Episode Summary
Zhuang Qifeng's name is cleared, and he is tasked with a new mission: to organize a peasant resistance in his village. He faces initial failure as the villagers are more concerned with their own survival than the war. After a crucial realization, he begins to connect with them on a deeper level. The episode culminates in a tense meeting where Zhuang Qifeng cleverly manipulates a situation to make Lü Ying believe her fiancé, Zhang Zhiping, is an undercover hero, leaving Zhang to decide whether to play along.
Spoiler Alert
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Alright, let's get into what went down in the latest episode. It was a big one for our guy, Zhuang Qifeng.
First off, his name is finally cleared. With some help from Lü Ying, Zhou Mi finds the confession letter that Zhuang Qifeng was forced to sign, now torn to pieces. This is all the proof Zhou Mi needs to know Zhuang Qifeng is on the level. He's so impressed he wants to keep Zhuang Qifeng in the county and give him a promotion. But Zhuang Qifeng has other plans. He wants to head back to his village, let his leg heal, and then properly learn how to shoot, use a bayonet, and ride a horse.
Zhou Mi lays out the bigger picture for him. The Party's main goal has shifted: it's now all about creating a united front against the Japanese invaders. Zhuang Qifeng's new mission, should he choose to accept it, is to go back to the grassroots, organize a "Farmers' Anti-Japanese National Salvation Association," and build up an armed force.Part of this plan involves getting Zhang Zhiping on their side, and Zhou Mi hopes Zhuang Qifeng can use his connection with Lü Ying to make that happen.
On the road back, Zhuang Qifeng casually starts asking Lü Ying about her fiancé, Zhang Zhiping. It's clear she used to be head-over-heels for him, seeing him as a brilliant and talented hero. But now that he's a guard regiment leader, she thinks he's a traitor, and she's bitterly disappointed. Seizing the opportunity, Zhuang Qifeng asks her to set up a meeting, promising he can help make Zhang Zhiping a hero in her eyes again.
Back in Dawang Village, however, Zhuang Qifeng hits a wall. The powerful local families give him the cold shoulder, thinking he's just some nobody trying to take over. They've been told by a certain Li Mingjing that if they just keep their heads down and don't resist, the Japanese will leave them alone. They're actually considering just paying their taxes and hoping for the best.
Undeterred, Zhuang Qifeng teams up with Wang Zhiyong to build a force for the people. They recruit Wang Suozhu, a former soldier who isn't tied to any of the big families. He's all in and eagerly helps Zhuang Qifeng organize a big meeting for the new association.
But the meeting is a total bust. Almost nobody shows up, and those who do couldn't care less. They start leaving halfway through his speech. By the end, only a couple of guys are left, and their only question is about how this will help them get food. They think fighting the Japanese is a job for the rich folks.
Zhuang Qifeng is crushed. But a heart-to-heart with his mother leads to a major lightbulb moment: how can he expect starving people to have the energy to fight for their country? He realizes he needs to address their most basic needs first. So, he starts going door-to-door, crutches and all, listening to the villagers' problems and seeing their poverty firsthand.
Just then, Lü Yi arrives with good news: the meeting with Zhang Zhiping is on! It's set to happen at the Lü Family Village. Meanwhile, Zhang Zhiping cleverly uses a "competition" with a Japanese officer named Ono as a cover to escape the city. He makes it to the village, where he finds not only Lü Ying but also Zhuang Qifeng waiting for him.
Zhang Zhiping is initially not interested in any schemes. But Zhuang Qifeng pulls a fast one. He sets things up so Lü Ying "overhears" that Zhang Zhiping is actually a secret Communist agent, working deep undercover for the resistance. She's instantly filled with guilt for ever doubting him. The episode leaves us with a conflicted Zhang Zhiping, wondering if he should just go along with this lie and become the hero she now believes him to be.
