Silent Tides Episode 8 Recap
> Silent Tides Recaps
That night, Ma Wanqi visited Huang Sanhe at the Tai Ho Brotherhood, seeking his help to transport important individuals and supplies out of Macau. Ma Wanqi explained the urgency, citing the strict Japanese blockade and the possibility of the Portuguese Macau government signing an agreement with the Japanese, which would make any transfers impossible. Huang Sanhe acknowledged the gravity of the task, affirming his duty to assist.
He noted that while getting out of Macau by small speedboats was feasible, ensuring safety in Zhongshan, which was under Huang Gongjie's control, was a significant concern. Ma Wanqi reassured him, stating that Ke Zhengping had a plan and Commander Qu of the Zhongshan Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Team would guarantee safe passage in Zhongshan. Huang Sanhe, recognizing Commander Qu's formidable reputation, agreed to his guarantee. However, he requested proof, given the life-threatening nature of the mission.
Long Haishan, introducing herself as part of the White Dove Team of the Zhongshan Anti-Japanese Guerrillas, then stepped forward, vouching for Commander Qu's promise and reminding Huang Sanhe that Commander Qu was the one who had saved his men and the Tanka people at sea. Impressed by her testimony and Commander Qu's past kindness, Huang Sanhe agreed to undertake the operation, which was set for New Year's Eve, a time when the Japanese would be least vigilant.
Meanwhile, at Kiang Wu Hospital, Ke Lin looked at an old photo of himself and his brother. Ke Zhengping received a secret message from his superiors, coded "Buddha's Hand," instructing him to cooperate in rescuing British military personnel to uphold the Anti-Fascist United Front. Soon after, British Consul Reeves, accompanied by Yang Chang, came to see Ke Zhengping.
Reeves explained that the British government, after consulting with the Communist Party's Eighth Route Army office in Chongqing, understood that although the Communist Party did not officially acknowledge an underground organization in Macau, they did not object to Reeves seeking "medical treatment and medicine" from Ke Zhengping, implying their consent for assistance. Ke Zhengping feigned ignorance of political affiliations but agreed to help evacuate British personnel, as some of his friends were already planning to leave due to the famine.
His only condition was that Yang Chang would be his sole point of contact for all future arrangements. Ke Zhengping explained that the consulate was under heavy Japanese surveillance, and Yang Chang's ability to find the hospital demonstrated his competence. He also trusted Yang Chang's conscience since he brought British, not Japanese, officials. Yang Chang accepted, and Ke Zhengping instructed him to maintain contact and await further instructions. Zai Zai had recovered from pneumonia and was ready to be discharged.
Ke Lin, aware of He Xian's financial struggles, offered him some money, stating it was a loan for Zai Zai's nutrition and could be repaid later. Zai Zai, having shown a keen interest in Qiao Yinwan's violin, made a pinky swear with her to learn from her once he was fully recovered. Ke Lin then encouraged He Xian to attend the Hong Kong-Macau Chamber of Commerce New Year's Eve gathering at the Bachongtian Club.
He explained that Macau was in dire straits and the gathering aimed to unite the business communities to combat the famine. He stressed that He Xian's abilities were needed and that Ma Wanqi, one of the organizers, would be pleased to see him. He Xian initially expressed hesitation about his usefulness, but later considered it an opportunity to seek employment.
As Qiao Yinwan bid farewell to He Xian's family, she learned that Yu and her mother were still missing and promised to keep an eye out for them. She also revealed that she had accepted a position as a violinist at the Bachongtian Club, explaining that everyone had to find a way to survive by their own skills.
He Xian, in turn, told Guo Qiwen that Ma Wanqi might not be able to clear his name yet as some "goods" remained unsettled. Guo Qiwen reminded He Xian to return early for a New Year's Eve dinner with their family, which she would prepare with the remaining money from Ke Lin. He Xian arrived at the Bachongtian Club.
Before the official gathering began, he was openly ridiculed by Lyu Xiuyuan, who accused him of "profiting from the nation's suffering" by betraying his peers in Hong Kong's finance industry. Lyu Xiuyuan further claimed He Xian was an accomplice of Huang Gongjie, the "traitor who hoarded all the grain in Zhongshan," prompting other guests to demand He Xian's expulsion. Just as the situation escalated, Huang Gongjie burst in with his men, drawing a gun.
He Xian quickly intervened, falsely claiming he was discussing a potential buyer for Huang Gongjie's grain with the peers, and that they were merely expressing jealousy over the large deal. He then suggested a private discussion. Huang Gongjie, satisfied with this explanation, agreed and invited He Xian to his private room, while the angry guests continued to curse He Xian as a "traitorous scum."
Meanwhile, Ke Zhengping was forced to change his evacuation plan after spotting a special agent disguised as a rickshaw puller monitoring the hospital. He urgently contacted Ke Lin for help. Ke Lin, dressed as a medical orderly, drove an epidemic control vehicle, ostensibly transporting cholera patients' corpses for burial. At a checkpoint, a special agent from Sawa Agency's Special Operations Team, claiming to be searching for fugitives, demanded Ke Lin exit the vehicle and reveal his identity.
Ke Lin refused, citing epidemic prevention regulations. He eventually identified himself as a doctor from Kiang Wu Hospital and, when the agent insisted on inspecting the vehicle, offered the key but warned him of the strict regulations. The agent opened the back, only to be overwhelmed by the putrid smell and oozing fluid from decomposing cholera bodies. Panic-stricken, he recoiled, believing he was infected, and rushed off to find water for a thorough wash.
At the Bachongtian Club, Lok Pak entertained Sawa Eisaku and Captain Inoshita. Sawa Eisaku informed Inoshita that the Portuguese were desperate, "practically begging our Imperial Army to lift the blockade," and urged the Navy to "just hold out a little longer" to achieve "total victory." Inoshita expressed reservations, citing multiple transfer orders from the Combined Fleet and questioning if a few more days of blockade would truly break Macau. Sawa Eisaku insisted it would.
In another private room, Huang Gongjie resumed pressuring He Xian to accept his grain deal. He Xian repeatedly refused, claiming he couldn't find a buyer and had decided to abandon the business. Huang Gongjie grew impatient, accusing He Xian of fearing a bad reputation. He dismissed reputation as meaningless, emphasizing the "real money" offered by working for the Japanese and quoting the saying "Evildoers often get rich and enjoy glory, while do-gooders get no recognition and suffer."
He bluntly told He Xian that by dealing with him, He Xian "can't escape being partners in crime" and that "mountains of gold and silver" awaited them. When He Xian still resisted, Huang Gongjie resorted to threatening his family, reminding him that he had "Elders above and children below." Just then, Sawa Eisaku entered, having just received a call from Major Yamaguchi reporting that a corpse truck from Kiang Wu Hospital had left without inspection.
Sawa Eisaku immediately ordered Yamaguchi and Fearless Biao to meet at the cemetery. Seeing Sawa Eisaku, Huang Gongjie quickly instructed his subordinate, Rong, to take He Xian to the main ballroom and offered to cover his expenses. Qiao Yinwan then took the stage as the newly appointed lead musician. Captain Inoshita loudly demanded she play a Japanese military march, "The Warship March" or "Song of the Etajima Boys," to liven up the party.
When Qiao Yinwan stated she did not know these songs, Inoshita became aggressive, demanding she play a Chinese song instead, but purposefully mispronounced "When Will the Gentleman Return" as "Celebrating the Japanese Army's Return," implying a song that celebrated the Imperial Army's occupation of Shanghai, and insisted everyone sing along. Disgusted, Qiao Yinwan walked off stage.
Lok Pak followed, trying to persuade her to compromise, arguing that "when you're living under someone else's roof, sometimes you have to bow your head" to avoid suffering at the hands of the "vicious Japanese." Qiao Yinwan vehemently refused, declaring she "can't be as diplomatic" as him and would "certainly not applaud or sing praises to a bunch of bandits who invade our land and kill our people."
She announced her immediate resignation if the job required her to "flatter the devil," and reminded Lok Pak that despite his Portuguese citizenship, he still had "Chinese blood flowing in your veins." Meanwhile, Yu had found her mother collapsed from prolonged hunger. She desperately ran to the back alley of the Bachongtian Club, rummaging through a swill bucket for food, only to be pushed around by other hungry street children.
Qiao Yinwan, overhearing Yu's cries for her starving mother, quickly grabbed some pastries wrapped in newspaper. She rushed to the alley, but Captain Inoshita, still fuming, intercepted her and harshly scolded her. Qiao Yinwan managed to shove the pastries into Yu's hands, urging her to leave quickly. He Xian, who had been waiting in the main hall, saw the confrontation and intervened, pushing Inoshita, causing him to stumble and fall, knocking over a flowerpot.
Inoshita's escorts immediately drew their guns, pointing them at He Xian and Qiao Yinwan. Lok Pak quickly stepped between them to de-escalate the situation, just as Sawa Eisaku and Huang Gongjie arrived, alerted by the commotion. Despite Inoshita appearing unconscious, he drunkenly rose, still disoriented. Lok Pak and Huang Gongjie interceded, with Lok Pak defending Qiao Yinwan as a "defenseless woman" and suggesting Inoshita's fall was due to his drunkenness, not an assault.
Huang Gongjie also vouched for He Xian, stating he was a friend and wouldn't attack an Imperial Army officer. Sawa Eisaku, after a brief inquiry with other guests who claimed not to have seen anything, concluded that Captain Inoshita had "accidentally fell while drunk" and declared it "purely an accident." He allowed He Xian and Qiao Yinwan to leave, telling He Xian their business could be discussed later.
Sawa Eisaku then warned Lok Pak, who was heading to an important meeting at the Government House, that the Imperial Army was awaiting his "wise decision." The general gathering at Bachongtian Club was subsequently postponed due to the urgent meeting at the Government House. He Xian and Qiao Yinwan immediately began searching for Yu and her mother.
They asked passersby on the street, but eventually, someone informed them of the tragic news: Yu and her mother had been "sleeping outside our door for several days now" and had died of starvation. The mother "just passed away," and Yu herself had collapsed upon finding her mother dead. A Tongshan Hall corpse truck had "happened to pass by and took them both away" to the new government cemetery in Taipa.
Qiao Yinwan refused to believe Yu was dead, insisting she was "still able to run just now," and demanded to go to the cemetery to check. He Xian silently accompanied her. Unbeknownst to them, Sawa Eisaku had already set an ambush at the Taipa cemetery, having learned from Yamaguchi that the Kiang Wu Hospital corpse truck, driven by Ke Lin, was late and therefore "suspicious." Sawa Eisaku was now awaiting Ke Lin's arrival, prepared to intercept him.
