City of Streamer Episode 22 Recap
> City of Streamer Recap
Rong Dingkun agreed to share the Nanyang Route with Hashimoto Shozo. Hashimoto Shozo explained his plan to import large quantities of affordable wool from Australia, process it cheaply in Nanyang, and then sell it domestically for significant profits. He proposed a partnership, offering his company's route to the north. Rong Dingkun readily agreed, noting that both families' business ambitions—the Hashimoto family's desire for the Nanyang route and the Rong family's for the northern route—coincided perfectly.
Hashimoto Shozo praised Rong Jiashang as a capable successor, suggesting Rong Dingkun could soon retire. Rong Dingkun then raised a toast, expressing hope for a successful cooperation in the Chinese way. Hashimoto Taiji approached Rong Jiashang, recalling Jiashang's temper in Chongqing and noting how he had charmed his father today. He mentioned his sister, Shiori, had been thinking of Jiashang and suggested they rekindle their relationship.
Rong Jiashang dismissed the idea, stating his relationship with Shiori was a thing of the past, but Taiji pointed out Shiori was waiting for him. Shiori then met Rong Jiashang and asked if the Gold Kylin he saw was the one his family sought. She explained her father treasured it as a talisman for her eldest brother and had rejected a hefty offer for it, implying he would not sell it unless her brother died.
She then offered a proposition: if Rong Jiashang called off his engagement with Du Lanxin, she would persuade her father to let her marry him, bringing the Gold Kylin as her dowry. Rong Jiashang questioned how she could achieve this, given her brother's reliance on the artifact.
Shiori then revealed her eldest brother had a severe heart condition and would not live much longer, explaining that despite new medicine from a recently hired doctor that allowed him to get out of bed, his underlying condition was terminal. Rong Jiashang, expressing disappointment, told her he used to believe she was a pure and kind girl, but now realized he was mistaken. Rong Jiashang returned home to report to Rong Dingkun.
Rong Jiashang suggested waiting for Hashimoto's eldest son to die, believing Hashimoto Shozo would then have no reason to keep the Gold Kylin and would sell it at a high price. Rong Dingkun, however, dismissed this, recounting how Hashimoto's eldest son was predicted to die young but had survived. He compared waiting for death to waiting for rain, questioning the logic of waiting when they could act.
When Rong Jiashang asked if he intended to take action himself, Rong Dingkun confirmed that since they could not buy or wait for the Gold Kylin, they would have to steal or seize it. Rong Jiashang cautioned him about the Gold Kylin being secretly kept and guarded by private security. Rong Dingkun confidently asserted that knowing its location was enough; they would find a way to acquire it.
Later that night, Rong Jiashang noticed a light on in Feng Shizhen’s former room. Believing she had returned, he hurried over, only to find a maid cleaning. The maid explained that the butler had instructed them to clean the guest rooms due to the good weather. Disappointed, Rong Jiashang left. The next day, the admission list for McTyeire School for Girls was posted. Mrs. Rong and Concubine Wang accompanied Rong Fanglin and Rong Fanghua.
Both girls were admitted, much to their excitement and their mothers’ relief. Rong Fanglin was eager to share the good news with Feng Shizhen, and Mrs. Rong instructed a servant to notify Rong Dingkun to return home for a celebration. As Feng Shizhen returned from buying groceries, she noticed someone following her again. She deliberately slowed down and cornered the individual, recognizing him as one of Rong Jiashang's men.
Reflecting internally, Feng Shizhen thought about Wenchunli and how little the burnt property sold for, recognizing the immense hardship she had endured and marveling at how she survived. Later, Feng Shixun returned from his night shift. Feng Shizhen greeted him and offered to make bamboo shoot soup. Feng Shixun immediately pressed her about why she had resigned from the Rong family twice.
Feng Shizhen vaguely explained that the Rong girls no longer needed a governess, and for the previous resignation, she blamed being harassed by one of Rong family's concubines. Feng Shixun then mentioned Concubine Sun had visited the hospital the day before because her son was sick, and his fever only broke after Feng Shixun’s night shift. Feng Shixun offered Feng Shizhen a job at the hospital, suggesting she start the next morning. Feng Shizhen asked for time to consider.
Soon after, Rong Jiashang received a phone call from one of his men, reporting that Feng Shizhen had left her home by rickshaw, heading to the church in Yang King Pang. Rong Jiashang acknowledged the information. At the church, Feng Shizhen met Feng Shixun, apologizing for declining the hospital job. She claimed the work was too boring and unsuitable for her.
Feng Shixun accused her of still wanting to return to the Rong family and be with Rong Jiashang, entertaining unrealistic fantasies. He then revealed that Concubine Sun had told him how Rong Jiashang harassed her, forcing her to resign. Feng Shizhen insisted her relationship with Rong Jiashang was not as he thought and urged him to trust her since she had already quit her job.
Feng Shixun dismissed her claims, arguing that as a rich young man and a poor governess, they could not be mere friends. He expressed anger at the Rong family's conduct and threatened to confront Rong Jiashang. Feng Shizhen pleaded with him, asking him to listen, and then confessed that she had fallen in love with Rong Jiashang, admitting she couldn't resist her feelings. Feng Shixun was shocked.
He warned her that the Wenchunli fire was likely orchestrated by the Rong family, a fact Feng Shizhen seemed to be unaware of. Rong Jiashang, who had been listening from outside, silently acknowledged that Feng Shizhen had been innocent of the truth but now knew everything. Feng Shixun revealed Concubine Sun had personally told him, and though Feng Shizhen could disbelieve it, he did not.
He pointed out the Rong family was renovating Wenchunli and urged Feng Shizhen to recognize the connection. Feng Shizhen admitted she "dared not think too much," which Feng Shixun interpreted as her having already harbored suspicions. He further reminded her of Rong Jiashang's engagement and questioned if she intended to become his concubine. Feng Shizhen denied this, but Feng Shixun, growing increasingly agitated, questioned what had come over her and what made Rong Jiashang so appealing.
He warned her about Rong Dingkun's craftiness and power, given that he had hired Feng Shizhen despite knowing her origins in Wenchunli. He urged her, for her own safety, to sever all ties with Rong Jiashang and his family, to which Feng Shizhen reluctantly agreed. Feng Shixun then left for the hospital, telling her to think carefully. Feng Shizhen then entered the confessional, where the priest was actually Meng Xu'an. She reported the Gold Kylin’s whereabouts.
Meng Xu'an acknowledged the Gold Kylin was a significant treasure to the Meng family, not for its inherent value but for its historical and symbolic importance as a burial article of an emperor, believed to protect the family. He recounted how the Meng family had suffered greatly each of the two times the artifact was lost in history, only to recover upon its return.
Feng Shizhen confirmed that Rong Dingkun had swindled the Gold Kylin from her sister, which led to the Meng family's downfall. However, Feng Shizhen observed that Meng Xu'an had successfully revived the Meng family without the artifact, suggesting that a family's prosperity ultimately depended on human effort, talent, and the prevailing circumstances. Meng Xu'an agreed but shared that his father and grandfather had both, on their deathbeds, tasked him with retrieving it.
He expressed surprise that it took seventeen years to find a clue, and Feng Shizhen commented on his filial piety. Meng Xu'an then asked if Feng Shizhen was confident Rong Jiashang would follow her plan. Feng Shizhen explained that Rong Jiashang was already at odds with his father, and she was merely positioning herself as a "trophy" in his struggle for freedom and ideals, arguing that a man would not fight his father solely for a woman.
Meng Xu'an pointed out her brother's misunderstanding of her actions and asked if she had a plan to explain herself to him. Feng Shizhen assured him she would handle her brother's explanation herself. Meng Xu'an then asked, "Do you really like him so much?" Feng Shizhen offered her polite goodbyes. At dinner that evening, Feng Shixun was sarcastic, asking Feng Shizhen if she'd lost her appetite for their simple food after enjoying the Rong family's rich meals.
Feng Shizhen retorted that the Rong family's rich meals were hard on the stomach and she preferred their home cooking. Their father intervened, asking what was wrong between them. Feng Shizhen explained she had refused the hospital job, which made Feng Shixun lose face. Their father advised them not to create more trouble, as their family had finally found peace after many difficulties. He then asked Feng Shizhen what kind of job she intended to seek.
Feng Shizhen replied that with the year-end approaching, jobs were scarce, but it gave her time to stay home with them. Their father encouraged her to be discerning to avoid another disheartening experience. Feng Shixun asked who had bullied her. Feng Shizhen dismissed it as a hypothetical, assuring her father she would not let herself be bullied. As Feng Shixun left for his night shift, Feng Shizhen walked him out.
He continued to express his anger, asking if she still intended to associate with Rong Jiashang. Feng Shizhen denied it, then asked about the Wenchunli incident. Feng Shixun suggested confronting Rong Dingkun. Feng Shizhen highlighted the lack of evidence and the danger to Concubine Sun if she were exposed as the source. Feng Shixun, however, insisted on seeking justice for the neighbors who had lost family in the fire, as they did not even know the perpetrator.
Feng Shizhen cautioned him about Rong Dingkun's immense power, operating across both legal and illegal circles with the backing of warlords and politicians, which allowed him to cover up such a tragedy. She warned that confronting him would be "kicking against the pricks." While supporting his desire for revenge, she urged him to consider their parents and discuss any plans with her.
Feng Shixun, assuring her he was no longer an impulsive youth, promised he wouldn't endanger them for a momentary satisfaction. He then asked Feng Shizhen about Rong Dingkun's weaknesses, based on her three months in his household. Feng Shizhen identified Rong Dingkun's vanity as his biggest weakness, noting his hypocrisy in pretending to be a gentleman while being greedy and corrupt, and how his immoral conduct often led to his own undoing.
She mentioned his preference for young, submissive, educated girls and recalled his displeasure when she discussed "new women" with Rong Fanglin, revealing his conservative nature. Feng Shixun then asked what she liked about Rong Jiashang. Feng Shizhen explained that initially, he was rebellious, and it took effort to make him study.
However, she came to realize he was different from his public image, not a spoiled playboy, but a lonely, intelligent, and talented young man eager to escape his stepmother's taunts and his father's control, with aspirations to join the army rather than inherit the family business. She also clarified that the past "harassment" incident was a drunken misunderstanding misreported by maids, for which Rong Jiashang accepted the blame without complaint.
She admitted his intelligence and talent first attracted her, then his loneliness, and finally, his good looks. Feng Shixun teased her for praising him so highly and for valuing appearance, but Feng Shizhen countered, accusing him of prejudice due to his limited interaction with Rong Jiashang. Feng Shixun ultimately concluded that given Rong Jiashang was Rong Dingkun's son, there was little she could expect. Feng Shizhen reluctantly agreed.
Later that day, Feng Shizhen went to the hospital to deliver food for Feng Shixun. Xiao Baoli arrived in a new car, a birthday gift from "Seventh Master Meng," and invited Feng Shizhen to catch up over dinner, offering her a ride. That evening, Feng Shizhen returned home late to find Rong Jiashang waiting for her at the alley entrance. She confronted him directly, stating that his father had orchestrated the Wenchunli fire.
Rong Jiashang admitted he had only recently learned the truth himself and had kept it from her, fearing her hatred and hoping she would remain unaware. Feng Shizhen pointed out the futility of secrets and asked if he intended to hide it forever. Rong Jiashang admitted his selfishness, finding it difficult enough to pursue her without adding further complications. Feng Shizhen questioned the consequences if she had discovered the truth after they were together.
Rong Jiashang conceded that regardless of her knowing, they could not be together, but thought keeping it from her would at least spare him her hatred. Feng Shizhen asked if he intended to defend his father indefinitely. Rong Jiashang denied it, asserting his father would face consequences for his actions, and he, too, would bear the associated punishment, believing in a fair retribution. He reiterated that his only reason for withholding the information was to protect their relationship.
He lamented that it was now too late. Feng Shizhen clarified that she did not hate him, but found herself helpless. She reminded him of her father's survival, and the many neighbors who lost their families, emphasizing that the tragedy hung between them "like a pain in the neck," making a future together impossible.
She expressed gratitude for his deep feelings, acknowledging him as the first man to show her such genuine affection, and admitted her desire for a simple, peaceful life, but concluded that destiny had been cruel, continually creating obstacles. She urged him to give up, asking why he would choose a "thorny path" over a "bright future." Rong Jiashang refused to give up, professing his intense love for her.
When Feng Shizhen asked what he proposed to do, Rong Jiashang suggested they try to find a way to reconcile the hatred between their families. Feng Shizhen then laid out her conditions: Rong Dingkun must publicly apologize in the newspaper, confess the truth about the Wenchunli fire, surrender to the police, and compensate the victims. If he did so, she would forgive his family, and they could start anew.
She immediately questioned if he truly believed his father could meet these demands, recalling his own inability to break his engagement. She asserted that while his ideas were noble, he lacked the power to implement them because his interests were tied to the Rong family, and he would not sacrifice himself for love. Rong Jiashang, hurt, asked if she truly saw him as a "weak and useless man who keeps lying."
Feng Shizhen replied that he was merely "too young and inexperienced," having spoken "ten years too early," and concluded that they "didn't meet at the right time." Rong Jiashang repeated his request for more time, promising not to disappoint her. Feng Shizhen, however, declared she would not wait, emphasizing that the Wenchunli matter was different, and she would seek revenge herself. Rong Jiashang warned her against acting recklessly, stating his father was far more ruthless than he appeared.
Feng Shizhen retorted that she, too, was far more ruthless than she appeared. Distraught, Rong Jiashang went to drink with Wu Yunchi, confiding in him. He lamented Feng Shizhen's assessment of him as too young, inexperienced, and incapable, asserting that he could achieve anything if he truly set his mind to it. Wu Yunchi commented on the unusual situation of a son having to clean up his father's messes.
Rong Jiashang then asked if there was a way to make Feng Shizhen let go of her hatred without harming the Rong family. Wu Yunchi admitted he could not think of any such solution. Rong Jiashang conceded, recognizing that a deadly feud offered no easy resolution. He blamed himself for being too naive and greedy, which, he concluded, was why Feng Shizhen never trusted him. The next morning, Feng Shixun showed Feng Shizhen the newspaper.
All the major papers carried detailed reports exposing Rong Dingkun's orchestration of the Wenchunli fire and his subsequent acquisition of the land at a deflated price. Feng Shixun noted the news was well-researched and logically presented, suggesting an insider had leaked the information. He then asked Feng Shizhen, having spent time in the Rong family, who she thought might be the informant.
