Forward Forever Episode 21 Recap, Plot

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Fang Er urged Xiao Ke not to act impulsively, encouraging him to discuss a non-violent solution with everyone. At that moment, Zhou Jue and Yang Ming arrived. Zhou Jue proposed peaceful negotiations with the British delegation, a suggestion Xiao Ke immediately dismissed as impossible and mocked. Undeterred, Zhou Jue volunteered to represent the people in negotiations. The crowd, including workers and farmers, voiced their support, but Xiao Ke, angered by the turn of events, stormed off.

Fang Er, on behalf of the Green Dragon Society, threw her full support behind Zhou Jue's plan. Meanwhile, Qian Daren received an imperial edict to quickly sign the railway agreement with the British. He was distraught, realizing the court wouldn't allocate more funds and that the railway rights would fall into foreign hands, leaving the common people empty-handed. Desperate, Chong Liming sought out Mary, hoping to convince her to increase the payment for the people’s railway shares.

He invited her to dinner, even having her change into a Qing Dynasty dress, which he complimented. Mary, charmed by his attention, tightly held his arm as they left. Yu Chu, observing their closeness, felt a pang of jealousy and, with Si San in tow, followed them. As they strolled, Mary was captivated by the local "Dengying beef" sold by a street vendor. Chong Liming used the opportunity to explain its origin and the local customs of Sichuan.

Nearby, a fuming Yu Chu sat with Si San, angrily eating noodles, watching Chong Liming and Mary laughing together. Si San suggested they leave, but Yu Chu adamantly refused, determined to keep a close eye on Chong Liming. Mary asked why the people so vehemently opposed the railway project if it was so difficult to build.

Chong Liming explained that the local populace viewed the railway as their own undertaking and contributed their life savings, often mere pennies, totaling over four and a half million taels. He emphasized the extreme poverty of the people, for whom ten "wen" was more than a day's meals, and how the court's low-price sale to the British disregarded their immense sacrifices.

Mary acknowledged the people's plight but maintained her company’s primary objective was profit, not charity, and expressed her inability to help further. Meanwhile, back at the Green Dragon Society headquarters, Fang Er learned of Chong Liming's presence in Nanan and thought about seeking his help. However, Xiao Ke fiercely opposed the idea, stating his deep-seated animosity towards Chong Liming and the Yan Shifan. Despite Fang Er's fervent attempts to persuade him, Xiao Ke remained irreconcilable.

Following Chong Liming's continued earnest persuasion, Mary eventually agreed to consider increasing the compensation, but playfully suggested she would do so if Chong Liming would kiss her in public. Chong Liming leaned in and whispered his refusal, stating he only kissed those he truly loved, leaving the decision to her. Yu Chu, who had been listening nearby, overheard this.

Enraged, Mary declared that the investors’ protests were irrelevant to her company and that the court would handle any unrest even if the British paid nothing. Ignoring her, Chong Liming took Yu Chu's hand and left. Yu Chu then asked why he hadn't kissed Mary, wondering if it would have resolved the situation. Chong Liming dismissed Mary's offer as a mere provocation to upset Yu Chu.

Yu Chu denied being bothered, but Chong Liming continued to tease her before finally admitting he told Mary he only kisses those he likes. Chong Liming then visited Cao county order at the county office to inquire about the railway funds. Cao county order explained that the provincial government initiated the fundraising, and the money was sent to the capital for central allocation. Nanan County was supposed to receive three allocations.

Two payments of 300,000 taels each were disbursed, but rising costs and difficult terrain quickly depleted them, covering less than a hundred "li" of track. The third allocation never arrived. Cao county order revealed he had personally advanced 400,000 taels to build a station but had not been reimbursed by the court, leaving him heavily in debt and facing demands from a newly formed "Rights Protection Association." He claimed ignorance regarding the reason for the court's withholding of funds.

Elsewhere, some members of the Brilliant Situation discussed Chong Liming's efforts to get more money from Mary, doubting his success given her business-minded nature and the vast sum involved. They also noted his unusual decision to bring Yu Chu along, suggesting he wasn't entirely serious about the negotiation. During a routine work rotation assignment, one member complained about being sent to the railway company again, questioning why A Yi wasn't sent instead, but was simply told to comply.

A Yi continued his gun-fighting practice with Yang Ming, who was known as "Uncle Li." Yang Ming challenged A Yi to draw and fire his gun, but A Yi repeatedly failed to master the technique. Yang Ming encouraged him, reminding him that such skills take time to learn. Zhou Jue gave A Yi a copy of Sun Wen's "Three People's Principles". Zhou Jue explained that this book contained the core revolutionary ideas of the Tongmenghui.

He elaborated on the concept of "People's Livelihood," which aimed to return land to the common people, ensuring everyone had food and shelter. A Yi, recalling his impoverished childhood, found this vision compelling and expressed a desire to join the revolution. Zhou Jue then began to explain "Nationalism," revealing that its realization required overthrowing the Qing Dynasty to establish a new nation.

Yang Ming, observing this, subtly interjected, advising Zhou Jue not to "embarrass" A Yi, reminding him of A Yi's ties to the court. Zhou Jue, taking the hint, told A Yi to read the book and approach him anytime with his thoughts. Qian Daren, feeling unwell, was diligently sifting through Nanan County’s old account books, determined to find any remaining funds to compensate the public and verify Cao county order’s claims of poverty.

Chong Liming reviewed the accounts with him, noting numerous suspicious and substantial "income and expenditure" entries, including "private collections" and annual "three festivals and two birthdays" payments (customarily made in the capital) amounting to thousands of taels. These dubious expenses left Nanan County with a mere 10,000 taels in its treasury, a sum insufficient to cover even one gentry's share.

Chong Liming questioned how the original five million taels raised for the railway could simply vanish, forcing the court to sell railway rights to the British. Qian Daren then took Chong Liming to a porridge factory he funded, where impoverished citizens were queuing for food. The manager informed them that their rice supply would last only five more days. Qian Daren offered his personal funds to help.

Chong Liming expressed dismay that such charity alone could not alleviate the widespread suffering. Qian Daren then confessed the truth: officials from the Ministry of Works had embezzled millions of the railway funds, using the remainder to invest in speculative rubber stocks in Shanghai, hoping for quick profits. However, a major shipwreck disrupted rubber shipments, and a financial crisis erupted in London, causing the stock market to crash. All the railway funds were lost overnight.

Chong Liming was furious at this corruption and deceit, questioning how Qian Daren could possibly sign an agreement with the British under such circumstances. He vowed to work with Qian Daren to recover the people’s stock capital, and Qian Daren readily agreed to join him in this fight for justice. Zhou Jue and Yang Ming visited Fang Er at the Green Dragon Society headquarters, which was also being used by the Rights Protection Association.

Zhou Jue apologized for his previous bluntness towards Xiao Ke and sought to discuss future cooperation. Fang Er, acknowledging her brother's direct nature, went to call Xiao Ke. However, Xiao Ke refused to meet, accusing Zhou Jue of trying to usurp his authority and dismissing peaceful negotiation as absurd. Fang Er tried to reason with him, reminding him that their association was founded in response to the Tongmenghui's call and that Zhou Jue’s guidance could benefit them.

Xiao Ke, however, maintained that Zhou Jue merely talked big and that if peaceful negotiation were truly possible, he would have achieved it long ago. He challenged Zhou Jue, declaring he would only accept his leadership if he successfully retrieved the stock funds, reiterating that the Green Dragon Society, which he equated with the Rights Protection Association, was built through his and Fang Er's hard work and he would not cede control.

While waiting, Zhou Jue wandered into the backyard and found Yubing making "ciba" for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival. He tasted her "ciba" and complimented her skill, which she attributed to her deceased mother. He learned that both her parents had tragically taken their own lives after her father, swayed by promises of quick returns, invested all his and the village’s savings in railway shares, only to lose everything when the shares collapsed.

Fang Er had later taken Yubing in as a maid. Zhou Jue introduced himself as a member of the Tongmenghui, explaining his non-violent approach contrasted with Xiao Ke's. He emphasized that violent actions against foreigners would only provoke further conflict. He assured Yubing that he would strive through peaceful negotiation to compel the foreigners to pay back the people’s money.

Yubing, her hopes rekindled, asked if their money could truly be recovered, and Zhou Jue promised to do everything in his power. The Second Master then arrived to inform Zhou Jue that Xiao Ke was unavailable and asked him to convey his apologies to the representatives, suggesting they return another day. Zhou Jue said goodbye to Yubing and left with Yang Ming.

Fang Er apologized once more for her brother's stubbornness, assuring Zhou Jue of her unwavering cooperation in finding the most effective way for the Rights Protection Association to fight for their cause. Zhou Jue thanked her.

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