City of Streamer Episode 21 Recap
> City of Streamer Recap
Rong Jiashang desperately pleaded with Feng Shizhen not to leave, asking why she would quit her job so suddenly. Feng Shizhen explained her mission was completed and she missed her parents, stating that Mrs. Rong had approved her departure. Rong Jiashang insisted that he had not approved, playfully offering to hire her himself, but Feng Shizhen found his words childish. He reiterated his desire for her to stay, asking if she was leaving because of him.
Feng Shizhen responded that there was no point in asking, as their relationship was going nowhere. She suggested they part ways now to preserve good memories, rather than dragging it out until they resented each other. Rong Jiashang vowed to break off his engagement with Du Lanxin, declaring that he would only marry the woman he truly loved, which was Feng Shizhen. He tried to kiss her, but she pushed him away.
Feng Shizhen acknowledged his resolve but questioned his ability to stand up to his father. She pointed out that he, as the eldest son, lacked real power and couldn't control his own destiny, let alone hers. Rong Jiashang promised he could achieve what he said, asking for a chance and her trust. Feng Shizhen firmly refused, stating it was too late and they were not meant to be together.
Even as he pleaded for more time, promising not to make her wait long, Feng Shizhen clarified that she would not wait for him at all; she would live her life as planned, and it was up to him to find a way to be with her. Rong Jiashang reiterated his commitment regardless of her trust. As Feng Shizhen left with her luggage, she told him to take care, and he reciprocated, then resolved to make her his.
Feng Shizhen arrived home, surprising her mother who had not expected her. She informed her mother that she had resigned from her position. Her brother, Feng Shixun, also expressed concern, asking why she had quit. Feng Shizhen explained that with Rong family's young ladies having completed their exams, her duties were finished, so she decided to leave.
Her brother, a doctor, offered to inquire about job openings at his hospital, but Feng Shizhen expressed a desire to rest and spend time with her parents at home for a while. Rong Jiashang had asked Wu Yunchi to investigate the Wenchunli incident. Wu Yunchi reported his findings, revealing that Dasheng, the real estate company that purchased the Wenchunli land, was merely a shell company.
The Assistant Manager Wang who signed the contracts was actually the Deputy General Manager of Sanyang Industry, a company controlled by the Rong Group, and had since vanished after the fire. Rong Jiashang was surprised, as he had never heard of such a person working for his father. Despite Wu Yunchi suggesting there might be more to it, Rong Jiashang concluded that the evidence strongly indicated Rong Dingkun's involvement in the Wenchunli fire.
Rong Jiashang then confronted Rong Dingkun, accusing him of setting the Wenchunli fire and asking about Assistant Manager Wang's disappearance. Rong Dingkun indirectly admitted his involvement, stating that the land was crucial to him and the Rong family, and that the Wenchunli residents' greed and refusal to move had left him with no choice. Rong Jiashang was enraged, condemning his father for sacrificing hundreds of lives for personal gain and business interests.
He expressed his disgust at the idea of becoming a "crooked businessman" like his father, preferring to die on the battlefield with a clear conscience. Rong Dingkun retorted by citing the sacrifices he made to build the family fortune and invoked the memory of Rong Jiashang's deceased brother, Jiaxin, to emphasize his duty as the eldest son and heir. After their heated argument, Rong Dingkun warned Rong Jiashang to be wary of Feng Shizhen, presenting him with her detailed profile.
He highlighted the coincidence of her being a Wenchunli victim and now working for the Rong family, implying she had ulterior motives. He stressed that her dedication only made her more suspicious and urged Rong Jiashang not to let a woman jeopardize the family. Rong Jiashang reviewed the documents, growing suspicious and questioning Feng Shizhen's true intentions and if she knew the truth behind the fire, which might explain why she pushed him away.
He immediately arranged for someone to follow Feng Shizhen, who soon noticed she was being tailed. Du Lanxin called Rong Jiashang, chiding him for not contacting her. She announced her return from Hangzhou, where she had been staying with her aunt, and eagerly told him about a Suzhou embroidery scroll titled "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" she acquired, which she believed would be perfect for his father's study. She offered to bring it over that night.
She also casually mentioned Feng Shizhen's departure, expressing her fondness for Feng Shizhen's talents and manners. Rong Jiashang then observed Yang Xiucheng's return and asked Du Lanxin if she thought he was back for work or to quit, noting that Rong Dingkun was trying to match him with "Uncle Zhao's daughter" from Ginling Women's University. Du Lanxin, however, was completely uninterested in Yang Xiucheng's affairs and quickly ended the call to get her hair done.
Yang Xiucheng met with Rong Dingkun, looking healthier after his vacation. He reaffirmed his loyalty, stating he had reflected in Hangzhou and realized Rong Dingkun's concern for him, regretting letting a "gold-digger" like Yu Zhihui come between them. He expressed his desire to continue working for and learning from his uncle. Rong Dingkun welcomed him back, promising to treat him well and counting on him to guide Rong Jiashang.
When Rong Jiashang arrived, Rong Dingkun instructed him to consult with Yang Xiucheng on import-export matters and learn humility. Rong Jiashang briefly inquired about Yang Xiucheng's trip to Hangzhou before Yang Xiucheng excused himself to catch up on work. Rong Dingkun then revealed to Rong Jiashang that his men reported Yang Xiucheng had been "with a woman all day" in Hangzhou, speculated to be a socialite, but his men couldn't get too close due to Yang Xiucheng's cunning.
Rong Jiashang suspected the woman was Du Lanxin, but kept silent. Rong Dingkun stressed that Yang Xiucheng, having grown up under his watch, knew things Rong Jiashang might not. Rong Jiashang advised his father to be lenient with Yang Xiucheng, acknowledging his long service and Rong Dingkun's initial wrongdoing in their conflict. Rong Dingkun dismissed his son's intercession, saying he wouldn't be too hard on Yang Xiucheng.
He then redirected the conversation to the Gold Kylin, asking about the progress of the search. Rong Jiashang reported that Hashimoto Shozo possessed a Gold Kylin, though he wasn't certain if it was the one they sought. Rong Dingkun instructed him to visit Hashimoto to confirm, confident that with a good price, even a treasured item could be bought.
He also noted Hashimoto's interest in the Nanyang shipping route, hinting at future cooperation, and suggested Rong Jiashang use his connection with Shiori Hashimoto to foster relations. He advised Rong Jiashang to be more flexible, emphasizing that too much rigidity breaks easily, while kindness and flexibility never fail, and some things shouldn't be too stubborn. Shiori Hashimoto presented her father, Hashimoto Shozo, with freshly made tea desserts. Noticing his preoccupied look, she inquired about his worries.
Hashimoto Shozo confessed that establishing themselves in Shanghai was challenging, requiring connections with local influential figures, which proved difficult. He considered the Rong family a good choice given their prosperous import-export business and control of several wharfs, but noted their previous visit hadn't led to further contact, suggesting the Rongs might not be interested. Shiori then reminded her father that Rong Dingkun was a well-known antique collector and Vice President of the Shanghai Antique Association.
She suggested sending him an invitation to visit their home and admire their collection, proposing it as a way to gauge his attitude and strengthen their families' ties. Hashimoto Shozo agreed, planning to send the invitation the next day, and Shiori promised to make him proud. Du Lanxin tried to persuade Rong Jiashang to join her for a bridge game at the Astor House, but he declined, stating he had other commitments.
She probed if he was going to see Feng Shizhen, implying that Feng Shizhen's departure made their "hooking up" easier. Du Lanxin reminded him that as his fiancée, his involvement with another woman was her concern and asked how far their relationship had progressed. Rong Jiashang retaliated by asking if Yang Xiucheng had not satisfied her in Hangzhou, effectively exposing her own infidelity.
Du Lanxin admitted he was right, but said she didn't want others to know she was being cheated on, asking him to keep his affairs low-key. Rong Jiashang then stated his intention to break off their engagement, but asked her to maintain appearances until then. Du Lanxin, surprised by his mention of breaking the engagement, revealed that Wu Yunchi had disclosed Rong Jiashang was having Feng Shizhen tailed, assuming it was due to insecurity because they hadn't "slept together."
Rong Jiashang, exasperated, ordered her out of the car. After he left, Du Lanxin lamented the bleakness of her life. She reflected on his earlier question about desiring a true love unbound by wealth or status, recalling how she had scoffed at the idea.
She suggested Feng Shizhen, as a free spirit, would never allow herself to be caged, and advised Rong Jiashang to "do a good deed" and let Feng Shizhen go, staying away from "good girls" like her who deserved better. Late one night, Concubine Sun rushed her son, who was suffering from a high fever, to the hospital.
Feng Shixun, who was on duty, attended to the child, explaining that premature babies like him often had weaker hearts and lungs, making them susceptible to illness in winter. He assured her the child would recover once the fever broke. After successfully treating her son, Concubine Sun, overcome with emotion, lamented not meeting a kind man like Feng Shixun earlier in her life, instead encountering the "cold, hypocritical, greedy, and selfish" Rong Dingkun.
She expressed gratitude for his care and praised him as a good man, wondering which lucky woman would marry him. Feng Shixun modestly dismissed himself as a "poor doctor with sick parents" who wouldn't want to burden any woman. Concubine Sun disagreed, emphasizing that a reliable man like him was a rare catch, and that wealth meant little when one was with a "selfish, cold, and fickle man."
She reflected on her own predicament, feeling old and unattractive after bearing Rong Dingkun a son, unsure of where to go if she were to leave him. Concubine Sun then confessed that the handmade scarf Feng Shixun had received was her personal thank-you gift, separate from Rong Dingkun's formal acknowledgment.
She expressed profound gratitude for him saving her life and "waking her up," admitting that despite her education, she had been as traditional as any old-world woman, even scoffing at independent women, but now realized she was the fool. Feng Shixun tried to suggest that she and Rong Dingkun, having been together for a decade, shared a bond that could be mended.
Concubine Sun vehemently disagreed, clarifying she was merely a concubine, not a wife, and that even Rong Dingkun's wives, like Tang and Huang, suffered. She bitterly declared that Rong Dingkun loved only himself and would readily discard his wives, concubines, and children. She urged Feng Shixun to stop defending him, exposing Rong Dingkun as a hypocrite who appeared respectable but engaged in illicit activities behind the scenes.
Concubine Sun then dropped a bombshell, revealing that the Wenchunli fire, which had destroyed Feng Shixun's family home, was no accident. A shocked Feng Shixun pressed for details. Concubine Sun explained she had overheard Rong Dingkun's shady deals while serving him opium with her sister, noting that even his wife was unaware of many secrets. She reasoned that Wenchunli's prime location would not have been sold so cheaply and hastily without a pre-arranged fire.
She further pointed out that the company constructing new buildings on the land was a subsidiary of the Rong Company, implying a deeper conspiracy. When Feng Shixun asked if his sister, Feng Shizhen, knew about this, Concubine Sun said she didn't know, but noted Rong Dingkun's dislike for Feng Shizhen, which led Feng Shizhen to keep her distance.
She added that Rong Jiashang had been infatuated with Feng Shizhen and pursued her, but Feng Shizhen rejected him, and Rong Dingkun later disciplined his son, making him more formal towards her. Concubine Sun, realizing she had said too much, cautioned Feng Shixun to keep their conversation confidential. Rong Dingkun and Rong Jiashang arrived at the Hashimoto residence, where Hashimoto Shozo, along with his wife Keiko, eldest son Taichi, and younger children Taiji and Shiori, greeted them warmly.
After exchanging pleasantries and gifts, Hashimoto Shozo, knowing Rong Dingkun's appreciation for antiques, presented him with a recently acquired treasure for his expert opinion. Rong Dingkun immediately recognized it as a rare Ru ware from the Song Dynasty, praising its unique grayish-blue glaze and confirming its exceptional quality.
Following this, Rong Dingkun immediately recognized the Gold Kylin as the one Meng Qingzhi had given him, and politely requested to see it, to which Hashimoto Shozo readily agreed, instructing his servant to retrieve it. Hashimoto Shozo presented the Gold Kylin, asking Rong Dingkun if it was the one he sought.
Rong Dingkun immediately recognized the Gold Kylin as the one Meng Qingzhi had given him, and inquired if Hashimoto Shozo would be willing to sell it, offering a generous sum. However, Hashimoto Shozo refused, explaining its profound personal significance: his eldest son, Taichi, was born frail and was predicted not to live past fifteen. Since acquiring the Gold Kylin, Taichi had miraculously recovered from multiple severe illnesses, leading Hashimoto Shozo to believe it was a talisman for his children's safety.
Appealing to Rong Dingkun as a fellow father, he asked for understanding. Rong Dingkun acknowledged his sentiments, agreeing that no worldly possession surpassed the value of one's children and that gentlemen should not take what others cherish, especially something of such special meaning. Recognizing their shared interests and the serendipitous connection between their children, Rong Jiashang and Shiori, Hashimoto Shozo proposed a business partnership.
Rong Dingkun eagerly agreed, directing Rong Jiashang to outline the Rong family's enterprises and explore potential areas of cooperation. Rong Jiashang detailed their shipping routes, including those to Japan, Nanyang via Hong Kong, and European countries via the Mediterranean. He highlighted the Rong family's ownership of four wharfs in Shanghai, particularly Wharf 4, which offered direct sea-to-land transport. He then proposed a lucrative venture: importing cheap, high-quality wool from Australia, processing it at inexpensive factories in Nanyang, and then selling it domestically, anticipating considerable profits.
