City of Streamer Episode 6 Recap
> City of Streamer Recap
Rong Jiashang hosted a party at his residence, where Wu Yunchi arrived and immediately encountered a visibly upset Du Lanxin. Wu Yunchi chastised Rong Jiashang for angering Du Lanxin again, noting her terrible mood. He suggested Rong Jiashang seek entertainment at the New Metropolis Club if he desired fun, rather than inviting numerous guests home, though Rong Jiashang retorted that the house never felt lively regardless of the crowd.
He then asked Wu Yunchi to temporarily care for his dog, Moon Cake, explaining that his father did not permit pets, and the dog lacked freedom within the estate. Wu Yunchi agreed to keep Moon Cake and promised to look after it well. Meanwhile, Feng Shizhen successfully deciphered the coded message she had acquired.
Following instructions, she quietly made her way to the octagonal pavilion in the yard, located a hidden hole in a nearby locust tree, and discreetly placed the intelligence detailing the location of the concealed goods. Later, after the party concluded, Rong Jiashang found Feng Shizhen in the kitchen preparing plain noodles in light soup. He told her he was hungry and requested a bowl for himself. He then offered her some authentic chili oil he had brought back from Chongqing.
Initially, Feng Shizhen declined, stating her aversion to spicy food, but Rong Jiashang urged her to try it, remarking that one should not form an opinion without experience. She tasted it and was pleasantly surprised by its deliciousness. Rong Jiashang then mentioned he had entrusted Moon Cake to Wu Yunchi, apologizing for its departure but acknowledging his father’s stance. He promised to bring Moon Cake back once he gained the capability to do so.
Before leaving, he complimented Feng Shizhen on the excellent noodles. Meng Xu'an received the critical intelligence from Feng Shizhen. He dispatched his men to the specified island, where they discovered a heavily guarded warehouse, strongly suspected of holding the valuable antiques. However, they quickly ascertained that retrieving the goods would necessitate Rong Dingkun's personal seal, his fingerprints, and the exact item number. Meng Xu'an instructed his team to proceed with utmost caution, avoiding any actions that might alert their target.
Rong Jiashang later observed Feng Shizhen giving a lesson to Sun Shaoqing, noticing their close bond and how they referred to each other as sisters. He overheard Sun Shaoqing expressing admiration for Feng Shizhen's knowledge, particularly regarding Tagore's "Stray Birds," while Feng Shizhen, for her part, showed no reservation in befriending a concubine. Rong Jiashang then spotted Ms. Chen eavesdropping.
He subsequently reported Ms. Chen’s behavior to the housekeeper, who, after confirming Ms. Chen was an appointee of Mrs. Rong, assured Rong Jiashang that the matter would be handled. Shortly thereafter, Ms. Chen was reassigned to the kitchen. That night, Wen covertly entered Feng Shizhen’s room, explaining that Rong Dingkun’s absence had led to relaxed security. He updated her on the successful identification of the island and the warehouse.
However, he emphasized that to extract the goods, they would need Rong Dingkun’s personal seal, his fingerprints, and the precise item number, noting that Rong Dingkun likely carried the seal with him. Feng Shizhen acknowledged the challenge and promised to devise a method to acquire these crucial items. Sun Shaoqing sought out Feng Shizhen, tearfully expressing her profound desire for independence and freedom from the Rong family.
She revealed that her brother relied on Rong Dingkun for his position as comprador, while her sister, Concubine Sun, had manipulated her to secure her own standing with Rong Dingkun, effectively trapping her in a "living hell." Sun Shaoqing shared her dream of escaping to Japan to join a former classmate, whom she considered more than just a friend.
While validating Sun Shaoqing's feelings as a victim, Feng Shizhen cautiously reminded her of the harsh realities and potential struggles of life outside the Rong residence, referencing "A Doll's House." She advised Sun Shaoqing to meticulously plan and prepare, assuring her that with determination, any obstacles could be overcome.
Upon Rong Dingkun and Mrs. Rong's return from their ancestral home, Ms. Chen immediately reported to Mrs. Rong about Feng Shizhen and Sun Shaoqing's growing closeness, which angered Mrs. Rong, particularly because Rong Jiashang had reassigned Ms. Chen. Meanwhile, Concubine Sun, worried that Feng Shizhen's increasing presence might draw Rong Dingkun’s attention, discussed with her brother how to remove Feng Shizhen from the household if she proved to be "ambitious."
Concubine Sun then confronted Sun Shaoqing, urging her to spend more time with Rong Dingkun instead of the governess. Sun Shaoqing defiantly accused her siblings of exploiting her for their own luxurious ambitions, prompting an enraged rebuke from her brother, who called her ungrateful and selfish. Sun Shaoqing stormed out. Feng Shizhen was in the midst of tutoring Rong Jiashang when Sun Shaoqing arrived, waiting outside.
Rong Jiashang, noticing Sun Shaoqing, deliberately feigned confusion with his lesson to prolong Feng Shizhen's stay and subtly criticize her empathy for the concubine. However, concerned for Sun Shaoqing, Feng Shizhen quickly ended the class, promising to continue the next day, and went to meet her. Before leaving, she requested a day off to pick up her brother, addressing Rong Jiashang by his given name, "Jiashang," which surprised him.
Sun Shaoqing tearfully reiterated her desperation to leave the Rong family, feeling used and uncared for by her siblings. She planned to go to Japan to her former lover, who had encouraged her to seek refuge. Feng Shizhen cautiously inquired about the lover's reliability and the need for financial independence. Sun Shaoqing confirmed she had saved enough valuables from Rong Dingkun to convert into money and declared her resolve to leave permanently, unlike "Nora."
Feng Shizhen advised her to convert cash into bank drafts for safer travel. Sun Shaoqing then revealed her greatest obstacle: as she had served Rong Dingkun during his opium habit, she knew many of his secrets, making her a closely guarded prisoner, with bodyguards instructed to shoot her if she tried to escape. Feng Shizhen assured her of her trust and promised to devise a careful plan, acknowledging the risks to both their lives.
After much thought, Feng Shizhen proposed a bold plan: they would swap identities. Recalling Mrs. Rong's comment on their resemblance, she suggested the exchange take place at night for better concealment. They meticulously planned the details: at 7:30 PM, when servants gathered for dinner, Sun Shaoqing would ensure Rong Dingkun was deeply sedated by a potent new opium after his 7 PM return and meal. Before 8 PM, Sun Shaoqing would exit the West Hall in Feng Shizhen's clothes.
Simultaneously, Feng Shizhen, disguised as Sun Shaoqing, would return to the West Hall, allowing Sun Shaoqing to escape before her absence was noticed the next day. Sun Shaoqing also advised Feng Shizhen to delay her own departure from the West Hall until after the bodyguards rested at 9 PM to avoid immediate suspicion. Sun Shaoqing urged Feng Shizhen to consider leaving the Rong family eventually, describing it as a outwardly glamorous but inwardly corrupted "rotten peach."
The next day, Feng Shizhen went to the Bund Passenger Terminal to meet her elder brother, Feng Shixun. Their reunion was deeply emotional, marked by a warm embrace. Coincidentally, Rong Jiashang and Wu Yunchi were also at the dock to pick up Rong Jiashang's aunt and family. Wu Yunchi spotted Feng Shizhen and her brother, jokingly suggesting he might be her lover due to their affectionate reunion. Rong Jiashang clarified that Feng Shizhen had informed him it was her brother.
They watched as Feng Shizhen and Feng Shixun departed, hand-in-arm. Feng Shizhen and Feng Shixun arrived home to their overjoyed parents, who were tearfully grateful for the family's reunion. Their father expressed his hopes for Feng Shixun to restore the family's honor.
Later, as Feng Shixun walked Feng Shizhen to the street corner, he voiced concerns about their tenant, Wen, seeming "not very easy-going," but Feng Shizhen reassured him that Wen was a kind man who helped their mother with heavy tasks. Feng Shixun announced his intention to seek a job as an unofficial doctor at Red House Hospital through Chief Liu, aiming to shoulder family responsibilities.
Feng Shizhen insisted they share the burden and also mentioned their mother’s desire to move, hoping a new environment might help their father overcome his opium addiction. They resolved to work together to relocate their parents. Feng Shixun urged his sister not to bear all burdens alone and to confide in him. Back at the Rong residence, Rong Jiashang, concerned, anxiously awaited Feng Shizhen’s late return. Feng Shizhen, meanwhile, acknowledged the solitary path she had chosen.
Upon her return to the Rong residence, Feng Shizhen secretly handed Sun Shaoqing the boat ticket for the "Queen Elizabeth," scheduled to depart from Bund Passenger Terminal Gate No. 2 in three days at 8 AM. She advised Sun Shaoqing to secure her money carefully, as there was no time for a bank deposit, promising to discuss further details the next day.
Rong Jiashang, who had been waiting for Feng Shizhen, confronted her about her late return and her association with Sun Shaoqing. He insinuated that her motives in the Rong household extended beyond teaching, hinting at her "hugging a man" and "secretly meeting a concubine." He warned her against further interaction with Sun Shaoqing, emphasizing that Sun Shaoqing knew many of Rong Dingkun's secrets, and getting close to her would antagonize his father.
Feng Shizhen insisted her concern for Sun Shaoqing was purely out of pity, denying any interest in Rong Dingkun's secrets. Rong Jiashang, suspicious of her intentions, continued, highlighting his father's profound distrust and reminding her of how Concubine Sun (Sun Shaoqing's sister) had initially entered their family as a tutor before becoming Rong Dingkun's concubine. He cautioned Feng Shizhen against inviting similar gossip or jeopardizing her position.
Realizing Rong Jiashang suspected her of aspiring to become Rong Dingkun’s concubine, Feng Shizhen angrily refuted the implication, asserting her aspirations were far greater. As she turned to walk away, Rong Jiashang unexpectedly pulled her into a tight embrace, leaving both of them in an awkward silence. He then cautioned her not to fall into the very trap she was setting for others.
