Episode 20 recap: Chen Ke Hai joined the Military Statistics Bureau (commonly known as the "Juntong").
Chen Ke Hai was searched by the Japanese army, and his pen on his chest caught the attention of the Japanese soldiers. Fang Li complained to Chen Ke Hai, wondering if he was planning to confess. Tian Liu appeared in Shanghai again, and Fang Li teased Chen Ke Hai, suggesting that Luo Bing might get jealous because of Tian Liu's presence.
Chen Bin looked at the Morse code in front of him, feeling dissatisfied. Fang Li took Chen Ke Hai to the liaison point of the Military Statistics Bureau, where Instructor Miao reprimanded Fang Li for breaking the rules and exposing his identity. Chen Ke Hai told Fang Li about the incident with the canned goods truck, but Fang Li denied any involvement. Chen Ke Hai mentioned that the canned goods were not valuable, but the valuable items were the communication equipment hidden underneath, and there was also a dead Japanese businessman at the Western restaurant, presumably caused by Fang Li.
Fang Li continued to deny his involvement, while Chen Ke Hai believed that the investigators of the Japanese businessman's death would go to the Western restaurant, and the pier would be unguarded, a clever plan indeed. Chen Ke Hai didn't care about Fang Li's identity; he just wanted Fang Li to confess. Fang Li only said that his loyalty lies with his own people, and his superior is someone he respects from the past.
Chen Ke Hai looked at Fang Li in surprise. He couldn't believe that Instructor Miao was unharmed after the incident on Xiafei Road. He insisted on meeting Instructor Miao immediately. After a dance performance, both of them were surprised once again when Tian Liu appeared on stage. She came down and greeted Chen Ke Hai. She had been expelled from school, and her father was ashamed of her. She had nowhere to go until she met Huang Yifeng from the Paradise Club, who provided her with food and shelter.
Tian Liu congratulated the future Deputy Director in advance and expressed her desire to forget the past. Fang Li teased Tian Liu, saying that she was becoming more feminine. Chen Ke Hai felt sorry for Tian Liu because it was because of them that she couldn't graduate and had to become a singer. Fang Li returned home and told Old Jin that he had revealed his identity to Chen Ke Hai, and he was just going with the flow. However, Chen Ke Hai insisted on meeting Instructor Miao.
Fang Li also warned Old Jin not to touch Tian Liu, even though her presence could affect Luo Bing. She was now the adopted daughter of Huang Yifeng and had influences in both the underworld and the legitimate world. If something happened to Tian Liu, it would surely raise suspicions from Chen Ke Hai, and Luo Bing would not be able to carry out his mission. Li Liqun presented Fang Li with his appointment letter, and the only person who was unhappy about it was in one corner, while Chen Ke Hai felt drowsy.
Fang Li offered the position of Section Chief to Chen Ke Hai, but Chen Ke Hai proposed giving it to Chen Bin instead, considering that he almost lost his life this time. However, the application had already been submitted and couldn't be withdrawn. Fang Li urged Chen Ke Hai to achieve something if he wanted to gain the support of others as a Section Chief.
Chen Ke Hai confirmed with Fang Li once again about the meeting with Instructor Miao, and Fang Li told him to wait for good news.
Li Liqun comforted Xing Han Zhu afterwards, emphasizing that their primary task was to support the National Government and not become discarded pawns. Chen Bin and Li Tang discovered a box of medicines, and Mr. Wu denied that they belonged to him. One of them wanted to interrogate Mr. Wu, while the other advised him to show sincerity. Eventually, under Chen Bin's coercion, Mr. Wu reluctantly handed over a box of gold bars, a box of land deeds, and a box of US dollars.
Li Tang thought it was a bit excessive, but he didn't dare to intervene due to Chen Bin's insistence. Tian Liu was singing on stage, and the more Fang Li watched, the more he felt she resembled Shen Qiu Ping. Nervously, he adjusted his collar and instructed his subordinate to report that he had an appointment with Officer Miao at ten o'clock tomorrow night. He took out money to have someone buy a bouquet of flowers to give to Tian Liu.
Chen Ke Hai told Lao Duan about his upcoming meeting with Officer Miao, while Lao Duan was preparing to go to the front lines and needed Chen Ke Hai's help in searching for medicines. Chen Ke Hai went to the Paradise Club to discuss business with a fat man and arranged to exchange money and goods the next day.
Luo Bing was waiting outside the door for Chen Ke Hai to return home. Before he could enter the house, Fang Li pulled him to meet Officer Miao. Officer Miao recalled the close bond they shared in the past and expressed disbelief that Fang Li had violated military regulations and exposed his identity. He questioned why Fang Li was willing to stake his life to vouch for Chen Ke Hai.
Fang Li, who had taken two bullets for Chen Ke Hai, expressed his willingness to protect him. After some probing, Officer Miao ordered his men to put down their guns. On the other side, the fat man who was preparing to trade with Chen Ke Hai was now being held at gunpoint by a mole. Chen Ke Hai raised several questions, and Officer Miao revealed that Xiafei Road was a prearranged plan known only to Fang Li. However, Chen Ke Hai should have escaped and not appeared on Xiafei Road.
Fang Li was personally selected by Director Dai because his temperament matched Li Liqun's character. Officer Miao proposed that Chen Ke Hai rejoin the Military Statistics Bureau, but Chen Ke Hai was reluctant, even though he had read the Communist Party Manifesto and Mao Zedong's analysis of various social classes in China. He felt that his background did not align with the Communist Party's camp and did not want to become cannon fodder.
Officer Miao wanted to silence Chen Ke Hai, but Fang Li protected him. He couldn't let anything happen to Chen Ke Hai. Officer Miao warned Fang Li that if they walked out of that door, they would be hunted for the rest of their lives. Seeing Fang Li and Officer Miao in constant conflict, Chen Ke Hai agreed to join the Military Statistics Bureau on the condition that Officer Miao would apologize to their deceased classmates in Xiafei Road after the victory.
Officer Miao disagreed, but Fang Li compromised and allowed Officer Miao to visit under the pretext of paying respects to the students. Both sides agreed to this arrangement, and Officer Miao appointed Chen Ke Hai as a captain in the Intelligence Unit of the Shanghai Station. When Chen Ke Hai returned home, he specifically draped Luo Bing's coat over her at the doorstep. He looked at the balcony where the white pigeons were being raised and envied their carefree existence. Luo Bing handed him a dessert, saying it could help ease his mood.
Looking back, this character Huang Yi Feng is introduced with a lot of hype. They have influence in both the underworld and the legitimate world, and they are portrayed as a formidable character. However, after the initial introduction, they simply disappear.
If the screenwriter had invested a little more in this character, perhaps as Tian Liu's godmother, they could have played a beneficial role and prevented Tian Liu from meeting such a tragic end. Although this hypothetical comment may not have much meaning, I still wrote it.