Footprints of Change Episode 11

Winds of change

Japan is dropping bombs on Shanghai and people are grabbing what they can and are leaving. The brother wants to carry the baby, but it’s most likely because that is where he stashed his cash.😝 The family flees and the brother is killed by bomb shrapnel. It is debatable if he was trying to save his son or his money, but the baby survived. Ao and YiSun are staying in Shanghai. He gives her his watch and you can see the dent on top that deflected the knife. I am glad they hugged and did not kiss. The close up earlier of failed kiss was a bad choice. The female lead is beautiful and acts well, but kissing with feeling is not her forte.😝 Their loving smile as they courageously meet their future was a nice closing to their arc. This was well done. Yi Sun is using the house Shen bought for her to protect her family. She is moving them to Chonqing and tells Yi to continue her studies. Shanghai eventually was victorious and Yi returned. But there was only a brief visit with Aunt before she and Cheng went abroad for business. There is a skip to 1993 and granddaughter wants the story of grandparents. Their story starts in 1955 with her mom remarrying and daughter taking his name changing from Lin to Yi. Considering her father…I am glad they had another option and hope wife had a happy ending. Yi marries ZhouYuan and her husband disappears. He is a KMT official that is MIA after leaving for a mission. He has been gone 5 yrs. Her husband’s position is what has her on the outs with the communist wave coming through. The hospital, now clothing factory, is where she works, lives and faithfully waits for husband’s return. She is the only one that thinks he is still alive. The new communist group wants to oust Yi from her home saying as a nationalist her contract is void. She refuses to leave because it is where her husband knows to find her. She wants to set up a meeting with minister Wen not knowing her friend has already made a bad impression with him. She heads to the federal building to argue her case and meets her sister in law. They have an argument over politics, but both agree on the bravery and integrity of her brother. She unfortunately meets with Yang who is adamantly anti- capitalist and had to be corrected by minister Wen. He is just as adamant and rude with Yi suggesting she moves northwest and acquaint herself with sheep and wool textiles. They assume she is wealthy and treat her disdainfully. What actually annoys me the most is the chief’s wife. She has that fake condescendingly kind act with both Yi and Wen. She is like Si Yun’s mom with son. Yang saved her husband in the war so he can do no wrong. Wen tries to tell her politely he’s an ass not cut out for dealing with the people. He would be better with the blue collar issues than white collar. But her syrupy ‘he is doing just fine and will only improve’ speech goes over with Wen as well as it did with me.😝Yi boldly went to Minister Wen’s office and caught his attention with her boldness, sincerity and art. She underestimated him at that meeting. Minister Wen received two apologies that day, but only the one from Yi was sincere. Yang is the guard dog for the heads of the party. They know exactly what he is and choose it.😝Minister Wen is equally forward finding Yi. He admires her art and equates it with the correct painter’s styles. He now knows that her husband liked Russian art and music. The Rachmaninoff piece was quite nice in the background. His music can be quite turbulent and fits well with the discord going on now. The rude woman that kicked her out wanted to act like the party would be so willing to assist her if she asks. Like all political groups, help comes with strings attached. I like how Yi coolly thanked her and went on with her business paying her no real attention. Minister Wen assured Yi that her case would be settled soon. I like that he is taking an interest in her situation. He is more moderate in his thinking. This story is told well with good pacing. I find the second arc as interesting as the first with an entirely different group of actors now. Well done.

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