Episode Summary
Huang Xuchu is cleverly maneuvered into hiring Yang Dongchun, securing a key political appointment. The Salvation Daily relaunches successfully, drawing the attention of enemy spies. A talented but proud writer, Wang Luyan, clashes with the paper's editors over his out-of-touch style but receives crucial advice from the writer Ba Jin. The episode closes with Xia Yan planning a large public send-off for troops as a propaganda event.
Spoiler Alert
A Calculated Risk Pays Off
So, Huang Xuchu is still on the fence about this whole KMT-Communist partnership. He’s a cautious guy. His secretary, Xie, keeps pushing a man named Yang Dongchun for a big job. Huang is suspicious. The timing is just too convenient.
He asks Xie to run a background check. Then, just a few days later, he decides he wants to meet Yang. And what do you know. Yang is already in Guilin and available immediately. This whole thing feels like a setup to Huang. He decides to investigate on his own.
He knows a man named Tao Xingzhi is staying at the same hotel. He figures he'll drop by and ask Tao about this Yang character. But when he gets to Tao's room, Yang Dongchun is already there. Tao plays it completely cool. He just says he missed his friend and called him over for a visit.
This seems to put Huang at ease. Then Tao cleverly brings up a book on foreign literature. It happens to be a book Huang really admires. Tao then reveals that Yang is the book's one and only translator. That’s all it takes. Huang is completely impressed. With Tao’s endorsement, all his doubts disappear. He immediately gives Yang the job as the head of education for the Guangxi Construction Research Association.
The Paper Hits the Streets
With that political move handled, the Salvation Daily is officially back in business. The team gets the first issue out. You see newsboys on the street corners selling the paper. People are actually stopping and buying it.
Of course, not everyone is thrilled. The Gui faction's underground spies see all of this. They send a report back to their superiors. They note that ever since Bai Chongxi met with Zhou Enlai, things have been moving fast. The Eighth Route Army is shipping supplies, and now this propaganda paper is back. They know it’s a sign of something bigger.
The Writer and The Editors
A Promising Start
Over at the newspaper office, Xia Yan is reviewing submissions. He finds an article titled "I Love This Land." It’s written with a lot of passion. The author uses the pen name Ai Qing, but his real name is Wang Luyan. Xia Yan has heard of him. People say his style is unique. He has a strong ego that seems to be a mix of confidence and insecurity.
The article is a bit too subjective for the paper. It’s more personal than political. But Xia Yan doesn't want to crush the writer's spirit. He overrules the other editors. He decides to publish the piece. He even goes to Wang Luyan’s home to deliver his payment in person.
A Harsh Reality Check
Getting paid for his writing is a huge deal for Wang Luyan. He’s energized. The very next day, he brings a 70,000-character novel to the office. He's clearly very proud of it. Xia Yan spends the whole morning reading it. The novel is not what the paper needs at all.
The editors gather to discuss how to break the news gently. They don't want to hurt his pride. But while they are talking, Wang Luyan shows up. He stands on the staircase and overhears everything. An editor calls him an "armchair creator." He says Wang just sits in his room imagining things instead of experiencing the real world.
Just as Wang is about to leave, an editor sees him. He has to come upstairs. An intense argument breaks out. The editors tell him his writing is out of touch with reality. It’s wartime. He should be writing about the present struggle. Wang fires back that his literary vision is correct. He believes war is the army's job. The writer's job is to create great literature for people to enjoy after the war is over.
Neither side will back down. Finally, an editor gets brutally honest. He asks Wang why this novel, written years ago, has never been published before. The comment hits its mark. Wang’s pride is shattered, and he storms out of the office.
A Friend's Advice
Xia Yan let the argument happen. He hoped it would be the wake-up call Wang Luyan needed. Afterward, he calls for backup. He asks Ba Jin, a famous and successful writer, to talk to Wang.
Ba Jin visits Wang's home that night. As fellow writers, they have an instant connection. Ba Jin sees how poor Wang is and quietly leaves all the money in his pocket under a bowl before they leave. They go for a walk. Ba Jin shares his own experience. He tells Wang that literature can only succeed if it grows from the soil of the present reality. It has to make contemporary readers feel something. Otherwise, it has no ground to stand on.
This is a breakthrough for Wang Luyan. The words hit him hard. He finally understands what’s wrong with his writing.
An Opportunity for Propaganda
The episode ends with Ren Suning. She's incredibly worried because her lover is being sent to the front lines. Xia Yan overhears her. A lightbulb goes off in his head. He rushes to tell Li Kenong his idea.
He suggests they organize a massive, public send-off ceremony for the departing troops. It would be the perfect piece of anti-Japanese propaganda. Li Kenong thinks it's a brilliant idea. He tells Xia Yan to make it happen right away.
