Episode 1 recap: Wei Ruo Lai applied for a job at the Central Bank.
In 1930 Shanghai, the Nationalist Government was corrupt to the core, and various major factions were engaged in open and hidden struggles, causing constant conflicts. Wei Ruo Lai, a native of Jiangxi, came to Shanghai with his older brother to seek a livelihood. While working part-time, Wei Ruo Lai also attended accounting school. In order to have a decent meal, he occasionally took risks to help his fellow villagers with their bookkeeping for their associations.
Wei Ruo Lai was entrusted by the gang leader Qian Shaoliang to investigate the accounts. The accountant had been in charge of the association's finances for over twenty years and was meticulous in his work. However, with his superb auditing skills, Wei Ruo Lai quickly discovered fourteen deeply hidden fraudulent accounts involving a total amount of over three thousand. The parties involved refused to admit their wrongdoing and even verbally abused Wei Ruo Lai. Qian Shaoliang immediately ordered the execution of the accountant, leaving Wei Ruo Lai trembling with fear.
After graduating, Qian Shaoliang offered Wei Ruo Lai a position as an accountant at the Hengmei Trading Company, with the promise of generous treatment and assurance that no one in Shanghai would dare to bully him. Wei Ruo Lai had already made up his mind about where to work, and Qian Shaoliang no longer insisted. Shen Tu Nan, the newly appointed senior advisor to the Central Bank, arrived in Shanghai to assume his position. Deng Ze, the director of the Central Bank's Political Affairs Department, personally went to the station to greet him. Shen Tu Nan's purpose for this trip was to rectify the financial market in Shanghai and suppress banks with foreign backgrounds that did not comply with the Nanjing government, while also seeking to strengthen the Central Bank by attracting private banks.
Wei Ruo Lai rented a place on Qibao Street, an area known for its disorderliness and dilapidation. Fortunately, the rent was cheap, and the neighbors were kind to him. After being away from his hometown for many years, Wei Ruo Lai gradually considered this place as his own home. Zhou Yi, his neighbor, was interested in stock trading, so Wei Ruo Lai recommended her to buy shares of the Tongshang Bank. Zhou Yi dragged him along to make the purchase, and the stock rose steadily from the opening. Zhou Yi regretted not buying more and invested all her money to increase her holdings.
As soon as Shen Tu Nan took office, he started implementing sweeping reforms, and the Central Bank's business thrived. This greatly affected the interests of the Shanghai Youth Gang, and they harbored deep resentment toward Shen Tu Nan. While Shen Tu Nan and Deng Ze were out on business, their car was bombed. Fortunately, Shen Tu Nan had not yet boarded the vehicle. This was the fourth assassination attempt on Shen Tu Nan since he took office.
Lin Qiao Song, the captain of the Investigation Team of the Military Law Department of the Shanghai Garrison Headquarters, was ordered to take charge of twelve extradited prisoners from the French Concession. Inspector Henry only delivered four, as the others were involved in separate cases and were undergoing interrogation. The shares of the Tongshang Bank rose from 18 yuan to 23 yuan. Shen Tu Nan bought three thousand lots of Tongshang Bank shares, but the stock suddenly plummeted. Wei Ruo Lai watched helplessly as the stock fell to 18 yuan. He realized that the major investors were short-selling the Tongshang Bank shares but couldn't convince Zhou Yi to sell them all.
The stock continued to plummet, dropping to fourteen yuan. Zhou Yi was dumbfounded, and Wei Ruo Lai helped her sell all the stocks. Zhou Yi suffered significant losses and cried and complained, blaming Wei Ruo Lai for everything. Wei Ruo Lai kindly advised Zhou Yi and hurriedly found a rickshaw to send her home.
Due to the betrayal of traitor Gu Lun, several underground Communist Party members were arrested. Shen Jin Zhen, in order to rescue her betrayed comrades, engaged in a fierce battle with the police. Lin Qiao Song personally arrived at the scene to command the operation. Soon, a large number of Kuomintang spies arrived after receiving the news. Shen Jin Zhen was accidentally injured and quickly changed her disguise and blended into the crowd. She and Wei Ruo Lai hailed the same rickshaw. Worried about being pursued by spies, Shen Jin Zhen pulled Wei Ruo Lai into the rickshaw without explanation, and they quickly left, pretending to be a couple going to the theater.
Lin Qiao Song conducted an investigation at the scene and found a woman's night attire. He ordered his men to set up checkpoints at the intersection and conduct strict inspections of passersby. Wei Ruo Lai had no choice but to get off the rickshaw. He accidentally noticed blood stains on Shen Jin Zhen's body and, fearing being implicated, used money to bribe his way through using Chen Shao Liang's name card. Shen Jin Zhen thanked Wei Ruo Lai for helping her escape, and Wei Ruo Lai hurriedly went back to pick up Zhou Yi. He bid farewell to Shen Jin Zhen and left in a hurry.
Shen Tu Nan successfully short-sold the shares of the Tongshang Bank, and his superiors praised him for it. Shen Jin Zhen went to the transportation station to meet the station master, Xu Nuo. Xu Nuo helped her bandage her wounds, and Shen Jin Zhen asked Xu Nuo to quickly transfer other comrades to prevent them from being shot.
Wei Ruo Lai returned home very late and learned from the neighbors that Zhou Yi had been cursing and making a fuss all night, threatening to beat him up and feed him to the cats. Wei Ruo Lai had to climb through the window to get home. He was fired from his job because helping Zhou Yi speculate on stocks had affected his work. He had very little money left, and he remembered what his mentor said before graduation, advising him to apply to the Central Bank. The recruitment was overseen by Shen Tu Nan, a finance expert who had returned from studying in Germany. He openly declared that he didn't care about qualifications and only sought talented individuals.
Wei Ruo Lai woke up early and heard Zhou Yi making a fuss at home. He quietly washed his face and brushed his teeth, then changed into a new outfit, preparing to go out. Zhou Yi came to him to apologize and gave him a coat, wishing him success in his application to the Central Bank and hoping that he wouldn't forget her when he became successful. Wei Ruo Lai felt warm inside.
A Wen took Wei Ruo Lai to the bank in a rickshaw and gave him a lucky charm for safety. Many candidates came to apply for the Central Bank today. Shen Tu Nan specially arranged a classroom for the examination. During the middle of the exam, a large fire broke out outside, filling the classroom with smoke and causing the candidates to cough uncontrollably.
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