Episode 14 recap: Underground Party Successfully Acquires Quinine
In Episode 14, following the Changzhou grain scandal, Japanese high officials are furious. Kondo Masao assigns Gu Yizhong to investigate the matter. Zhou Zhi Fei knows that if the truth comes out, his collusion with Ding Jiansheng will be exposed, leading to dire consequences. When Ding Jiansheng's lost items resurface, suspicion falls squarely on Gu Yizhong. Acting as stationmaster, he aggressively interrogates Ding about his whereabouts, but Gu Yizhong cleverly deflects by claiming he was too hungover from a night at Gao Hu's.
To force Gu Yizhong to reveal the truth, Zhou Zhi Fei resorts to severe measures against Gao Hu. However, Gao Hu, loyal and honorable, refuses to betray Gu Yizhong, knowing that his mission is to procure medicine for his mother. Faced with a deadlock, Zhou Zhi Fei abandons the plan to extract information from Gu Yizhong. Instead, he orders Xie Wenchao and Captain Zhang to intensify their efforts to capture Ding Jiansheng, declaring that Gao Hu can no longer be trusted and they need to find another way.
This turmoil stirs hidden currents among various factions, complicating the situation further. Zhou Zhi Fei finds himself in a precarious position, beset by internal and external troubles. To quickly disentangle himself from Quan Shui's involvement, he promptly replies to Xu Enzeng's letter and thoughtfully buys a boat ticket for Quan Shui, understanding that her main purpose is to seek clarity.
However, upon receiving the letter, Quan Shui is not inclined to leave; instead, she becomes even more determined to spend her life with Zhou Zhi Fei. She tenderly nestles beside him, reflecting on the brevity of life and fate bringing them together again. She vows to stand by him through thick and thin. Meanwhile, Ding Jiansheng faces a significant turn of events.
He is kidnapped and taken to Suzhou, where, after some twists and turns, he discovers that his captors are affiliated with Xiao Ruotong, who demands a ransom of 100,000 yuan. In this dire situation, Gu Yizhong steps up, generously offering his precious gold bars to resolve the immediate crisis.
Hu Zhiping coordinates from the outside, arranging for Zhou Zhenwu to facilitate the exchange. When Japanese soldiers unexpectedly appear, everyone fears the deal is ruined. However, Zhou Zhenwu uses his wit and courage to successfully obtain the quinine from the soldiers. It turns out that Ding Jiansheng's quinine came from this group of Japanese soldiers. Meanwhile, Zhou Zhi Fei receives intelligence from Cell No. 8 indicating that Ding Jiansheng has fallen into the hands of the GCD.
He urgently reports this to Kondo Masao while secretly negotiating with Cell No. 8: if they can eliminate Ding Jiansheng, he will share his knowledge of the underwater secrets that give him leverage over them. In this intricate game of strategy, Zhou Zhi Fei maneuvers carefully, seeking to find a glimmer of hope amidst the looming dangers.
When Gu Yizhong visits his father’s grave, he learns from Fu Gui that Hai Mo frequently visits and discovers her whereabouts. He heads to the literary society to see Hai Mo, only to encounter a disturbance caused by a member of the Guangyu Society. Gu Yizhong skillfully resolves the situation under the guise of an agent, earning Hai Mo's gratitude. Gu Yizhong has his own agenda, hoping to extract the truth about Cell No. 8 from Huang Xinzhai, but Huang remains tight-lipped, only revealing the importance of Cell No. 8 to Zhou Zhi Fei.
On the other hand, Xiao Ruotong delivers quinine as agreed but unexpectedly receives a secret letter, which points to the true target of Cell No. 8—those who wish to eliminate Ding Jiansheng. This revelation deepens the intrigue, leaving both Gu Yizhong and Xiao Ruotong deep in thought.
Comments(Episode 14)