City of Streamer Episode 2 Recap
> City of Streamer Recap
On Feng Shizhen's first day of teaching, Rong Jiashang failed to attend his morning class, having returned home very late the previous night. Rong Fanglin informed Feng Shizhen that both Rong Jiashang and Wu Yunchi had stayed out late and were likely still asleep, so Feng Shizhen rescheduled Rong Jiashang's lesson for the afternoon.
During her morning class with Rong Fanglin and Rong Fanghua, Concubine Sun, who herself was once a governess for the Rong family before becoming Rong Dingkun's second wife, abruptly entered the classroom. She had rushed back from her maternal family after hearing Mrs. Rong had hired a new governess. Concubine Sun made snide remarks about Feng Shizhen's youth and suggested there might soon be another concubine in the family, but Feng Shizhen skillfully retorted with a proverb about ambition.
Mrs. Rong, arriving at the scene, tried to defuse the tension and strongly defended Feng Shizhen, reminding Concubine Sun that Rong Dingkun himself had requested a highly educated governess. Mrs. Rong then firmly told Concubine Sun to mind her own affairs. After Concubine Sun reluctantly departed, Mrs. Rong apologized to Feng Shizhen but reiterated the importance of Rong Jiashang attending his lessons, which Feng Shizhen assured her she understood. Later that day, Feng Shizhen confronted Rong Jiashang about skipping class.
She asserted her duty as his governess, stating that if he didn't wish to be taught by her, he should inform Mrs. Rong to find a replacement. She then handed him a test paper. Rong Jiashang deliberately answered every question incorrectly, scoring a zero. Feng Shizhen, however, recognized his intelligence, noting that only someone who knew all the answers could intentionally avoid them, even using a shortcut formula but misplacing a decimal point in the final step.
Rong Jiashang, convinced that Feng Shizhen was an accomplice hired by Mrs. Rong and Yang Xiucheng, declared she couldn't teach him and that he had no interest in their "sordid business." Feng Shizhen stopped him, clarifying that she was merely a qualified applicant who desperately needed the job and that Mrs. Rong was unaware of her past dancing at the club. She emphasized her commitment to maintaining a good reputation and asked for a chance to prove her capability.
Rong Jiashang remained unconvinced, reiterating that she still couldn't teach him despite her credentials. Feng Shizhen challenged him to a test of skill, suggesting a card game like Bridge to demonstrate her mathematical prowess, and Rong Jiashang agreed to play two-player Bridge with simplified rules. During the Bridge game, both displayed sharp strategic thinking. Rong Jiashang quickly assessed Feng Shizhen's hand, but she countered his moves with clever plays.
Despite Rong Jiashang's attempts to force her hand, Feng Shizhen outmaneuvered him, not only breaking his contract but also earning a higher score after doubling. Acknowledging her superior skill, Rong Jiashang admitted defeat, expressing his admiration. Feng Shizhen then reminded him to attend class punctually the next day.
Meanwhile, Yang Xiucheng secretly met with Mrs. Rong in a private room, urgently seeking her assistance for an upcoming bid on the Nanyang Route, a shipping line for Shanghai Port that Rong Dingkun greatly coveted. Mrs. Rong was hesitant, fearing her husband's wrath for meddling in his business affairs, especially given her precarious position in the family. Yang Xiucheng argued that securing the route would be a significant achievement, benefiting himself, Mrs. Rong, and her maternal Huang family.
He presented her with bidding documents, highlighting a favorable base price, and revealed that the wife of the bidding's person-in-charge was Mrs. Chen, an old acquaintance of Mrs. Rong. He urged her to "smooth things over" to ensure their success. Unbeknownst to them, Feng Shizhen was eavesdropping from an adjacent room, learning the crucial details about the bid. She realized the Nanyang Route was vital to Rong Dingkun's illicit operations and that she needed to discover the bid price.
The next morning, Yang Xiucheng discovered his car had a flat tire, which Feng Shizhen had secretly punctured. Rong Jiashang, ever resourceful, quickly offered his own car, thwarting Feng Shizhen's plan to hide in Yang Xiucheng's vehicle and access his briefcase. Later, Rong Jiashang attended his scheduled class, but his lack of engagement was evident as he simply played with his pen during a math lesson on probability.
He openly declared that while he kept his promise to attend, he hadn't promised to pay attention. Feng Shizhen, recognizing his defiance, eventually ended the class early. After class, Mrs. Rong informed Rong Fanglin about an invitation from Du Lanxin, Rong Jiashang's fiancée, to dine at a newly opened Cantonese restaurant in Wing On Department Store. Rong Fanglin enthusiastically invited Feng Shizhen to join them and even offered to help her pick new clothes. Feng Shizhen politely declined.
Mrs. Rong then suggested Feng Shizhen visit the accountant's office for money to buy clothes, and Rong Fanglin offered to call Yang Xiucheng for a ride. However, Rong Jiashang unexpectedly took Feng Shizhen's hand and insisted she come along, overriding Mrs. Rong's suggestion for Feng Shizhen to visit the accountant's office for money to buy clothes.
On their way to the restaurant, Yang Xiucheng and his fiancée, Yu Zhihui, joined the group, waiting for Wu Yunchi to pick them up as their car was unavailable. In the car, Yang Xiucheng and Feng Shizhen discovered they shared a mentor, Mr. Pei Dongren, and exchanged pleasantries. Rong Jiashang, observing their interaction, sarcastically commented on Feng Shizhen's talent for flattery, suggesting her teaching role was beneath her.
Feng Shizhen retorted that she aspired to become a renowned teacher by guiding him to a top university. Yang Xiucheng expressed his relief at finding a governess capable of managing Rong Jiashang. At the restaurant, Du Lanxin warmly welcomed everyone, including Feng Shizhen, whom Rong Jiashang introduced as their new governess. While Du Lanxin explained the restaurant's unique ordering concept, Feng Shizhen discreetly observed Yang Xiucheng's briefcase.
When a large plate of dim sum arrived, Feng Shizhen pointed out Rong Fanglin's favorite pastry at the bottom, subtly encouraging her to reach for it. As Rong Fanglin extracted the pastry, the entire platter of dim sum tumbled to the floor. As Yang Xiucheng, Yu Zhihui, and Rong Fanglin scrambled to help pick up the scattered pastries, Feng Shizhen seized the moment.
She quickly opened Yang Xiucheng's briefcase, swiftly scanning and memorizing the crucial bid price for the Nanyang Route. Yang Xiucheng quickly closed his briefcase as Rong Jiashang, who had witnessed the scene from afar, intervened, escorting Feng Shizhen away from the commotion and towards a tailor shop for new clothes. At the tailor, Rong Jiashang tried on a newly custom-made suit. Feng Shizhen complimented him, but he retorted with a sarcastic remark about her flattering Yang Xiucheng.
Feng Shizhen deftly turned his words back at him, attributing his own aggressive nature to making her polite words seem more impactful. Rong Jiashang then challenged her to tie his tie. As she expertly performed the task, he mockingly questioned how a governess could be so adept at serving. Insulted, Feng Shizhen turned to leave. Rong Jiashang rushed after her to apologize, but as he did, a speeding car swerved toward them.
He quickly pulled Feng Shizhen out of harm's way, taking the impact himself and sustaining a bleeding nose. As Feng Shizhen went to a roadside vendor to buy an ice pop to soothe his injury, she discreetly passed a written note containing Yang Xiucheng's bid price to the young boy selling ice pops, instructing him to deliver it to Xiao Baoli at the New Metropolis Club.
Xiao Baoli, upon receiving the note, immediately handed it to Meng Xu'an, who was informed that Rong Company was locked in an expensive competition with the Guo Family for the Nanyang Route, a loss that would significantly diminish their industry influence. Meng Xu'an received the news with satisfaction.
