From beginning to end, "City Within a City" talks about two words - rules. Whether it is the battle between love and law between bank vice president Zhao Hui and audit chief Miao Che, or the rift between bank newcomer Tao Wuji and his girlfriend Tian Xiaohui due to their different life choices, they all stem from different understandings of the rules. The ups and downs of the fate of the characters in the small city (Financial City) and the complex intertwined stories also condense the history and legend of a big city (Shanghai).

"City Within a City" poster

"Small town" story, metaphor of "big town" personality and character

The white shirt (the rules and bottom line of the workplace) is an image that runs throughout the play. After Dai Xing passed away, Teacher Ouyang warned four students Zhao Hui, Miao Che, Su Jianren, and Xie Zhiyuan: No matter how careful you are after entering the workplace, white shirts will inevitably be stained with dust, but you still need to wash and dry them more often. , cherish this white shirt on your body.

In this regard, the four people's understanding and views are obviously not consistent. In Miao Che's opinion, a white shirt should be spotless. No matter at any time or under any circumstances, the red line of the rules should not be crossed. In the eyes of Su Jianren and Xie Zhiyuan, although the teacher's words are correct, they cannot be put into practice at all. Su Jianren bluntly told Zhao Hui that if he adhered to the rules, "then he might as well not do anything well."

Therefore, the core of this drama is, how should Zhao Hui choose? At the beginning of the series, Zhao Hui tried hard to persuade his mentor Dai Xing not to take risks, and to keep a distance from Xie Zhiyuan, the boss of the trust agency. Even though his daughter's eye disease urgently needed treatment, he was unwilling to accept the support of his "eldest brother" Wu Xianlong. He was "invulnerable".

Zhao Hui (played by Yu Hewei)

However, the plot took a turn for the worse after Zhao Hui, who had outstanding professional abilities and outstanding work achievements, failed to be promoted and was excluded because of his "unkindness". He set up a game within a game and directly eliminated Su Jianren from the game. He also gradually got involved in the vortex of interests woven by Wu Xianlong, Xie Zhiyuan and others. Whether the white shirt that is gradually turning gray and yellow will turn black is undoubtedly the question that all viewers are most concerned about.

Tao Wuji (played by Bai Yufan)

In contrast to Zhao Hui is Tao Wuji, a newcomer in the workplace. As Dai Xing said, he has ideals, abilities, and drive, just like Zhao Hui back then. He firmly believes that he can make his way in the big city through his own hard work and hard work. However, his girlfriend Tian Xiaohui has unknowingly fallen into the trap of desire concocted by her cousins Shen Jing and Xie Zhiyuan. The deeper she falls, the more she is destined to have an irreconcilable conflict with Tao Wuji's ideals and beliefs. Where it will go has also whetted the appetite of the audience.

Tian Xiaohui (played by Xia Meng) falls into the trap of Shen Jing (played by Yang Zishan)

At this point in the plot, the outline of the era implicit in "City within a City" has become increasingly clear: when the financial capital represented by Zhao Hui and others meets the real estate capital represented by Wu Xianlong, a bottomless temptation of huge profits opens up. It opened its bloody mouth. Everyone in the play will undergo the most direct and cruel test in the subtleties and darkness of human nature.

However, we cannot simply summarize the main theme of this play as whether bankers can maintain their original intentions and beliefs in work and life, because the "small town" story is a metaphor for the personality and character of the "big town".

Why does the Sunshine Plan promoted by Dai Xing and Zhao Hui encounter so many obstacles? The state should support small and micro enterprises, especially scientific and technological enterprises with development potential, such as Henghui Company, which Tao Wuji is optimistic about. But from a bank's point of view, lending to these small and micro enterprises is risky. It is better to cooperate with large enterprises. Conservatives such as Su Jianren have constraints on the Sunshine Plan because of their path dependence.

So, here are two different understandings of the rules. One is to stick to the rules, follow the rules, and only strive to be foolproof; the other is to actively seek breakthroughs and innovations, and constantly embrace various possibilities without violating the rules or breaking the law.

Can bankers keep their original intentions and beliefs?

It is obvious that the second approach is much more difficult. However, for the sake of the overall economic development of the country and the responsibilities shouldered by bankers, there is always a need for someone to step forward at critical moments. Dai Xing devoted his life to his duties and worked hard, but he risked his life to support private enterprises. He said that this is the "nine virtues and one evil" of bankers. It should be pointed out that this "one evil" does not mean walking in the red line of laws and regulations, but the courage to actively explore regardless of personal honors and losses.

The story of "small town", the epitome of the history of "big city"

At this point, the deeper theme of the play is readily apparent - showing the tension between innovation and rules, justice and humanity is the real concern of the creator. Can Zhao Hui continue to lead the bank to actively promote the Sunshine Plan and benefit society while keeping his true intentions? After experiencing ups and downs, can young Tao Wuji become a new generation of bankers who are trustworthy like his respected predecessors?

Zhao Hui teaches Tao Wuji

It can be seen that the story of "small town" is not the epitome of the history of "big city"? On the one hand, it is a well-known fact that Shanghai and its citizens have always been the most rule-conscious; but on the other hand, Shanghai will not be bound by existing rules. It has always been a vanguard and a forerunner, taking on high-level responsibilities. The pioneer of reform and opening up.

Zhao Hui taught Tao Wuji not only to become an expert in the financial industry, but also to become an industry expert and to learn about new energy, biomedicine and other emerging industries. The implication is obvious: Shanghai, as the nation's economic leader, will never be satisfied with the status quo. Instead, it will turn inward, continuously improve the business environment through a series of institutional innovations, and provide more efficient services for enterprise development. Therefore, Shanghai must dynamically grasp the development trends of science and technology and industry, proactively seize the layout in a timely manner, and be at the forefront of national industrial development.

The road is bound to be bumpy. If Zhao Hui's situation can be said to be full of crises - financial capital Xie Zhiyuan and real estate capital Wu Xianlong are doing everything they can to "hunt" him and drag him into trouble; then the confusion Tao Wuji faces is even more confusing. People feel the same way - as a young man working hard in Shanghai, he wants to buy a house and take into account the material needs of his girlfriend Tian Xiaohui. How should he choose between reality and ideals?

Where will Tao Wuji and Tian Xiaohui go as Shanghai bleaching workers?

However, in fact, the answer to the question is not complicated. This drama has already answered all the viewers through Miao Che's words. When Zhao Hui was distressed by the tragedy of Dai Xing, Miao Che pointedly pointed out that it is "not easy" to not only adhere to the rules but also achieve innovation, but if it is easy, "what else do we bankers need to do?" ?”

Shanghainese are the most civilized and rule-abiding people, but they also understand the importance of eating the food of reform, taking an open road, and playing the card of innovation. Getting to know strangers, exploring new paths, trying everything first, and moving forward bravely. This is the courage of Shanghai to face the unknown, and it is also the inner driving force of Shanghai that has never changed. Zhao Hui and Tao Wuji in the "small city" will accept the baptism of the times, and will use their actions to create new miracles and write new legends for the "big city" - since Shanghai has chosen challenges and changes, Shanghai will never look back. Choose to go through thick and thin.