Silent Tides Episode 5 Recap
> Silent Tides Recap
Ke Lin was directing his medical team, assigning tasks, when his brother Ke Zhengping, whom he hadn't heard from since the war in Hong Kong began, called out to him. Ke Lin expressed his relief and worry about Zhengping's well-being. Zhengping assured him he was fine, and Ke Lin asked him to step aside for a private conversation. Ke Zhengping then introduced his companions, mentioning that some were famous and well-known to Ke Lin from charity events in Macau.
He explained that these individuals had special identities and needed to leave the checkpoint urgently, asking Ke Lin for assistance. Ke Lin, however, explained that the checkpoint was sealed off, with Japanese secret agents monitoring outside and suspicious individuals gathered in nearby alleys. Facing a severe shortage of medical personnel for the large number of patients, Ke Lin saw an opportunity.
He suggested that his brother's friends could pose as medical volunteers to avoid detection by special agents while they were stuck inside. Ke Zhengping agreed, highlighting their higher education and ability to understand English labels on medicines, making them suitable. Ke Lin was delighted, instructing the group to help move patients and assist doctors. When another medical staff member questioned the new volunteers' competence, Ke Lin defended them, emphasizing their educational background. Meanwhile, the Japanese began to assert their influence.
A Portuguese official, Inspector General Gonçalves, questioned Lok Pak about the unidentified people entering the checkpoint, and Lok Pak revealed they were Japanese-arranged personnel. Huang Gongjie, leading a team of special agents, then announced the distribution of special passes, instructing people to come forward when their names were called. Amidst the crowd, He Xian recognized Huang Gongjie.
To covertly alert Ke Zhengping and others, He Xian deliberately spoke loudly to Qiao Yinwan about Huang Gongjie, mentioning that he was a former client in Hong Kong rumored to have ties with the Japanese. As names of prominent figures like He Xiangning, Liu Yazi, Mei Lanfang, and Cai Chusheng were read out, one of Ke Zhengping's protected individuals, Cai Chusheng, almost reacted. Just in time, He Xian cleverly created a diversion by "accidentally" knocking over a medicine bottle.
He apologized, quickly provided new medication to a patient, and then discreetly moved his family and Yu away from the area. Elsewhere, Huang Zixia was informed by Huang Sanhe that Huang Gongjie and Wang Qiuzai were present at the checkpoint, issuing passes. Overwhelmed by anger, Huang Zixia intended to confront Huang Gongjie, but Huang Sanhe intervened, cautioning him that the many Portuguese soldiers at the checkpoint would make any impulsive action suicidal.
As Chairman Gao continued to announce names, he specifically called for British nationals to collect their exit passes. Yang Chang, spotting William and Mary, quickly and quietly warned them to remain silent if they valued their lives, then led them to a secluded spot to hide. Qiao Yinwan's name was also called. Chairman Gao confirmed it was the last available pass, specifically reserved for her at Lok Pak's instruction, as he held her in high regard.
Qiao Yinwan, however, defiantly rejected the pass, stating there were countless injured, sick, elderly, weak, women, and children within the checkpoint who needed help far more than she did. She vehemently criticized the authorities for confining refugees to die, dismissing the issuing of a few passes as an act of "fake compassion" and "shamelessness" by those who held the power to trap them. Amidst this, Governor De Solaire, Rodrigues, and Ze Rongzuo were engaged in a heated debate.
Rodrigues argued that at least the elderly, children, and patients should be released, emphasizing the growing number of deaths and Portugal's Catholic values. Ze Rongzuo remained unyielding, asserting his identity as a soldier, stating he had no need for gentlemanly conduct, and was solely focused on mission accomplishment, refusing any compromises. After Qiao Yinwan’s public refusal, Huang Gongjie provocatively announced that whoever picked up the discarded pass could leave immediately, beginning a countdown.
Concerned about those outside the checkpoint who desperately needed funds, He Xian quietly told his family he had business and would return. He then stepped forward, picked up the pass, and, amidst the jeers and accusations of being a "shameless traitor" and "profiteer" from the crowd, silently exited the checkpoint with a box full of US dollars. Outside, He Xian met Lin and delivered the box, confirming that the money was all there and untouched.
Lin, surprised and deeply grateful, acknowledged the heavy losses He Xian's bank suffered and the death of his assistant Chen. He Xian, in turn, apologized for the delay in delivery due to the war. Lin then escorted He Xian to meet Rodrigues and Governor De Solaire. Rodrigues was greatly impressed and astonished that He Xian had risked his life to protect the money, which was delivered in full despite his bank being destroyed.
Rodrigues then proposed to Governor De Solaire that special passes be granted for He Xian and his family. Faced with this tempting offer, He Xian's thoughts remained with the suffering refugees still trapped at the checkpoint. He directly questioned what would happen to them. Governor De Solaire explained that the Japanese demanded the border closure and the capture of "Chinese and British fugitives," citing Portugal's neutral status.
He Xian vehemently challenged this "neutrality," accusing the Portuguese authorities of allowing innocent refugees to perish. He condemned their inhumane actions, stating that their conduct was no different from that of the Japanese invaders, and passionately declared that Macau had always been Chinese territory, asserting that justice would ultimately prevail. With that, He Xian rejected the offer of special passes for his family and resolutely left the Governor's office.
He then walked back to the checkpoint, moving against the flow of people, a sight that stunned onlookers. Rodrigues, deeply touched by He Xian's principled stand, immediately reversed his previous vote and voiced his support for opening the gate. Inspired by his change of heart, other Portuguese representatives also raised their hands in agreement. Finally, Governor De Solaire officially announced the lifting of the Macau Customs closure and ordered the gate to open immediately.
As the gate slowly opened, a massive wave of refugees surged forward, their pale, weary faces finally illuminated by the sunlight. Governor De Solaire publicly apologized for the closure and the inconvenience caused, reaffirming Macau's status as an internationally recognized free port.
Meanwhile, a Japanese official reported to Ze Rongzuo that Huang Gongjie and Wang Qiuzai's team had identified their targets and were about to apprehend them, but the sudden opening of the gate led to complete chaos, scattering the crowd and causing their capture plan to fail. The influx of refugees caused Macau's housing prices to skyrocket. William and Mary, conspicuous due to their appearance, were guided through crowded streets to a squalid shack.
Yang Chang warned them that the Japanese were still hunting for them, and they needed to remain completely hidden to survive. Qiao Yinwan, having found a modest room, politely declined Lok Pak's offer of accommodation at the East Asia Hotel, stating she and her brother had endured worse conditions. Ke Zhengping temporarily stayed at his brother Ke Lin's home and asked him to place a missing person notice in the Public Newspaper.
Having exhausted their savings, He Xian's family, through the introduction of a boat person named Buck-Tooth Qiang, found lodging on a Flower-Stern Ferry, an old, dilapidated passenger ship converted into cheap housing. He Xian's wife, Guo Qiwen, was initially dismayed by the cramped and exposed conditions, particularly with seven people needing space. The boat owner explained it was the most affordable option in Macau. Seeing Yu's bare, frozen feet, Guo Qiwen immediately offered her own shoes.
Yu's mother, explaining that boat people traditionally went barefoot, was deeply moved by the gesture, and He Xian's family promised to look after them. Despite Yu's mother's concerns for their own well-being, He Xian insisted that their two families were now one. Later that night, as they lay in the cold, He Xian expressed guilt over the hardships his wife was enduring, but Guo Qiwen, without complaint, assured him that her heart felt warm and content.
He Xian vowed to find work the next day at Hengfengyu Bank. Yazaki Kanjuro convened a meeting with Ze Rongzuo and Fukue to discuss an overall strategy for Macau. Fukue advocated maintaining the status quo, believing the Portuguese Macau government was weak and accustomed to compromise, making diplomatic pressure through the Imperial Army's backing sufficient to ensure cooperation without military intervention.
Ze Rongzuo, however, sharply refuted this, pointing to the Portuguese government's recent open defiance of Japanese demands by opening the gate and allowing targets to escape, which rendered Fukue's strategy mere "wishful thinking." Ze Rongzuo argued that military deterrence was essential. He proposed a strategy of "preservation in name only, but occupation in reality" for Macau.
This meant retaining Portugal's nominal suzerainty to uphold Macau's status as an international free port, crucial for the Empire's strategic supplies, while simultaneously seizing complete control over Macau's politics, economy, military, and security to prevent China and the Allied forces from gaining any advantage. When Fukue dismissed this as a "pipe dream," Ze Rongzuo confidently declared they possessed the most powerful weapon to achieve this goal: food.
Immediately, Macau faced a severe food crisis, with rice prices skyrocketing by two jiao in a single day, driving many refugees to beg in the streets. Lin, concerned about He Xian, made plans to travel to Thailand to procure food supplies.
He decided to only search for He Xian's whereabouts publicly after the current cargo was safely delivered, fearing that an earlier search, if it revealed He Xian's role in delivering the funds to Rodrigues, could compromise their remaining supplies with the Japanese. Unbeknownst to Lin, He Xian arrived at Hengfengyu Bank, hoping to ask Lin for help finding a job, but narrowly missed him as Lin had just departed for his month-long business trip to Thailand.
With jobs scarce due to the massive influx of refugees, Buck-Tooth Qiang kindly offered He Xian's family piecework making firecrackers, teaching the children the process, which could at least earn them some rice. He Xian, disheartened by his own unsuccessful job search, joined his family in making firecrackers.
During his job hunt, He Xian also encountered He Hongshen, a University of Hong Kong student, at a recruitment drive, both sharing their dismay at the overwhelming number of applicants and the slim chances of securing employment. Ke Lin handed Ke Zhengping a letter addressed to "Comrade Mingshi" from "Buddha's Hand."
The letter stated that due to the complex situation in Macau, Ke Zhengping was to remain at Kiang Wu Hospital, diligently caring for the protected individuals and awaiting evacuation orders, with all future communications to be channeled through the clinic. Ke Zhengping, who had already decided to move to Kiang Wu Hospital to be closer to his friends, expressed this to Ke Lin.
Seeing an opportunity, Ke Lin offered Ke Zhengping a position in the hospital's pharmacy to help with the refugee crisis, clarifying that it was a charity hospital offering only room and board, not a salary. Ke Zhengping readily accepted, requesting that any future letters addressed to "Empresa Comercial Mingshi" be brought directly to him. Elsewhere, Huang Gongjie, now the captain of Ze Rongzuo's Special Operations Team, established their base on the entire upper floor of the Bachongtian Club.
He proudly informed Ze Rongzuo that the location was chosen for its strategic vantage point, convenient transportation, and the fact that one of the club's shareholders was Lok Pak, the Deputy Director of Macau's Economic Bureau. Ze Rongzuo was highly satisfied with the choice. He then pressed Huang Gongjie about the lack of success in capturing their targets, suggesting that a well-organized entity, possibly from Chongqing or Yan'an, was actively aiding the fugitives.
