City of Streamer Episode 13 Recap
> City of Streamer Recap
Rong Jiashang returned, noticing a sulfur smell, and asked about it. Feng Shizhen then inquired about his new suit, which Rong Jiashang explained was Wu Yunchi's, borrowed because it was cold the previous day. After Rong Jiashang went upstairs, Feng Shizhen put her hand to her nose, confirming the distinct scent of sulfur.
She later requested a few days' leave from Mrs. Rong to procure flowers, fabrics, and other items for Rong Jiashang's upcoming birthday party, which Mrs. Rong readily granted, acknowledging Feng Shizhen's hard work. Rong Jiashang went to his father's study to report the findings of his black market munitions investigation. He explained that although the source was unknown and risky, it was worth taking, as they could still withdraw if issues arose.
He proposed that acquiring these munitions was the best way to compensate Generalissimo Cao, compared to paying ten times the cash. Rong Dingkun praised his son's capabilities, recalling his previous success in finding a spy, and entrusted him with the matter, instructing Yang Xiucheng to prepare the necessary funds. Feng Shizhen used her leave to secretly meet with Meng Xu'an. She expressed her suspicion that Rong Jiashang was involved in munitions, having smelled gunpowder on him.
She reasoned that this must be related to Rong Dingkun needing to compensate Generalissimo Cao for the lost batch of goods. Meng Xu'an agreed, instructing her to keep a close eye on Rong Jiashang and assigning Wen to assist her near the Rong Residence. Feng Shizhen observed Rong Jiashang's busy schedule, seeing him leave early and return late. One day, she and Wen discreetly followed him to an abandoned warehouse, Warehouse No. 11.
Inside, Feng Shizhen discovered that the munitions were defective; they had all been soaked in water. Realizing the danger, she immediately sent Wen back to report to Meng Xu'an. Meanwhile, Rong Jiashang and Zhao Hua'an arrived at the warehouse with cash. The black market leader led them to inspect the goods, insisting on payment before a thorough inspection. Rong Jiashang, however, adhered to the rule of inspecting first, then paying.
He picked up a gun to test it and quickly realized the munitions were water-damaged. The black market leader, enraged, pulled out a gun and attacked Rong Jiashang. A fierce gunfight erupted. Seeing the overwhelming firepower of their opponents, Zhao Hua'an covered Rong Jiashang's retreat with the money, taking a bullet in the process. The black market leader pursued Rong Jiashang relentlessly. Hidden in the shadows, Feng Shizhen intervened to cover Rong Jiashang's escape.
As he got away, Rong Jiashang noticed and picked up a button from the ground. Rong Jiashang and Zhao Hua'an reported back to Rong Dingkun, explaining that the black market leader had intended to defraud them from the start, as the munitions were inferior and water-damaged. While disappointed, Rong Dingkun was relieved they hadn't lost the money, stating that he would have to learn from this experience.
With no other viable options, Rong Dingkun decided to pay Generalissimo Cao in cash. He instructed Yang Xiucheng to collect the money from the Rong family's opium dens and teahouses, and Rong Jiashang was to assist him in calculating the outstanding amount. Concubine Sun, recovering in the hospital, was visited by Feng Shixun. She thanked him for saving her and her baby's lives and apologized for her previous mistreatment of Feng Shizhen.
She extended an invitation from Rong Dingkun for Feng Shixun to attend Rong Jiashang's 20th birthday party at the Rong Residence. Feng Shixun accepted, and recommended that books and stationery would be a suitable gift, as Rong Jiashang was currently studying with his sister. He spoke fondly of Feng Shizhen, lamenting that he wasn't there when a fire destroyed their family home and she had to shoulder the burden alone.
Concubine Sun seemed to recognize the incident and knew it was Rong Dingkun's doing. On a weekend, Feng Shizhen accompanied her parents to a tailor shop. Her mother mentioned seeing a marriage advertisement in a newspaper and expressed her eagerness for Feng Shizhen to find a good husband. While there, Feng Shizhen asked the tailor to replace a lost button on her windbreaker. Suddenly, her father disappeared from the shop.
Feng Shizhen's mother worried that he might have gone to an opium den, as he was struggling with addiction after suffering severe burns in the fire. Feng Shizhen rushed out to search for him. Coincidentally, Rong Jiashang was collecting money from an opium den nearby. He spotted Feng Shizhen and her mother searching frantically and offered his help. He found Feng's father in a nearby opium den. Feng Shizhen confronted her father, confiscating his opium pipe despite his desperate pleas.
Rong Jiashang intervened to calm the situation, then drove Feng Shizhen and her parents home. Back home, Feng Shizhen administered a downer to her father to help him calm down. Her mother, heartbroken, reiterated that her father would not have turned to opium if not for the devastating fire. Feng Shizhen, deeply troubled, left the house, with Rong Jiashang following close behind.
He expressed his shock at discovering Feng's father's opium addiction and apologized, assuring Feng Shizhen that he was unaware of the Rong family's involvement in the opium business. Feng Shizhen accepted his apology, emphasizing that her distress stemmed from the devastating impact of opium, which she had witnessed firsthand causing homelessness and family ruin. She recounted a past experience of seeing bodies of opium addicts, left to decay in the wilderness after freezing to death.
She lamented how opium, like a cancer, was consuming society, threatening the very fabric of the nation. Rong Jiashang pledged to remember her words. Days later, Rong Jiashang informed Rong Dingkun that, after reviewing all the account books from their opium dens, it would take at least another month to raise enough cash to pay Generalissimo Cao. With only three days until the deadline, Rong Dingkun was desperate.
Rong Jiashang suggested offering the opium dens as compensation, but Rong Dingkun furiously refused, calling him a traitor. He vehemently stated that the opium dens were a highly profitable asset that he would not surrender unless absolutely necessary, and ordered Rong Jiashang to leave. Later, Rong Jiashang met Wu Yunchi for coffee. He mentioned that Wu Yunchi had a cousin who worked in the government and was friendly with Yang Xiucheng. Rong Jiashang asked Wu Yunchi for a favor.
Wu Yunchi then subtly relayed to Yang Xiucheng that he had heard a rumor from his cousin: the government was planning to tighten control over opium dens in the next month or two, revoke private operating licenses, and impose severe penalties, including imprisonment, for violations. Yang Xiucheng believed this information, given its source and past reliability.
Generalissimo Cao called Rong Dingkun, rejecting his request for a month's extension and reminding him that tomorrow was the final deadline, threatening severe consequences otherwise. Immediately after this call, Yang Xiucheng reported to Rong Dingkun about the rumor of the government taking over opium dens. Rong Dingkun, realizing the potential advantage, instructed Yang Xiucheng to keep the news under wraps for now. He planned to call the mayor's office tomorrow to verify the information himself.
Rong Jiashang, having learned of his father's plan from Yang Xiucheng, called Du Lanxin that very night. He asked her to spread false information to prevent his father from reaching the mayor. Du Lanxin initially demurred, claiming she couldn't influence the mayor. However, she eventually agreed to ensure that Rong Dingkun's call to the mayor's office would not go through, reminding Rong Jiashang that he would owe her a significant favor. Rong Jiashang readily agreed.
