Episode Summary
The Japanese test Tang Deyuan with a fake soldier and fail, leading them to devise a more ruthless plan. Tang Deyuan, wanting to protect his peaceful family life, refuses to rejoin the resistance when his old comrades find him.
Spoiler Alert
A Test and a Total Failure
The episode kicks off with the Japanese trying to be clever. Morita Saburo decides to test Tang Deyuan’s loyalty. He sends a guy pretending to be a resistance fighter to get close to Tang Deyuan. To make the story extra convincing, this fake fighter even injures his own leg.
It was a complete bust.
Tang Deyuan spots the fraud immediately. He asks the guy a few simple questions about the resistance. The answers are so wrong it’s almost funny. Tang Deyuan doesn't hesitate. He picks up the phone and calls the police. Just like that, the imposter is arrested. Gao Yunhu watches the whole thing unfold from a distance.
A New, Vicious Plan
When Kawano gets the news, he realizes Tang Deyuan is smarter than they thought. So, he comes up with a much nastier idea. He calls it the "Blood Plucking" plan. The goal is to use a captured and broken resistance fighter to publicly identify Tang Deyuan.
This new plan involves getting a real captured soldier addicted to a drug. The idea is to make him so desperate he'll do anything they say. That includes pointing the finger at Tang Deyuan.
A Tense Reunion
Things get personal when Gao Yunhu shows up at Tang Deyuan's place. Caifeng, Tang Deyuan's wife, makes dumplings to welcome him. For a moment, it’s a happy family scene. Gao Yunhu sees Tang Deyuan with his wife and son, and you can tell he's envious of this peaceful life.
But the peace doesn't last.
Once the wife and kid are asleep, Gao Yunhu confronts Tang Deyuan. He questions him for turning in a supposed comrade earlier that day. Tang Deyuan defends himself. He says he had no choice. If he didn't report the fake, he would have put his own family in danger.
Secret Meetings and Rising Suspicions
Gao Yunhu leaves and heads out to meet Lu Changshan under the cover of darkness. He gets stopped by a patrol but uses a "good citizen" pass from Tang Deyuan to get through. He tells Lu Changshan everything, including how Tang Deyuan saw right through the fake soldier. This confirms Lu Changshan's fears. He now suspects the Japanese are watching Tang Deyuan's every move.
Fuqing, another comrade, gets fired up. He wants to go to Tang Deyuan and demand he rejoin the fight. Gao Yunhu stops him, not wanting to ruin the quiet life Tang Deyuan has built.
Later, Lu Changshan and Fuqing stake out the police station. They watch as a few big shots arrive for a mahjong game hosted by Xiao Tielin. Tang Deyuan also shows up and gets searched by the guards. Inside, he learns something important. He overhears Guo Jinshan complaining about a city-wide search for three resistance fighters who came from the Soviet Union.
This sets off alarm bells for Tang Deyuan. He immediately suspects Gao Yunhu is one of them.
The Breaking Point
Tang Deyuan goes straight home. He gets Gao Yunhu drinking and then lays it on him. He tells him he needs to leave town immediately. He can't risk his family getting caught in the crossfire. Gao Yunhu agrees to go.
Before leaving, Gao Yunhu meets with Lu Changshan one last time, pretending he's just there to get his shoes fixed. He tells him the Japanese found their parachutes. He also says that Tang Deyuan is kicking him out.
This is the final straw for Lu Changshan. He decides he has to confront Tang Deyuan directly. He and Fuqing go to the tavern. They have Gao Yunhu bring Tang Deyuan to a private room.
Lu Changshan makes his pitch. He tries to persuade Tang Deyuan to come back to the resistance.
Tang Deyuan refuses. He's had enough. He tells them he barely survived the war and has only known peace for two years. He has no intention of going back to a life of constant danger. Lu Changshan keeps trying, but it's no use. Tang Deyuan has made up his mind.
