Sword Rose Episode 17 Recap
> Sword Rose Recap
At Tuanyuan Restaurant, Lin Hao and Cai Xin arrived with Little Spud, who was warmly greeted by Madam Zhang, Madam He, Mr. Liu, and Luo Xiaoxing. They commented on how adorable and soft Little Spud was, noting he had gained weight since coming home. Cai Xin encouraged everyone not to lose hope, assuring them that their children would be found, just as Little Spud had been. Pingjiao and Zheng Weiwei also joined the gathering, and Pingjiao shared her heartbreaking story.
She explained she was abducted at the age of seven because her adoptive parents wanted a son. As an adult, she attempted to escape to find her biological parents but was trafficked a second time, nearly losing her life. Thankfully, she had since found her real parents, who were incredibly kind to her. When Madam Zhang mistakenly called Pingjiao "Ranran," Pingjiao gently corrected her, reiterating the importance of never losing hope.
Zheng Weiwei then smoothly transitioned the conversation, inviting everyone to taste the local specialties Pingjiao had brought. Meanwhile, Sun Wenhan returned home and, as was his custom, entered his son Xiaoguang's empty room, which had been left untouched since his abduction. He was overcome by memories of that day. Twenty years prior, Sun Wenhan and his wife had visited a domestic services agency to find a nanny but found no suitable candidates.
Outside, they encountered an older woman who immediately captivated Xiaoguang with her warm demeanor. The woman, an experienced nanny, explained she was looking for new work because her previous employers had moved. Seeing her natural rapport with Xiaoguang, Sun Wenhan's wife offered her the job on a trial basis, asking for her identification for verification. The woman readily agreed, suggesting they bypass the agency's high commission fees.
Unbeknownst to them, this "auntie" was the notorious kidnapper, Madam Hong, who subsequently abducted Xiaoguang. At the police bureau, Chang Rui and Yan Lei questioned Huang Chuan about Madam Hong. Huang Chuan claimed she never revealed her true name, using aliases like Deng Yanping and Liu Yulan, nor did she disclose her hometown, though her accent suggested she was from the southwest. He provided a highly accurate description of her appearance, which Yang Jiajia used to create a detailed sketch.
Acknowledging that a sketch alone was like "finding a needle in a haystack," Deng Yan pressed for more details. Huang Chuan recalled that after every successful abduction, Madam Hong would treat herself to braised pork, aiming to try every version in Linshan. He also revealed her peculiar habit of buying large quantities of gold and silver jewelry, though she never wore it.
Crucially, Huang Chuan remembered Madam Hong saying she was used to living in Linshan, leading Deng Yan to believe she was still in the city. Following this lead, Yang Jiajia reviewed surveillance footage from Linshan's gold shops and identified a woman closely matching the sketch who had purchased a significant amount of gold jewelry a month prior. Chang Rui noticed the woman carrying a plastic bag from "Liandu Mountain Supermarket," suggesting she lived nearby.
After initial door-to-door inquiries failed, Deng Yan deduced that the stylish jewelry indicated a sophisticated taste, and that Madam Hong was an expert in disguise whose public persona differed from her true self. Shifting their search to high-end establishments, they found a VIP client at a beauty salon named Hong Yawen who matched the sketch. The police had the salon schedule an appointment for her, and when she arrived, Deng Yan confronted and arrested her.
During interrogation, Hong Yawen denied being Madam Hong. When shown Huang Chuan's photograph, she admitted to knowing him but portrayed herself as a victim, claiming he was abusive and she lived with him under threat. Questioned about her wealth, she vaguely attributed it to work and "investments." Yan Lei confronted her with Huang Chuan's testimony that she was the mastermind behind the abductions and had absconded with all the funds.
Hong Yawen vehemently denied any involvement, insisting she merely cooked for Huang Chuan and was unaware of his crimes. The police confirmed Madam Hong's true identity as Hong Jinfeng from Linping County. Yin Jiansheng located her younger brother, who claimed his sister had been dead for years, disowning her. At Hong Jinfeng's dilapidated family home, Ai Xin and Yang Jiajia found her old "Model Student" awards and a family portrait from 1970 that notably excluded her.
Ai Xin theorized the photo was left intentionally, suggesting Hong Jinfeng never truly detached from her past. Sun Wenhan was called to identify the suspect and immediately recognized Hong Jinfeng as the nanny who abducted Xiaoguang, stating he would recognize her even if she were ash. He emotionally demanded to know his son's whereabouts. Deng Yan then confronted Hong Jinfeng with the family portrait, suggesting her crimes stemmed from deep-seated resentment over her parents' gender bias.
Though the accusation visibly struck a nerve, Hong Jinfeng refused to confess. Lacking sufficient evidence for a conviction, Deng Yan sent Ai Xin and Yan Lei back to the old house. There, they discovered a hidden collection of gold jewelry and, beneath it, 43 pieces of children's clothing. The clothes were linked to numerous trafficking cases spanning approximately thirty years, confirming Hong Jinfeng's "trophy" collection of victims' clothing and gold.
Despite this overwhelming evidence of at least 43 victims, Hong Jinfeng would only admit to three cases, unaware of the full extent of the police's discovery. With Madam Hong arrested, her associate Liu Gang grew fearful. He discussed with a partner his plan to establish a labor export company to traffic girls abroad, noting the urgent need for a legitimate overseas labor contract to proceed. The evidence from the old house began to yield results.
Deng Yan and Yin Jiansheng matched a red top and black pants to Pingjiao's case file. The breakthrough also led to the reunion of another victim, Bai Xiujing. In a poignant scene, she shares a meal with her parents. Her father emotionally says her name, and her mother, overwhelmed to see her daughter as a grown woman, marvels at how big she has become. " Mom, I'm Jingjing," the young woman tearfully replies, marking the end of their long and painful separation.
