Overlord Episode 5 Recap
> Overlord Recap
After the banquet, Long Aoyi generously distributed the reward money to the Longzhu Gang members. Li Qingliu and Yan Bin watched her, surprised by her charitable nature, which was a stark contrast to her earlier money-grubbing behavior. Li Qingliu became even more convinced that the Longzhu Gang was involved in the gold thread theft, observing how their eyes gleamed at the sight of treasure.
Meanwhile, Second Master Lyu informed Long Aoyi that Qiyan's power was declining, and many of Qiyan's former territories, including opium shops, casinos, and Bonan Street where Huiqi people gathered, were now seeking the Longzhu Gang's protection. However, Long Aoyi firmly declared that the underworld could not become clean, and the clean path would not touch the underworld.
Second Master Lyu also reported that a silkworm farmer saw Dachun at the back door of the Silk Store the day before he died. Soon, other gang members shared rumors that Dachun was the one who stole the gold thread at the quay. Concerned that this would ruin the Longzhu Gang’s reputation, Long Aoyi asserted her determination to find evidence and prove the gang’s innocence.
Just then, Longzhu Gang members recognized Li Qingliu as the one responsible for Long Aoyi's imprisonment and attacked him and Yan Bin. Though Li Qingliu and Yan Bin easily subdued them, Second Master Lyu used an intoxicating smoke to incapacitate them. The gang members then threatened to cook Li Qingliu and Yan Bin as stuffed mutton, a local delicacy. Yan Bin, terrified, pleaded with Li Qingliu to find a solution, worrying about his precious Sanhualing Kesi.
Long Aoyi intervened, saying the two men were too lean and needed to be "fattened up" first, then ordered her men to release them. Annoyed, Li Qingliu told Yan Bin to double the reward for finding the gold thread. Upon hearing this, Long Aoyi, driven by the prospect of money, immediately approached Li Qingliu and invited him and Yan Bin to a meal. However, Li Qingliu, accustomed to luxury, found the gang's open-air eating environment and unhygienic conditions intolerable.
He meticulously wiped his chopsticks with a handkerchief and picked through the dishes before settling on some dried small fish, which he surprisingly found quite delicious. A Longzhu Gang strategist then read the physiognomy of Long Aoyi and Li Qingliu, declaring them "destined mandarin ducks" with strong, complementary personalities. Long Aoyi was offended by the comparison, arguing that Li Qingliu was too "tender and weak," and attempted to assault the strategist.
In Suyong Hall, Li Zhao learned from Du Changfeng about the immense influence of silk merchants in Silver City. Du Changfeng explained that whoever controlled the silk industry held significant power, and Li Qingliu's unique mastery of Sichuan embroidery and exclusive "customs seal" from the Fabric Bureau allowed him to dominate the entire silk export trade. This explained Li Qingliu's arrogance in publicly refusing government investment to major merchants at the banquet.
To curb Li Qingliu’s growing power, Li Zhao proposed linking government investment to the qualification of a guild leader. Later, while reviewing accounts, Li Zhao noted a large tax loophole across Jiannan Dao, yet the Salt and Iron Bureau’s ledgers were flawlessly executed. This led him to conclude that all officials, from the commissioner to the Salt and Iron Bureau, had anticipated his visit and concealed any irregularities.
Determined not to be fooled, Li Zhao decided to personally meet with the major merchants from the previous day's banquet list to gather information. After Dachun’s death, Long Aoyi realized the importance of unity within the Longzhu Gang and entrusted its leadership to Second Master Lyu. She confided her suspicion of a mole within the Silk Store and resolved to infiltrate it to investigate.
When she attempted to enter, Li Qingliu insisted that his Silk Store did not house idlers, so Long Aoyi would have to work as an employee. Despite her initial boasts of being capable of anything, Long Aoyi proved unskilled in silk reeling, dyeing, and tailoring. Ultimately, she agreed to learn from scratch and was assigned the task of sweeping floors. Li Qingliu assigned Du Xiaoxian to review the next season's procurement list while keeping an eye on Long Aoyi.
Du Xiaoxian observed Long Aoyi with a mixture of disdain and curiosity, noting her "low-end" attire but "wild feature." Li Qingliu then introduced Long Aoyi to the staff, publicly stating that she was there to clear the Longzhu Gang's name regarding the missing gold thread, implying her guilt. During the meeting, he noticed Li Jun’er, a supervisor, had been late twice and left early once, and also spotted a hickey on her neck.
Deducting half her salary for her infractions, he instructed Qi Honghua to provide Long Aoyi with a standard work uniform. Long Aoyi found the uniform restrictive and unflattering, comparing it to "buried pottery figurines." Qi Honghua explained that Du Xiaoxian, as the second-in-command, had different attire. Long Aoyi, using the affectionate nickname "Chubby Girl," persuaded Qi Honghua to find her simpler, more comfortable clothes.
Yan Bin questioned Li Qingliu’s decision to let Long Aoyi stay with his nanny, as the Silk Store usually lodged even its closest merchants in high-class inns. Li Qingliu explained that most of his employees were from the lower class, potentially connected to Long Aoyi. He argued that housing Long Aoyi with the nanny was a strategic move to temper her troublemaking tendencies, as she would likely show respect to an elder.
Meanwhile, Li Zhao and Wu Lin visited a restaurant to continue their tax investigation. Wu Lin, distracted by the fine Osmanthus wine, was eager to take some home, but Li Zhao reminded him of their mission. Li Zhao was dismayed to find that one of Silver City's top restaurants paid less tax than a small lower-class wine shop, suspecting an internal leak. He decided to regroup and strategize later.
Wu Lin then reported seeing two suspicious Du Mansion servants in the latrine, seemingly heading to a hidden restaurant. Li Zhao and Wu Lin followed them to a secluded wild-game restaurant, where Wu Lin noted the luxurious smell of roasted pheasant, indicating wealthy patrons. Pretending to be silk merchants from Luoyang, they entered. Wu Lin soon discovered the second floor was a gambling den frequented by upper-class officials and merchants.
Li Zhao decided to use the casino to gather intelligence, knowing that in a gambling environment, strangers would attract less suspicion. As they requested to see more "novelties," a waiter led them upstairs. Long Aoyi questioned Li Qingliu about who possessed full knowledge of the gold thread details before its disappearance. Li Qingliu stated that only he, Du Xiaoxian, and Yan Bin knew the exact arrival time, location, and shipping space.
Among the four supervisors, Treasurer Dongzi was unaware, while Shuisheng and Qi Zheng knew the time and location, and Li Jun’er held the key to the gold thread box. Long Aoyi decided to start her investigation with Li Jun’er. In the warehouse, she noticed a suspicious footprint. Through a clever distraction, she managed to obtain Li Jun’er’s footprint and confirmed it matched the one in the warehouse, solidifying her suspicion. She then arranged a midnight meeting with Li Qingliu.
On the gambling floor, Li Zhao recognized Executive Bai, a low-ranking official from the Salt and Iron Bureau, gambling large sums of money. Suspecting corruption, Li Zhao, introducing himself as "Zhang," challenged Bai to a high-stakes game, wagering 50,000 taels of silver, ostensibly his merchant's capital for silk purchases.
When Bai lost and offered his house deed, Li Zhao gave him a deadline of two days to repay the money, threatening to personally visit his mansion if he failed to do so before Li Zhao's planned departure for Luoyang. Later, Xiaoqin secretly delivered food to Long Aoyi through a hole in the wall, worried about her diet at the Silk Store. Long Aoyi confided that her investigation had yielded some suspicious points but no concrete connections yet.
Xiaoqin then encountered Yan Bin on the street, and their conversation quickly escalated into a heated argument, ending in a physical altercation. That night, Long Aoyi chatted with the nanny, learning that Li Qingliu had been orphaned at a young age and built his vast business empire from scratch over decades. The nanny, fond of Long Aoyi, believed Li Qingliu was "sharp-tongued but soft-hearted" and had a good eye for people. During their conversation, Long Aoyi drifted off to sleep.
She awoke past midnight and rushed to the warehouse, where Li Qingliu was already waiting. Teasing her for being late and having drool on her face, Li Qingliu asked why she summoned him. Long Aoyi, ignoring his taunts, simply told him to open the warehouse door, promising a surprise.
