City of Streamer Episode 3 Recap
> City of Streamer Recap
Mrs. Rong hosted a mahjong game for several ladies and proudly introduced Feng Shizhen, her new governess. Feng Shizhen observed Mrs. Rong's eager attempts to please Li Ruchun, Generalissimo Cao's concubine, even intentionally losing to her. This made Feng Shizhen suspect that Generalissimo Cao was involved in the Nanyang Route bidding. When a maid, Xiao Yu, served soup containing peanuts despite knowing Li Ruchun's severe allergy, a furious Mrs. Rong slapped Xiao Yu.
Feng Shizhen quickly stepped in to comfort Xiao Yu, offering homemade ointment for her swollen face. During their conversation, Xiao Yu shared that Generalissimo Cao was stationed in Peking, but Li Ruchun disliked the northern climate and often resided in Shanghai, which was why Mrs. Rong always went out of her way to flatter her. Shortly after, Feng Shizhen overheard Yang Xiucheng's subordinate discussing a competitor's bid and the upcoming return of Rong Dingkun from Peking.
This conflicted with Mrs. Rong's earlier statement that Rong Dingkun was inspecting tea gardens in the South, confirming Feng Shizhen's suspicion that his trip was a secret and significant matter. Using the Rong family phone, Feng Shizhen contacted Meng Xu'an, using coded language to convey Rong Dingkun's true whereabouts. She inquired about a "western medicine whose name starts with a K," only available in the North and produced in "Yiquri," signaling Peking and Generalissimo Cao.
Meng Xu'an confirmed Rong Dingkun was in the North and warned Feng Shizhen that Rong Jiashang was investigating her. Feng Shizhen jokingly suggested a "trick involving self-injury" to win over a difficult man, which Meng Xu'an in turn suggested she use on Rong Jiashang. Meanwhile, Ms. Chen, the housekeeper, overheard the call but didn't detect anything suspicious, reporting to Rong Jiashang only that Feng Shizhen had called someone named "Baoli" about medicine for her father.
Separately, Wu Yunchi reported to Rong Jiashang that his investigation showed Feng Shizhen's records from Ginling Women's University were clear and that she came from a good family that had fallen on hard times. After class, Rong Jiashang questioned Feng Shizhen about her future plans, and she turned the question back to him. He expressed indifference, saying his mother wanted him abroad and his father wanted him in the family business.
Feng Shizhen encouraged him to find his true ambition, noting his sisters had aspirations beyond being homemakers. Rong Jiashang retorted sarcastically, questioning advice from a "governess" busy making a living. Feng Shizhen firmly stated that while he inherited his wealth, she earned hers through hard work, and just as she didn't despise his unearned fortune, he shouldn't look down on her efforts. Mrs. Rong then arrived, offering to donate money for Rong Jiashang's university admission, an idea he ungratefully rejected.
Feng Shizhen smoothly intervened, explaining that Rong Jiashang was ambitious and wanted to enter university on his own merit. Appeased, Mrs. Rong left. Feng Shizhen advised Rong Jiashang to show more respect toward his stepmother, but he suspected she had ulterior motives. As heavy rain began, Feng Shizhen prepared to leave to buy medicine for her father. Rong Jiashang offered to drive her, questioning her on the way about her family.
She revealed they once owned a pharmacy before a disaster ruined them and that her talented elder brother had to drop out of medical school in America to return home. As they emerged from the pharmacy, they were ambushed by attackers. Rong Jiashang fought them off, but when Feng Shizhen saw a gunman take aim at him, she shielded him with her body and was grazed by a bullet.
Rong Jiashang rushed her back home, where they met Zhao Hua'an, Rong Dingkun's trusted confidant, who praised Feng Shizhen's bravery. Rong Jiashang then personally tended to her wound in his room. The attack, secretly orchestrated by Meng Xu'an as the "trick" they had discussed, successfully eliminated Rong Jiashang's suspicions about her. Later that night, Rong Jiashang caught Feng Shizhen sneaking out for a midnight snack and invited her to his room to eat.
Seeing his collection of model airplanes, she asked about his military school experience. She complimented his intelligence and courage but also gently highlighted his lack of trust in others. As she shared how her family's downfall forced her to humble her pride, he listened intently, and thanked her for saving him, promising to repay her. She lightheartedly replied that he could repay her by simply attending class.
As she left, she accidentally dropped her silk scarf in his room and reflected on the uncertain future of the Rong family's prosperity. The next morning, only Rong Jiashang arrived for class. Feng Shizhen gave him a challenging test meant for Yenching University sophomores. Impressed by his passing score, she proposed secretly teaching him university-level subjects.
To improve his weak English, she devised an engaging method: attaching English words to a dartboard for him to learn whichever word his dart hit. She demonstrated with "shatter." When Rong Jiashang hit "appear," he impressed her by quoting Tagore's poem for his sentence: "The stars are not afraid to appear like fireflies."
