Treasure at Dawn Episode 5 Recap
> Treasure at Dawn Recap
City Lord Wen Yu leaned against a railing, visibly irritated, as his generals discussed the escalating conflict. They reported that the Ma Gang had caused a fatality on the shore of Xiangshui Lake, and Song Jingye, the Chairman of the Jibei Chamber of Commerce, had already led a large contingent to the scene, making a major confrontation imminent. Wen Yu, weary of his responsibilities, expressed his desire to relinquish his position.
He complained that he came to enjoy wealth and glory, not to be burdened by the tiring duties of a city lord, even offering the position to Jiu, who promptly declined. Despite his reluctance, Wen Yu was compelled to intervene. Upon his arrival at Xiangshui Lake, the two factions were embroiled in a heated argument. Xubu Huai, a key figure from the Ma Gang, accused Song Jingye's side of poisoning the statues annually to foment resentment against his gang.
Li Zhizhuo, from Song Jingye's camp, vehemently denied the accusation and threatened war. Although Song Jingye maintained a degree of respect for the City Lord, his men were eager to fight. Wen Yu urged them to cease hostilities, reminding them of the numerous civilians present. To resolve the dispute and the ongoing poisoning issue, he proposed expanding the gold mine to the south and granting the mining rights to the Ma Gang.
Song Jingye, though seething with anger, reluctantly acquiesced, acknowledging that his side had made the first move in the recent conflict and agreeing to put the Xiangshui Lake incident behind them. Meanwhile, Wen Jue excitedly introduced Fu Sheng to her father, Wen Yu, as the physician she had painstakingly found for him.
However, Wen Yu was displeased, rebuking his daughter for meddling in city affairs and asserting that he had no need for a physician, then instructing Jiu to escort her away. Later, Che Hujue, the leader of the Ma Gang, expressed profound gratitude to Fu Sheng for successfully curing the poisoned water.
He declared Fu Sheng a good brother and offered to purchase his antidote formula, promising that the Ma Gang would bear full responsibility for treating all residents outside the city who had been affected. Fu Sheng declined any reward, stating that their only intention was to ensure access to clean water.
In response, Che Hujue presented Fu Sheng with a special token, granting him and one servant free passage into the inner city, and pledged the Ma Gang's protection in Xichuan. Gu Tian playfully questioned who would be the master and who the servant with the token, to which Fu Sheng retorted that since it was his token, Gu Tian could decide. Gu Tian jokingly accused Fu Sheng of being impolite. At the city gate, Fu Sheng presented the token.
The guards, recognizing him as Che Hujue's friend, allowed them entry and arranged for their horses and luggage to be delivered to the Fortune Inn. Inside the bustling city, Gu Tian was immediately captivated by the beautiful women and headed towards a teahouse, telling Fu Sheng to meet him later at the Fortune Inn.
As Fu Sheng navigated the streets, a young boy named Hulu, claiming to be highly familiar with the city's hidden passages, approached him, offering his services as a guide for a small fee, highlighting Xichuan's impressive sights for newcomers. While talking, Hulu skillfully pilfered Fu Sheng's money purse. Fu Sheng, realizing his loss, accused Hulu of theft, prompting the boy to flee. Separately, Sun Siming, now dressed in finer clothes, covertly entered Li Zhizhuo's residence.
Having overheard Li Zhizhuo's concerns about internal issues within the Chamber of Commerce, Sun Siming eagerly offered his assistance, flattering Li Zhizhuo and even addressing him as "Chairman." However, Li Zhizhuo reacted with contempt, severely beating Sun Siming and ordering his guards to cast him out, labeling him a "rebellious dog."
Injured and humiliated, Sun Siming, though dejected, inwardly resolved to become the King of Xichuan, convinced that in Xichuan, with courage and intellect, he could achieve greatness without resorting to rebellion. Fu Sheng, still pursuing Hulu, traced him to a dilapidated temple via a hidden passage. There, he found Sun Siming with his injured brother, who was applying incense ashes to a wound.
Fu Sheng immediately debunked the efficacy of incense ashes for healing and offered to treat the injury, requesting water to clean the wound. He skillfully stitched the brother's wound, astonishing Sun Siming and his sibling with his medical prowess. Sun Siming recognized Fu Sheng as the physician who had cured the water poisoning.
Sun Siming's brother advised Fu Sheng to avoid entanglement with local gangs, emphasizing that most people in Xichuan were driven by greed or ambition, and urged him to focus on his own goals. Sun Siming, impressed by Fu Sheng's actions, declared himself indebted and promised to save Fu Sheng's life should he ever be in peril. Fu Sheng politely acknowledged the gesture.
As Fu Sheng left, Hulu reappeared, subtly returning the stolen money by dropping it, explaining that "a thief never leaves empty-handed" and must maintain his "rules." Fu Sheng, having noticed the scent of medicine on Hulu, identified it as an insomnia remedy and warned against mixing it with incense ashes, as it would worsen the patient's condition. Hulu hinted that the medicine was for his "sister," clarifying she was not blood-related but someone who cared deeply for him.
Fu Sheng then gifted Hulu a dagger, encouraging him to abandon his thieving ways. Hulu, in turn, revealed his name before leaving. Elsewhere, Gu Tian, still roaming the city, spotted Ying Ying of Chunyun House passing by in a horse carriage. Hoping to stage a heroic rescue, he threw a pebble to startle her horse. Ying Ying tumbled from the carriage, and Gu Tian caught her.
Her maid, Xiao Ru, conveyed her mistress's thanks but politely brushed off any further interaction. Left feeling hungry and ignored, Gu Tian decided to head back to the Fortune Inn. Upon returning to the Fortune Inn, Gu Tian was surprised to find three men, whom he mockingly dubbed "The Three Heroes of Xichuan." Fu Sheng explained that they were merely vagrants who had broken in, whom he had "sorted out" and assigned as staff to manage the previously unattended inn.
Wen Jue arrived, annoyed that Fu Sheng and Gu Tian had already started eating. They sampled the food prepared by the new staff, finding it passable. Wen Jue probed Fu Sheng about his late return, suspecting a romantic encounter. Fu Sheng clarified he had met a boy (Hulu) whose "sister" required medical attention, and had arranged to treat her at the inn the following day. Wen Jue then complained about the excessively sour food.
The new staff explained that Gu Tian had requested extra vinegar, claiming it promoted longevity. Fu Sheng corrected this misconception, explaining that while vinegar had benefits for phlegm and lung health, it was unrelated to a long life. Wen Jue adamantly refused to eat the sour dishes. Concurrently, Sun Siming offered his elder brother plums to stimulate his appetite. An official abruptly confronted them, accusing them of stealing the expensive plums and subjecting them to public humiliation.
The official forced Sun Siming's brother to step on Sun Siming's back and then brutally stepped on his brother's hand, calling them "horse slaves." Enraged by the insult and injury to his brother, Sun Siming offered the official money and lured him to a secluded alley. There, Sun Siming violently murdered the official, declaring, "You can step on my back, but can you step on my brother's hand?"
Later that evening, Wen Jue found her father, Wen Yu, suffering from a severe headache in the courtyard. Concerned, she immediately offered to summon Fu Sheng. However, Wen Yu insisted that it was too late and proposed sending Jiu with a formal invitation and generous gifts the next morning, as a matter of respect for a miracle physician's disciple.
Wen Yu then requested Wen Jue to meet Xubu Huai the following day, explaining that Xubu Huai had sent visiting cards multiple times, but he had been too unwell to receive him. Wen Jue initially resisted, seeing through her father's thinly veiled attempt to arrange a meeting. Jiu interceded, gently reminding Wen Jue not to upset her father further, given his headache. Reluctantly, Wen Jue agreed to the meeting.
After Wen Jue departed, Jiu expressed his worries about forcing her into marriage and vowed to protect her, ensuring she would become the next City Lord if anything happened to Wen Yu. Wen Yu acknowledged Jiu's loyalty but explained his difficult decision: he regarded Jiu as a son, but together, Jiu and Wen Jue lacked the collective strength to protect Xichuan.
He reasoned that the Ma Gang, despite their rough demeanor, were straightforward and powerful, making them reliable protectors, unlike the "calculating" businessmen of the Chamber of Commerce. He reflected on his own past as a bandit, how he built Xichuan on "Star Gold," and assured Jiu that he would understand a father's difficult choices once he had his own family.
