Episode Summary
Luobo saves Qiao Yinwan by bluffing the Japanese Governor. Ma Wanqi acts as a decoy to get printing paper into Macau, but falls into a coma from tuberculosis. He Xian narrowly avoids exposure by Sawa Eisaku and later learns the government is issuing new currency and war bonds.
Spoiler Alert
Luobo Plays Hardball
Things start getting messy immediately. Japanese agents move to arrest Qiao Yinwan. Luobo steps in just in time. He whisks her away to safety. But he doesn't hide her in a basement. He takes her straight to the Japanese Governor's office. That takes guts. He is there to negotiate military scrip with Governor Jigu on behalf of Macau.
Major Yamaguchi storms in. He tries to drag Qiao away. Luobo shuts him down instantly. Governor Jigu decides to play politics. He needs to keep the peace with the Macau government. He lies through his teeth. He claims Qiao was at the Governor's office all night. He forces Yamaguchi to apologize to her. The Major leaves empty-handed.
The Decoy Plan
Ma Wanqi makes a dangerous call on the water. He leaves He Xian on the rear boat with the precious printing paper. Ma takes the lead boat with the Dahao Gang. They are the bait. They spot the Macau coastline. But Huang Gongjie shows up with Japanese speedboats.
Ma exposes his position. He draws all the fire to himself. The anti-Japanese guerrillas arrive just in time to help. They fight off the attackers. The printing paper reaches Macau safely.
Close Calls at Home
Luobo worries about Qiao. But he respects the risks He Xian took. Sawa Eisaku isn't buying the story though. Huang missed the boat. Sawa gets suspicious. He drives straight to He Xian’s house. He Xian barely beats him there. He climbs through a window. He chugs some booze and pretends to be passed out in bed.
Sawa doesn't believe the drunk act. He questions He Xian's children. He tries to trick them. But the kids are sharp. They insist their dad was home all night for a birthday. They don't crack.
A Grim Diagnosis
Ke Lin calls the house. He Xian rushes to the hospital. Sawa insists on tagging along. They find Ma Wanqi in a coma. Ke Lin says it is severe tuberculosis. Sawa is paranoid. He brings in a Japanese doctor named Tanaka to double-check. The diagnosis is real. Sawa finally leaves. He Xian realizes Ma wasn't faking it. He is actually dying. Ke Lin feels terrible for missing the signs.
New Money and Old Grudges
The Macau-Portuguese government makes a move. They announce a new Macau currency to stabilize the market. Guo Qiwen takes the news to Yang Chang at Flower Tail Ferry. He is drinking and depressed. She shows him the new bills. She proves their work meant something.
Qiao Yinwan finally forgives He Xian. They walk back together. He Xian spots a tail. It is Huang Gongjie. He Xian steps out to distract him. He lets Qiao get away safely. Huang’s men want to kill He Xian. Huang stops them. He Xian has leverage. He also manages two major banks. He is too important to kill right now.
Later, He Xian visits Ma Wanqi. Luo Baixin is trying to feed Ma soup. Ma treats her coldly. He Xian and his wife realize what he is doing. Ma is pushing Luo away because he is dying. He doesn't want to drag her down. Then Liang Yanming shows up. He brings orders from Chongqing. They need to sell war bonds through Macau immediately. The war effort needs cash.
