Sword Rose Episode 16 Recap
> Sword Rose Recap
Twenty years after Yang Caiyun was abducted, Officer Yin Jiansheng, whose first case it was, remained deeply pained by her disappearance. Following a new lead, he personally went to Wushun County to find her. Local police records showed three human trafficking cases had occurred in Zhang Village around the time of her abduction. During his search, police introduced him to Hu Caihua, known as the village's unofficial informant.
Hu Caihua immediately recognized Yang Caiyun from a photograph as the "cousin" of a man called Blockhead Zhang, recalling her distinctive mole between her eyebrows and striking appearance. She mentioned that Yang Caiyun and Blockhead Zhang had disappeared, and though he later returned alone, she assumed the young woman had escaped. Meanwhile, at the Tuanyuan Restaurant, Deng Yan arrived, and Madam Zhang warmly prepared her a bowl of noodles, expressing gratitude for her work in rescuing trafficked children.
Luo Xiaoxing confided in Deng Yan that Madam Zhang's forgetfulness had worsened recently, leading to errors like over-salting food, miscalculating bills, and even leaving the shop unlocked at night. Concerned, Deng Yan advised Luo Xiaoxing to take Madam Zhang to the hospital for a checkup. Chang Rui quickly located Zhang Zhongli, also known as Blockhead Zhang, working at a construction site.
Zhang admitted that twenty years prior, he had purchased Yang Caiyun for one thousand yuan, a sum he had borrowed. However, Yang Caiyun refused to eat or drink, desperate to return home. Frustrated, Zhang eventually locked her up. He then recounted how a peddler named Xu Tenglong, after hearing about the new "wife," came to his house out of curiosity.
Captivated by Yang Caiyun's beauty, Xu Tenglong offered Zhang 800 yuan for her, persuading him by arguing that he was helping him avoid jail time if she died. Fearing his money would be wasted if she starved, Zhang accepted. He later discovered the money was fake, but Xu Tenglong denied any wrongdoing and threatened to report him for trafficking. Following Zhang's lead, Deng Yan, Chang Rui, and Yin Jiansheng confronted Xu Tenglong.
He initially denied knowing Yang Caiyun or Zhang Zhongli, but when faced with Zhang's signed testimony, Xu changed his story. He claimed he had "rescued" Yang Caiyun from Zhang, who was starving her, then admitted to selling her to a business partner named Liang Wei for twenty thousand yuan, justifying it by saying they had "hit it off" and he was merely a "matchmaker." He only remembered Liang Wei's old address in Huang Valley, Hongxi City.
As the investigation continued, Yin Jiansheng, exhausted but resolute, refused to return to Linshan until Yang Caiyun was found. Deng Yan, needing to return for other matters, arranged for Officer Ai Xin to take her place. Yin Jiansheng and Ai Xin immediately went to the Huang Valley police station, where they discovered that Liang Wei's wife was named Wen Sujuan. Her age matched Yang Caiyun's, and their marriage took place within a year of the sale.
Records showed Wen Sujuan was not a local, had no parental information, was pregnant at the time of marriage, and soon after gave birth to a daughter, Liang Xiaoyun. Yin Jiansheng and Ai Xin went to Liang Wei's house. When confronted, the woman adamantly denied being Yang Caiyun, insisting her name was Wen Sujuan and that she and Liang Wei had married for love.
Yin Jiansheng showed her Yang Caiyun's photograph and recounted the history of her trafficking: from a man called "Old Yellow Dog," to Zhang Zhongli, then Xu Tenglong, and finally to Liang Wei. Despite this, she maintained her denial. Sensing her fear, Yin Jiansheng told her that her parents had passed away and their graves were untended because their only daughter was missing. Still, the woman remained silent.
She retreated into her room, tearfully embracing her daughter, while Liang Wei, who had been observing from a distance, only returned home after the police left. From the local community committee director, Yin Jiansheng learned that Liang Wei frequently subjected Wen Sujuan to severe domestic violence. Despite interventions, Wen Sujuan always dismissed the abuse as marital spats. Determined, Yin Jiansheng decided to return. Later, Liang Wei, drunk, questioned his wife about the police visit.
When she downplayed it, he violently attacked her, threatening to kill their daughter. Just as the situation escalated, Ai Xin and Yin Jiansheng arrived and apprehended Liang Wei. Finally, the woman broke down and confessed that she was indeed Yang Caiyun. They comforted her, encouraging her to take Liang Xiaoyun and return to Linshan. Overwhelmed with emotion, Yang Caiyun tearfully accepted, vowing to be strong for herself and her daughter, and finally go home after twenty long years.
