Episode Summary
Tian Xiaogui flees home after being separated from his unit, but a collaborator reports him, forcing him to escape a Japanese search. In the Soviet Union, Xiao Lüzi deserts with a gun to find his brother but is caught. When it's revealed he lost the gun, his commander, Lu Changshan, takes the blame to save him from execution. In response, the other soldiers rally, petition for their release, and successfully find the lost gun in the river.
Spoiler Alert
The Long Way Back: Episode 20 Recap
This show just keeps finding new ways to put these guys through the wringer. Just when you think they might get a moment to breathe, everything gets worse. This episode splits its time, showing us the grim reality back home and the rising panic in the Soviet camp.
Trouble Back Home
A Village Under Japanese Control
The episode opens with Tian Xiaogui. He's been separated from his unit and has nowhere to go but home. His father, Master Tian, is terrified the Japanese will find him and makes him hide. The situation in his village is bleak. The local Baozhang, or village head, is now a collaborator. He's working directly with the Japanese soldiers. His job is to squeeze every last bit of grain from the villagers.
He leads house-to-house searches, not just for food, but for people. They find two resistance fighters hiding among the villagers. The Japanese execute them on the spot. It’s a brutal, public display. Then the Baozhang tells the villagers to report anyone else they know who is hiding.
A Narrow Escape
Master Tian knows his son has to leave immediately. He gives Xiaogui all the family's money and tells him to run. But it's too late. A neighbor, Master Wu, has already reported him. The Baozhang arrives with Japanese soldiers to search the Tian household. Master Tian tries to talk his way out of it, denying everything. He even gets on his knees and begs, but they don't buy it.
As the soldiers start tearing the house apart, a man named Changshun creates a diversion. He helps Tian Xiaogui escape through the back door. The search turns up nothing. The Japanese are suspicious, though. They leave guards posted outside the house, just in case.
Tensions Rise in the Soviet Camp
A Missing Soldier and a Stolen Gun
The show reminds us of the bigger picture. It's June 1941. Germany has just invaded the Soviet Union. Japan is moving 700,000 troops into Manchuria, preparing for its own potential war with the Soviets. This historical context hangs over everything.
Back at the camp, the mood is somber. Vasily's friend was killed in action. He's struggling to write a letter to the man's family. The grief hits everyone, but it seems to affect Xiao Lüzi (Little Donkey) the most. He's reminded of his own missing brother.
The next morning, things get serious. During training, Lu Changshan realizes Xiao Lüzi is gone. They check the armory. A gun is missing, too. Wan Fuqing immediately assumes he deserted. We learn that the night before, a restless Xiao Lüzi begged Fuqing to help him find a Soviet officer to ask about his brother, but it was too late at night.
Instructor Wang is furious. He orders Lu Changshan to find Xiao Lüzi before the Soviets officially declare him a deserter. A search along the river comes up empty. Luckily, Vasily gets a lead. He finds out Xiao Lüzi collapsed by the river and was taken to a nearby military camp by some villagers.
A Desperate Lie
Lu Changshan tries to defend Xiao Lüzi to Instructor Wang. He explains that the men have been in the Soviet Union for almost a year. They're all getting desperate to go home and fight. He knows Xiao Lüzi is in deep trouble, but he hopes that returning the stolen gun might reduce the punishment.
That hope disappears fast. Wan Fuqing finds Xiao Lüzi, who confesses he dropped the gun in the river while trying to cross. It's lost. This is the worst possible news. Stealing a gun is bad enough, but losing it could get him executed.
Lu Changshan sees only one way out. He goes back to Instructor Wang and takes the fall. He lies and says that he stole the gun. He claims he gave Xiao Lüzi permission to cross the river to look for his brother. Instructor Wang knows Lu is lying to protect his soldier. It doesn't matter. He has no choice but to lock Lu Changshan up.
The Comrades Step Up
A Search for a Lost Cause
Xiao Lüzi is horrified. He screams that Lu Changshan is innocent. Lu is willing to accept the punishment. He says he couldn't face Xiao Lüzi's father, Old Donkey, if the boy was executed.
But the other soldiers refuse to accept this. Gao Yunhu and Wan Fuqing rally everyone. They start a petition for both Lu and Xiao Lüzi. They make it clear to the leadership that all of them feel the same way. They all want to go home and fight the Japanese. Xiao Lüzi hears his comrades singing in solidarity and breaks down in tears. He even considers suicide to stop Lu from taking the blame, but Lu talks him down.
Then, two things happen. Instructor Wang goes to his Soviet superiors and accepts full responsibility for the incident. More importantly, Gao Yunhu and Wan Fuqing lead the soldiers to the river. They decide to find the lost gun. They search all day and deep into the night. Just when it seems hopeless, they find it. The episode ends with their cheers echoing across the water.
