Hu Tong Episode 5 Recap
> Hu Tong Recap
Tong Xiaoting observed Meihe's innate talent for opera and, after treating him to a lavish meal, suggested teaching him to sing. Meihe was initially uninterested, and pointed out Tong Xiaoting's own poverty. Tong Xiaoting explained his current predicament was due to difficult times, asserting that he was once Beiping's most famous performer and believed the new government would bring back his glory. Meihe, captivated by the thought of wealth, reluctantly agreed.
Meanwhile, Lin Zheng informed his subordinates about intelligence indicating spies were infiltrating Beiping with assassination plots. He ordered all police forces to conduct a thorough search, specifically targeting former secret agents and suspicious outsiders to ensure the security of the upcoming founding ceremony. It was Duanwu Festival, and the residents of the courtyard gathered for a festive meal. Uncle Gui had prepared a large spread, which everyone praised. Li Shen then urged Tie Dan to marry Tian Zao.
Tong Xiaoting joined in the teasing, calling them a "fairy match," while Suo Qian jokingly referred to Tie Dan as the Cowherd and Tian Zao as the "authentic proletariat." The banter continued amidst laughter. After the meal, Li Shen approached Tian Zao, emphasizing that Tie Dan, her father's apprentice, was a reliable man. She felt it was her duty to ensure Tian Zao's happiness, as her parents had passed away, and wanted to see her "daughter" settled.
Later, Tian Zao and Tie Dan discussed marriage. Tie Dan agreed to hold their wedding on the day of the founding ceremony. Li Hongying and Lin Zheng discussed the ongoing investigation into spies. Li Hongying also brought up her desire to mentor Tian Zao, praising her as a good prospect. Lin Zheng expressed reservations about Tian Zao's maturity, but Li Hongying was determined to help her.
Separately, KMT secret agents Liang Liqun and Gu Qing arrived in Beiping and checked into an inn. When PLA soldiers arrived to search the inn, the two spies made a dramatic escape across the rooftops. During their flight, they encountered Tie Dan, who was also moving agilely. Mistaking him for a fellow operative, Liang Liqun attempted to make contact, but all three were apprehended by patrolling PLA soldiers.
In custody, Liang Liqun immediately recognized Tie Dan as Sun Tie, his former martial arts instructor from a KMT spy training class. Tie Dan, however, denied knowing them, claiming to be a "common man." He pressed them about their mission, but Liang Liqun refused to talk. Distraught by Tie Dan's disappearance, Tian Zao sought help from Li Hongying, who then took her to Lin Zheng. Lin Zheng made several calls to sub-bureaus to search for "Sun Tie."
While they waited, Lin Zheng received reports that no trace of Sun Tie had been found. He then revealed a shocking discovery: investigations showed that Sun Tie had served as a martial arts instructor in a KMT Secrecy Bureau training class. Lin Zheng speculated that Tie Dan might be a latent spy. Tian Zao vehemently denied this.
Later, Dayong reminded Tian Zao of the peculiar incident when the gang leader Han Qingkui, holding a gun to Tie Dan's head, suddenly released them after his advisor spoke to him. This new information, combined with Lin Zheng's revelations, deepened Tian Zao's suspicions. She urgently warned Dayong not to tell anyone in the neighborhood what Director Lin had revealed.
That night, Lin Zheng again advised Li Hongying to abandon her plans for Tian Zao, worrying that the girl's impulsive nature made her a "time bomb" now that she was under such emotional stress. Li Hongying refused, insisting this was when Tian Zao needed support the most and that she could not abandon a good prospect. Meanwhile, tormented by conflicting emotions, Tian Zao held the rouge Tie Dan had given her.
The next morning, she went to the martial arts class to question Tie Dan's apprentices. They revealed that before the liberation of Beiping, Tie Dan had consistently missed class two or three days a week, debunking his excuse that he was visiting other wrestlers to study, as he was an unparalleled wrestler who forbade his own students from challenging other venues.
Tian Zao then visited Tie Dan's parents, who told her Tie Dan had left suddenly for "business" and instructed them not to tell anyone. These details solidified Tian Zao's agonizing conclusion: Tie Dan was a latent spy. Heartbroken, she wept at her father's grave, lamenting his "blindness" in taking a "wolf-hearted dog spy" as an apprentice. Unbeknownst to Tian Zao, Tie Dan was a Communist agent.
Wu Feng, the investigation section chief, met Tie Dan in prison under the pretense of an interrogation. Based on intelligence from Tie Dan, they had identified another key assassin, Luo Wenhui. Wu Feng asked Tie Dan to find out Luo Wenhui's location. Meanwhile, in the cell, Liang Liqun was furious when Gu Qing confessed that he had already revealed their mission to Tie Dan.
Just then, Tie Dan entered their cell, playing the role of a fellow KMT operative sent to help them. He chastised Liang Liqun and, claiming they were all mere scapegoats, urged him to reveal the identity of the "real killer." Liang Liqun, now believing Tie Dan was on their side, revealed that the true assassin, Luo Wenhui, was hiding in Beiping's most notorious and chaotic slum.
