Recaps

Zhang Yuqi returned to his mother Guo Geng after Zhang Yuliang’s death and told her that Zhang Yujie had not killed him. As Guo Geng recalled the brothers’ happier years, Zhang Yuqi knelt before her, leaving the family’s future unsettled.

• Song Tianyao explained to Chu Xiaozhong that the Chu family would help Zhang Yuqi take charge while pressuring him to surrender the Zhang family’s agency rights.
• Zhang Yuqi entered the guest room where Guo Geng and the Zhang brothers’ wives were gathered, while Zhang Yulin stayed away to arrange Zhang Yuliang’s body and funeral.
• Zhang Yuqi knelt before Guo Geng and told her that Zhang Yujie had not killed Zhang Yuliang.
• Guo Geng recalled moments when the four brothers had supported and enjoyed each other, while the women listened in shock and grief.
• Guo Geng did not question Zhang Yuqi or blame him, knowing she could not risk anything happening to her second son while Zhang Yujie was imprisoned and Zhang Yuliang was dead.

Zhang Yuqi vowed to take the blame for his family’s crimes and free Zhang Yujie, while Zhang Yujie agreed to wait but warned A-Yin to watch him. Song Tianyao then sent Scribe Hui to follow Zhang Yuqi again.

• Zhang Yuqi promised the family he would confess to the charges and secure Zhang Yujie's release, and asked A-Yin to witness their prison visit.
• Zhang Yuqi told Zhang Yujie he would claim responsibility for arranging fourth brother's murder and trafficking military supplies so Zhang Yujie could return to lead the family.
• Zhang Yujie said he no longer wanted the remaining brothers to fight over the family and agreed to wait for Zhang Yuqi to prove his resolve.
• Zhang Yujie told A-Yin to keep watch on Zhang Yuqi and prevent him from taking control of the family business or moving its assets.
• Song Tianyao instructed Scribe Hui to follow Zhang Yuqi again, despite Scribe Hui's complaints about having watched him all day before.

Song Tianyao questioned Scribe Hui about visiting Xianyu Shuan’s family, then learned he was helping care for a wounded stranger. Meanwhile, Zhang Yuqi went alone to the morgue to see his dead brother Zhang Yuliang, after taking steps to make himself appear responsible for the Zhang family’s crimes and protect Zhang Yujie.

• Song Tianyao challenged Scribe Hui’s plan to visit Xianyu Shuan’s widow and daughter, and Scribe Hui explained that he was helping a wounded young man they had rescued.
• Song Tianyao told Scribe Hui to visit the young man openly and declined Rotten-Life Ju’s offer to assign guards to Zhang Yuqi.
• Zhang Yuqi asked A-Yin, Alice, and his protectors to let him spend time alone with Zhang Yuliang’s body at Tung Wah Hospital.
• A-Yin led Alice away while Zhang Yuqi paid the morgue attendant to open the door and bring out his brother’s body.
• Zhang Yuqi opened the body bag and stared at Zhang Yuliang until he bit through his handkerchief and injured his finger.

Zhang Yuqi killed Zhang Yuliang and planned to take control of the Zhang Family, while publicly presenting himself as a grieving brother still trying to save Zhang Yujie. Later, Chu Xiaoxin received a Justice of the Peace appointment as news emerged that Malaysian authorities were seeking Zhang Yujie over an old murder.

• Zhang Yuqi confessed to Zhang Yuliang that he had arranged his murder to secure control of the Zhang Family and intended to deal with Zhang Yujie next.
• Zhang Yuqi concealed his bloodstained handkerchief, left the morgue, and told A-Yin and Alice that they should keep trying to save Zhang Yujie.
• On Commonwealth Day in May 1951, Chu Xiaoxin was named one of Hong Kong's new unofficial Justices of the Peace.
• A Malaysian newspaper reported that Zhang Yujie had murdered a business partner and that Malaysian authorities sought to investigate him and extradite him for trial.
• Observers praised Zhang Yuqi for gathering evidence to save Zhang Yujie, unaware of his confession and plans.

After Zhang Yuqi took control of the Zhang Family business, he sold its troubled companies and arranged for the family to move to Australia, while rumors blamed the Chu and Cai Families. At the Chu household, Chu Xiaozhong resented Song Tianyao’s role in dividing the business profits, and he accused him of preparing to break away from the Chu Family.

• News of the Zhang brothers’ conflict and the Zhang Family’s troubles spread, and Zhang Yuqi took over the family business after visiting Zhang Yujie in prison with their mother, Guo Geng.
• Zhang Yuqi sold European Coast Company to Chu Xiaoxin and Zhuxing Trading Company to Li Heng, then announced that the family would go to Australia while Zhang Yujie’s case proceeded.
• News spread that Shek Chi-yik had become director of the Industrial and Commercial Administration Office and his wife had taken senior posts in London and Hong Kong.
• Chu Xiaozhong complained to Chu Yaozong that the Chu Family was bearing the blame for the Zhang Family’s downfall while the Cai Family also profited.
• Chu Yaozong explained that Song Tianyao had helped Chu Xiaoxin win a Justice of the Peace appointment through charity work and publicity.
• Chu Xiaozhong resented Song Tianyao for reducing Li Heng’s share of Zhuxing Trading’s business and accused him of registering his own trading company to leave the Chu Family.

Chu Xiaoxin and Chu Xiaozhong argued over Song Tianyao's trading company, while Chu Yaozong considered their business interests clearly divided. At Likang's celebration, Song Tianyao explained why the Pharmaceutical Association had come, and Chu Xiaoxin rejected the idea of forgiving Chan Ah-sap.

• Chu Xiaoxin explained that Song Tianyao had registered his trading company with his approval and that it would use Zhuxing's warehouse.
• Chu Xiaozhong angrily objected to Song Tianyao running a company of his own, and Chu Yaozong saw the brothers' dispute as a sign their accounts and interests were distinct.
• Chu Yaozong asked where Song Tianyao was, and Chu Xiaoxin said he had booked three seafood restaurants for a consort selection.
• At Taibai Seafood Restaurant, Song Tianyao told Chu Xiaoxin that Pharmaceutical Association members had come to pay respects to Likang's new leader and secure future business.
• Chu Xiaoxin asked why Chan Ah-sap had visited, and Song Tianyao said Chan was seeking forgiveness and might want Chao Yong Yi to keep handling Likang's dock business.
• Chu Xiaoxin told Song Tianyao to tell Chan Ah-sap to get lost.

After Chu Xiaoxin celebrated his new position, he tried to arrange for Song Tianyao to spend time with Wanqing, the woman who had once received a gold bar from him. Song learned that Wanqing had been taken away by her opium-addicted brother, who may have been handing her over to Fuyixing's loan sharks to settle his debts.

• Gao Lao Cheng told Song Tianyao that Brother Ten and the others had left without showing anger, and Chu Xiaoxin cursed at the news.
• Song Tianyao teased Chu Xiaoxin about his drunken praise and joked about choosing one of the women at the gathering.
• A woman at the table remembered that Song Tianyao had tipped Wanqing a gold bar at Tai Pak, and Chu Xiaoxin summoned her to keep Song company.
• An attendant reported that Wanqing had left with her younger brother, so Song Tianyao lost interest and said he would return to the hotel to sleep.
• A woman serving Chu Xiaoxin said Wanqing's opium-addicted brother owed Fuyixing's opium den money and might be offering Wanqing to the loan sharks as payment.

Golden-Tooth Lei learned that Fuyixing had taken the singing girl Wanqing, whom Song Tianyao wanted to see, and hurried to resolve the matter before it angered Song Tianyao and Chu Xiaoxin. He sent men to search for her and planned to bring her quietly to the docks while keeping her from speaking.

• Song Tianyao and Chu Xiaoxin ordered Gao Lao Cheng to retrieve Wanqing from Golden-Tooth Lei and warned that they would wait only one hour.
• Golden-Tooth Lei hosted wealthy young men introduced by Song Tianyao and saw Likang’s support as a chance for Fuyixing to expand its dock business.
• Gao Lao Cheng told Golden-Tooth Lei that Wanqing had been taken by Fuyixing’s people and that Chu Xiaoxin wanted her brought over.
• Golden-Tooth Lei gave the singing girls money to entertain the young men, then ordered Gao Lao Cheng to search Fuyixing’s establishments for Wanqing.
• Gao Lao Cheng said Fish Ming, Mangongshi, and other men were already searching, and suggested Golden-Tooth Lei go calm Song Tianyao and Chu Xiaoxin.

Meng Wanqing was forced into a brothel over her brother’s debts, but Song Tianyao arrived with armed plainclothes officers to rescue her. The chapter left Song smiling as he asked whether she had just said she hated him.

• Golden-Tooth Lei went to wait at the pier, worried about Secretary Song discovering that Fuyixing had pushed Meng Wanqing into a brothel.
• Rat Xiang demanded that Meng Wanqing pay her younger brother Ah Hing’s debt interest and threatened to make her spend the night with his boss.
• Meng Wanqing refused to pay and was dragged toward a room, where she gave up struggling and lamented that she hated the young man who had once helped her.
• Song Tianyao entered with armed plainclothes officers, who subdued Rat Xiang’s men and aimed their guns at Rat Xiang.
• Song Tianyao asked Meng Wanqing whether she had just said she hated him to death.

At Chu Xiaoxin’s Justice of the Peace celebration, Song Tianyao coached him to handle Inspector Cheung Wing-kam with polite restraint rather than anger. Chu Xiaoxin welcomed Cheung, his godson, and Yan Hung, then maintained a courteous smile as Cheung explained their late arrival.

• Chu Xiaoxin scattered money down the stairs, drawing singers upstairs to join the celebration with him and Song Tianyao.
• Gao Lao Cheng announced that Inspector Cheung Wing-kam had arrived to congratulate Chu Xiaoxin, and Song Tianyao reminded Chu of their past conflict and advised him to act graciously.
• Chu Xiaoxin agreed to follow Song Tianyao’s advice and invited Cheung Wing-kam upstairs.
• Cheung Wing-kam arrived with his godson and Yan Hung, surprising Chu Xiaoxin and Song Tianyao.
• Chu Xiaoxin welcomed all three men, and Cheung Wing-kam sent his godson downstairs to fetch their congratulatory gifts.
• Cheung Wing-kam explained that he had waited for Yan Hung to travel from Sha Tau Kok, while Chu Xiaoxin smiled and modestly dismissed his new title.

Golden-Tooth Lei discovered that Wanqing had been taken by Rat Xiang, a subordinate of Ngo Keng Ho, and realized rescuing her could bring him into conflict with Uncle Shan. He chose to tell Song Tianyao about the situation, leaving Song to recognize the timing as an opportunity.

• Cheung Wing-kam presented Chu Xiaoxin with a golden dragon and other lavish gifts while his godson mocked him for the table’s amusement.
• Golden-Tooth Lei arrived without Wanqing, and Chu Xiaoxin reproached him for failing to bring her back.
• Golden-Tooth Lei explained that Wanqing was in the hands of a favored subordinate of a Fuyixing uncle and asked Song Tianyao for advice.
• Golden-Tooth Lei learned from Mangongshi that Rat Xiang had taken Wanqing to a brothel for Ngo Keng Ho, who was at Uncle Shan’s house.
• Mangongshi warned Golden-Tooth Lei that rescuing Wanqing would pit him against Uncle Shan, while failing to act could alienate Chu Xiaoxin and Song Tianyao.
• Golden-Tooth Lei told Song Tianyao what he had found, and Song remarked that he had chosen a good time to bring it to him.

Golden-Tooth Lei brought the dispute over Miss Wanqing to Chu Xiaoxin and Song Tianyao, hoping they would decide how to handle Fuyixing’s pressure. Chu Xiaoxin denounced collaborators and refused to let Likang work with them, leaving Golden-Tooth Lei to answer to his boss’s stance.

• Golden-Tooth Lei decided not to choose between Uncle Shan and Song Tianyao, and ordered Mangongshi to keep Miss Wanqing safe until he gave the word.
• Golden-Tooth Lei returned to the flower boat and asked Chu Xiaoxin and Song Tianyao for guidance about the man pursuing Miss Wanqing.
• Song Tianyao explained that Fuyixing’s old ties referred to collaborators who had been involved in his uncle’s death.
• Chu Xiaoxin condemned the collaborators and began to dismiss Fuyixing from Likang’s dock business, but Song Tianyao stopped him from acting rashly.
• Chu Xiaoxin declared that he would not support collaborators, and Song Tianyao told Golden-Tooth Lei that Chu Xiaoxin had already made the decision for him.

Song Tianyao persuaded Chu Xiaoxin to keep Golden-Tooth Lei employed while forcing him to choose a side after the crisis. He then explained how Chu could use his Justice of the Peace powers and connections to have Fuyixing punished for taking Wanqing.

• Golden-Tooth Lei asked Chu Xiaoxin and Song Tianyao to let his men keep working for Likang while he remained loyal to Fuyixing.
• Chu Xiaoxin left the decision to Song Tianyao and warned that he would not support traitors.
• Song Tianyao told Golden-Tooth Lei that his uncle would soon beg him for help and ordered him to make a choice after the night's business.
• After Golden-Tooth Lei left, Song Tianyao told Chu Xiaoxin to use his Justice of the Peace status to pressure Chief Chinese Inspector Liu Fu over Wanqing's abduction.
• Song Tianyao explained that Chu could direct nearby residents to restore order and that Fuyixing members who disobeyed could be arrested and denied bail.

Chu Xiaoxin learned that his new Justice of the Peace title could give him influence over local police and triad disputes, but Song Tianyao steered him away from personally confronting Fuyixing over Meng Wanqing. At the chapter’s end, Detective Sergeant Wong Wan-chiu arrived at Rat Xiang’s room with plainclothes officers, and Meng Wanqing hid behind him and begged for help.

• Song Tianyao explained to Chu Xiaoxin that Justices of the Peace still had authority to assist in maintaining public order and often kept enforcers around them.
• Chu Xiaoxin eagerly proposed using his title and men to retrieve Meng Wanqing from Fuyixing.
• Cheung Wing-kam offered to contact the police and arrange for Meng Wanqing to be brought to Chu Xiaoxin, while Song Tianyao asked Yan Hung to collect her.
• Cheung Wing-kam told Yan Hung he planned to transfer him back to Kowloon and promised to arrange a Detective Sergeant post when a vacancy arose.
• Wong Wan-chiu entered Rat Xiang’s room with plainclothes officers, and Meng Wanqing recognized him, hid behind him, and pleaded for rescue.
• Wong Wan-chiu mocked Rat Xiang for forcing a decent woman into prostitution.

Wong Wan-chiu staged a rescue to get Meng Wanqing away from Rat Xiang, while secretly arranging to exploit her and have her brother killed. He drove her away and pressured her to have dinner with him, while she noticed his supposed rescuers fraternizing with Rat Xiang’s men.

• Wong Wan-chiu threatened Rat Xiang with a pistol and had his men escort Meng Wanqing out of the apartment.
• After Meng Wanqing left, Wong Wan-chiu and Rat Xiang revealed that the rescue was staged so Wong Wan-chiu could win her trust and pursue her.
• Wong Wan-chiu paid Rat Xiang to arrange the murder of Meng Wanqing’s brother, Opium Addict Hing, and agreed to help Rat Xiang’s boss target a rival opium den.
• Wong Wan-chiu drove Meng Wanqing away and invited her to dinner, but she avoided his wandering hand and said she wanted to go home.
• Meng Wanqing saw the plainclothes officers who had helped with the rescue chatting and smoking with Rat Xiang’s men outside the apartment.

Yan Hung returned from Sha Tau Kok after hearing of Chu Xiaoxin’s rise, but Song Tianyao sent him to fetch a woman from a brothel. As Yan Hung headed to the Flower Arrangement Apartment, Fuyixing’s men discovered that Chai Fa Chiu had taken the woman to a Mong Kok restaurant, and Fish Ming rushed to intervene.

• Cheung Wing-kam called Yan Hung back from Sha Tau Kok and told him to meet Chu Xiaoxin, whose recent accomplishments astonished him.
• Yan Hung suspected Song Tianyao was behind Chu Xiaoxin’s success but agreed to fetch a woman from the Flower Arrangement Apartment with A Wai.
• Fish Ming learned that Chai Fa Chiu had taken the woman to the Fung Yu Restaurant while Fuyixing’s men watched them.
• Fish Ming ordered the men to go to the restaurant, fearing Chai Fa Chiu might take the woman to a room.

Fish Ming assaulted a plainclothes officer after the man insulted him, then left after Rat Xiang intervened and pointed the officer toward Scribe Tan for help. Song Tianyao explained his scheme to pit Golden-Tooth Lei against Fuyixing before heading back to the Dulles Hotel to sleep.

• Fish Ming gathered his men to go to the Fung Yu Restaurant, then slapped a plainclothes officer who cursed him and had his men disarm the officers.
• Fish Ming struck the officer in the mouth with the back of an axe, breaking two of his teeth, as Rat Xiang arrived and told him to stop.
• Fish Ming left after Rat Xiang shielded the injured officer, and Rat Xiang sent the man to ask Scribe Tan for help against Fish Ming.
• Song Tianyao told Chu Xiaoxin that he had given Golden-Tooth Lei a pretext to provoke a conflict with the Fuyixing elder through Cheung Wing-kam.
• Song Tianyao said he was going back to the Dulles Hotel to sleep and would take two days off before dealing with the Five Counties merchants.

Song Tianyao left Chu Xiaoxin's gathering and planned to bring his family back from the Lin Family, while Wong Wan-chiu took Meng Wanqing to dinner and admitted he had arranged the night's incident. The chapter ended with Wong stopping Meng from stabbing herself in the eye with a chopstick.

• Song Tianyao returned upstairs for his cigarettes, then left for the pier after trading taunts with Chu Xiaoxin.
• Chu Xiaoxin sent Gao Lao Cheng to accompany Song Tianyao, who took him back to the Dulles Hotel instead of going home.
• Song Tianyao considered finding work for his family and bringing Third Aunt and Yunzhi back from the Lin Family, while leaving Golden-Tooth Lei's fate dependent on his conduct.
• Wong Wan-chiu brought Meng Wanqing to a private room at Fung Yu Restaurant, where she became suspicious of his intentions.
• Wong Wan-chiu admitted his feelings and implied he had planned the incident that night; Meng Wanqing declared she would rather die than submit to him.
• Meng Wanqing tried to stab her eye with an ivory chopstick, but Wong Wan-chiu knocked her hand aside.

Yan Hung discovered that Meng Wanqing had disappeared from the Flower Arrangement Apartment, while Fish Ming burst into the private room where Wong Wan-chiu was assaulting her. Cheung Wing-kam then ordered a forceful police sweep to find her and make clear his support for Chu Xiaoxin and Song Tianyao.

• Wong Wan-chiu dragged Meng Wanqing toward an opium bed after slapping her, but Fish Ming kicked open the private-room door.
• Yan Hung learned that Rat Xiang claimed Wanqing had left the Flower Arrangement Apartment and sent A Wai to investigate.
• Yan Hung warned Brother Ching that Wanqing was important to Justice of the Peace Chu Xiaoxin and called Cheung Wing-kam.
• Cheung Wing-kam told Yan Hung he was returning to the station and ordered the officers to gather forces to search Rat Xiang's establishments and seize Wanqing.

Yan Hung led a police raid on Rat Xiang’s apartment to find Wanqing and forced Rat Xiang to reveal that Chai Fa Chiu had taken her. Yan Hung then ordered A Jing to plant opium at Chai Fa Chiu’s house and arrest him, while Wanqing’s whereabouts remained unknown.

• Cheung Wing-kam ordered Yan Hung to lead the operation to find Wanqing, and Yan Hung gathered officers to raid Rat Xiang’s apartment.
• Yan Hung forced his way into the apartment, shot Rat Xiang and one of his men, and demanded to know where Wanqing was.
• Rat Xiang revealed that Chai Fa Chiu had taken Wanqing and said he did not know where she was now.
• Yan Hung ordered A Jing to take opium to Chai Fa Chiu’s house and arrest him for possession.

Yan Hung shot Rat Xiang dead and led a police raid against Fuyixing, putting himself at risk to support Song Tianyao. Cheung Wing-kam used the killing to justify a crackdown on Tan Changshan’s businesses while preparing evidence that could either protect or destroy Yan Hung.

• Yan Hung shot Rat Xiang after Rat Xiang threatened him, then ordered Ah Ching to frame Chai Fa Chiu and took officers to Mong Kok Police Station to find him.
• Cheung Wing-kam arranged for police across Kowloon to raid Tan Changshan’s businesses and secured statements supporting Yan Hung’s self-defense.
• Cheung Wing-kam also enlarged the planted opium evidence at Wong Wan-chiu’s home, keeping statements that could be used against Yan Hung if Chu Xiaoxin abandoned him.
• Tan Changshan learned that police were sweeping his businesses, while Ngo Keng Ho waited for him to order a response.

Tan Changshan restrained Ngo Keng Ho from retaliating until Yanjigui investigated why Sergeant Hung had killed Ah Xiang. Meanwhile, Yan Hung reached Fung Yu Restaurant and found Fish Ming and Chai Huachao locked in a gunpoint standoff over Meng Wanqing.

• Tan Changshan ordered Yanjigui to investigate Ah Xiang’s death and kept Ngo Keng Ho and Shendasheng at the mahjong table; Yanjigui noticed Tan had crushed his walnuts in anger.
• Yan Hung learned that Fish Ming and Chai Huachao were facing off at Fung Yu Restaurant, and he went there with a dozen rookie officers.
• Yan Hung entered the restaurant, told the Mong Kok officers to wait outside the private room, and pushed through Fish Ming’s men.
• Yan Hung found Fish Ming holding a watermelon knife while Chai Huachao pressed a gun to his forehead, with Meng Wanqing protected near the door.
• Yan Hung approached Meng Wanqing and asked whether she was the woman from Taibai Seafood Restaurant.

Yan Hung killed Wong Wan-chiu after claiming the gangster had resisted arrest, then escorted Meng Wanqing to Taibai Seafood Restaurant so she could tell Song Tianyao what had happened. On the way, a young officer praised Yan Hung for standing up to the gangsters.

• Yan Hung identified himself to Wong Wan-chiu and Fish Ming, then had Meng Wanqing escorted out while he spoke with the two men.
• Yan Hung told Fish Ming and Wong Wan-chiu to put down their weapons, then shot Wong Wan-chiu when he sat down with his pistol on the table.
• Yan Hung announced that Wong Wan-chiu had resisted arrest and threatened a police officer, then left Fung Yu Restaurant with Meng Wanqing.
• Yan Hung asked Meng Wanqing to tell Song Tianyao exactly how he had brought her back, and promised to take responsibility for the night's events.
• A young uniformed officer praised Yan Hung for standing up to the gangsters and wished he could serve under him.

Yan Hung escorted Meng Wanqing through a hostile jianghu crowd at Tong Sai pier and shot Tan Changshan when he approached to apologize. As Yan Hung pressed forward under threat, A Yue shot Ngo Keng Ho, while Golden-Tooth Lei’s faction attacked Yanjigui and Shendasheng.

• Yan Hung arrived at Tong Sai pier with Meng Wanqing and faced more than a hundred armed jianghu figures blocking the jetty.
• Yan Hung rejected A Wai’s suggestion to retreat and led Meng Wanqing toward the crowd, where Tan Changshan approached to apologize and offer gifts.
• Yan Hung shot Tan Changshan at close range, then warned the crowd that he acted under the authority of Justice of the Peace Chu Xiaoxin.
• Ngo Keng Ho and his followers charged Yan Hung, but A Yue shot Ngo Keng Ho before Yan Hung could fire; Yan Hung took A Yue’s gun and continued forward with Meng Wanqing.
• Mangongshi urged Golden-Tooth Lei to kill Yanjigui and Shendasheng, and Golden-Tooth Lei attacked Yanjigui as his men stabbed Shendasheng.

After killing Tan Changshan, Yan Hung brought Meng Wanqing to the Dulles Hotel to see Song Tianyao, while Golden-Tooth Lei ordered Fuyixing’s men to act. Song Tianyao welcomed Yan Hung and arranged for the shaken Meng Wanqing to rest, leaving their conversation for later.

• Mangongshi told Tan Changshan’s men to stand down, and Scribe Tan withdrew with Heizai Jie, Shar Pei Dog and the others.
• Yan Hung said he would kill anyone who stood in his way and took Meng Wanqing to the Dulles Hotel to see Song Tianyao.
• Mangongshi urged Golden-Tooth Lei to act, and Golden-Tooth Lei ordered the Fuyixing brothers to move.
• Gao Lao Cheng told Song Tianyao that Yan Hung had killed Tan Changshan, prompting Song Tianyao to get up and receive Yan Hung and Meng Wanqing.
• Song Tianyao paid two Songstresses to accompany Meng Wanqing to rest before discussing what had happened.