Episode 22 recap: The Revelation of Jiang Ying Zi's Identity as the Matriarch
In Episode 22, under the soft lighting of the bathroom, Jiang Ying Zi stands quietly in front of the mirror, her gaze fixed on the two scars on her body—one deeply etched on her back and the other slanting across her left shoulder. These scars silently tell the tale of her tumultuous past. Years ago, as a bar girl, she unexpectedly met Song Kang, and her fate was forever altered.
She became Song Kang’s most trusted woman, vowing to protect his secrets and even taking matters into her own hands to eliminate threats. As Song Kang's power grew, Jiang Ying Zi naturally rose to the position of matriarch in the Guangdong mafia and had a daughter with him, affectionately named Mao Mao. However, good times were short-lived; in the spring of 1993, Song Kang was imprisoned for his crimes, leaving her a sum of money before his death, hoping she could live a peaceful life.
Yet, the undercurrents of the underworld were restless, and some were unwilling to let a woman take the helm. A sudden assassination attempt left her shot in the shoulder, but with the strong support of Li Wen Long and others, she not only escaped danger but also solidified her position.
Reflecting on Jiang Ying Zi's past, her birth name was Jiang Ying Zi, and she came from a family that valued sons over daughters. Her mother passed away early, and her father’s alcoholism and domestic violence forced her to leave home at the age of fourteen to work and survive in Halan.
Years later, she became an unwed mother in Huazhou and didn’t return to Halan until 1993, where she opened a pharmacy and soon married Wang Jianmin, starting a new chapter in her life.
One day, Jiang Ying Zi unexpectedly visited Zheng Bei, hoping to see Wang Jianmin. This action drew the attention of Xin Tie Gang, who dug through files and stumbled upon old photographs of Jiang Ying Zi with Song Kang. It turned out she was one of Song Kang’s many mistresses but the only one who followed him south. After his death, she returned to Halan with her followers to continue her unfinished business.
While everyone was shocked, they couldn’t help but speculate whether Jiang Ying Zi was involved with drug lords like Xiao Ma. Zheng Bei, however, paid special attention to Jiang Ying Zi's brother, Jiang Xiao Hai, worried he might be entangled in these affairs.
In Zheng Bei’s eyes, Jiang Xiao Hai was not only a brother but also a source of lingering guilt, complicating his feelings toward him. The appearance of Sang Hong disrupted Jiang Xiao Hai’s peaceful life, as he tried to use Jiang Xiao Hai’s influence to protect his drug trade.
Faced with Sang Hong's threats and temptations, Jiang Xiao Hai stood firm and refused to compromise, even enduring beatings without retaliating. At a critical moment, Zheng Bei’s intervention caused Sang Hong’s gang to flee in panic.
For the safety of his niece Mao Mao, Jiang Xiao Hai reluctantly had to negotiate with Sang Hong. He cleverly communicated with the police, ultimately assisting Zheng Bei in dismantling a criminal organization that masqueraded as "Zhuangyuan Medicine" while actually selling meth-laced products, saving many innocent students.
On the way home, Zheng Bei mentioned Jiang Ying Zi's current situation. Jiang Xiao Hai admitted he knew nothing about Mao Mao’s biological father, only that his sister felt an unbreakable sense of responsibility toward her former comrades.
Meanwhile, Zheng Bei continued discussing the case with Gu Yi Ran, and Zheng Nan's unexpected involvement not only brought love to Zhao Xiao Guang but also wrapped up this emotional storyline neatly.
In the shadows, Jiang Ying Zi was strategically planning. Aware that she had become a focal point for the police, she cautiously arranged everything to ensure her safety and that of her followers while also seeking a way out for the brothers who once fought alongside her.
In this perilous yet opportunistic world, she continued to write her own legend in her unique way.
Comments(Episode 22)