Love in Flames of War Episode 8 Recap
> Love in Flames of War Recap
Lin Hangjing accompanied Mu Zizheng to the orphanage, delighted to see the children carefree. She then suggested he work part-time at the newspaper office. Lin Hangjing praised Mu Zizheng's unique photos, which offered vivid news perspectives and had been used by other editors. She believed his talent could help more people, just as he helped the orphans.
Understanding his time constraints, Lin Hangjing offered to request flexible hours from the editor, allowing him to shoot various materials as needed and attend meetings periodically. Mu Zizheng agreed to the arrangement. Du Heng announced to the cadets that they would be deploying to the battlefield in a few days. Xiao Beichen, however, expressed his reluctance, questioning the meaning of war and condemning those who exploited it for personal gain.
He admitted he only joined the military academy to get a diploma and appease his father. Du Heng sternly reprimanded him, asserting that no one desires war, but when it breaks out, soldiers can protect themselves, unlike the defenseless civilians. He declared that a war fought for power was indeed meaningless, but hiding and regretting while the enemy trampled their homeland was equally futile. Du Heng emphasized, "Don't talk to me about meaning when it comes to war.
Surviving is the greatest meaning." He challenged Xiao Beichen to take responsibility and actively change the situation if he disliked the conflict, reminding him that military orders were absolute. Later, as the cadets prepared to leave, Luo Dou noticed Xiao Beichen's distress about where to keep his poem collection. Luo Dou offered to sew a hidden pocket into Xiao Beichen's uniform.
Impressed by Luo Dou's skill, Xiao Beichen promised to open the biggest tailor shop for him in Beixin City after graduation, where Luo Dou could make a beautiful wedding dress for his sister. Luo Dou, in turn, excitedly promised to make a wedding dress for Xiao Beichen's future wife when he married. They sealed their pact. News of Xiao Beichen's impending deployment deeply worried his family, but no one dared to defy Xiao Haishan's orders.
Lin Hangjing tried to reassure Madam Qi, suggesting that Xiao Haishan surely had a plan and would not put Xiao Beichen in undue danger. Madam Qi, however, continued to pray for Xiao Beichen's safe return. Upon reaching the battlefield, the cadets were assigned to logistics. The sight of severely wounded soldiers, some permanently disabled, deeply shocked Xiao Beichen and his friends.
Du Heng addressed Xiao Beichen directly, saying he didn't grasp the worth of fighting because he had never experienced someone shielding him from a deadly blow. While delivering food to the front lines, Xiao Beichen, curious, asked to examine a sniper's rifle. Just then, enemy artillery rained down, and the sniper, who had been conversing with him moments before, was killed.
Without a moment's hesitation, Xiao Beichen grabbed a rifle and led Batch 5 Class 3 in a charge toward the enemy. Back at headquarters, Xiao Haishan was enraged to learn that Xiao Beichen had led the inexperienced cadets directly into battle. After winning the engagement and capturing the enemy position, the cadets celebrated briefly before Du Heng ordered them to retreat, warning them against lingering. As they withdrew, enemy shells struck again.
Luo Dou heroically pushed Xiao Beichen to the ground, taking the full impact of the blast and dying instantly. In his final breath, Luo Dou whispered of his dream to open a tailor shop with Xiao Beichen in Beixin City and make a beautiful wedding dress for his future wife. Overcome with grief, Xiao Beichen knelt beside Luo Dou's body in the pouring rain, refusing to move for a long time.
His friends attempted to console him, explaining that the battlefield was unpredictable and he shouldn't blame himself. Du Heng intervened, ordering Xiao Beichen to rise. He reminded Xiao Beichen that death was rampant on the battlefield and asked if he would kneel for every fallen comrade.
Du Heng described Luo Dou as a "miserable child in troubled times," and that while the creation of a new world began in hardship, this battle was a cornerstone for a future of freedom and peace. He proclaimed that their fight held a higher purpose beyond protecting loved ones: "to stop the war with war." The tragedy deeply affected all members of Batch 5 Class 3.
Seeing their despair, Du Heng gave them a choice: they could leave the academy or stay, emphasizing that he would not force anyone. While most cadets began packing, Xiao Beichen remained motionless. Xu Zijun and Mo Weiyi tried to persuade him to leave, fearing Du Heng might change his mind. However, Xiao Beichen staunchly refused.
He explained that his experience on the battlefield had shattered his previous naiveté, likening their past lives to "canaries in a cage, blindfolded and unable to see the outside world." He now understood his father, whom he had once perceived as overly warlike. Xiao Beichen questioned how peace could be achieved without fighting, asserting that to protect the people, they must earn their trust.
He declared he could no longer remain detached from the conflict and told his friends to leave if they wished. Moved by his resolve, Mo Weiyi, Xu Zijun, Kong Zuqing, and Ye Shengchang ultimately decided to stay with Xiao Beichen, reaffirming their solidarity as "Batch 5 Class 3, we rise and fall together."
In the spring of 1919, news spread of the Paris Peace Conference's failure and the humiliating transfer of Germany's rights in Shandong to Japan, despite China being a victorious nation. Students across Beijing went on strike to protest. Lin Hangjing wished to join the editors traveling to Beijing to support the movement, but she was deemed too young and female for such a perilous journey. She lamented her inability to contribute, unlike others who could champion the nation.
Mu Zizheng consoled her, explaining that Professor Cao believed in human equality, yet China still faced discrimination. He shared his hope for a new world of freedom and equality, a "new China," being forged in the South, which resonated with Lin Hangjing. Realizing their shared ideals, Lin Hangjing wondered if they were kindred spirits, and Mu Zizheng readily agreed. As they walked, they encountered a passionate street protest.
Mu Zizheng stepped forward, declaring that even without going to Beijing, he could still fight for his homeland. Invited to speak, he exposed how the "troika" (the leaders of the US, UK, and France) at the Paris Peace Conference had turned it into a "slaughterhouse for the division of rights," disregarding justice.
He passionately asserted that only the Chinese people could speak for themselves, and amidst warlord conflicts and foreign encroachment, the nation's survival depended on every Chinese person's determination to strive for self-improvement. The crowd cheered his words. Soon, the cadets of Batch 5 graduated. Xiao Beichen, having successfully applied for a first-class medal for Luo Dou, received diplomas for both of them, with Xiao Haishan discreetly observing his son's growth from a distance.
Immediately after graduation, the cadets were deployed to a new front. The Cheng Army had secretly regrouped after their last defeat, launching a fierce assault that bypassed the strategic Huyang Pass and targeted Yongning. If Yongning fell, the economically vital Feng City would be next. Xiao Beichen reflected on Luo Dou, imagining him happily running his tailor shop in Beixin City if he were still alive.
He impressed upon his comrades the extreme danger of their new mission, urging all of Batch 5 Class 3 to return alive. He thought of Lin Hangjing, yearning to return home but trusting that she understood his commitment to defending the country and would await his return. Unbeknownst to Xiao Beichen, Lin Hangjing's bond with Mu Zizheng had significantly deepened over this period.
Two years later, Xiao Beichen achieved a renowned victory in the Battle of Feng City, earning him the rank of Major General and the appointment of Army Chief of the First Legion of the Third Army of Zhibei. The news, proudly published in newspapers, brought great joy to the Xiao household. Madam Qi enthusiastically prepared for his triumphant return, instructing Lin Hangjing to be home early for the welcome dinner.
When Xiao Beichen finally arrived back in Beixin, he was greeted by his eagerly awaiting family, including his sister. Xiao Haishan, though inwardly overjoyed, tried to maintain an air of paternal severity. However, Madam Qi playfully exposed his true feelings, revealing that he had been anxiously inquiring about Xiao Beichen's arrival since early morning, proving to be the most excited of them all.
