Love in Flames of War Episode 7 Recap
> Love in Flames of War Recap
Lin Hangjing accompanied Madam Qi to Xiao Beichen's room to pack some clothes for him. There, Lin Hangjing unexpectedly saw a doll that was identical to the one Boss Jiu had given her. Madam Qi explained that this doll had been Beichen's favorite since he was a child. She then recounted the tragic story of Beichen's mother, who had died when Beichen was only seven years old. Beichen's mother had desperately shielded him from an enemy's bullet, saving his life.
After she was shot, Beichen tore cotton from his padded coat to try and stanch her wound, but it was no use. She passed away before midnight, and the seven-year-old Beichen held his mother's body all night, refusing to let go, crying that she was only tired and asleep, dreaming of going to the opera with her again.
Madam Qi explained that since that day, Beichen's temperament had changed, and he often found himself at loggerheads with his father, Xiao Haishan, due to the unexpressed pain of losing his mother so young. Hearing this, Lin Hangjing was moved to tears. She then realized that Xiao Beichen was, in fact, Boss Jiu, the benevolent benefactor who had donated a significant sum to build the orphanage she supported.
During a training exercise on climbing obstacles, Mo Weiyi and Xu Zijun tampered with the equipment, causing Instructor Du Heng to fall. Instructor Du punished them by assigning them overnight guard duty at the tower. Displaying loyalty to his friends, Xiao Beichen volunteered to join them. Meanwhile, Lin Hangjing was excited about an upcoming book club organized by the Steadfast Society, which aimed to foster knowledge exchange and critical thinking.
When some haughty girls, including Xiao Shuyi, disparaged the book club, expecting a dance party instead, Lin Hangjing defended it, declaring that reading, dancing, and even falling in love were all matters of freedom. Xiao Shuyi angrily accused Lin Hangjing of trying to go against her, but Lin Hangjing calmly stated she was merely expressing her opinion and that disagreeing was Xiao Shuyi’s freedom. That night, the weather turned bitterly cold at the tower.
Xiao Beichen went to retrieve some quilts from his room, leaving Mo Weiyi and Xu Zijun to stand guard. To keep warm, the two secretly lit a fire to roast corn, but sparks fell and ignited the wooden tower. Panicked, they descended the tower, and soon everyone rushed to put out the fire.
Setting fires without permission was a severe offense at the military academy, and with the watchtower destroyed, it was rumored that each person involved would receive at least ten lashes. Mo Weiyi didn't believe they would dare to punish Xiao Haishan's son, but Xiao Beichen knew that "Lunatic Du" was fearless. As they stood fearfully awaiting their punishment, Instructor Du stepped forward, admitting his poor supervision and instruction. He voluntarily accepted all thirty lashes on behalf of the three cadets.
Seeing Instructor Du endure the brutal whipping deeply affected Xiao Beichen. Lin Hangjing attended the Steadfast Society's reading club, where they discussed Mr. Lu Xun's recently published vernacular novel, "A Madman's Diary." Lin Hangjing offered her perspective, suggesting that the author's intent was to urge people not to be mere spectators. To her surprise, a fellow attendee named Mu Zizheng echoed her exact sentiments.
When he turned to face her, Lin Hangjing recognized him as the young man who had saved her from ruffians and sold kites. Mu Zizheng clarified that he was not a student but worked at his uncle's kite shop and attended lectures as an auditor whenever he had free time. He explained that working was for survival, while studying provided intellectual nourishment, both being indispensable. Later that night, Xiao Beichen, troubled by Instructor Du's sacrifice, couldn't sleep.
Commandant Luo found him and gently rebuked him for violating discipline. Xiao Beichen expressed his confusion as to why Instructor Du had taken the punishment when they were the ones who had erred. Commandant Luo explained Du Heng's profound intentions, emphasizing that for an officer, his soldiers' mistakes were his own responsibility, a principle crucial on the battlefield where a general's decisions affected countless lives.
He described Du Heng as a qualified and highly respected general, who despite numerous offers of promotion, chose to remain an instructor, teaching cadets not just combat skills but the true purpose of war: to achieve peace. This conversation deeply impacted Xiao Beichen. He reflected on Lin Hangjing's inscribed poetry in his book and, from that day forward, redoubled his efforts in training. Instructor Du observed Beichen's newfound dedication with a sense of satisfaction.
As Lin Hangjing and Mu Zizheng grew closer through their shared activities at the book club, Chengyu often teased Lin Hangjing about him. Chengyu also shared details about Mu Zizheng's past, revealing that his father was a painter for the Qing court, but his family's wealth was squandered due to his father's opium addiction, leading to an early death. Mu Zizheng and his mother had been struggling ever since, relying on his talent for painting kites to make a living.
Xiao Beichen's hard work paid off, and he achieved first place in the comprehensive assessment. That evening, the academy rewarded the cadets with a chance to relax. The friends gathered under the moonlight, exchanging poems and jokes. Luo Dou, the youngest and least academically inclined, confessed his dream of becoming a tailor after graduation, hoping to earn enough military pay to make a beautiful wedding dress for his sister.
Later, Lin Hangjing encountered an unwell elderly woman in the street and helped her home. To her surprise, the woman turned out to be Mu Zizheng's mother. Recognizing Lin Hangjing, Mu Zizheng's mother insisted she stay for dinner as a token of gratitude, which Lin Hangjing reluctantly accepted. While at their home, Lin Hangjing noticed a photograph of orphans and asked Mu Zizheng if he had submitted it to the Pioneer News Agency.
She excitedly realized that her first column, which advocated for orphans, had been inspired by his compelling photographs. They were thrilled to discover their shared passion and agreed to collaborate on painting murals at the new orphanage the following week. Meanwhile, a deputy officer informed Xiao Haishan that the military academy planned to send its fifth-batch cadets to Huyang Pass, noting that Xiao Beichen was among them and the fighting was fierce.
Xiao Haishan feigned indifference, stating that it was a good opportunity for Beichen to be tempered and that he would likely be assigned to logistics rather than the front lines. Despite his outwardly casual demeanor, Xiao Haishan clearly harbored concern for his son and secretly instructed the deputy officer to oversee Beichen's performance without granting him any special treatment.
