Hu Tong Episode 10 Recap
> Hu Tong Recap
Dapeng and Xiulan were deeply in love, having secretly dated for nearly half a year. When Dapeng was promoted to deputy director of the police station, he wanted to make their relationship public, but Xiulan felt embarrassed and unworthy. She, a mere housewife, believed she did not deserve an official like him. Dapeng, however, was resolute, telling Xiulan he would marry no one else in his life, a declaration that delighted her.
Dapeng then revealed his intention to enlist in the Volunteer Army to fight in the Korean War. Xiulan was horrified, asking if he wanted to die, and vehemently refused to let him go, fearing what she would do if he were to die on the battlefield. After much deliberation, Suo Qian, wanting to contribute to the Korean War effort, wrote propaganda slogans and drew pictures.
He asked Aunt Li to sew them directly onto his clothes, as he didn't want to waste their precious white flour on making paste. As he proudly participated in a street parade, Officer Wang, the director of the district's propaganda group for resisting US aggression and aiding Korea, noticed him. Wang was impressed by Suo Qian's self-made posters and calligraphy.
He asked Suo Qian if he would be interested in helping them draw posters and write slogans, an offer Suo Qian eagerly accepted. Officer Wang instructed him to go home, change his clothes, and then report to the propaganda group that afternoon. The Korean War had entered a critical stage, with Taiwan authorities advocating for a counterattack on the mainland. Domestically, bandits and secret agents were rampant, causing numerous poisoning and explosion incidents in Beijing.
Warehouses storing supplies for volunteers caught fire multiple times, and key government workers were assassinated. Recognizing the severity of the situation, Section Chief Gao Zhiyuan established a special working group and appointed Tie Dan as its leader.
Given his background as a renowned wrestler in Beijing and his extensive connections within various societal gangs and martial arts circles before liberation, he was tasked with secretly investigating and resolutely eliminating latent spies and counter-revolutionaries within these Jianghu (martial arts) and religious groups. Dapeng submitted an application to Lin Zheng to join the Volunteer Army for the Korean War. Lin Zheng firmly rejected his request, questioning if Dapeng was trying to escape his current duties.
Lin Zheng emphasized that Dapeng's mission as a police soldier was to catch spies and ensure public safety in Beijing, a task no less important than fighting on the Korean battlefield. He explained that spy activities in Beijing were rampant, and the city bureau had just concluded a meeting to plan large-scale actions against counter-revolutionaries and reactionary secret societies. This was a critical time when every person was needed.
Lin Zheng then ordered Dapeng never to mention joining the army again. Dayong enlisted in the Volunteer Army. Tian Zao, Tie Dan, and the children from the orphanage gathered to see him off. Tian Zao repeatedly urged Dayong to protect himself on the battlefield. Dayong promised to return triumphantly and, in turn, entrusted Tie Dan with the care of his sister, Tian Zao.
As they said their emotional goodbyes, Dayong playfully told Tian Zao and Tie Dan to save their wedding candy for him, hinting at their future marriage. Tong Xiaoting's application to perform at the Korean front was rejected. Taking out his frustration, he subjected Meihe to even harsher training. Meihe complained of dizziness and exhaustion, realizing his master was angry about not being chosen.
He tried to reason with Tong Xiaoting, pointing out that performers sent to the front were martial artists, and his Tsing Yi singing was "not strong to go to the battlefield," but Tong Xiaoting simply ordered him to keep practicing. Meanwhile, Tie Dan visited Kong San at the Tianqiao wrestling ground.
Tie Dan acknowledged Kong San's deep familiarity with the diverse crowd and performers there and asked him to discreetly observe if there were any new faces or unexplained disappearances among the vendors and buskers. Kong San, confident in his knowledge of Tianqiao, agreed to provide a report in three days. His condition was that Tie Dan must teach him the unique wrestling skills passed down by Tie Dan's father-in-law. Tie Dan readily agreed.
Three days later, Tie Dan met Kong San at a restaurant, having also invited Tian Zao to join them. Tie Dan expressed concern for Tian Zao, noting she hadn't gained weight, unaware that she had been saving the money he gave her for future needs. During their meal, Tian Zao cautioned Tie Dan against revealing details of his mission, emphasizing organizational discipline and secrecy to "beware of exposure." Kong San arrived and handed Tie Dan the list of missing people.
Kong San then teased the couple, which visibly annoyed Tian Zao. Keeping his promise, Tie Dan began demonstrating wrestling techniques to Kong San, explaining principles like deceiving opponents and leveraging strength. Tian Zao sharply criticized his demonstration, accusing him of "wasting" her father's skills. She pointed out flaws, such as the slow final step in his "cloud hand" technique and a kick that was too high.
Tie Dan defended himself, claiming he deliberately slowed down and feigned moves to better illustrate the techniques. Kong San, enjoying the argument, encouraged Tian Zao and Tie Dan to wrestle. Tian Zao immediately threw Tie Dan to the ground, surprising him. Unwilling to concede, Tie Dan challenged her to come again. She continued to press him, but after dodging her advances, he effortlessly defeated her. The Korean War had entered a new stage after four major battles.
The American imperialist forces, led by General Ridgway, launched an aerial "strangulation" offensive, conducting relentless bombings on the Volunteer Army's supply lines in Korea. Thousands of aircraft dropped tons of bombs daily, severely damaging railways and highways and creating immense difficulties for the Volunteer soldiers. In response to this unprecedented advantage in enemy weaponry, a nationwide patriotic movement to donate weapons was launched. The Beijing Municipal Government also initiated an aircraft donation campaign.
Li Hongying was tasked with arranging the specific work for this campaign among the street leaders, and she advised Tian Zao not to be overly stressed, clarifying that the main effort relied on enterprises increasing production and saving, while ordinary citizens were encouraged to participate voluntarily and within their means. Wanting to contribute to the war effort but unsure how, Tian Zao learned that other districts were organizing money donations.
She immediately gathered the local shop owners and passionately appealed to them to donate money for airplanes for the Volunteer Army. She explained the dire situation at the front, with American planes bombing Chinese volunteers and the need for more aircraft to counter them. The shop owners, moved by her appeal and the plight of the soldiers, eagerly agreed to donate, expressing their consciousness for the cause.
Later, Tian Zao spotted Suo Qian painting at a street corner and, mistaking it for vandalism, angrily confronted him for "scribbling on the wall." Suo Qian proudly informed her that he was now an official member of the district's propaganda group for resisting US aggression and aiding Korea, responsible for drawing posters and writing slogans. Officer Wang then appeared, confirming Suo Qian's statements and praising his talent.
He further clarified that all the slogans and posters around the streets were indeed painted by Suo Qian, who was now working for the Party and the state. Tian Zao returned home and recounted Suo Qian's new role to Aunt Li and Tong Xiaoting. Aunt Li expressed her surprise that a "loser" like Suo Qian could be useful, while Tong Xiaoting remarked that the people's government had a good eye for talent.
Aunt Li then reflected, saying, "The Communist Party can really transform people," lamenting that the old society turned people into ghosts, but the new society turned "ghosts into people," and was glad that Suo Qian, once considered a waste, could now contribute to the country. Tong Xiaoting, relieved, added that his "object of transformation" had turned over a new leaf, saving him one less trouble. Later, Suo Qian, returning from work, took Meihe to visit his sister, Chunxi.
Chunxi and Meihe had a joyous reunion. Suo Qian proudly handed Chunxi his first month's salary, explaining he was now a government worker with a steady income, and also presented her with her favorite meat buns from Tianxingju to express his appreciation. Feeling settled and financially stable, Suo Qian proposed marriage to Chunxi. Chunxi, though surprised, accepted, considering it was time for her and Meihe to have a complete home, and told Suo Qian to make the necessary preparations.
Suo Qian was overjoyed. Tian Zao was determined to raise money for the Volunteer Army. She recalled her previous unsuccessful attempt to gather donations from all the wealthy business owners, many of whom had genuine financial difficulties, and she couldn't force them due to the voluntary nature of donations. Seeking other avenues, she visited Boss Zhuang, who sold wicker baskets and learned from him that they were in high demand in their neighborhood.
He explained that he sourced them from Nankou Village, where farmers wove them during their slack seasons, making them a business without cost. Tian Zao then remembered that Uncle Gui and Aunt Li possessed traditional basket-weaving skills from their countryside upbringing. She found Uncle Gui at home, recovering from a sprained waist, and asked him to teach her and other neighbors how to weave baskets.
Uncle Gui confirmed that weaving baskets required no monetary investment, only craftsmanship and the raw material, which could be found abundantly and for free in places like Changping Mountain. Tian Zao, excited by this "trick" to earn money for planes, quickly gathered a large quantity of wicker branches from Changping Mountain with Meihe and other children.
She then distributed the wicker to skilled neighbors in the area, as many of them, having migrated from rural villages, also knew how to weave. Meanwhile, Tie Dan reported his initial findings to Section Chief Gao Zhiyuan. He stated that through his covert visits to various martial arts schools, guild halls, and ashrams, he had identified individuals suspected of being spies.
Gao Zhiyuan instructed Wu Feng to further verify these individuals from the list provided by Tie Dan and to arrest them immediately once their identities as Kuomintang spies were confirmed. Gao Zhiyuan commended Tie Dan for his hard work but reminded him not to relax, urging him to continue his undercover investigations to uncover more Kuomintang spies.
