foundling Home at the east street corner. He would place the notes in old newspapers and deposit them in the drum outside the hall.
He swore he never saw the people who paid him or collected the information, explaining that payments were made at night and he intentionally avoided knowing too much to stay out of trouble. His last delivery, the day after the Mid-Autumn Festival, contained only a blank sheet of paper. He also denied any direct contact with Miss Sun, only seeing her from afar in the garden. Rong Jiashang then sought Feng Shizhen’s opinion on Guo Dazhuang's fate.
Initially, she stated he should be severely punished for betrayal, but as Guo Dazhuang desperately begged for mercy, she suggested a different approach. She proposed using Guo Dazhuang to feed false information to the other party and gather intelligence from them, calling it a "long-term plan to get something bigger." Guo Dazhuang readily agreed, mentioning he remembered the voice of the person who contacted him.
Unbeknownst to Guo Dazhuang, the poisoning incident was an elaborate ruse orchestrated by Rong Jiashang, who had arranged for the guard to fake his death by eating a poisoned marinated egg, successfully tricking Guo Dazhuang into confessing. Later, Rong Jiashang met with Yang Xiucheng to discuss their findings. Yang Xiucheng reported that his investigation only uncovered two servants guilty of corruption and theft, with no other significant breakthroughs.
Rong Jiashang, on his part, informed Yang Xiucheng that Guo Dazhuang confessed to being a spy for nearly two years but only recently transmitted a blank piece of paper, having no knowledge of the specific intelligence. Yang Xiucheng deduced that the spy was indeed within the residence and planned a thorough sweep of the staff. He then revealed that the ciphertext for the goods' new storage location, which he had written down and then burned after decoding, had been stolen.
Yang Xiucheng expressed suspicion towards Feng Shizhen, cautioning Rong Jiashang that as an outsider and someone he adored, she could be unknowingly manipulated by others. However, Rong Jiashang firmly defended Feng Shizhen, stating his unwavering trust in her. Rong Jiashang released Guo Dazhuang, placing him under surveillance. As expected, Guo Dazhuang headed directly to the Foundling Home.
Meanwhile, Meng Xu'an received a phone call confirming that Guo Dazhuang had been followed by unknown individuals, likely from the Rong family, implying his cover was blown. Meng Xu'an quickly ordered his men to rescue Guo Dazhuang from Rong Jiashang’s custody and permanently sever the Foundling Home as a contact point. He was confident that Feng Shizhen's identity remained secure as she and Guo Dazhuang were unaware of each other's roles.
Later, Rong Jiashang had the old locust tree by the octagonal pavilion cut down. Feng Shizhen, observing the activity, asked Rong Jiashang about Guo Dazhuang, learning that he had been rescued. She questioned how this happened despite the surveillance, prompting Rong Jiashang to reflect on the lack of true loyalty among the many people in the residence.
She then asked if he trusted her, to which he affirmed, and he reciprocated, asking if she trusted him, receiving her affirmative answer in return. Upon Rong Dingkun's return, Rong Jiashang provided a detailed report. He confirmed that two servants were fired for theft and an anonymous gardener admitted to transmitting messages via the old locust tree, though he didn't know the recipient, noting that Miss Sun frequently read under that particular tree.
He also reported Guo Dazhuang's rescue from the Foundling Home, which was managed by a foreigner and had a complex staff composition, making it difficult to pinpoint the culprit. Rong Dingkun, learning that some of Mrs. Rong's maternal family, the Huangs, worked at the Foundling Home, instructed Rong Jiashang to closely monitor the Huang Family. Addressing the lost goods, Rong Jiashang revealed that Generalissimo Cao was exchanging them for munitions with a European buyer at a specialized wharf.
Citing a clause in their agreement that required ten times the financial compensation or equivalent munitions if the deal failed due to their fault, Rong Jiashang proposed compensating Generalissimo Cao with equivalent munitions, deeming it the more cost-effective option. Despite Rong Dingkun's concern about procuring such a large quantity of munitions quickly, Rong Jiashang assured his father he would find a solution.
To acquire the necessary munitions, Rong Jiashang sought out Wu Yunchi at the New Metropolis Club, known for his extensive connections in Shanghai. Wu Yunchi, surprised that Rong Jiashang, who typically disdained such "copper-smelling business," would get involved, agreed to help after Rong Jiashang explained that this matter concerned his father and the survival of the Rong family, transcending his usual rebellious nature.
Meanwhile, Yang Xiucheng had replaced all the servants from Mrs. Rong's maternal family, the Huangs, sparking Mrs. Rong's anger and accusations of unfair treatment. Yang Xiucheng countered by presenting signed confessions detailing their corruption, including an assistant accountant who embezzled over a hundred silver dollars, a kitchen manager who stole the most, and even Mrs. Rong's personal maid, Ms. Liu, who sold her pearl necklaces.
Mrs. Rong, incensed, declared that Rong Dingkun owed the Huang family for his success and should be eternally grateful. Rong Jiashang then intervened, reminding her that as his father's wife, her primary loyalty should be to the Rong family. He asserted that while supporting her maternal family was acceptable, their boundless greed had led to embezzlement and the infiltration of a spy through their connections. He stated that the Rong family honored benefactors but would not tolerate betrayal.
Mrs. Rong, in a fit of rage, hurled insults at Rong Jiashang, calling him a jinx responsible for his mother's and brother's deaths. She cursed him, prophesying a future of betrayal, loneliness, and a terrible end, accusing him of being heartless and sacrificing his brother for his own preservation. Overwhelmed, Rong Jiashang left, retreating to his room.
Yang Xiucheng attempted to placate Mrs. Rong, but she remained inconsolable, continuing her furious tirade against Rong Jiashang, comparing his heartlessness to his father's. In his room, Rong Jiashang vented his frustration by smashing objects while servants gossiped outside. Feng Shizhen approached, discreetly sending the servants away, and offered him biscuits, explaining that sweets could help calm anger, a fact she'd read in a medical journal.
Rong Jiashang, though angry, tried a biscuit and admitted his deep-seated animosity with Mrs. Rong stemmed from his brother's death, an irreconcilable issue. Feng Shizhen, understanding his bottled-up emotions, shared her own experiences of fighting to survive after her family's bankruptcy, emphasizing that sometimes one had to stand strong to avoid being completely crushed.
She then offered empathy for Mrs. Rong, noting her profound loneliness, the loss of her son, and her husband's coldness, remarking that unlike others, Mrs. Rong was trapped and couldn't simply leave. Taking her words to heart, Rong Jiashang decided he would avoid arguments with Mrs. Rong in the future. Feng Shizhen, seeing his compassionate side, affirmed that he was a loyal and righteous man who protected his family, and any woman who married him would be truly happy.
Rong Dingkun decided to host a grand 20th birthday party for Rong Jiashang's Shanghai debut and asked Mrs. Rong to organize it. However, Mrs. Rong feigned illness, complaining of severe pain and a headache, refusing the task. Feng Shizhen accurately predicted that Rong Dingkun would then entrust the party planning to Rong Fanglin. True to her prediction, Butler Tian informed Rong Fanglin that Rong Dingkun had assigned her the responsibility.
Rong Fanglin and Rong Fanghua initially expressed nervousness about the scale, far exceeding their usual small tea gatherings, and Fanglin worried about having nothing suitable to wear, claiming "a girl always needs a new dress." However, Mrs. Rong, seeing an opportunity for her daughter, decided to personally oversee the preparations.
She instructed the staff to thoroughly clean and renovate the residence and garden, emphasizing that she would not allow anyone to "laugh at our family" and intended for Rong Fanglin to be "the most graceful lady in Shanghai." When Rong Fanglin asked Feng Shizhen to assist her, Mrs. Rong readily agreed, acknowledging Feng Shizhen's meticulousness and promising a reward for her help. Feng Shizhen graciously accepted the request.
Concubine Sun, tearful and despondent, refused to drink the snow clam and jujube soup sent by the Rong family. She felt discarded and neglected by Rong Dingkun after giving birth, lamenting that he never visited her in the hospital. She also expressed fear of Mrs. Rong, believing the "old hag" would seize any opportunity to crush her and the Sun family. Her maid, Chuntao, tried to comfort her.
When Doctor Feng Shixun arrived for his rounds, he noticed Concubine Sun's pale complexion and encouraged her to drink the soup for its nutritional benefits, reminding her to have it while hot. Concubine Sun, recalling how Doctor Feng had bravely insisted on saving both her and the baby during her life-threatening hemorrhage, felt a deep gratitude towards him. She promptly asked Chuntao to bring the soup and drank it.
Chuntao then observed Concubine Sun blushing and inquired if she felt unwell, but Concubine Sun shrugged it off. Wu Yunchi accompanied Rong Jiashang to the black market to investigate munitions transactions. They navigated through stalls offering various illicit goods, including exotic items, antiques, rare medicines, and weapons.
Their movements quickly caught the attention of the black market boss, who observed them "asking about munitions" and deduced they were "rich young men who haven't ever suffered" and were inexperienced in the complex munitions trade. Recognizing an opportunity, the boss sent an associate to approach them. The associate offered munitions, and after Rong Jiashang confirmed that price was not an issue for "good enough" goods, he presented a German-made small submachine gun.
Rong Jiashang inquired about the quantity and origin of the weapons, but the associate cited black market rules, stating that the source was irrelevant—it was a simple exchange of goods for money. He even threatened to call off the deal if they had concerns. Wu Yunchi urged Rong Jiashang to act quickly, given their urgent need. Rong Jiashang, however, insisted on inspecting the goods beforehand.
They eventually agreed to meet for the inspection the night after tomorrow at the abandoned No.11 Cargo Terminal. Feng Shizhen, Rong Fanglin, and Rong Fanghua continued with Mr. Jiashang's birthday party preparations. Rong Fanglin meticulously reviewed the guest list, adding Rong Dingkun's business associates and noting any dietary restrictions for the various guests. The three women then proceeded to taste various food and drink samples provided by the hotel, including a praised combination of grilled lamb chops and red wine.
As Feng Shizhen sampled some desserts, Rong Jiashang arrived home. He observed Feng Shizhen diligently working, feeling a warmth in his heart. However, as he approached, Feng Shizhen detected a strong smell of sulfur emanating from him.
