Episode 16 recap: Counterfeit Currency Plagues Turbulent Shanghai
In Episode 16, the president of the chamber of commerce, Jin Maochang, takes the lead in organizing representatives from the financial and industrial sectors. He calls for collective efforts to weather the ongoing financial crisis together. Meanwhile, Bo Lao listens in on the industry meeting and hears someone suggesting speculation in silver dollars, which fills him with satisfaction, although there are opposing voices. Liu Xisheng argues that Jin Maochang is unworthy of his position and storms out in anger.
Afterwards, Gao Lao claims that these discussions are all part of a conspiracy, stating he doesn’t want to get involved. He leaves, prompting other business leaders, including Jin and Qian, to exit as well. Among the remaining four, one person tries to ingratiate himself, leading Bo Lao to signal Xu Wei to place poison on a towel, intending to kill this individual in the restroom. Bo Lao instructs Xu Wei to send counterfeit bills to the speculators on their list, flooding Shanghai with fake currency.
Lu Zhengyang receives word that five banks in Huangpu and Xuhui have deposited large amounts of counterfeit money. The bureau decides to form a special task force to investigate the source of this fake currency. Although they are labeled as counterfeit, these bills are nearly indistinguishable from real ones, detected only by seasoned bank employees who notice subtle differences. It is now confirmed that both the real and fake bills share the same serial numbers.
Old Wei, a member of the North China Finance Committee and vice president of Beihai Bank, is summoned to Shanghai to assist with the investigation. Lin Shaobai suggests an immature idea, which Lu Zhengyang expands upon, proposing to create a set of counterfeit copper plates. Old Wei finds this suggestion promising. Meanwhile, Liu Xisheng is quietly murdered, eliminating a problem for Jin Maochang. His body is hidden in a sack along with the counterfeit money and later discovered.
Rumors spread that Liu Xisheng was using counterfeit bills to pay workers, leading to retaliation against him. The Shanghai Securities Building becomes a hub for rampant speculation and is later forcefully shut down. The organization grants Lu Zhengyang and his team permission to infiltrate the counterfeit currency trade as businessmen, aiming to connect with the source of the counterfeit bills. Initially, they pose as sellers, but lacking connections, no one is willing to cooperate.
Lin Shaobai boldly proposes they act as buyers, asserting that the customer is king and that they won’t lack for partners. As expected, the first businessman, Boss Tian, readily agrees to collaborate upon seeing the copper plates. However, Lin Shaobai and Huzi, who is posing as a driver, are ambushed by armed men. Lin Shaobai quickly instructs Huzi to take the copper plates and leave, while he himself is captured. Jiang Yang investigates the route and discovers that the Eagle and Falcon gang has connections with higher-ups at the delivery location or nearby.
Lin Shaobai is blindfolded and brought before Manager Hu of the Handcuff Gang. Hu tortures him to reveal the name of his boss. Even when facing death and restrained, Lin Shaobai endures the pain and crafts a lie that ultimately convinces them. Dai Yueqing wouldn’t bet everything on one person; she instructs Hu to summon the Eagle for further questioning.
Deputy Director Yang arranges for Lu Zhengyang to conduct a joint raid across three security districts, mobilizing student workers to cooperate fully, searching thoroughly and arresting everyone involved. Jiang Yang infiltrates the transport truck driven by Xu Wei, who soon recognizes him. Jiang Yang pretends to be a desperate person trying to steal flour. Xu Wei is suspicious and tests him, but Jiang Yang’s responses are flawless, and he even mentions his two children.
The mention of children stirs Xu Wei’s compassion. Nevertheless, Xu Wei probes further, asking Jiang Yang how to properly burp a baby. When Jiang Yang’s answer aligns with what Xu Wei heard from his wife, Zhao Lan, it finally dispels Xu Wei’s doubts, and he lets Jiang Yang go. Afterwards, Jiang Yang reports this incident to Jin Maochang, who warns him that such a situation cannot happen again.
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