City of Streamer Episode 8 Recap
> City of Streamer Recap
Hearing a sound from the room, Yang Xiucheng entered and found Rong Dingkun in a deep slumber from the opium. He turned off the gramophone and quietly sat by the sleeping Rong Dingkun. Meanwhile, Feng Shizhen, seeing no one around, subtly adjusted the wall clock to display an earlier time before swiftly departing the West Hall.
Feng Shizhen then changed back into her own clothes, climbed up to the second floor of the main house, made her way through the main hall, and went outside to retrieve some exam papers that had blown off her windowsill, an act witnessed by Mrs. Rong and other household members. While this was happening, Sun Shaoqing, who had successfully escaped the Rong family estate, was met by Meng Xu'an.
He promised to ensure her safe departure from Shanghai but insisted on first discussing "things about Rong Dingkun." Sun Shaoqing feigned ignorance, prompting Meng Xu'an to warn her that without his assistance, she would not be able to leave Shanghai. After retrieving the papers, Feng Shizhen secretly tucked some intelligence into a tree hollow near the octagonal pavilion.
Rong Jiashang, returning early from the New Metropolis Club, did not greet Mrs. Rong or the others, heading straight to Feng Shizhen's room. Finding it empty, he was told she had gone downstairs to pick up exam papers. He immediately rushed out to the yard to find her. Rong Jiashang confronted Feng Shizhen, his gaze fixed on her. He admitted he couldn't stop thinking about her, questioning, "Why is it you?"
He suspected she was deliberately getting close to him and demanded to know her true intentions. Feng Shizhen tried to turn and leave, stating she wouldn't stay to be humiliated and that she couldn't control his mind or be blamed for his thoughts. Overcome by alcohol, Rong Jiashang impulsively kissed her. Feng Shizhen immediately slapped him hard and angrily walked away. Ms. Chen, who witnessed the entire scene, rushed back inside to report to Mrs. Rong.
Mrs. Rong, accompanied by Concubine Wang and Rong Fanglin, came out and encountered Feng Shizhen, who silently returned to her room. Mrs. Rong was deeply disappointed in Rong Jiashang's disgraceful behavior, particularly towards Feng Shizhen, who was a decent lady and their teacher. She dispatched Ms. Chen to inform Rong Dingkun.
Yang Xiucheng, upon hearing the commotion and noting the clock still read nine o'clock, chose not to disturb Rong Dingkun, who he believed had just fallen asleep, and instead went to speak with Rong Jiashang himself. Back in her room, Feng Shizhen began packing her belongings, resolute in her decision to leave the Rong family despite Rong Fanglin and Fanghua's pleas to stay.
She then went to formally resign to Mrs. Rong, who tried earnestly to persuade her to remain, even insisting that Rong Jiashang apologize. Feng Shizhen, however, was firm in her resolve. Yang Xiucheng suggested she wait until morning to inform Rong Dingkun before leaving, but Feng Shizhen refused, stating that the incident had already spread and she did not wish to stay and be subjected to gossip.
Hearing this, Rong Jiashang declared that Feng Shizhen didn't need to leave; he would depart instead. He then drove away, his mind replaying moments with Feng Shizhen, filled with regret. He reflected that although his scheme to attract her had seemingly worked, he felt no happiness. The following morning, Rong Dingkun awoke and was informed by a guard that he had scolded Sun Shaoqing after smoking opium last night, and that she had since locked herself in her room.
Unaware of the events, Rong Dingkun rushed to her room, only to find it empty. He immediately ordered a search party. Simultaneously, he learned of Rong Jiashang's drunken misconduct towards Feng Shizhen. Enraged, Rong Dingkun forced Rong Jiashang to apologize to Feng Shizhen and severely reprimanded him for his lack of achievement and unruly behavior.
Concubine Sun tried to fan the flames by mentioning Mrs. Rong had hired Feng Shizhen, but Rong Dingkun turned his anger on her, demanding to know Sun Shaoqing's whereabouts. Concubine Sun genuinely had no idea. Rong Dingkun summoned the doorman, who clearly recalled opening the gate for "Miss Feng" last night because she claimed a family emergency. Feng Shizhen vehemently denied ever leaving.
Mrs. Rong, observing the doorman's lingering smell of liquor, suggested he might have been mistaken due to Feng Shizhen's and Sun Shaoqing's similar appearances. She speculated that Sun Shaoqing might have disguised herself as Feng Shizhen to trick the doorman and escape during the commotion. The doorman, however, insisted he called her "Miss Feng" and she responded.
When questioned about her whereabouts between 8 PM and 9 PM, Feng Shizhen explained she had gone for a short walk around 7 PM, returned, greeted Mrs. Rong and the young ladies, and then stayed in her room marking papers until 9 PM when a draft blew a paper out her window, leading her downstairs and into the incident with Rong Jiashang. Rong Fanglin corroborated that she and Fanghua were with Feng Shizhen until 11 PM after she was upset.
Concubine Sun, however, adamantly accused Feng Shizhen of instigating Sun Shaoqing's departure, claiming Shaoqing was always well-behaved until Feng Shizhen's arrival. She demanded Feng Shizhen produce Sun Shaoqing. Rong Jiashang intervened to pull Concubine Sun away. Feng Shizhen then offered to resign, stating she would accept any judgment if she was deemed guilty. Mrs. Rong fiercely defended Feng Shizhen, arguing that there was no evidence against her and that she had already suffered enough from Rong Jiashang's actions.
She advised Concubine Sun to focus on her pregnancy, suggesting Sun Shaoqing might have returned to her own family. Concubine Sun, deeply hurt and accusing Mrs. Rong of wishing ill upon her and her unborn child, further escalated the argument. Mrs. Rong then brought up their deceased son, Jiaxin, and threatened divorce. Rong Dingkun tried to calm his wife, then instructed Concubine Sun to rest and ordered his men to report any news of Sun Shaoqing immediately.
Finally, he apologized to Feng Shizhen, acknowledging the Rong family's fault, and offered her three months' salary and a recommendation letter to help her find another position. As Feng Shizhen prepared to leave, Rong Jiashang offered to see her off. During the drive, he apologized again for his actions. Feng Shizhen gently advised him to consider what kind of response he expected from her and what she could offer, emphasizing their fundamental differences.
She suggested that his interest might stem from novelty and that he would eventually encounter a broader world where he would truly understand his desires. Acknowledging her wisdom, Rong Jiashang agreed to defer his unspoken words, hoping for a suitable time in the future. They bid each other farewell, with Rong Jiashang expressing a belief that they would meet again soon, to which Feng Shizhen replied, "Perhaps."
Following Feng Shizhen's departure, Yang Xiucheng reported to Rong Dingkun that his men had searched all bus stations, train stations, and docks but found no trace of Sun Shaoqing, leading him to believe she was either still in Shanghai with a pre-planned hideout or had received assistance to leave. Rong Dingkun, still suspicious of Feng Shizhen, inquired further.
Yang Xiucheng confirmed he had interrogated Ms. Chen, who attested to Feng Shizhen's consistently good behavior, and a search of her belongings had revealed nothing suspicious. While acknowledging that Feng Shizhen and Sun Shaoqing had grown close, Yang Xiucheng noted that Ms. Chen had only overheard them discussing literature, never matters related to the Rong family. Rong Dingkun, however, remained convinced that Feng Shizhen was somehow involved.
Yang Xiucheng suggested they could interrogate her, but Rong Dingkun cautioned against it, fearing it would alert others. Rong Dingkun then expressed his disappointment in Mrs. Rong's management of the household, prompting Yang Xiucheng to inform him that he had already dismissed the doorman and replaced the bodyguards in the West Hall. Yang Xiucheng also suggested replacing the other household servants, whom he considered cunning and disloyal to Rong Dingkun.
Rong Dingkun agreed, asserting his authority as the head of the family. Later, Du Lanxin met with Rong Jiashang at a club, mockingly commenting on how his "affair" with Feng Shizhen had become widely known. She playfully chided him for his carelessness, especially knowing that some servants were loyal to Concubine Sun.
She described Feng Shizhen as a principled woman but suggested men like Rong Jiashang were drawn to "pretentious girls," comparing them to "Tang Seng meat" — always desired until consumed, then discarded. She implied his continued obsession stemmed from Feng Shizhen's rejection. Rong Jiashang, hearing the phrase "Tang Seng meat," declared that in such a case, he "must try it."
