Episode Summary
On New Year's Eve, Ma Wanqi secures help from the Dahao Gang for a transport mission. Ke Zhengping arranges a rescue for British personnel using Yang Chang. He Xian attends a disastrous party at the Bachongtian where he clashes with collaborators and Japanese officers. Ke Lin successfully moves VIPs using a truck full of corpses to deter inspections. The episode ends in tragedy as Qiao Yinwan and He Xian learn of a young girl's death and head to the graveyard, unknowingly walking into an ambush set for Ke Lin.
Spoiler Alert
Deals in the Dark
This episode kicks off with some high-stakes negotiation. Ma Wanqi needs a favor. He heads straight to the Dahao Gang to see Huang Sanhe. He needs to move supplies and some very important people. Huang Sanhe isn't feeling it at first. He is worried about Huang Gongjie controlling Zhongshan. It looks like a dead end.
Then Long Haishan steps up. She drops a bomb. She reveals she is with the Communist guerrillas. She also reminds Huang Sanhe that she saved him at sea once. That guilt trip works. Huang Sanhe agrees to help move the cargo on New Year's Eve.
The British Problem
New Year's Eve arrives. It isn't a happy holiday for anyone. Ke Lin is staring at old photos of him and his brother. The mood is heavy.
Ke Zhengping has work to do. He gets a secret message from "Buddha Hand." The orders are clear. He needs to help rescue some British personnel. This is about the anti-fascist united front. British Consul Reeve actually shows up at the hospital with Yang Chang.
Zhengping plays this smart. He doesn't explicitly admit who he is. But he agrees to get the Brits out. There is a catch. Yang Chang has to handle the handoff. Zhengping thinks Yang is capable and actually has a conscience. Yang Chang hesitates. He eventually agrees.
The Party from Hell
He Xian is having a rough time. His kid, Zaizai, is recovering from pneumonia. But money is tight. Ke Lin steps in. He lends He Xian some cash. He frames it as a loan to save He Xian's pride. Ke Lin also pushes him to go to a party at the Bachongtian. It is a mixer for the Hong Kong and Macau Chamber of Commerce. Ma Wanqi will be there.
He Xian goes home. Guo Qiwen dresses him up in a suit. She tells him to come back early for dinner. He walks into the Bachongtian and immediately regrets it.
Lu Xiuyuan is there. He starts shouting. He calls He Xian a traitor and a disaster for their industry. The other guests turn on He Xian. It gets ugly. Then Huang Gongjie bursts in. He has a gun. He wants to kill Lu Xiuyuan. He Xian jumps in the middle. He lies and says he found a buyer for the grain. That lie barely stops the violence.
The Grossest Getaway
Zhengping tries to move his VIPs. It goes wrong immediately. Spies are watching the front door. They are dressed as rickshaw drivers. Zhengping cancels the plan. He calls his brother for backup.
Ke Lin drives an epidemic prevention vehicle. He hits a checkpoint. The spies insist on checking the trunk. This is where it gets gross. The back is full of cholera victims. The smell is unbearable. Corpse water is leaking out. The spies take one look and nearly vomit. They run off to wash their hands. Ke Lin drives through.
Music and Misery
Back at the club, things are tense. Luo Bo is hosting Sawa Eisaku and a Japanese naval captain named Inoshita. Sawa Eisaku is sucking up to the captain. He speaks Japanese. He says the Portuguese are desperate. He wants the blockade to continue. Inoshita agrees.
Huang Gongjie corners He Xian in a private room. He tries to recruit him. He uses threats against He Xian's family. Sawa Eisaku walks in and interrupts. He sends He Xian to wait in the hall.
Qiao Yinwan is on stage. Inoshita is drunk and belligerent. He demands she play a Japanese song. He insults China. Qiao Yinwan has guts. She refuses. She walks off stage. Luo Bo tries to smooth it over. Qiao isn't having it. She won't play for invaders.
A Tragic Turn
Sawa Eisaku is busy. He tracks Ke Lin's vehicle. He sends his goons, Yamaguchi Kumi and Shadan Biao, to the graveyard.
Outside the club, the reality is brutal. Xiaoyu's mother has fainted from hunger. Xiaoyu is digging through trash cans for food. Other street kids beat her up. Qiao Yinwan hears about this. She grabs some cakes and runs out.
Inoshita stops her. He is nasty. Qiao ignores him and gives the food to Xiaoyu. He Xian steps in and pushes Inoshita. The captain falls over. Guns are drawn immediately. Luo Bo jumps in the middle.
It turns out Inoshita is just wasted. He starts acting crazy. The situation diffuses. But the damage is done. He Xian and Qiao go looking for Xiaoyu later. They get the worst news. Xiaoyu and her mother starved to death. The body collection truck took them to the graveyard.
Qiao refuses to believe it. She wants to go see for herself. He Xian goes with her. They are walking into a trap. Sawa Eisaku is already at the graveyard. He is waiting for Ke Lin.
