Episode Summary
Gu Pingyuan saves Chang Si's home from debt collectors by securing a high-risk contract to deliver medicine to a war-torn grassland. They pay off the villainous Wang Tiangui, who subsequently discovers Gu is likely an escaped convict. Meanwhile, revolutionary Su Zixuan plots to recruit Gu for her cause.
Spoiler Alert
The Sharks Circle the Water
We pick up right where the tension left off. Wang Tiangui wants his money, and he’s tired of waiting. He sends his goon, Li Laizi, and his butler to shake down Chang Si. Li Laizi gets greedy and demands the salt fields. This is where Gu Pingyuan proves he’s the smartest guy in the room. He doesn't throw a punch. Instead, he accuses Li Laizi of being a rebel against the court. He threatens to have the government execute him. Li Laizi isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. He panics and runs away.
The butler is harder to shake. Chang Si pays off most of the debt, but he’s still short over seven hundred taels. The butler demands the house deed. Gu Pingyuan grabs the IOU. He points out the fine print. The debt is due "before the year ends." Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Technically, they still have time. The butler has to leave empty-handed, but he promises Wang Tiangui will get to the bottom of Gu’s identity.
A Desperate Gamble
Chang Si is a mess. He gets drunk to cope with the stress. His daughter, Chang Yuer, is heartbroken at the thought of losing their home. Gu Pingyuan steps up. He takes Yuer out to see the New Year celebrations to distract her. But he’s working an angle.
He spots soldiers recruiting people to deliver medicine to the Horqin Grassland. There’s a horse plague out there. It’s a dangerous job. Gu doesn't hesitate. He goes to the horse gang office and signs a contract on Chang Si’s behalf. He negotiates hard with the merchant, Han Long. He gets them ten extra days and a fat signing bonus for the crew.
Money Talks
The next morning, Chang Si wakes up to a table full of cash. He’s furious when he finds out where it came from. The grasslands are a war zone right now. It’s a suicide mission. But Gu Pingyuan is pragmatic. He rallies the crew. Chang Si realizes he has no choice. He doesn't want to be homeless. He offers the crew extra pay, and they agree to risk their lives.
The payoff scene is satisfying. Chang Si marches into Wang Tiangui’s place. Wang thinks he’s getting a mansion. Instead, Chang Si slaps the money on the table. The look on Wang’s face is priceless. He has to return the deed and the IOU. Chang Si and Gu walk out with their heads held high.
The Road Ahead
The victory is short-lived. Wang Tiangui is vindictive. He sends his butler to dig deeper. The butler finds a missionary who sketches Gu’s face. They learn Gu came from Ningguta. Wang puts two and two together. Gu is likely an escaped convict. That’s a ticking time bomb.
The caravan hits the road. The weather is brutal. They battle snow and rough terrain in the mountains. Back in civilization, the plot thickens. Su Zixuan arrives in Beijing. She meets with Li Wantang. She’s playing a dangerous game, raising money for revolutionaries. She wants to open a bank in Pingyao. More importantly, she wants to recruit Gu Pingyuan. She knows about his criminal past. She doesn't care. She needs his talent.
