Episode Summary
Zhang Zhiping and Lü Ying stage a public abduction and a fake wedding to insert her into Gucheng as part of an intelligence operation. The act is so convincing, involving a real punch, that it seems to fool a suspicious Japanese officer for now. Meanwhile, Zhuang Qifeng is appointed a district chief and immediately begins pressuring a local puppet leader, just as the volatile Zhuang Ziqiang heads to the same location in a jealous rage.
Spoiler Alert
Our Homeland Episode 14: A Fake Wedding and a Real Punch
Alright, let's get into it. This episode was all about putting a very risky plan into motion. The core of it revolves around Zhang Zhiping, our guy deep under cover in Gucheng.
The Problem with Being Single
So, Zhang Zhiping has a problem. The Japanese occupiers think a single guy in his position is suspicious. They keep trying to play matchmaker for him. This is bad news for his spy work. He's been using his old engagement to Lü Ying as an excuse, but that's a temporary fix.
The news gets back to Lü Ying, and she's not having it. She considers Zhang Zhiping her man. The idea of him marrying someone else, even for a mission, sends her into a panic. She demands that Zhuang Qifeng and Zhou Mi do something. Zhou Mi tries to calm her down, telling her to support the mission. But Zhuang Qifeng comes up with a wild idea. He tells her to pretend to go along with the Japanese matchmaking. She and Zhang Zhiping can then work together from the inside. Lü Ying hates the idea of being seen as a collaborator, but she hates the idea of losing Zhang Zhiping more. She agrees.
A Public Abduction
The plan kicks off with a secret message. Zhang Zhiping gets a box of green bean cakes from a shopkeeper. Inside, written in red, are the words "Puhui Temple Action." He stays cool and uses a "city defense inspection" as an excuse to visit the temple.
At the same time, Lü Ying throws a fit, insisting she needs to go to the very same temple. She claims she wants to light incense for her late mother. Her follower, Lü Yi, can't stop her, so he just has to go along.
They "accidentally" run into each other right in front of the main temple hall. This is where the show starts. Zhang Zhiping suddenly grabs her and yells that she's coming with him to get married. She plays her part perfectly, fighting and screaming. He quickly ties her up, throws her onto his horse, and rides off. Lü Yi and all the other temple-goers are left standing there, completely stunned. They all think they just watched the local garrison commander kidnap his bride.
Selling the Story
Back at the garrison headquarters, Zhang Zhiping unties a furious Lü Ying. She sees that the bite mark she gave him during their "struggle" is still bleeding. Her anger melts for a second, and she puts some medicine on the wound.
But they have to make this look real. To fool any Japanese spies, Zhang Zhiping starts yelling at her, calling her a traitor's wife. This hits a nerve. Lü Ying gets genuinely angry and punches him square in the face. He's left with a nasty black eye, which honestly just makes their whole story more believable.
The Wedding Feast
They go through with a wedding banquet to complete the act. A Japanese officer, Satoshi Yamashita, is there and he's clearly suspicious about Lü Ying's sudden appearance. She handles his questions like a pro, though, giving him a story that leaves no room for argument.
Later, a drunk Japanese soldier gets aggressive with Lü Ying. She doesn't hesitate. She cleanly disarms him in a swift move. Yamashita's face darkens. Zhang Zhiping has to jump in and play the apologetic husband, promising to "discipline" his supposedly spoiled new wife later.
New Missions and Old Grudges
While all this is happening, other moves are being made. Liu Zhumei is heading to Yan'an. Zhuang Qifeng sees her off, and all he can manage to say is a promise: "I'll wait for you to come back."
The leadership has also restructured the local resistance. They've created five new district committees in Gucheng. Zhuang Qifeng is now the chief of the first district. His first major task is to win back nineteen villages that are under Japanese and puppet control.
His new base is in Lü Family Village. A local ally, Lü Shicai, tells him about the grim situation in nearby Dawang Village. A man named Wang Weichang has become the puppet village chief. He's working with the scummy Zhuang Ziqiang to seize property, including the homes of Wang Yu's and Wang Xiangfo's families. The village is now heavily guarded by Japanese soldiers.
Zhuang Qifeng decides to act. He and his men sneak into the puppet chief Wang Weichang's house. They force him to agree to three rules: he won't harm the families of resistance fighters, he won't help the Japanese seize grain, and he'll pass them information. Wang Weichang, terrified, agrees to everything.
Just as this is happening, we cut to Zhuang Ziqiang. He's been obsessed with a woman named Fu Hua since he saw her earlier. He hears a rumor that Wang Weichang once planned to take Fu Hua for himself. In a jealous rage, Zhuang Ziqiang grabs his men and heads straight for Wang Weichang's house, setting up a collision course.
