Episode 4 recap: # Puppet Show
In this episode, an angry Lao Sun confronts Wang An Quan, demanding compensation. Wang explains that he was following orders from his boss and offers to take Lao Sun to meet him. Upon encountering a burly, tattooed man, Lao Sun is immediately frightened and turns to leave.Meanwhile, Shen Xing finds Wu Hai Shan, who drives him to the Haishan mining site. There, tensions flare between Duan Lao Si and Gan Ting, leading to a scuffle that topples a box used for puppet shows, shattering the clown puppet inside. The performers are devastated by the loss. That night, Shen Xing stays at the mine with two puppeteers, increasingly troubled by the events.
Given the chaos, Shen Xing wonders how Wu Hai Shan can still focus on the puppet show. Just then, he receives a call from Dan Tuo, where he voices his concerns. Dan Tuo explains that puppet shows at mines are typically for two reasons: either they've accidentally dug up graves or someone has died, and the spirits need to be appeased.
Shen Xing claims he doesn’t believe in such superstitions, but he can't shake a feeling of unease. The next morning, he is awakened by shouting outside and discovers that the young apprentice from the previous day is being reprimanded by the master. Shen Xing steps in to defend the apprentice, admitting his own responsibility, just as Wu Hai Shan arrives.
Wu Hai Shan suggests using a new set of puppets that had been delivered, which calms the master down. Impressed by Shen Xing’s sense of responsibility, Wu Hai Shan invites him to join for lunch in the office later. When the mine’s iron gate swings open, a crowd rushes in, and Shen Xing gets swept along with them.
Gan Ting informs him that the government allows these people to pan for gold, and if they find any, they can sell it to the company. He warns Shen Xing to stay away from Pit No. 3, where many explosives are buried, making it very dangerous. As for the red-scarved person Shen Xing keeps seeing, Gan Ting is indifferent, noting that many people wear red scarves to keep the sweat off.
As Shen Xing wanders deeper into the mine, he begins to feel disoriented and eventually collapses. During his unconsciousness, he has a nightmare that jolts him awake, finding himself in the break room of Wu Hai Shan's office.
He honestly took out the gem he had just found to return it to Wu Hai Shan. Wu Hai Shan refused to take it, instead saying he should keep it.
Then Wu Hai Shan asked how Shen Xing managed to keep up with Cai Shu, and Shen Xing explained the situation truthfully. Meanwhile, Duan Lao Si and Gan Ting got into another conflict, with Lao Si losing. As per their agreement, Duan Lao Si relinquished his position as foreman, and Wu Hai Shan accepted this arrangement. During their argument, Shen Xing overheard Gan Ting mention that a child had died at the mine. Curious, he approached Gan Ting to ask about it and mentioned he had seen a wooden doll.
Gan Ting explained that a little kid wanted to go to Wu Hai Shan's office to find the keys and unlock the elevator to rescue the doll inside, which is why Duan Lao Si had beaten him up. Earlier, when Shen Xing had called, he had seen Gan Ting delivering food to the mine, likely for that child. Wu Hai Shan ordered Lao Si to bring the child out, stating that if the child didn't have anything on him, he couldn't escape.
Lao Si went to carry out the order, but due to a mix-up, the child fainted and couldn't come up on his own. Duan Lao Si went back to find a new rope ladder, while Gan Ting went to deliver food. Shen Xing tried to hold Lao Si back but ended up being restrained by Wu Hai Shan. Gan Ting called for Long Zai but received no response, so he tied himself with a rope and descended. Meanwhile, the puppet show began.
Realizing Gan Ting was absent, Wu Hai Shan instructed someone to watch Shen Xing and left for a moment. Duan Lao Si managed to pull Gan Ting and the child up, discovering a pigeon-blood-red mark on the child's foot, but was suddenly kicked down the mine by Gan Ting. When Wu Hai Shan returned to continue watching the show, a massive explosion erupted from Pit No. 3, and someone in the crowd shouted that the dynamite had exploded.
Shen Xing instinctively looked at Wu Hai Shan, his eyes filled with curiosity and fear.
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