How to pronounce "今年"

[Silent Honor]

[Episode 14]

Deputy Chief,

that's true.

But Chief Zhou also said

that this shipment of military supplies

is a top priority.

I'm in a difficult position too.

Have these ships departed yet?

The last batch just left.

Don't worry. As soon as the ships return to port,

I'll immediately allocate them for your use.

But you'll need to

put in a good word for me

and ask the Chief

for a two-day extension.

Then I can free up ships for Vietnam.

Right?

Fine.

Notify me as soon as your ships dock.

I need to assess the situation first

and then figure out a solution.

Sir.

Prepare the Southeast combat zone maps.

Yes, sir.

Sir, have you received some news?

Zhou Zhirou has arranged for the Fourth Department

to transport military supplies to Zhoushan.

I'm not sure what supplies exactly,

but it's urgent.

Do you think

it's related to the recent

secret meeting at the Hsinchu Air Force Base?

It's possible.

Zhoushan has always been

the maritime shield for East China.

If the two are connected,

then we can confirm

it's not an Air Force operation from southwest China.

The day after tomorrow, I'll go check the ships returning from Zhoushan.

Come with me,

and let's see if we can discover anything.

Alright.

[Keelung Middle School]

I, your servant Li Mi, respectfully submit this memorial.

I have suffered misfortune

[Seal of Ministry of Defense]

and early calamity,

being only 6 months old

when my kind father passed away.

At the age of 4,

my uncle forced my mother into remarriage.

Grandmother Liu pitied my weakness

and raised me herself.

Timeless literature

must excel in expressing emotion.

Although "Memorial to the Throne"

was Li Mi's petition to Emperor Wu of Jin,

every word and sentence

expresses deep emotion.

So when writing essays, students,

you must not focus only on objects.

Mr. Gu.

Hello, Mr. Gu.

Mr. Gu.

Mr. Zhuang, well said!

Indeed, every word is filled with emotion.

You're too kind.

I'm flattered.

Standing alone and isolated,

with only my shadow for company.

Mr. Zhuang,

you're not alone in Taiwan.

In life, I am ready to give my life;

in death, I will still repay Your Majesty's kindness.

Unable to suppress my loyal feelings like those of a humble servant,

I earnestly submit this memorial to Your Majesty.

Li Mi's "Memorial to the Throne" is beautifully written,

moving people with emotion.

Yes.

Moving people with emotion.

How wonderful.

Four months ago,

I was still teaching Chinese literature here.

That peaceful life

is something I truly miss.

Leader.

When I first reported to the bureau,

everyone was talking about

how Mr. Gu cracked the Guangming News case

and busted the Communist spy den in Keelung.

Everyone from the President to the Director praised you.

I became an agent...

I joined this line of work

because I was afraid of being bullied

and needed to make a living.

I never thought

someone could make such a career out of it like you did.

So I went to the personnel department

and insisted on being transferred under your command.

And you actually selected me.

For the Guangming News case,

the President gave the Director

a reward of 300,000 Taiwan dollars.

300,000!

Director Ye only makes 600 dollars a month.

You're quite well-informed.

I heard it from others.

Do you think 600 is too little?

Well, 600 for me

would be too much.

600 isn't much,

but it certainly isn't little either.

But you

are right to have great ambitions and ideals.

Because once you solve major cases,

you'll naturally receive substantial rewards.

Otherwise, would you follow Director Ye's example?

Not enough money and unable to solve cases,

resorting to roadside kidnappings.

Yes, Leader.

Mere cleverness won't achieve greatness.

From now on, if you tell me to go east,

I won't take half a step west.

Director Ma, you certainly don't waste

the Navy's shipping capacity.

The ships aren't fully loaded on return voyages anyway.

It would be a shame to waste the tonnage.

Loading some local specialties

can help make a bit of freight money.

The Fourth Department knows how to calculate profits.

We have no choice, Deputy Chief.

Money is needed everywhere these days.

That Liberty Ship looks good.

Deputy Chief, that one

needs to assemble more millitary equipment

to Zhoushan.

Let's go and check others.

You can use another ship to transport the military supplies.

Leave this to me.

Let's go check.

Great achievements start with small steps.

I think

with your qualifications

you'd be quite suitable for infiltration work

here in Taiwan.

Infiltration?

Yes.

Based on the information we have,

Lin Yiliang, the boss of Sanrong Trading in Keelung,

is most likely to be Zhang Hao's accomplice.

So I plan to arrange you

to infiltrate

as Mr. Zhuang Achen.

Help me find out Lin Yiliang's background.

But Leader,

I've never done infiltration work before.

I'm afraid

I might ruin your master plan.

Come on.

Don't be such a coward.

Sit down.

You, Weng Lianwang,

are on your first infiltration mission.

But that Mr. Zhuang Achen

is also escaping for the first time.

Both of you are panicking.

What's the difference?

Right?

Besides, I'll personally guide you.

I brought you here today

to get you familiar with

the Keelung Middle School campus.

These are the materials prepared for you in advance.

Memorize them as soon as possible.

From now on,

you are no longer Weng Lianwang.

You are Mr. Zhuang Achen.

If there's anything you don't understand,

you can go to the prison

and have a chat with the real Zhuang Achen.

To go to Vietnam to withdraw troops,

if we use smaller ships, we'll need to send more of them.

It would be troublesome to coordinate.

So I'd prefer to send the Liberty Ship if possible.

After all, this is a diplomatic mission.

If the ships are too shabby, they don't look

very presentable in front of the French.

Right, the President always prioritizes international impression.

Deputy Chief, please take another look.

I'll go down to check the cabin.

Please, after you.

Mr. Zhuang.

Leader.

What did you say?

Have you lost your mind?

I'm memorizing my lecture notes.

Mr. Gu, just tell me what's on your mind.

Alright.

I won't bother you with memorizing the lecture notes.

You're using this oil drum for water?

You bet. It's genuinely made in the U.S..

Look, it says right here.

U.S. Air Force exclusive oil drum.

Much lighter than our old iron buckets.

They just unloaded in Zhoushan.

So I grabbed an empty one for water.

Pretty handy.

It seems Zhou Zhirou

has transported jet fuel to Zhoushan.

Judging from the shipping records,

the quantity is substantial.

We can confirm

that Zhoushan

is coordinating with Air Force operations.

Could it possibly be

a joint naval, ground,

and air combat operation?

Since November,

they've been reinforcing the Zhoushan Islands.

And Chiang Kai-shek has explicitly

outlined an offensive-defensive strategy.

He ordered the Air Force to intensify

attacks on maritime and coastal areas.

Plus, recently,

Zhou Zhirou has been frequently attending meetings in Hsinchu.

And the level of secrecy

is so strict.

I think it's more likely

an unilateral operation of the air force.

Zhoushan...

If it is Zhoushan,

it should be

in the southeast direction.

The southeastern islands now have only one remaining airport,

which is the Dinghai Airport in Zhoushan.

Sir,

where do you think they're most likely to bomb?

In my view,

to achieve your objectives,

the bombing priorities should,

in addition to military targets,

also focus on

Shanghai's industrial facilities,

especially power plants, shipyards,

water treatment plants, and docks.

This way,

we can eliminate the Communist Army's war potential

to ensure Zhoushan's safety,

and destroy the confidence of Shanghai citizens

and even the entire nation's trust in the Communist Army.

However,

strategic bombing has limited precision

and will affect innocent people.

Shanghai in our hands

is truly Shanghai.

In the Communists' hands,

it's just Communist territory.

I'm assigning this task to you.

Maintain secrecy.

We can't guarantee

there aren't Communist spies in our ranks.

Rest assured, President.

I plan to select elite personnel from the Second Department

specifically for security measures.

I can guarantee you

that besides the Air Force,

no one will know the complete plan.

Even Director Ma who's responsible for transportation

won't know what the fuel shipped to Zhoushan

is actually for.

[Ningbo]

[Shanghai]

Shanghai?

Bombing Ningbo would be the most convenient.

But that's Chiang Kai-shek's hometown.

Bombing Hangzhou is also an option.

But in terms of impact and destructive power,

Ningbo and Hangzhou can't compare to Shanghai.

Plus, with the recent months of naval blockade

and economic embargo,

I believe

the Air Force's plan

is to use Zhoushan as a springboard

and forward base

to stockpile aviation supplies in advance,

and to wait for the right moment

to bomb Shanghai.

Shanghai and Zhoushan are very close to each other.

The Air Force can carry out maintenance nearby,

greatly increasing the number of sorties.

If Chiang Kai-shek's plot succeeds,

the damage to Shanghai

and New China

would be unimaginable.

The Nationalist Government just used the Gold Yuan notes

to swindle people of their money.

They have fled,

and now they're turning back to bomb their own people.

No wonder they're losing power.

Shanghai is just one part of it.

If they take this opportunity

to fortify the Zhoushan Islands,

using the airports and naval bases on the islands,

they can not only directly threaten East China,

but also

greatly affect the development

of all cities along the Yangtze River.

The urgent task now is to determine

[D-Day: the day on which a military operation begins]

the D-Day timeframe

and send out the intelligence,

so that Shanghai

can prepare defenses in advance.

Sir,

do you have any good ideas?

Large-scale bombing

requires specific weather conditions.

The weather in Shanghai and Zhoushan is similar.

I need to know

the weather conditions in Zhoushan waters.

Given the current level of secrecy,

trying to access weather reports

from the meteorological station

won't be easy.

Of course it won't be easy,

but we still need to try.

Is Mrs. Chen's exit permit ready?

It's ready.

I'll contact her first thing tomorrow.

Ask her to pass a message to Wan,

telling them to quickly

send an experienced new courier here.

Understood.

Hongxiang Silk Shop. Is this Mrs. Chen speaking?

Yes, it's me.

The new fabric you ordered has arrived.

Alright, I understand. Thank you.

Director Duan has become suspicious

about our rendezvous at the Power Company Guesthouse.

[Special pass]

There's a flight to Zhoushan tomorrow.

Comrade East Sea has arranged a seat for you.

To be safe,

you should leave as soon as possible.

I've thought it through.

There are many comrades building Shanghai,

but I'm the only one

with a legal special pass.

This mission is my bounden duty.

I wish you a swift and successful return.

A man should stride boldly through life.

Can a woman not also be as mighty as a whale crossing the sea?

Hello, whom would you like to speak to?

Hello, may I speak to Yin Xuefen, please?

Yin Xuefen?

I'm her old classmate.

You mean Mrs. Lv, right?

Her husband got promoted

and they no longer live here.

They moved out just last month.

Do you know where they moved to?

I really don't know.

I'm sorry to have bothered you then.

Mom.

Who were you talking to on the phone?

An old classmate from when I was in Ningbo.

I heard she's also in Taipei.

I wanted to get in touch with her.

We were quite close back then.

Did you reach her?

They said she moved.

Taipei may not be big,

but finding someone can still be quite difficult.

Mom, you must be hungry.

Guess what I made for you?

What did you make?

Sliced Pork with Pickled Cabbage.

Sounds wonderful.

It's a specialty from Northeast China.

I love it so much.

Old habits die hard.

You're a product of where you're from.

When I first came to Taipei,

I wanted to eat Sliced Pork with Pickled Cabbage for every meal.

But there aren't many authentic Northeast restaurants in Taipei,

and they're expensive too.

I had to pickle the cabbage myself.

Ju.

Are there any good Ningbo restaurants in Taipei?

Hello.

Please come in.

I've been looking for your restaurant for a long time.

My usual three dishes:

meatball soup, pickled water bamboo, and smoked fish.

Mrs. Chen,

I'll throw in a serving of rice cake on the house.

That's too kind.

It's our pleasure.

You've been patronizing us for several days in a row.

Thank you.

Our chefs

are all from Zhenhai.

I can't guarantee anything else,

but the taste is definitely authentic.

Please wait a moment while I prepare your order.

Thank you.

Mrs. Lv.

Hello, Mr. Yu.

Yin Xuefen.

Zhu Yi...

Zhu Yiyin!

What are you doing here?

I came to see my daughter.

So you've come to Taipei too.

Yes.

You haven't changed at all.

I recognized you right away.

Let me tell you.

I've been waiting for you here for 3 days.

You've been waiting for me for 3 days?

Yes, before I came to Taiwan,

they told me you were here.

I thought I really had to see you.

Then I called your home and they said you'd moved.

So I thought,

since you love food so much,

and this Ningbo restaurant is the best one here,

I would definitely run into you.

And look, I finally found you!

What if I hadn't come today?

Then I would have kept waiting for you.

I would have waited forever.

Until I finally saw you.

Well, you've found me today.

Let me treat you.

Please sit.

What are you treating me for?

I've already ordered.

Why don't you just add a few more dishes?

All right then.

Mr. Yu, bring us the menu.

Sure.

These past few months in Taiwan,

I still haven't been able to adjust.

I keep thinking about friends and family in Zhenhai.

Sometimes in my heart,

I feel so empty.

Fortunately, this restaurant

serves very authentic food.

It's completely because of these familiar flavors

that I can bear staying here.

Thank you.

Thanks.

But from what I can see,

your life seems quite lively.

I saw you in the newspaper,

with a group of ladies,

doing some kind of charity sale

to support the troops and civilians in Zhoushan, right?

That event you mentioned was organized by Mrs. Zhou.

She just wanted to have a festive celebration.

Actually, the charity sale

was just an excuse.

But Xuefen,

among all those ladies,

you looked the most beautiful in the photos.

Oh, not at all.

Actually, those ladies

really are quite influential.

What do you mean?

They are the wives of several generals

from the Southeast Military and Political Office,

as well as the wives of the Deputy Chiefs

and Directors of the Ministry of Defense.

Do you meet often?

About 2 or 3 times a week.

Sometimes we play mahjong,

sometimes we sing opera.

Sounds very lively and fun.

It is quite lively.

Zhu Yiyin.

I think you've changed.

In the past,

you didn't seem to care much

about other people's business.

To be honest,

since coming to Taiwan,

where I know no one,

sometimes...

I'm feeling a bit bored too.

So hearing about all your exciting stories

makes me happy.

Actually, I heard that you

got married and moved to Shenyang,

and that your husband was an engineer.

He's my late husband now.

His surname was Chen.

He was very good to me.

I'm so sorry.

It's alright.

It's all in the past.

I've changed my name now.

I'm called Zhu Chenzhi.

Mr. Sha Menghai helped me choose it.

Zhu Chenzhi. That sounds lovely.

Mrs. Dou is organizing something tomorrow.

Why don't you come with me?

That won't do.

I'm just an ordinary person.

How could I possibly mingle with your crowd?

What does that matter?

You're my friend. Why shouldn't you?

It's no problem at all.

It would be nice to join in your lively gatherings.

So many ladies there.

Is there any special etiquette I should know?

Looks like Mrs. Wu is here,

isn't it?

Juan, come here,

draw for me.

Hurry up.

I have a great hand.

Keep an eye on it for me.

I'm so sorry.

Mrs. Lv,

why are you so late?

Didn't we agree

you'd come for afternoon tea?

I've spent my entire afternoon

entertaining my old friend.

I should have called you.

That's right.

Let me introduce you.

Mrs. Chen,

my best friend from Ningbo.

Mrs. Dou,

the one I told you about...

-...the star of Taipei's ladies' circle. -The star.

Xuefen always mentions your name.

I finally meet you in person today.

Mrs. Chen, right?

Pleased to meet you. Please come in.

Thank you.

Mrs. Chen just arrived from Hong Kong.

I only got in touch with her these past few days.

You know how it is — old friends meet

and just can't stop talking.

I brought her today

to meet some new friends.

Liu,

prepare some tea.

Mrs. Dou,

I have a small gift for you.

I bought this in Hong Kong.

It's an American brand,

quite a good one.

Just a small token.

I know this one.

This is America's

most popular style and color this year.

Yes, exactly this color.

I was asking someone to bring me one from the U.S.

Juan, look,

the one I had someone bring from the U.S. is this exact color.

This is beautiful.

This brand is very famous in the U.S.

No, no, this is too expensive.

How could I accept it?

Please.

Just accept it.

She does big business

in Hong Kong.

She has plenty of American goods at home.

Not at all.

I'm glad you like it.

Just a small gesture.

Mrs. Wu, you're finally here!

I thought you weren't coming.

How could I miss it?

I just got delayed on the way.

Come in, let's talk inside.

Let me tell you.

Mrs. Duan

wanted to come today.

She went too far last time,

so I turned her down.

I figured you wouldn't want to see her either.

I think

she'll never come to Dou's Mansion again.

It's so much nicer to just play mahjong and sing.

All that gossip is pointless.

Exactly!

This has nothing to do with me,

or I'd truly be wrongfully accused.

You're not wearing enough.

It wasn't this cold when I left home.

Quite a crowd today, isn't there?

Many experts have come today.

Later,

we can have a good match together.

Let's go.

That's Deputy Chief Wu's wife, Wang Bikui.

She's a valued guest here.

She looks very kind.

Sorry, I'm late.

Would you like to play?

You go ahead.

Don't let me interrupt.

Alright, carry on chatting.

We have a new friend today, Mrs. Chen,

who is Mrs. Lv's friend.

She just arrived from Hong Kong.

Yes, Mrs. Chen

is here for the first time today.

Hello, Mrs. Wu.

Hello, Mrs. Chen.

Pleased to meet you.

Likewise.

The secret bombing plan alerted Wu Shi

that Chiang Kai-shek might already suspect him.

He carefully reviewed his previous actions,

trying to determine if he was overthinking

or if he had overlooked something.

Every step forward

would require extreme caution.

♪ While no one is around ♪

♪ It's the perfect time to drift into a dream ♪

Mrs. Lv.

Your singing has improved so much.

I was completely enchanted.

You're too kind.

Now that I've finished "The Search for the Dream",

who will sing "A Stroll in the Garden"?

Mrs. Wu.

Weren't you going to sing a few pieces?

How about singing "A Stroll in the Garden"?

Yes, indeed.

Sing one, Mrs. Wu.

I just had a couple of drinks,

and my voice isn't cooperating.

Please continue without me.

I don't want to spoil the fun.

Just sing a verse.

Your voice is so beautiful.

Yes.

You sing so well.

Please do sing.

How about I give it a humble try?

Great!

Wonderful!

Excellent!

May I borrow your fan?

Good.

Play the music.

♪ Without stepping into the garden ♪

♪ How could one ever know such splendor of spring? ♪

Wonderful!

Welcome back, Mr. Wu.

Have you had dinner, sir?

Yes, I have.

Mrs. Wu isn't home.

She went to Dou's Mansion to play mahjong.

The young master and the young lady have both gone to bed.

♪ Though the peony is fair ♪

♪ How could it claim the first grace of spring's return? ♪

♪ Pausing idly, I gaze ♪

♪ The swallows' bright chatter cuts the air like scissors ♪

♪ And listen—the orioles trill, their notes round and clear ♪

That was beautiful!

You two sing together so well.

I'm so happy. Thank you.

It's a pleasure to meet you all.

Here, have some fruit.

Mrs. Wu, your voice is wonderful.

You can hit the high notes and reach the low ones too.

It sounds so fluid and natural.

So graceful and elegant.

You're too kind.

Mrs. Chen, you flatter me.

I really mean it.

When I heard you sing, I thought

it was absolutely beautiful.

Why didn't you sing earlier?

There were too many people.

I was too shy to sing.

Mrs. Wu, you seem quite introverted.

Mrs. Dou is very lively.

And very hospitable too.

She enjoys being around people, doesn't she?

Mrs. Chen, you're here for the first time,

yet you seem quite comfortable, not nervous at all.

I'm quite alright in that regard.

I do business in Hong Kong.

I'm used to meeting all sorts of people.

Where are you from, Mrs. Chen?

I'm from Zhenhai, Ningbo.

Are you in Taiwan for business?

No, I'm here to visit my daughter.

She had a baby.

A little one.

You're so young.

Are you really a grandmother?

I'm not young at all.

You're too kind.

You really do look young.

Before doing business in Hong Kong,

I was in Shanghai.

I've run a money shop

and also a bookstore.

I've done a bit

of every kind of business.

That's impressive,

to have done so many different things.

I've been to Shanghai too.

My daughter studies there.

I think it's a wonderful place.

My daughter also studies in Shanghai.

My daughter studies medicine.

Really?

My daughter studies medicine too.

Really?

What a coincidence!

Mrs. Wu, what's your name?

I mean your maiden name.

Bikui.

Wang Bikui.

Wang Bikui.

I'm Zhu. Zhu Chenzhi.

It's been so long since anyone

has asked me my maiden name.

Usually,

it's only because of the title "Mrs. Wu"

that I'm treated as a valued guest here.

This Mrs. and that Mrs.,

it just sounds more formal.

Using maiden names feels more intimate, doesn't it?

Yes.

I've grown used to being called "Mother"

or "Mrs." in my daily life.

It's been so long that I've forgotten my own name.

But I think

being a mother has its own pride.

I have two of my children here, and they're both very well-behaved.

My husband is very responsible about their education.

But I still have two grown children in mainland China.

They're out of sight and out of reach.

Even if they get sick,

I can't take care of them.

Thinking about this,

I feel quite guilty.

For me, it's like this.

When I'm at home,

I often think

I should go out and do something.

But when I actually go out,

I often think

it's better to stay home with the children

and my husband.

People are always contradicting themselves.

So sometimes

you have to cheer yourself up.

I'm happy to be at Dou's Mansion today.

We drink tea, chat,

and sing opera together.

It's really lively.

Would you like to go in and sing another piece?

I'll stay here a bit longer.

I feel sitting here chatting with you

is more comfortable than being inside.

Remember you promised to visit my home in a few days.

I'll bake some pastries for you.

Sure, I'll definitely come visit.

Great.

Mrs. Dou, thank you so much for today.

For your warm hospitality.

Mrs. Chen, you're too kind.

I was worried I wasn't being a good host.

Not at all.

Mrs. Chen, you must come visit more often.

Mrs. Wu rarely gets along with people so well.

Sure, I'd love to.

Take care on your way.

Okay.

I'll be going now.

Goodbye.

Great, we'll visit often.

See you later.

Come together. Goodbye.

What brings

our busy Director Duan here today?

Mrs. Dou, you're still so beautiful.

You flatter me.

I'm here to pick up my darling.

She's not here.

She didn't come today.

She hasn't been here today.

But wait.

She told me she's been hanging out at your place these days.

She told you she's been hanging out at my place these days?

I haven't seen her for ages.

Director Duan,

your wife is

young and beautiful.

And she has quite a free spirit.

You'd better keep an eye on her.

I'll be going now.

Mrs. Wu, you're back.

Honey. Why are you in such a good mood today?

I met a new friend

at Dou's Mansion today.

We were like old friends at first sight.

I'm happy when I think of her.

What's that friend like?

I'll invite her to our home

and introduce her to you.

I'm sure you'll like her too.

Alright.

I'm done singing.

Let's go to bed.

Honey.

I'd like to hear you sing one more piece.

You've heard me sing before.

I want to hear it.

♪ The sea moon, pure as ice, begins its ascent ♪

♪ The jade rabbit appears ♪

♪ And soon ascends again from the east ♪

Hold him down. Don't move.

Let me go!

You inspection soldiers!

Don't move!

Let me go!

Don't move!

Let me go!

[Silent Honor]

[Episode 14]

Deputy Chief,

that's true.

But Chief Zhou also said

that this shipment of military supplies

is a top priority.

I'm in a difficult position too.

Have these ships departed yet?

The last batch just left.

Don't worry. As soon as the ships return to port,

I'll immediately allocate them for your use.

But you'll need to

put in a good word for me

and ask the Chief

for a two-day extension.

Then I can free up ships for Vietnam.

Right?

Fine.

Notify me as soon as your ships dock.

I need to assess the situation first

and then figure out a solution.

Sir.

Prepare the Southeast combat zone maps.

Yes, sir.

Sir, have you received some news?

Zhou Zhirou has arranged for the Fourth Department

to transport military supplies to Zhoushan.

I'm not sure what supplies exactly,

but it's urgent.

Do you think

it's related to the recent

secret meeting at the Hsinchu Air Force Base?

It's possible.

Zhoushan has always been

the maritime shield for East China.

If the two are connected,

then we can confirm

it's not an Air Force operation from southwest China.

The day after tomorrow, I'll go check the ships returning from Zhoushan.

Come with me,

and let's see if we can discover anything.

Alright.

[Keelung Middle School]

I, your servant Li Mi, respectfully submit this memorial.

I have suffered misfortune

[Seal of Ministry of Defense]

and early calamity,

being only 6 months old

when my kind father passed away.

At the age of 4,

my uncle forced my mother into remarriage.

Grandmother Liu pitied my weakness

and raised me herself.

Timeless literature

must excel in expressing emotion.

Although "Memorial to the Throne"

was Li Mi's petition to Emperor Wu of Jin,

every word and sentence

expresses deep emotion.

So when writing essays, students,

you must not focus only on objects.

Mr. Gu.

Hello, Mr. Gu.

Mr. Gu.

Mr. Zhuang, well said!

Indeed, every word is filled with emotion.

You're too kind.

I'm flattered.

Standing alone and isolated,

with only my shadow for company.

Mr. Zhuang,

you're not alone in Taiwan.

In life, I am ready to give my life;

in death, I will still repay Your Majesty's kindness.

Unable to suppress my loyal feelings like those of a humble servant,

I earnestly submit this memorial to Your Majesty.

Li Mi's "Memorial to the Throne" is beautifully written,

moving people with emotion.

Yes.

Moving people with emotion.

How wonderful.

Four months ago,

I was still teaching Chinese literature here.

That peaceful life

is something I truly miss.

Leader.

When I first reported to the bureau,

everyone was talking about

how Mr. Gu cracked the Guangming News case

and busted the Communist spy den in Keelung.

Everyone from the President to the Director praised you.

I became an agent...

I joined this line of work

because I was afraid of being bullied

and needed to make a living.

I never thought

someone could make such a career out of it like you did.

So I went to the personnel department

and insisted on being transferred under your command.

And you actually selected me.

For the Guangming News case,

the President gave the Director

a reward of 300,000 Taiwan dollars.

300,000!

Director Ye only makes 600 dollars a month.

You're quite well-informed.

I heard it from others.

Do you think 600 is too little?

Well, 600 for me

would be too much.

600 isn't much,

but it certainly isn't little either.

But you

are right to have great ambitions and ideals.

Because once you solve major cases,

you'll naturally receive substantial rewards.

Otherwise, would you follow Director Ye's example?

Not enough money and unable to solve cases,

resorting to roadside kidnappings.

Yes, Leader.

Mere cleverness won't achieve greatness.

From now on, if you tell me to go east,

I won't take half a step west.

Director Ma, you certainly don't waste

the Navy's shipping capacity.

The ships aren't fully loaded on return voyages anyway.

It would be a shame to waste the tonnage.

Loading some local specialties

can help make a bit of freight money.

The Fourth Department knows how to calculate profits.

We have no choice, Deputy Chief.

Money is needed everywhere these days.

That Liberty Ship looks good.

Deputy Chief, that one

needs to assemble more millitary equipment

to Zhoushan.

Let's go and check others.

You can use another ship to transport the military supplies.

Leave this to me.

Let's go check.

Great achievements start with small steps.

I think

with your qualifications

you'd be quite suitable for infiltration work

here in Taiwan.

Infiltration?

Yes.

Based on the information we have,

Lin Yiliang, the boss of Sanrong Trading in Keelung,

is most likely to be Zhang Hao's accomplice.

So I plan to arrange you

to infiltrate

as Mr. Zhuang Achen.

Help me find out Lin Yiliang's background.

But Leader,

I've never done infiltration work before.

I'm afraid

I might ruin your master plan.

Come on.

Don't be such a coward.

Sit down.

You, Weng Lianwang,

are on your first infiltration mission.

But that Mr. Zhuang Achen

is also escaping for the first time.

Both of you are panicking.

What's the difference?

Right?

Besides, I'll personally guide you.

I brought you here today

to get you familiar with

the Keelung Middle School campus.

These are the materials prepared for you in advance.

Memorize them as soon as possible.

From now on,

you are no longer Weng Lianwang.

You are Mr. Zhuang Achen.

If there's anything you don't understand,

you can go to the prison

and have a chat with the real Zhuang Achen.

To go to Vietnam to withdraw troops,

if we use smaller ships, we'll need to send more of them.

It would be troublesome to coordinate.

So I'd prefer to send the Liberty Ship if possible.

After all, this is a diplomatic mission.

If the ships are too shabby, they don't look

very presentable in front of the French.

Right, the President always prioritizes international impression.

Deputy Chief, please take another look.

I'll go down to check the cabin.

Please, after you.

Mr. Zhuang.

Leader.

What did you say?

Have you lost your mind?

I'm memorizing my lecture notes.

Mr. Gu, just tell me what's on your mind.

Alright.

I won't bother you with memorizing the lecture notes.

You're using this oil drum for water?

You bet. It's genuinely made in the U.S..

Look, it says right here.

U.S. Air Force exclusive oil drum.

Much lighter than our old iron buckets.

They just unloaded in Zhoushan.

So I grabbed an empty one for water.

Pretty handy.

It seems Zhou Zhirou

has transported jet fuel to Zhoushan.

Judging from the shipping records,

the quantity is substantial.

We can confirm

that Zhoushan

is coordinating with Air Force operations.

Could it possibly be

a joint naval, ground,

and air combat operation?

Since November,

they've been reinforcing the Zhoushan Islands.

And Chiang Kai-shek has explicitly

outlined an offensive-defensive strategy.

He ordered the Air Force to intensify

attacks on maritime and coastal areas.

Plus, recently,

Zhou Zhirou has been frequently attending meetings in Hsinchu.

And the level of secrecy

is so strict.

I think it's more likely

an unilateral operation of the air force.

Zhoushan...

If it is Zhoushan,

it should be

in the southeast direction.

The southeastern islands now have only one remaining airport,

which is the Dinghai Airport in Zhoushan.

Sir,

where do you think they're most likely to bomb?

In my view,

to achieve your objectives,

the bombing priorities should,

in addition to military targets,

also focus on

Shanghai's industrial facilities,

especially power plants, shipyards,

water treatment plants, and docks.

This way,

we can eliminate the Communist Army's war potential

to ensure Zhoushan's safety,

and destroy the confidence of Shanghai citizens

and even the entire nation's trust in the Communist Army.

However,

strategic bombing has limited precision

and will affect innocent people.

Shanghai in our hands

is truly Shanghai.

In the Communists' hands,

it's just Communist territory.

I'm assigning this task to you.

Maintain secrecy.

We can't guarantee

there aren't Communist spies in our ranks.

Rest assured, President.

I plan to select elite personnel from the Second Department

specifically for security measures.

I can guarantee you

that besides the Air Force,

no one will know the complete plan.

Even Director Ma who's responsible for transportation

won't know what the fuel shipped to Zhoushan

is actually for.

[Ningbo]

[Shanghai]

Shanghai?

Bombing Ningbo would be the most convenient.

But that's Chiang Kai-shek's hometown.

Bombing Hangzhou is also an option.

But in terms of impact and destructive power,

Ningbo and Hangzhou can't compare to Shanghai.

Plus, with the recent months of naval blockade

and economic embargo,

I believe

the Air Force's plan

is to use Zhoushan as a springboard

and forward base

to stockpile aviation supplies in advance,

and to wait for the right moment

to bomb Shanghai.

Shanghai and Zhoushan are very close to each other.

The Air Force can carry out maintenance nearby,

greatly increasing the number of sorties.

If Chiang Kai-shek's plot succeeds,

the damage to Shanghai

and New China

would be unimaginable.

The Nationalist Government just used the Gold Yuan notes

to swindle people of their money.

They have fled,

and now they're turning back to bomb their own people.

No wonder they're losing power.

Shanghai is just one part of it.

If they take this opportunity

to fortify the Zhoushan Islands,

using the airports and naval bases on the islands,

they can not only directly threaten East China,

but also

greatly affect the development

of all cities along the Yangtze River.

The urgent task now is to determine

[D-Day: the day on which a military operation begins]

the D-Day timeframe

and send out the intelligence,

so that Shanghai

can prepare defenses in advance.

Sir,

do you have any good ideas?

Large-scale bombing

requires specific weather conditions.

The weather in Shanghai and Zhoushan is similar.

I need to know

the weather conditions in Zhoushan waters.

Given the current level of secrecy,

trying to access weather reports

from the meteorological station

won't be easy.

Of course it won't be easy,

but we still need to try.

Is Mrs. Chen's exit permit ready?

It's ready.

I'll contact her first thing tomorrow.

Ask her to pass a message to Wan,

telling them to quickly

send an experienced new courier here.

Understood.

Hongxiang Silk Shop. Is this Mrs. Chen speaking?

Yes, it's me.

The new fabric you ordered has arrived.

Alright, I understand. Thank you.

Director Duan has become suspicious

about our rendezvous at the Power Company Guesthouse.

[Special pass]

There's a flight to Zhoushan tomorrow.

Comrade East Sea has arranged a seat for you.

To be safe,

you should leave as soon as possible.

I've thought it through.

There are many comrades building Shanghai,

but I'm the only one

with a legal special pass.

This mission is my bounden duty.

I wish you a swift and successful return.

A man should stride boldly through life.

Can a woman not also be as mighty as a whale crossing the sea?

Hello, whom would you like to speak to?

Hello, may I speak to Yin Xuefen, please?

Yin Xuefen?

I'm her old classmate.

You mean Mrs. Lv, right?

Her husband got promoted

and they no longer live here.

They moved out just last month.

Do you know where they moved to?

I really don't know.

I'm sorry to have bothered you then.

Mom.

Who were you talking to on the phone?

An old classmate from when I was in Ningbo.

I heard she's also in Taipei.

I wanted to get in touch with her.

We were quite close back then.

Did you reach her?

They said she moved.

Taipei may not be big,

but finding someone can still be quite difficult.

Mom, you must be hungry.

Guess what I made for you?

What did you make?

Sliced Pork with Pickled Cabbage.

Sounds wonderful.

It's a specialty from Northeast China.

I love it so much.

Old habits die hard.

You're a product of where you're from.

When I first came to Taipei,

I wanted to eat Sliced Pork with Pickled Cabbage for every meal.

But there aren't many authentic Northeast restaurants in Taipei,

and they're expensive too.

I had to pickle the cabbage myself.

Ju.

Are there any good Ningbo restaurants in Taipei?

Hello.

Please come in.

I've been looking for your restaurant for a long time.

My usual three dishes:

meatball soup, pickled water bamboo, and smoked fish.

Mrs. Chen,

I'll throw in a serving of rice cake on the house.

That's too kind.

It's our pleasure.

You've been patronizing us for several days in a row.

Thank you.

Our chefs

are all from Zhenhai.

I can't guarantee anything else,

but the taste is definitely authentic.

Please wait a moment while I prepare your order.

Thank you.

Mrs. Lv.

Hello, Mr. Yu.

Yin Xuefen.

Zhu Yi...

Zhu Yiyin!

What are you doing here?

I came to see my daughter.

So you've come to Taipei too.

Yes.

You haven't changed at all.

I recognized you right away.

Let me tell you.

I've been waiting for you here for 3 days.

You've been waiting for me for 3 days?

Yes, before I came to Taiwan,

they told me you were here.

I thought I really had to see you.

Then I called your home and they said you'd moved.

So I thought,

since you love food so much,

and this Ningbo restaurant is the best one here,

I would definitely run into you.

And look, I finally found you!

What if I hadn't come today?

Then I would have kept waiting for you.

I would have waited forever.

Until I finally saw you.

Well, you've found me today.

Let me treat you.

Please sit.

What are you treating me for?

I've already ordered.

Why don't you just add a few more dishes?

All right then.

Mr. Yu, bring us the menu.

Sure.

These past few months in Taiwan,

I still haven't been able to adjust.

I keep thinking about friends and family in Zhenhai.

Sometimes in my heart,

I feel so empty.

Fortunately, this restaurant

serves very authentic food.

It's completely because of these familiar flavors

that I can bear staying here.

Thank you.

Thanks.

But from what I can see,

your life seems quite lively.

I saw you in the newspaper,

with a group of ladies,

doing some kind of charity sale

to support the troops and civilians in Zhoushan, right?

That event you mentioned was organized by Mrs. Zhou.

She just wanted to have a festive celebration.

Actually, the charity sale

was just an excuse.

But Xuefen,

among all those ladies,

you looked the most beautiful in the photos.

Oh, not at all.

Actually, those ladies

really are quite influential.

What do you mean?

They are the wives of several generals

from the Southeast Military and Political Office,

as well as the wives of the Deputy Chiefs

and Directors of the Ministry of Defense.

Do you meet often?

About 2 or 3 times a week.

Sometimes we play mahjong,

sometimes we sing opera.

Sounds very lively and fun.

It is quite lively.

Zhu Yiyin.

I think you've changed.

In the past,

you didn't seem to care much

about other people's business.

To be honest,

since coming to Taiwan,

where I know no one,

sometimes...

I'm feeling a bit bored too.

So hearing about all your exciting stories

makes me happy.

Actually, I heard that you

got married and moved to Shenyang,

and that your husband was an engineer.

He's my late husband now.

His surname was Chen.

He was very good to me.

I'm so sorry.

It's alright.

It's all in the past.

I've changed my name now.

I'm called Zhu Chenzhi.

Mr. Sha Menghai helped me choose it.

Zhu Chenzhi. That sounds lovely.

Mrs. Dou is organizing something tomorrow.

Why don't you come with me?

That won't do.

I'm just an ordinary person.

How could I possibly mingle with your crowd?

What does that matter?

You're my friend. Why shouldn't you?

It's no problem at all.

It would be nice to join in your lively gatherings.

So many ladies there.

Is there any special etiquette I should know?

Looks like Mrs. Wu is here,

isn't it?

Juan, come here,

draw for me.

Hurry up.

I have a great hand.

Keep an eye on it for me.

I'm so sorry.

Mrs. Lv,

why are you so late?

Didn't we agree

you'd come for afternoon tea?

I've spent my entire afternoon

entertaining my old friend.

I should have called you.

That's right.

Let me introduce you.

Mrs. Chen,

my best friend from Ningbo.

Mrs. Dou,

the one I told you about...

-...the star of Taipei's ladies' circle. -The star.

Xuefen always mentions your name.

I finally meet you in person today.

Mrs. Chen, right?

Pleased to meet you. Please come in.

Thank you.

Mrs. Chen just arrived from Hong Kong.

I only got in touch with her these past few days.

You know how it is — old friends meet

and just can't stop talking.

I brought her today

to meet some new friends.

Liu,

prepare some tea.

Mrs. Dou,

I have a small gift for you.

I bought this in Hong Kong.

It's an American brand,

quite a good one.

Just a small token.

I know this one.

This is America's

most popular style and color this year.

Yes, exactly this color.

I was asking someone to bring me one from the U.S.

Juan, look,

the one I had someone bring from the U.S. is this exact color.

This is beautiful.

This brand is very famous in the U.S.

No, no, this is too expensive.

How could I accept it?

Please.

Just accept it.

She does big business

in Hong Kong.

She has plenty of American goods at home.

Not at all.

I'm glad you like it.

Just a small gesture.

Mrs. Wu, you're finally here!

I thought you weren't coming.

How could I miss it?

I just got delayed on the way.

Come in, let's talk inside.

Let me tell you.

Mrs. Duan

wanted to come today.

She went too far last time,

so I turned her down.

I figured you wouldn't want to see her either.

I think

she'll never come to Dou's Mansion again.

It's so much nicer to just play mahjong and sing.

All that gossip is pointless.

Exactly!

This has nothing to do with me,

or I'd truly be wrongfully accused.

You're not wearing enough.

It wasn't this cold when I left home.

Quite a crowd today, isn't there?

Many experts have come today.

Later,

we can have a good match together.

Let's go.

That's Deputy Chief Wu's wife, Wang Bikui.

She's a valued guest here.

She looks very kind.

Sorry, I'm late.

Would you like to play?

You go ahead.

Don't let me interrupt.

Alright, carry on chatting.

We have a new friend today, Mrs. Chen,

who is Mrs. Lv's friend.

She just arrived from Hong Kong.

Yes, Mrs. Chen

is here for the first time today.

Hello, Mrs. Wu.

Hello, Mrs. Chen.

Pleased to meet you.

Likewise.

The secret bombing plan alerted Wu Shi

that Chiang Kai-shek might already suspect him.

He carefully reviewed his previous actions,

trying to determine if he was overthinking

or if he had overlooked something.

Every step forward

would require extreme caution.

♪ While no one is around ♪

♪ It's the perfect time to drift into a dream ♪

Mrs. Lv.

Your singing has improved so much.

I was completely enchanted.

You're too kind.

Now that I've finished "The Search for the Dream",

who will sing "A Stroll in the Garden"?

Mrs. Wu.

Weren't you going to sing a few pieces?

How about singing "A Stroll in the Garden"?

Yes, indeed.

Sing one, Mrs. Wu.

I just had a couple of drinks,

and my voice isn't cooperating.

Please continue without me.

I don't want to spoil the fun.

Just sing a verse.

Your voice is so beautiful.

Yes.

You sing so well.

Please do sing.

How about I give it a humble try?

Great!

Wonderful!

Excellent!

May I borrow your fan?

Good.

Play the music.

♪ Without stepping into the garden ♪

♪ How could one ever know such splendor of spring? ♪

Wonderful!

Welcome back, Mr. Wu.

Have you had dinner, sir?

Yes, I have.

Mrs. Wu isn't home.

She went to Dou's Mansion to play mahjong.

The young master and the young lady have both gone to bed.

♪ Though the peony is fair ♪

♪ How could it claim the first grace of spring's return? ♪

♪ Pausing idly, I gaze ♪

♪ The swallows' bright chatter cuts the air like scissors ♪

♪ And listen—the orioles trill, their notes round and clear ♪

That was beautiful!

You two sing together so well.

I'm so happy. Thank you.

It's a pleasure to meet you all.

Here, have some fruit.

Mrs. Wu, your voice is wonderful.

You can hit the high notes and reach the low ones too.

It sounds so fluid and natural.

So graceful and elegant.

You're too kind.

Mrs. Chen, you flatter me.

I really mean it.

When I heard you sing, I thought

it was absolutely beautiful.

Why didn't you sing earlier?

There were too many people.

I was too shy to sing.

Mrs. Wu, you seem quite introverted.

Mrs. Dou is very lively.

And very hospitable too.

She enjoys being around people, doesn't she?

Mrs. Chen, you're here for the first time,

yet you seem quite comfortable, not nervous at all.

I'm quite alright in that regard.

I do business in Hong Kong.

I'm used to meeting all sorts of people.

Where are you from, Mrs. Chen?

I'm from Zhenhai, Ningbo.

Are you in Taiwan for business?

No, I'm here to visit my daughter.

She had a baby.

A little one.

You're so young.

Are you really a grandmother?

I'm not young at all.

You're too kind.

You really do look young.

Before doing business in Hong Kong,

I was in Shanghai.

I've run a money shop

and also a bookstore.

I've done a bit

of every kind of business.

That's impressive,

to have done so many different things.

I've been to Shanghai too.

My daughter studies there.

I think it's a wonderful place.

My daughter also studies in Shanghai.

My daughter studies medicine.

Really?

My daughter studies medicine too.

Really?

What a coincidence!

Mrs. Wu, what's your name?

I mean your maiden name.

Bikui.

Wang Bikui.

Wang Bikui.

I'm Zhu. Zhu Chenzhi.

It's been so long since anyone

has asked me my maiden name.

Usually,

it's only because of the title "Mrs. Wu"

that I'm treated as a valued guest here.

This Mrs. and that Mrs.,

it just sounds more formal.

Using maiden names feels more intimate, doesn't it?

Yes.

I've grown used to being called "Mother"

or "Mrs." in my daily life.

It's been so long that I've forgotten my own name.

But I think

being a mother has its own pride.

I have two of my children here, and they're both very well-behaved.

My husband is very responsible about their education.

But I still have two grown children in mainland China.

They're out of sight and out of reach.

Even if they get sick,

I can't take care of them.

Thinking about this,

I feel quite guilty.

For me, it's like this.

When I'm at home,

I often think

I should go out and do something.

But when I actually go out,

I often think

it's better to stay home with the children

and my husband.

People are always contradicting themselves.

So sometimes

you have to cheer yourself up.

I'm happy to be at Dou's Mansion today.

We drink tea, chat,

and sing opera together.

It's really lively.

Would you like to go in and sing another piece?

I'll stay here a bit longer.

I feel sitting here chatting with you

is more comfortable than being inside.

Remember you promised to visit my home in a few days.

I'll bake some pastries for you.

Sure, I'll definitely come visit.

Great.

Mrs. Dou, thank you so much for today.

For your warm hospitality.

Mrs. Chen, you're too kind.

I was worried I wasn't being a good host.

Not at all.

Mrs. Chen, you must come visit more often.

Mrs. Wu rarely gets along with people so well.

Sure, I'd love to.

Take care on your way.

Okay.

I'll be going now.

Goodbye.

Great, we'll visit often.

See you later.

Come together. Goodbye.

What brings

our busy Director Duan here today?

Mrs. Dou, you're still so beautiful.

You flatter me.

I'm here to pick up my darling.

She's not here.

She didn't come today.

She hasn't been here today.

But wait.

She told me she's been hanging out at your place these days.

She told you she's been hanging out at my place these days?

I haven't seen her for ages.

Director Duan,

your wife is

young and beautiful.

And she has quite a free spirit.

You'd better keep an eye on her.

I'll be going now.

Mrs. Wu, you're back.

Honey. Why are you in such a good mood today?

I met a new friend

at Dou's Mansion today.

We were like old friends at first sight.

I'm happy when I think of her.

What's that friend like?

I'll invite her to our home

and introduce her to you.

I'm sure you'll like her too.

Alright.

I'm done singing.

Let's go to bed.

Honey.

I'd like to hear you sing one more piece.

You've heard me sing before.

I want to hear it.

♪ The sea moon, pure as ice, begins its ascent ♪

♪ The jade rabbit appears ♪

♪ And soon ascends again from the east ♪

Hold him down. Don't move.

Let me go!

You inspection soldiers!

Don't move!

Let me go!

Don't move!

Let me go!