Episode Summary
Tang Deyuan refuses to rejoin the resistance but gets a shock when a beggar at his restaurant turns out to be their long-lost comrade, Tian Xiaogui. He agrees to shelter Tian but sends his own family away for safety. A botched check-in by Wan Fuqing puts Tang on the radar of the Japanese secret police, who now have him under surveillance.
Spoiler Alert
A Ghost from the Past
The Pitch
Lu Changshan gets right to it. He wants Tang Deyuan to rejoin the resistance and fight the Japanese. Tang isn't having it. He flat-out refuses. He almost died multiple times after he got separated from the main group. Now, he finally has a stable life. He's not about to throw that all away. Lu tries to persuade him. He reminds Tang of the oath they took. He even tells him about their time training in the Soviet Union.
A Lost Cause?
Tang has seen the Japanese burn villages and kill innocent people. He thought the entire resistance was wiped out. He's surprised they're even alive. But he still doesn't see any hope for their cause. Lu explains the bigger picture. He talks about the international situation. He tells Tang the Japanese are losing the war. It's time to fight back. Tang still won't budge. Just then, an employee interrupts them. A beggar is causing trouble in the restaurant.
The Reunion Nobody Expected
The Chicken Thief
A beggar stole a roasted chicken. The staff gave him a serious beating for it. Tang Deyuan rushes out to see what's happening. He immediately tells his guys to stop. He lets the beggar go. Tang then goes back to the private room. He wants to kick Lu Changshan and his friends out for good. But the beggar follows him back. He wants to thank Tang for his kindness.
An Old Comrade Found
Tang hears the beggar's voice and it sounds familiar. He takes a closer look. He realizes the beggar is Tian Xiaogui. Lu Changshan, Gao Yunhu, and Wan Fuqing are stunned. They've been searching for Tian for years. They never thought they'd find him like this. Tian sees them and just breaks down. He falls into Lu Changshan's arms, crying. He learns that Hua'er and Xiao Baima are dead. The news hits him hard. Tang notices Tian's hands are destroyed by frostbite.
A Dangerous Favor
Tian's Story
Tian explains what happened to him. The Japanese had the river border locked down. He couldn't meet the others to go to the Soviet Union. He went back to his hometown instead. But the Japanese were hunting resistance members everywhere. He had to leave. He worked as a laborer but was almost exposed. With nowhere else to go, he came to Mudanjiang. He heard the owner of the "Tiantianhao Restaurant" was a good person. So he came to steal some food.
Tang's Choice
Lu Changshan asks Tang Deyuan for a huge favor. He wants him to let Tian Xiaogui stay and heal. Tang agrees. But then he tells Lu and the others to leave immediately. He doesn't want them bringing trouble to his doorstep. Later, Tang gives Tian a new set of clothes and a haircut. Tian doesn't get why Tang kicked their friends out. Tang just says he doesn't want to get involved.
The Walls Close In
A Family Sent Away
That night, Tang Deyuan makes a big decision. He tells his wife, Caifeng, to take their son back to Songlin Town. He says she should go visit her "dry sister." Caifeng doesn't want to go. Tang promises he'll join them soon. She finally agrees. The next morning, he sends them off. He seems relieved once they're gone.
Eyes Everywhere
Back at the restaurant, a doctor who is dining there offers to treat Tian's leg. Tang is grateful. Meanwhile, Caifeng and her son arrive in Songlin Town. She immediately notices the town is crawling with Japanese soldiers. People are rushing around, looking scared. She knows something is wrong. Lu Changshan is worried about Tian. Wan Fuqing decides to go check on him. Gao Yunhu waits outside as lookout.
A Close Call
Wan Fuqing barges in and starts shouting at Tang Deyuan as an act. But then a Japanese officer, Morita Saburo, walks in for a drink. Tang panics. He's worried Wan will be arrested. He forcefully throws Wan out of the restaurant. As soon as Wan leaves, he's tailed by secret police. Gao Yunhu sees this and drives off to warn him. Wan manages to lose the tail in an alley. They watch the agent report back to Morita Saburo at the secret police headquarters. Morita reports the incident to his boss, Kawano. He's sure the man causing trouble was with the resistance. He also notes that Tang Deyuan's wife and son have disappeared. Kawano tells him to watch Tang very closely.
