Ep 30, Zhang Shi takes Zhao Yunlan home, and Zhao Yunlan confronts him

[china_shop]

ep 30, 40:29 to 42:02

Background
Team Ye Zun has released classified info about the SID onto the internet to stir up trouble. Vice-Minister Guo (Guo Ying) comes from the Department of Supervision to collect Zhao Yunlan and escort him to a shiny official vehicle parked outside the SID.

The scene (or scene fragment)
Zhao Yunlan stops on the SID steps and says, "The Old Man came here in person. What exactly does he need from me?" 这是有何贵干 老爷子这都亲自来了 Guo Ying says, "Let's talk about it once we get back to the Xingdu Bureau." 赵处长 咱们还是回去再说吧

Zhao Yunlan agrees. He walks over to the car, loses momentum briefly, then settles into the back seat next to Zhao Xinci without a word.


ZXC: Zhao Yunlan, you've made me so disappointed. 赵云澜 你太让我失望了


Zhao Yunlan nods, entirely unsurprised, while I facepalm. Oh Zhao Xinci!

GY: Director-General Zhao, do we go back to the Xingdu Bureau or the Department of Administration? 赵局 回星督局还是海星鉴

There's a fractional delay as (I think?) Zhang Shi takes over and answers in a slightly higher register than Zhao Xinci's deeper, firmer one(?).

ZS: Go to his home. 去他家


Zhao Yunlan is surprised -- by the tone or the choice to keep this unofficial?

They arrive at Zhao Yunlan's flat. Zhao Yunlan flicks on the light, throws his keys on the side-table with the (empty?) goldfish bowl, and unceremoniously plants himself on the couch, propping his foot on the coffee table and crossing his legs.


Zhang Shi and Guo Ying exchange glances, and Zhang Shi thanks Guo Ying and tells him to leave.

Vice-Minister Guo: Are you planning...? 你是打算


ZS: (smiles in a totally un-ZXC way) I have investigated it. Even though important secrets have been revealed, it wasn't the doing of the SID. 已经调查清楚了 重大机密虽然已经被泄露 但泄露源不是特调处


Zhao Yunlan listens to this and draws his own conclusions.

ZS: (cont.) Regarding Chief Zhao, I'll mainly educate him through criticisms.
至于赵处长 我会以批评教育为主

ZS: (cont.) After this, I will let him go back to work. If I was really going to punish him severely, we wouldn't be talking here.
一会跟他谈完了 会让他回去继续工作 如果真的要对他言责就不会在这里谈了


Guo Ying is totally here for this soft-parenting approach. He politely exits.


Zhang Shi looks around. The place is Shen-Wei-approved levels of neat and orderly.

ZS: It's tidier than I pictured. It seems you didn't overindulge too much.
比我想象的要整洁多了 看来你倒是没有放纵过度

 
ZYL: (calmly, without looking up, while picking earwax from under his fingernail) You are not him. 你不是他


ZS: Oh? How can you tell? 可以见得

[Zhao Yunlan's explanation is elided here; it appears at the start of the next episode]


Zhao Yunlan calmly pulls his gun.

Thoughts and reactions

1. I wonder how many times, especially as a teenager, Zhao Yunlan was summoned into his father's presence and greeted with "You've made me so disappointed." I'm guessing lots, given how unsurprised and unmoved he is by it. (Honestly, it always makes me laugh in a "Really, Zhao Xinci? You're leading with that?" way.)


2. Do you agree Zhang Shi takes over in the car? If so, it's pretty subtle.


3. Is Guo Ying surprised by the direction to take Zhao Yunlan back to the flat, and the implicit decision not to officially intervene? Does he agree with it? He, too, must have mixed feelings about the whole situation, given his position at the DoS and (I presume) career aspirations versus hearing praise of the SID from Changcheng.


4. At what point does Zhao Yunlan realise Zhao Xinci is not himself? Is it in the car and he bides his time to make the challenge, or do his suspicions crystalise when he hears Zhang Shi talking to Guo Ying?


5. This scene always strikes me as evidence that however much Zhang Shi claims to have been a sort-of-parent to Zhao Yunlan and was there for his childhood, he can't have been actively involved or said much -- otherwise his speaking now (and on the roof during the kidnapping, and in the scene during the blindness arc) wouldn't strike Zhao Yunlan as definitively OOC.


6. I wonder how differently Zhao Yunlan would be reacting if a large portion of his brain weren't busy screaming with worry about Shen Wei.


7. And speaking of Shen Wei, the flat is so tidy! I feel like Zhao Yunlan has been making a real effort to respect and preserve Shen Wei's standards of cleanliness in his absence. asdklfa;dslkf

Comments

[solo]

I wonder how many times, especially as a teenager, Zhao Yunlan was summoned into his father's presence and greeted with "You've made me so disappointed."

From what I've picked up here and there, this seems to be part and parcel of Chinese parenting? But even if not, I agree, he's heardf this hundreds of times.

At what point does Zhao Yunlan realise Zhao Xinci is not himself? Is it in the car and he bides his time to make the challenge, or do his suspicions crystalise when he hears Zhang Shi talking to Guo Ying?

I think in the car he might be mildly surprised, but that it's not going to be official, but it's what Zhang Shi says to Guo Ying (particularly about the SID) that makes him sure this is not his dad.

This scene always strikes me as evidence that however much Zhang Shi claims to have been a sort-of-parent to Zhao Yunlan and was there for his childhood, he can't have been actively involved or said much -- otherwise his speaking now (and on the roof during the kidnapping, and in the scene during the blindness arc) wouldn't strike Zhao Yunlan as definitively OOC.

Absolutely. I always feel that Zhang Shi might have taken Zhao Xinxi's odd lapses in vigilance here and there to surface and actually for once be nice to the kid, but that happened rarely and did nothing but give ZYL emotional whiplash. :(

I wonder how differently Zhao Yunlan would be reacting if a large portion of his brain weren't busy screaming with worry about Shen Wei.

Interesting thought. I felt he was keeping that well locked-up here in order to function as he normally would, but who knkows...

[china_shop]

From what I've picked up here and there, this seems to be part and parcel of Chinese parenting?

*nodnod* Good point! That kind of criticism certainly seems to be a thing. "You have one job, to make your parents proud, and you're (still, always) failing at that (as well as everything else). Do better!"

Which makes me think, I mean, I think Zhao Xinci does love Zhao Yunlan -- he just has zero tools for expressing it, plus maybe a certain amount of unacknowledged resentment of his own at how Zhao Yunlan rejected him after Shen Xi passed away. So him reaching for standard parenting phrases (and then imbuing them with ~all their issues~) makes perfect sense... why won't Zhao Yunlan just follow the filial piety script, too?!? /ZXC's pov

I think in the car he might be mildly surprised, but that it's not going to be official, but it's what Zhang Shi says to Guo Ying (particularly about the SID) that makes him sure this is not his dad.

*nodnod* He did already have suspicions from previous recent encounters, though. That speech during the blindness are was verrry un-ZXC. I think he's alert for evidence, you know?

I always feel that Zhang Shi might have taken Zhao Xinxi's odd lapses in vigilance here and there to surface and actually for once be nice to the kid, but that happened rarely and did nothing but give ZYL emotional whiplash. :(

Ughhhhh, that makes sense for the degree of bitterness ZYL feels for him. Letting down his guard is just a path to more pain, so only a fool would try. But I think it must have been very rare, yeah.

I felt he was keeping that well locked-up here in order to function as he normally would, but who knkows...

I wondered if he'd be less controlled and more openly resentful and sarcastic if he weren't keeping such a tight rein on himself for other reasons? Idk. Maybe he's learned it's not worth it -- that ZXC is just to be endured. :-((((

[solo]

plus maybe a certain amount of unacknowledged resentment of his own at how Zhao Yunlan rejected him after Shen Xi passed away

That's a very gentle way of putting it. Maybe: "how a traumatised Zhao Yunlan rejected him after being forced to watch his mother get blown to pieces because Zhao Xinci couldn't just let his perp go for once"?

But you're right, I think ZXC dies resent that. After all, he was only doing his job, why won't the stubborn brat understand that?

Maybe he's learned it's not worth it -- that ZXC is just to be endured. :-((((

He seems to largely try and stay out of his way entirely (hi thar, Dixing!) so I would not be surprised if that were the case.

[china_shop]

That's a very gentle way of putting it.

Ha, yeah, sorry. I've been practising my Korean lately and accidentally ported honorifics into English -- the politeness was meant as respect for Shen Xi (it seemed rude to use the casual "died"), not to imply anything about the manner of her death.

because Zhao Xinci couldn't just let his perp go for once

I mean, the guy had killed nine people (well, "been connected with nine deaths") already; I don't think letting him go was the answer? ZXC needed to find a third way, and he didn't. (I would argue he didn't really have time -- he aimed his gun, just like the other cops around him, quite possibly a reflexive starting position, and the kidnapper was like, "Welp." *boom*. But I don't think we're supposed to think ZXC would have compromised or de-escalated at all, yeah.)

And yeah, I think ZXC expects filial piety regardless of what actions he took (or feels he was forced to take, I guess). That's what filial piety is, right?

He seems to largely try and stay out of his way entirely (hi thar, Dixing!) so I would not be surprised if that were the case.

Yeah, in this case, avoidance is kind of the mature option. ;-p Oh, every interaction we see between them is ZXC approaching ZYL, isn't it? Like at the hospital during the blindness arc, and in this scene.

[trobadora]

plus maybe a certain amount of unacknowledged resentment of his own at how Zhao Yunlan rejected him after Shen Xi passed away

Oh, ouch, yeah, that's how Zhao Xinci would look at it! /o\

[china_shop]

I mean, isn't that part of what ZYL means when he says to Zhang Shi, "Live well on my behalf: respect my elders, be kind to my friends, protect the people."? 替我好好地活着 孝顺长辈 敦睦友朋 守护人民

GoogleTranslate translates 孝顺长辈 as "filial piety to elders" (is that right?) -- and surely he means ZXC there? And ZYL is framing that as one of his goals/regrets.

[trobadora]

Sounds right, as far as I can tell! I think 长辈 is "elders" or "the older generation", which is a bit funny when talking to Zhang Shi, who is older than almost everyone. *g* Idk if he means ZXC specifically, but he's included in that, yeah. ZYL is asking Zhang Shi to live a sort of idealised virtuous life on his behalf, I guess.

[china_shop]

which is a bit funny when talking to Zhang Shi, who is older than almost everyone.

Ha, right? But it does sound to me like ZYL regrets his resentment of ZXC, even if he couldn't bring himself to let it go sooner. (Not that letting it go would include agreeing with him! Just that sometimes you have to accept that your parent is the person they are, doing the best they can, even if that best isn't very good...)

ETA: And thanks for checking! <3

[trobadora]

I'm not sure what he's thinking. But ZXC does come around in the end, working with the rest of them and supporting ZYL as he goes to Dixing - I'm sure that is a big contributing factor. So perhaps it's not so much regret at ZYL's previous resentment, but putting it very firmly in the past?

[china_shop]

Maybe, but I think the resentment didn't start with ZXC's attitudes so much as what happened with Shen Xi, and that hasn't changed. So perhaps they could have reached a detente sooner? Not warm, necessarily, but not seething and raw? Idk.

[trobadora]

Yeah, but IMO it wasn't just what happened with Shen Xi - that's the inciting incident, but every time ZYL is confronted with ZXC's inflexible attitude afterwards, it gets reinforced. So having that changed makes a huge difference. ZYL could have found a way to get to somewhere "less seething and raw", as you put it, earlier, yes - but it would have been a one-sided thing. And I'm not convinced that if ZYL had been less hostile towards ZXC, ZXC wouldn't have taken that as an opening to push him harder on all the places where they disagree ...

[trobadora]

From what I've picked up here and there, this seems to be part and parcel of Chinese parenting?

Yeah, that fits with what I've picked up too.

I always feel that Zhang Shi might have taken Zhao Xinxi's odd lapses in vigilance here and there to surface and actually for once be nice to the kid, but that happened rarely and did nothing but give ZYL emotional whiplash. :(

I think if it had happened often enough to give him whiplash, he wouldn't react with such a definite "you are not Zhao Xinci" here? his

[trobadora]

ZXC: Zhao Yunlan, you've made me so disappointed. 赵云澜 你太让我失望了

I think the most ZXC about this is that he really still seems to think he can reach ZYL with phrases like that ...

(I like the way ZYL just nods and turns away to look out the window instead of at ZXC!)

There's a fractional delay as (I think?) Zhang Shi takes over and answers in a slightly higher register than Zhao Xinci's deeper, firmer one(?).

Yeah, that's exactly what it sounds like to me; Zhang Shi's voice is audibly different!

Zhao Yunlan is surprised -- by the tone or the choice to keep this unofficial?

Both, I think. Especially since this decision clearly comes out of nowhere for Minister Guo as well.

Zhao Yunlan flicks on the light, throws his keys on the side-table with the (empty?) goldfish bowl, and unceremoniously plants himself on the couch, propping his foot on the coffee table and crossing his legs.

I love how he's doing the impression of a sulky teenager, except it's all much more serious and fraught. *pets him* His father really brings it out in him.

Sitting on the couch, Zhao Yunlan cleans earwax from under his fingernail.

Love this image description, and this little detail! :D

Do you agree Zhang Shi takes over in the car? If so, it's pretty subtle.

I think it's pretty clear, actually!

Is Guo Ying surprised by the direction to take Zhao Yunlan back to the flat, and the implicit decision not to officially intervene? Does he agree with it? He, too, must have mixed feelings about the whole situation, given his position at the DoS and (I presume) career aspirations versus hearing praise of the SID from Changcheng.

I think he's 100% surprised; he initially expects ZYL to be taken to Xingdu Bureau, as he says at the start of the scene. But it looks to me like he's glad ZXC seems to be de-escalating instead.

At what point does Zhao Yunlan realise Zhao Xinci is not himself? Is it in the car and he bides his time to make the challenge, or do his suspicions crystalise when he hears Zhang Shi talking to Guo Ying?

IMO he notices something is off in the car, but the conversation with Guo Ying is when he really knows it's not ZXC.

This scene always strikes me as evidence that however much Zhang Shi claims to have been a sort-of-parent to Zhao Yunlan and was there for his childhood, he can't have been actively involved or said much -- otherwise his speaking now (and on the roof during the kidnapping, and in the scene during the blindness arc) wouldn't strike Zhao Yunlan as definitively OOC.

Yeah, if it happened more frequently it wouldn't be "you are not my father," it'd be "what suddenly put you into this rare mellow mood?" ZYL not recognising Zhang Shi as ZXC means to me that he doesn't know Zhang Shi at all. IMO Zhang Shi can't have been interacting with younger Zhao Yunlan. Which doesn't necessarily mean he wasn't involved in parenting him - he may well regularly have pushed (or attempted to push) ZXC in certain directions, even if he didn't take over and speak or act himself.

I wonder how differently Zhao Yunlan would be reacting if a large portion of his brain weren't busy screaming with worry about Shen Wei.

This is a VERY good question! I think it really contributes a lot to how tightly wound he is in this scene, and how close he seems to snapping. *pets him*

And speaking of Shen Wei, the flat is so tidy! I feel like Zhao Yunlan has been making a real effort to respect and preserve Shen Wei's standards of cleanliness in his absence. asdklfa;dslkf

Either that, or he essentially hasn't been home since Shen Wei left. (Because it's not home without Shen Wei any more? ♥)

[china_shop]

I think the most ZXC about this is that he really still seems to think he can reach ZYL with phrases like that ...

I wonder how often he heard it from his own father. Maybe that's just what parenting sounds like to him?

(I like the way ZYL just nods and turns away to look out the window instead of at ZXC!)

Right? Like, "I am Yunlan's complete lack of surprise."

Both, I think. Especially since this decision clearly comes out of nowhere for Minister Guo as well.

Yeah, I think ZYL's alert for weirdness, and this definitely registers.

I love how he's doing the impression of a sulky teenager, except it's all much more serious and fraught. *pets him* His father really brings it out in him.

Yes! So much this.

I think he's 100% surprised; he initially expects ZYL to be taken to Xingdu Bureau, as he says at the start of the scene. But it looks to me like he's glad ZXC seems to be de-escalating instead.

I wonder if he's thinking, "Who are you, and what have you done with Director Zhao?"

ZYL not recognising Zhang Shi as ZXC means to me that he doesn't know Zhang Shi at all. IMO Zhang Shi can't have been interacting with younger Zhao Yunlan. Which doesn't necessarily mean he wasn't involved in parenting him - he may well regularly have pushed (or attempted to push) ZXC in certain directions, even if he didn't take over and speak or act himself.

Given how ornery ZXC is, I wonder whether Zhang Shi's advice would just have made him double down with the criticism. *sigh*

I think it really contributes a lot to how tightly wound he is in this scene, and how close he seems to snapping.

I think so, too. And maybe how he doesn't let himself shout (like he did at Minister Gao), because Shen Wei would approve of a more measured approach? Idk. ZYL is hanging on by a thread.

Either that, or he essentially hasn't been home since Shen Wei left. (Because it's not home without Shen Wei any more? ♥)

Oh, yes, or that. *cries*

[trobadora]

Sorry for the misclick reply just now; here it is again in the proper place!

I wonder how often he heard it from his own father. Maybe that's just what parenting sounds like to him?

Yeah, I don't think he really has another script for it ...

I wonder if he's thinking, "Who are you, and what have you done with Director Zhao?"

Haha, yeah, and having no idea how literally right he is. *g*

Given how ornery ZXC is, I wonder whether Zhang Shi's advice would just have made him double down with the criticism. *sigh*

Yeah, that sounds about right to me. *sighs*

And maybe how he doesn't let himself shout (like he did at Minister Gao), because Shen Wei would approve of a more measured approach? Idk. ZYL is hanging on by a thread.

Idk, I think it's because he's hanging on by a thread and wound so tight that he's not shouting. I think he feels that if he lets himself actually express any of his feelings in that way, he'll lose control of all of them.

[china_shop]

I think he feels that if he lets himself actually express any of his feelings in that way, he'll lose control of all of them.

Oh, yes, that. *pets him carefully*