Episode Summary
He Xian secures bank support for the bonds, but Japanese forces block his medical supplies at the border. To bypass the blockade, He Xian forms a fragile alliance involving the Dahao Gang and Communist contacts. The plan hits a snag when a depressed Yang Chang fails to deliver a crucial message after a supply run turns deadly. Tensions peak at the Ba Chong Tian nightclub, where Sawa Eisaku forces a public apology to keep political favor with the Portuguese officials.
Spoiler Alert
Silent Tides Episode 20 Recap
The Bond Market and The Blockade
He Xian pulls off a massive win at the Atlantic Bank meeting. He convinces the board to back the National Salvation Bonds alongside the Chinese banks. The distribution goes smooth. Even the Heng Feng Yu acquisition business picks up steam. But the good vibes don't last. Ke Lin and Ke Zhengping crash the party. They bring grim news from the north. The resistance troops are freezing and dying. They need medicine and winter gear immediately.
He Xian moves fast to source the supplies. He places an order through Rodrigues. It hits a wall instantly. The Japanese seize the cargo at the Gongbei Port. They claim it lacks a specific pass from the Sawa Agency. Sawa Eisaku uses this leverage to squeeze the Macau-Portuguese government. He demands a total ban on anti-Japanese activities. Luobo steps in to negotiate for the Portuguese merchants. Sawa plays a dirty game. He promises to return the goods if they aren't contraband, but he gives no timeline. He steps out and "accidentally" leaves a file on his desk. Luobo looks. He sees He Xian's name listed as a primary anti-Japanese target.
Strange Bedfellows
The group needs a workaround. Ke Lin pitches a radical idea. He wants a multi-party underground transport line. Liang Yanming hates it. He points out that the Dahao Gang are smugglers and the political factions don't mix. He Xian and Ke Lin push back. They argue that survival requires unity. Liang Yanming listens. He eventually swallows his pride and agrees to cooperate with the Communists.
Luobo pays a visit to Qiao Yinwan. He tells her the truth about He Xian's dangerous status. She is a liability at the school. She takes the hint. She quits her teaching job and decides to return to the Ba Chong Tian nightclub as a singer.
The Gangster's Demand
He Xian needs ships. He visits Huang Sanhe at the Dahao Gang. Huang Sanhe isn't interested. He holds a grudge against foreigners and refuses to help. He Xian hammers home the patriotic duty. Huang Sanhe finally caves, but he has a condition. Rodrigues must serve him tea personally as an apology. It is a power move.
He Xian agrees to help register the boats. Rodrigues agrees to the tea ceremony. But the political situation is shaky. The Portuguese merchants don't have enough votes. They need Luobo and the officials on their side. He Xian plans to meet Luobo at the nightclub.
A Message Lost
Disaster strikes before the plan can start. Liang Zhong’s fleet gets hit. A joint Japanese-Portuguese patrol opens fire. They even commandeered Rodrigues’s commercial ships to block the route. The Dahao Gang loses men. Liang Zhong barely escapes. Huang Sanhe is furious.
Rodrigues explains the mess to He Xian. Huang Sanhe goes missing in his rage. Rodrigues gets desperate. He finds Yang Chang, who is still a depressed wreck. He begs Yang Chang to take a message to Huang Sanhe at Hengqin Island. Yang Chang agrees. He starts walking. Then he sees a blonde woman from behind. He thinks it is Mary. He freezes. The realization hits him that it isn't her. Grief crushes him right there on the street. He falls to his knees and completely forgets the message.
Nightclub Politics
The second government vote is looming. Sawa takes no chances. He orders Huang Gongjie to bribe Luobo with ten gold bars. Luobo is busy setting up housing for Qiao Yinwan. She prepares for her comeback performance. He Xian meets Luobo to secure his support. Luobo is blunt. He warns He Xian that the Japanese are watching his every move.
The show begins. Huang Gongjie spots Qiao Yinwan on stage. He loses his temper and storms up to confront her. He Xian is shocked. Sawa sees the commotion. He knows he needs Luobo happy. He steps in and publicly scolds his own man. He forces Huang Gongjie to apologize to the singer. Huang Gongjie swallows his anger and retreats. Sawa stands in the crowd and watches the performance.
