City of Streamer Episode 31 Recap
> City of Streamer Recap
Rong Jiashang spent a restless night, deeply troubled by the revelation of Feng Shizhen’s true parentage. He rose quietly and sat alone, vowing to keep her identity a secret forever. Feng Shizhen awoke to find him absent, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. The next day, Rong Jiashang arrived early to pick up Feng Shizhen from school. Her colleagues, impressed by her teaching, expressed their admiration, with one saying, “The new teacher Miss Feng is awesome.
She easily enlightened me on math problems I couldn't solve.” Another colleague wondered aloud, “She's such a good and beautiful woman. What kind of man on earth can be good enough for her?” A third quickly retorted, “Stop guessing. She's already spoken for. Look over there.” When Rong Jiashang appeared, a teacher teased Feng Shizhen, “I hear from students that a handsome rich man is chasing you. Is that him? He looks handsome and amiable, unlike other rich young men.
Shizhen, you have to hustle. When are you going to get married?” Feng Shizhen replied that she hadn't decided yet, to which the teachers exclaimed, “Seriously? What a good man he is! He's one in a million. You can't even find a better man in romantic novels. What a pity!” Feng Shizhen maintained that being together was already a blessing, but her colleagues pressed, "Life is short for women. You should think for yourself."
Feng Shizhen insisted they would "enjoy every day we spend together." Later, she told Rong Jiashang that she wanted to save money to buy a house in Peking, indicating her desire to settle down there. Rong Jiashang respected her decision, no longer insisting she return to Shanghai with him. He noticed her genuine affection for children as she playfully engaged with local kids in the street. Rong Fanglin called Rong Jiashang to report on Rong Dingkun's condition.
She told him, “Father woke up. Just now, he asked where you were. I said you were in Peking for some business.” Rong Jiashang quickly inquired about his father's health, and Rong Fanglin explained, "He's clear-headed. But he's unconscious from the waist down. It's preliminarily estimated that the bullet hurt his spine. I'm afraid he can't accept such a fact.”
She added that Rong Dingkun had become furious upon learning the news, smashing infusion bottles in the hospital until nurses sedated him. Rong Fanglin also mentioned that Mrs. Rong and her aunts were with Rong Dingkun, and that Rong Fanghua and her husband Yunchi were returning. Rong Jiashang asked about Zhao Hua'an, to which Rong Fanglin confirmed his presence.
Rong Jiashang promised to return to Shanghai the next morning and instructed Rong Fanglin not to mention Feng Shizhen to their father. Before his departure, Rong Jiashang and Feng Shizhen visited a photo studio for a portrait. Despite the heavy snow, they found joy flying a kite together, a bittersweet moment before his journey. Rong Jiashang commented, “It's so cold in Peking. It's getting warm in Shanghai, I guess.”
Feng Shizhen replied, “The temperature makes no difference when you're not around.” Rong Jiashang disagreed, saying, “It makes a difference. Whenever I think of you, I don't feel cold.” He then suggested they fly a kite in Beihai Park next spring. Upon Rong Jiashang’s hurried return to Shanghai, Mrs. Rong greeted him, telling him, “Your father has been asking about you since he woke up. He's living in the West Hall. Go to see him.”
Before he entered Rong Dingkun's room, Rong Fanglin met him, warning him that their father's temper had changed dramatically and that even their mother was reluctant to attend to him. Rong Jiashang reassured her, “Don't worry. I'm going upstairs.” Inside, Rong Dingkun immediately lashed out, "You've found the way home? Did that woman finally allow you to come back?" He berated Rong Jiashang for his "cowardly" handling of the Du family engagement and the family's business.
Rong Jiashang countered by revealing Rong Dingkun's secret: that Meng Qingzhi had given birth to his son, who was now 17 years old and had been raised by Meng Xu'an. Rong Dingkun was shocked but quickly demanded his seal back, insisting Rong Jiashang had no right to manage the family's affairs. Rong Jiashang refused, suggesting Rong Dingkun needed to rest and that he had already contacted the best neurologist in New York to treat his condition.
Enraged, Rong Dingkun tried to grab the seal, fell from the bed, and slapped Rong Jiashang. Despite the assault, Rong Jiashang remained firm, instructing the nurse to administer a sedative to his father, who slowly calmed down. Reflecting on the situation, Rong Jiashang thought, "Our family and the Meng family are well-matched in strength. Neither of us can annex the other at one stroke. If we keep fighting each other, we'll both lose and the third party will benefit."
He continued, "Father, you don't own the Rong family alone. I can't let you ruin our family for your personal grudge. Fanghua has already paid a heavy price for your past mistakes, and I still need to protect other innocent people." He firmly declared, "I'm not interested in Rong's businesses. But from now on, I'll take the wheel for the Rong family. This is the best choice for the family."
Later, Rong Fanglin, seeing the slap mark on Rong Jiashang’s face, asked if their father had hit him. She expressed distress, saying, “He's being unreasonable. Whenever he feels unsatisfied, he maltreats us, saying that we try to hurt him.” Rong Jiashang calmly explained that Rong Dingkun, injured and newly discharged, was likely struggling to accept his new reality and was taking it out on those around him.
He urged Rong Fanglin not to take it personally, but she worried about their father's recovery, asking, "Jiashang, when do you think Father can recover?" Rong Jiashang admitted that "considering the current medical technology, we can't find a cure for him," only hoping he could soon accept his fate. Downstairs, Rong Jiashang and Rong Fanglin encountered Mrs. Rong and Zhao Hua'an talking quietly.
Zhao Hua'an approached Rong Jiashang, explaining that Mrs. Rong had invited him to dinner and that he had "several documents [that] need your father's signature and seal." Rong Jiashang announced that he was holding the seal and would be taking over the Rong family's commercial affairs due to his father's unstable mental state. Zhao Hua'an immediately pledged his full support, stating his loyalty to the Rong family. Rong Jiashang then invited Zhao Hua'an to his study to discuss matters further.
In the study, Rong Jiashang revealed his plans to overhaul the Rong family's businesses, specifically to cease the illegal opium trade, which he deemed "murderous" and "evil money." He explained that while opium "laid a solid foundation and has financially supported our company for years," it was "not a long-term business" and would "forever stick them in illegal businesses" if not stopped.
Zhao Hua'an expressed concern over the "heavy losses" and the difficulty of disbanding the men involved in such a profitable enterprise. Rong Jiashang responded, “Haven't we done enough wicked things? My father is paralyzed now. No offense, but he deserves it. I want to do this so that I can perform good deeds for my father and my family.” Rong Jiashang, however, did not give in, instead advising Zhao Hua'an to return home and care for his ailing wife.
Zhao Hua'an gritted his teeth in anger but dared not voice his displeasure. Rong Jiashang assured Zhao Hua'an that he would not be treated shabbily, acknowledging Zhao Hua'an's past contributions. Meanwhile, Hashimoto Taiji informed Shiori Hashimoto of Rong Dingkun's awakening and Rong Jiashang's takeover of the Rong family's affairs, urging her to marry Rong Jiashang immediately to secure control of the family. Shiori Hashimoto, however, felt the timing was premature.
She commanded her brother to continue monitoring the Rong family, convinced that "Rong Jiashang will be mine. He can't get away.” A subordinate reported to Meng Xu'an about Rong Jiashang's swift actions at the Rong commercial firm. Rong Jiashang had fired Zhao Hua'an's opium-smuggling subordinates, raised salaries for legal employees, and mandated that all business required his personal review and seal. This effectively cut off the opium trade, frustrating Meng Xu'an's efforts to find leverage.
The subordinate also mentioned Rong Dingkun was confined to his residence, with the family offering five times the usual salary for a nurse. Meng Xu'an mused on Rong Dingkun's misfortune, "This Rong Dingkun never dreamed that he would be paralyzed at this age and that his son grabbed his power. It's not enough. I want more. I'll make him watch it when his family is broken up and ruined."
When asked if he wanted Feng Shizhen's address, Meng Xu'an declined, stating, "As long as I know she's all right, I'm contented." Soon after, Yang Xiucheng requested a private meeting with Meng Xu'an, sending a note saying he knew all of Rong Dingkun's secrets. Yang Xiucheng, desperate and hunted by both Zhao Hua'an's men and the Du family, begged Meng Xu'an for protection, promising to divulge all of Rong Dingkun's secrets in exchange for his life.
Meng Xu'an, cautious, decided to first assess the value of Yang Xiucheng’s information. In Peking, Feng Shizhen unexpectedly encountered Sun Shaoqing while shopping. Shaoqing warmly thanked Feng Shizhen for saving her, saying, “Without your help, I would still be living a hell-like life. It's you who gave me a new life.” Shaoqing revealed she had married a diplomat in Japan and was in Peking with her husband on a business trip.
Feng Shizhen explained that she had resigned from the Rong family and was now a teacher in Peking. Shaoqing then eagerly inquired about her sister. Feng Shizhen told her that her sister had given birth to a son and that "the Rong family will be nice to her." Shaoqing shared that her sister also understood Feng Shizhen's decision to leave and missed her dearly.
Feng Shizhen provided her brother Feng Shixun's hospital address, where Shaoqing's nephew was hospitalized, suggesting Shaoqing could write to her sister via that address. They parted ways, wishing each other well. Back in Shanghai, Rong Jiashang brought food to Rong Dingkun, who was suffering immense pain and demanding opium. Rong Dingkun screamed, "I want opium! I want. . . I want opium!"
Rong Jiashang offered to provide a small amount for his pain, as permitted by the doctor, but withheld it as he tried to talk to his father. As Rong Dingkun drifted in and out of lucidity due to the pain and sedative, Rong Jiashang pressed him for information about his past, asking, "Father, did you have a wife and children before you married my mother?" Rong Dingkun, confused, asked who he was, and Rong Jiashang identified himself.
After Rong Dingkun recollected, he proudly stated, “You're my only son of your generation. . . You indeed made me proud.” Rong Jiashang then revealed that he had heard about another wife and children, and that Mrs. Rong and Zhao Hua'an had claimed they died of illness. Rong Dingkun denied it, insisting they were his brother's family. Rong Jiashang pressed further, asking, "Father, you said I was your first son. Do I have an elder sister, then?" Rong Dingkun unequivocally denied having a daughter, repeating, "No. You're the only son I have. You're my only son."
