Episode Summary
Qiao Yinwan uses her music to get close to the Japanese commander Sawa, worrying He Xian. The Japanese pressure the Macau governor to ban Chinese war bonds, causing financial panic. Liang Yanming tries to sell bonds on the street but gets attacked by thugs, and the police shut down his operation. Luobo admits he sabotaged the bond vote to protect Qiao Yinwan.
Spoiler Alert
Music and Misery
Qiao Yinwan is playing a dangerous game. She sits on stage and pours all her rage into her zither performance. The audience loves it. Even Sawa Eisaku loves it. He has no idea she is staring at the man who killed her brother. He even sends her gold bars as a tip.
He Xian waits for the show to end. He corners Qiao Yinwan. He wants her out of Ba Chong Tian immediately. The place is crawling with spies. It is basically the enemy’s living room. But she refuses to leave. She wants to stay close to the Japanese. She needs intel. She wants to stop them from hurting anyone else.
Luobo steps in to break up the argument. He gets in He Xian’s face. He warns He Xian that the Japanese already have him on a watch list. He tells him to stay away from Qiao Yinwan for his own good.
Bad Timing and Broken Hearts
Luo Baixin makes a bold move. She shows up at Ma Wanqi’s place wearing a white Western-style wedding dress. She is ready to commit. She just wants him to get better so they can marry.
Ma Wanqi ruins the moment. He hides his illness. He tells her the situation in Macau is too chaotic. He pushes her to go abroad and study. He thinks he is saving her. She thinks he is dumping her. She leaves thinking he just wants to get rid of her.
The Squeeze
Sawa Eisaku and Fukue pay a visit to Dai Sile. They are done asking nicely. They give an ultimatum. The Macau government must ban the sale of Chinese bonds. They must also ban all anti-Japanese propaganda. If Dai Sile agrees, the Japanese will let Portuguese ships pass safely. They even offer rights to sell scarce goods.
Dai Sile caves. He agrees to the terms.
The fallout is instant. Panic hits the financial sector. The vote on the bonds happens, and Luobo throws a curveball. He abstains. The bond issuance fails because of him.
Liang Yanming tries to fight back. He goes to Dai Sile’s office. The door stays shut. So Liang takes to the streets. He stands on the corner with a stack of bonds. He begs passersby to buy them. He shouts that the country needs their help.
Street Violence
Fukue tries to sweeten the deal for Rodrigues. He introduces Wang Qizheng. Wang runs the Dahua Lian Trading Company. He is backed by the puppet government in Nanjing. They offer high prices and long-term contracts. Rodrigues is tempted. But he hesitates because of the Nanjing connection.
He Xian and Ke Lin track down Yang Chang. They find him on a ferry boat. He is dead drunk. He never delivered the message the night before. They splash water on him. He wakes up and realizes he messed up everything.
Chaos erupts on the street below. Huang Gongjie leads a group of thugs. They smash Liang Yanming’s bond stand. People get hurt. Officer Guanye arrives with his squad. He sees the Japanese-backed thugs and loses his nerve. He calls it a "mutual brawl." He confiscates all the bonds and propaganda flyers.
Rodrigues watches this from his window. The brutality turns his stomach. He puts the deal with Wang Qizheng on ice.
The Crackdown
The government officially bans the bond committee. Liang Yanming gets a package. It is a bullet. A clear death threat from the Japanese secret service. He laughs it off. His friends tell him to lay low. He refuses. He says they can’t kick the invaders out if they are always afraid.
The next morning, Guanye seals the committee doors. Liang Yanming stands there. He picks up an armband from the ground. He doesn't say a word.
Qiao Yinwan confronts Luobo. She demands to know why he abstained from the vote. He admits the truth. He did it to protect her. He confesses his feelings. She has nothing to say to that.
The episode ends in a tavern. Yang Chang is drinking again. He admits he drinks to forget Mary’s death. He Xian and Ma Wanqi join him. They sit in silence and drink their sorrows away.
