Recaps

At the Standing Committee meeting, Xiang Daofa’s faction tried to weaken Xie Huilan and block her nomination of Dong Xuebin to lead the Investment Bureau. Xie forced a vote, but Xiang’s side took an early lead as the remaining committee members prepared to vote.

• Xiang Daofa’s allies repeatedly challenged Geng Yu Chao and Huang Li’s proposals while Xie Huilan stayed silent through most of the meeting.
• Xiang Daofa opened discussion on the vacant Investment Bureau director post, and Yi Tao recommended Lu Dafa over Dong Xuebin.
• Geng Yu Chao and Huang Li defended Dong Xuebin, while Liao Yanshan and Chen Tongbing argued that Lu Dafa’s experience made him more suitable.
• Xiang Daofa declared that Lu Dafa should get the post without first calling a vote, but Xie Huilan insisted that the committee vote on her nomination of Dong Xuebin.
• Liao Yanshan and Yi Tao voted for Lu Dafa, while Geng Yu Chao and Huang Li supported Dong Xuebin, leaving the vote tied at three to three.
• Chen Tongbing voted for Lu Dafa, giving Xiang Daofa’s side a four-to-three lead as Geng Yu Chao looked to Xie Huilan for another counterattack.

At the Standing Committee meeting, Xie Huilan’s nomination of Dong Xuebin drew unexpected support and turned the vote against Xiang Daofa’s side. The chapter ended with Xiong Zhiyong astonishing the room by supporting Xie Huilan’s nomination, leaving the final result unsettled.

• Cao Xupeng voted for Dong Xuebin, tying the vote at four to four.
• Duan Zheng'an also voted for Dong Xuebin, giving Xie Huilan’s side a five-to-four lead.
• Zhou Pingzhi supported Xiang Daofa, bringing the count to a five-to-five tie.
• Xiang Daofa declared that Lu Dafa would become Investment Bureau Director, but Xie Huilan pointed out that Xiong Zhiyong had not voted.
• Xiong Zhiyong voted for Xie Huilan’s nomination, stunning the Standing Committee members and darkening Xiang Daofa’s expression.

Xie Huilan secured the Standing Committee’s approval for Dong Xuebin to become Director of the County Investment Bureau after Xiong Zhiyong unexpectedly supported the nomination, and Xiang Daofa chose not to veto it. Dong Xuebin celebrated the promotion while preparing to take office after Spring Festival and arrange Yu Meixia’s skin graft surgery.

• Xiong Zhiyong cast the deciding vote for Dong Xuebin, giving Xie Huilan a six-to-five victory, and Xiang Daofa accepted the appointment rather than use his veto.
• Xie Huilan drew Duan Zheng'an aside while Huang Li, Geng Yu Chao, and others followed up with committee members, deepening suspicion within Xiang Daofa’s faction.
• Chen Tongbing told Lu Dafa that Dong Xuebin had won the Investment Bureau post, and Lu Dafa angrily informed his wife, Li Hong.
• Xie Huilan told Dong Xuebin that he would take office after Spring Festival and learned that Xiong Zhiyong had switched sides because of a favor and concerns about the old hacking case involving Xiao Hua.
• News of Dong Xuebin’s promotion spread across Yantai County, prompting cadres to reconsider Xiang Daofa’s political dominance.
• Dong Xuebin received congratulations at the Public Security Bureau, spoke with Liang Chengpeng about his transfer, and planned to arrange Yu Meixia’s skin graft surgery before the New Year.

Dong Xuebin learned that Yu Meixia’s facial wounds had healed with severe scarring and arranged for her to seek skin graft surgery in Korea. After Yu Meixia discovered her injuries and broke down, Dong Xuebin comforted her and promised to accompany her abroad, leaving her at home resting as preparations began.

• Dong Xuebin visited Yu Meixia in the hospital and learned from Doctor Gao that her healed face had severe scars, with less than a twenty-percent chance of complete recovery through surgery in Korea.
• Yu Meixia removed her bandage, saw the scars in the bathroom mirror, and collapsed after Dong Xuebin explained her condition and the possibility of treatment.
• Dong Xuebin contacted Doctor Gao’s Korean colleague to arrange surgery, then called Xu Yan and others to begin arranging passports and leave from work.
• After waking, Yu Meixia hid her face and initially refused to go, but Dong Xuebin persuaded her to consider surgery and promised to accompany her to Korea.
• Yu Meixia was discharged and returned with Dong Xuebin to Huamei Community, where she wore a mask and fell asleep at home.

Dong Xuebin brought Yu Meixia to Seoul for surgery to treat her facial scar, reassuring her through her nerves and helping her find a hotel. After worrying that none of her skin matched her face, they discovered that the skin on her buttocks was a close match, leaving Yu Meixia relieved before her hospital examination.

• Dong Xuebin and Yu Meixia flew from Beijing to Seoul, where he defended her after Korean Taekwondo practitioners stared at her scar and insulted Chinese people.
• Li An helped Dong Xuebin find a taxi, and Dong booked a two-bedroom suite at the Seoul Fourth Ring Hotel.
• Dong told Yu Meixia that Dr. Zhang Jingjing had arranged for her to go to the hospital that afternoon for an examination.
• Yu Meixia worried that the skin on her arms, legs, and back was darker than her face, so Dong compared the areas to assess whether they could be used for a graft.
• Dong found that the skin on Yu Meixia's buttocks was nearly the same color as her face, and she hurriedly dressed again, relieved.

After Xiao Yan’s fire lotus devastated the arena, Liu Qing emerged battered but still standing and acknowledged Xiao Yan as a worthy opponent. The two prepared to settle their match with one final move, leaving the victor undecided.

• Xiao Yan’s fire lotus blasted Liu Qing and shattered much of the arena, leaving the spectators stunned.
• Liu Qing emerged from the dust charred and battered, then retrieved his Mountain Splitting Spear and praised Xiao Yan’s strength.
• Lin Xiuya and the others noted that Liu Qing’s defense had let him withstand the attack, while Liu Fei and Yao Sheng reacted with fear and relief.
• Xiao Yan retrieved his Mysterious Heavy Ruler and declared that he would not give up his chance at a top ten spot.
• Liu Qing and Xiao Yan agreed to decide the match with one final move, and Liu Qing raised the Mountain Splitting Spear against him.

After Tianma Taekwondo Hall denied responsibility for the international students’ injuries, reports and online outrage sparked protests and cyberattacks across China and Korea. As Korean Taekwondo students began attacking Chinese people in Seoul and faced little consequence, anger in China erupted further.

• Dong Xuebin learned that Han Shangyu and Tianma Taekwondo Hall had denied responsibility, while police called the students’ injuries a training accident and failed to secure compensation.
• Dong Xuebin urged the injured students to keep contacting the police, demand medical expenses, and reach out to Chinese media; their protests and news coverage fueled widespread outrage.
• Chinese protesters smashed Taekwondo hall windows, clashed with Korean students, and launched cyberattacks on Korean Taekwondo websites, while Korean hackers retaliated.
• Xu Yan warned Dong Xuebin that Seoul had become dangerous, and Dong confirmed that Taekwondo students were attacking Chinese residents, students, and tourists.
• After Chinese hackers paused their attacks to protect people in Korea, Seoul Taekwondo students continued harassing and assaulting Chinese people, while authorities often let the attackers go, intensifying anger in China.

Dong Xuebin witnessed Taekwondo students assaulting and framing Chinese people in Seoul, while the police failed to hold them accountable. After arranging for Yu Meixia to return to the hospital, he set out with Li An to confront the Taekwondo Gyms himself.

• Dong Xuebin took Yu Meixia outside the hospital, where Kim Hee-jin taunted Li An, Chen Dahui, and injured Chinese students by offering them money instead of apologizing.
• Three Taekwondo Gym members assaulted Dong Xuebin and Yu Meixia, then Yellow Hair falsely accused them of stealing his phone and had them taken to the Police Station.
• After Li An and the others interpreted for them, the police released Dong Xuebin and Yu Meixia without addressing Yellow Hair's false report.
• Dong Xuebin arranged for an international student to escort Yu Meixia back to the hospital and asked Li An to identify the Taekwondo Gyms involved in the assaults.
• Dong Xuebin told Li An they were going to kick down the dojo and strode after Yellow Hair.

Dong Xuebin challenged Suyuan Taekwondo Hall over its trainees’ attacks on Chinese tourists and defeated Red Hair, Yellow Hair, and Coach Zhang. He left determined to challenge every dojo on the list of those involved.

• Dong Xuebin ignored his companions’ warnings and entered Suyuan Taekwondo Hall to challenge the dojo, with Li An translating for him.
• Dong Xuebin defeated Red Hair and Yellow Hair in quick succession, knocking both unconscious.
• Coach Zhang fought Dong Xuebin with a series of kicks, but Dong Xuebin dodged them and then knocked him down with a headbutt and a kick.
• Dong Xuebin rebuked Coach Zhang and warned the dojo to stop targeting Chinese people, threatening to return if its trainees attacked them again.
• Outside the dojo, Dong Xuebin told Li An and the others that they would visit the next dojo and challenge every one on their list.

Dong Xuebin led a crowd of Chinese students and tourists to challenge Tianma Taekwondo Hall, where he defeated Kim Hee-jin and chief instructor Piao Enzhi by exploiting their nerve points and weak spots. He demanded a public apology within one day and threatened to return weekly if the hall refused.

• Reporters gathered outside Tianma Taekwondo Hall, while Li An and Chen Dahui's calls brought dozens of Chinese students and tourists to support Dong Xuebin.
• Dong Xuebin entered the hall with the crowd and challenged its students, while Piao Enzhi sent Kim Hee-jin to test him.
• Dong Xuebin defeated Kim Hee-jin with a strike to his leg and a kick to his face, then stopped his attempted sneak attack by hitting a nerve in his arm.
• Piao Enzhi faced Dong Xuebin and traded blows with him, but Dong Xuebin repeatedly struck his nerve points and acupoints until Piao Enzhi could barely move.
• Dong Xuebin launched a counterattack, knocked Piao Enzhi down, and demanded that Tianma Taekwondo Hall publicly apologize within one day or face weekly challenges.

Dong Xuebin defeated a seventh Seoul Taekwondo gym and demanded that Tianma Taekwondo Hall apologize, throwing Korea’s Taekwondo world into crisis. After news of his challenges spread across China, an assistant coach from Tianma publicly apologized, while Dong Xuebin’s identity remained undisclosed.

• Dong Xuebin defeated another black-belt coach and warned Seoul’s gyms to control their students, saying he would keep challenging them until Tianma Taekwondo Hall apologized.
• Coach Li joined Seoul Taekwondo leaders in a meeting where they urged Piao Enzhi to apologize and contain the damage from Dong Xuebin’s challenges.
• Seoul’s gyms went on alert, disciplined students who attacked Chinese people, and faced withdrawals as the gym-challenge crisis spread.
• Chinese newspapers reported Dong Xuebin’s seven consecutive victories, and students, teachers, celebrities, and online commenters praised the unnamed tourist.
• An assistant coach from Tianma Taekwondo Hall publicly apologized that evening.

Bu Fan investigated a report that a student had been raped, but learned she had gotten drunk after a breakup and injured herself on the way back to campus. He then reconciled with Liu Jiangang and left with Qiao Yiqian for Hainan Island, while the martial artist Bu Fan was searching for remained at large.

• Bu Fan heard a student say a woman had been raped and went to the school gate to check the report.
• A campus guard directed Bu Fan to the security office, where he learned the woman had gotten drunk, fallen repeatedly, and lost her belongings after a breakup.
• Bu Fan went to find Liu Jiangang and learned from the server that Liu had regretted their earlier misunderstanding and wanted to apologize.
• Bu Fan told the server he had never been angry with Liu Jiangang and then headed to Hainan Island with Qiao Yiqian.

Dong Xuebin was released from the Seoul police station after Chinese diplomatic intervention and prepared to return to the Capital City. He left Yu Meixia in the hospital to recover and learned that his challenge to Korean taekwondo gyms had made him a sensation.

• Dong Xuebin rebuked the Korean officers for unfairly handling the case and warned that he would return if Chinese people were bullied again.
• Yu Meixia, Li An, Chen Dahui, and other international students welcomed Dong Xuebin outside the station, where embassy staff picked him up.
• Vice Minister Qi told Dong Xuebin to return to China that day, and Dong Xuebin agreed after arranging Yu Meixia’s care and follow-up travel.
• Dong Xuebin spoke with Xie Huilan and received worried calls from colleagues and family as he headed to the airport.
• Xie Hao excitedly praised Dong Xuebin’s gym challenges and invited him to meet his classmates after he returned.

Dong Xuebin anxiously awaited news of Yu Meixia’s facial surgery and rushed to the airport when she returned to the Capital City. She revealed that her face had healed almost completely, leaving Dong Xuebin relieved and celebrating with the restaurant’s other customers.

• Yu Qianqian called Dong Xuebin in tears after learning that Yu Meixia’s face had been injured, and he reassured her that her mother was recovering.
• Yu Meixia called Dong Xuebin from Capital Airport after returning from Seoul, and he drove there to pick her up.
• Dong Xuebin saw Yu Meixia wearing a mask and feared her scars remained as he took her to a nearby restaurant.
• Yu Meixia removed her mask and showed Dong Xuebin that her face had healed, with only a faint trace of the injury remaining.
• Dong Xuebin paid for food for everyone in the restaurant to celebrate Yu Meixia’s recovery.

Dong Xuebin took Yu Meixia sightseeing around Beijing, and they spent a cheerful day together before returning to his home. The chapter ended with Yu Meixia sitting beside him in the living room, both of them facing an awkward moment after his careless remark about her clothes.

• Dong Xuebin bought tickets and led Yu Meixia into the Summer Palace despite her suggestion that they return to Yantai County early.
• Yu Meixia spoke with Qian Qian by phone and told her that her surgery had gone smoothly.
• Dong Xuebin showed Yu Meixia the Summer Palace, then took her to Wangfujing Snack Street for dinner.
• After they returned home, Yu Meixia tidied Dong Xuebin's room while he showered.
• Yu Meixia came out of the bathroom wearing thermal long johns and a sweater, and Dong Xuebin awkwardly commented on her clothes before she sat beside him to watch television.

Dong Xuebin and Yu Meixia shared a bed to keep warm, and he pressed her to overcome her hesitation and become intimate with him. The chapter ended with Dong Xuebin using a condom and having sex with Yu Meixia.

• Yu Meixia warmed Dong Xuebin's bed by lying under his quilt, then joined him beneath his warmer one when he noticed her shivering.
• Dong Xuebin pulled Yu Meixia close and kissed her despite her repeated protests and guilt about her late husband and daughter.
• Dong Xuebin undressed Yu Meixia, while she told him she was unsure about being intimate because of their age difference and her daughter.
• Yu Meixia eventually asked Dong Xuebin for a condom, and he found one and prepared it.
• Dong Xuebin kept the light on and had sex with Yu Meixia after she asked him to turn it off.

After spending the night together, Dong Xuebin and Yu Meixia awkwardly adjusted to their changed relationship, then grew more comfortable with each other over the morning. They remained at home in Beijing, sharing breakfast and affection, while Yu Meixia kept their relationship secret from her daughter.

• Dong Xuebin woke beside Yu Meixia, apologized for being impulsive, and agreed not to tell her daughter Qian Qian about them.
• Dong Xuebin kissed Yu Meixia and persuaded her to be intimate with him again before they got dressed.
• Yu Meixia used Dong Xuebin's toothbrush, and he took her quiet acceptance as a sign that she no longer viewed him as an outsider.
• Yu Meixia made dough-drop soup because the house had no ingredients, and Dong Xuebin pulled her onto his lap to eat with him.
• After breakfast, Dong Xuebin held Yu Meixia close, and she gently placed her hand over his as her gaze softened.

After Yu Qianqian traveled alone to Beijing to find her mother, Dong Xuebin reunited her with Yu Meixia and spent the day showing them around. The chapter ended with Dong Xuebin and Yu Meixia bathing and making love while Qianqian slept.

• Luan Xiaoping told Dong Xuebin that Yu Qianqian had gone to Beijing, and Dong Xuebin and Yu Meixia hurried to the bus station to find her.
• Yu Qianqian reunited tearfully with Yu Meixia and saw that her mother's face had healed after surgery in Korea.
• Dong Xuebin took Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian to Quanjude, Shijingshan Amusement Park, and Qianmen for a day of food and sightseeing.
• Yu Qianqian called Dong Xuebin Uncle after Yu Meixia instructed her to use the new form of address.
• Dong Xuebin carried the exhausted Yu Qianqian upstairs, then drew Yu Meixia into the bathroom after confirming that Qianqian was asleep.

Dong Xuebin spent the morning sightseeing and hiking with Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian before learning that Xie Huilan was coming to Beijing and her mother had invited him to dinner at the Xie family home. He sent Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian back to the county and prepared to face a potentially awkward reunion with Old Xie.

• Dong Xuebin woke to find Yu Qianqian eager to go sightseeing, and he took her and Yu Meixia to visit Beijing and hike at Fragrant Hills.
• Dong Xuebin told Yu Qianqian he would bring her back to Beijing during summer break, then planned to return to the county with Yu Meixia and her daughter.
• Xie Huilan called and told Dong Xuebin she was driving to Beijing and that Han Jing had invited him to dinner at her grandfather's home.
• Dong Xuebin agreed to bring Changbai Mountain Wild Ginseng as a gift and postponed his return to the county.
• Dong Xuebin took Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian to the long-distance bus station, then worried that Old Xie and the Xie family might treat him coldly.

Dong Xuebin brought fifty-year-old Wild Ginseng to the Xie family home to pay New Year's respects with Xie Huilan. He met several powerful members of her family, and Han Jing welcomed him warmly and thanked him for saving Xie Huilan.

• Dong Xuebin collected a box of fifty-year-old Wild Ginseng from Yun De Auction Company before driving to the Xie family villa.
• Xie Huilan arrived, linked arms with Dong Xuebin, and told the guards he was her boyfriend so they would let him pass without a search.
• Xie Huilan introduced Dong Xuebin to Xie Guoliang, Xie Guojian, and Ci Lifen, then explained the positions held by her relatives.
• Dong Xuebin entered the villa with Xie Huilan and greeted Xie Guobang and Han Jing.
• Han Jing warmly welcomed Dong Xuebin and thanked him for risking his life to defuse the bomb that had threatened Xie Huilan.

Dong Xuebin attended a New Year family gathering at the Xie villa, where he met more of Xie Huilan’s family and struggled to make a favorable impression on Old Master Xie. The dinner began with Dong Xuebin drinking to the elders as Xie Hao enthusiastically recounted his martial-arts exploits.

• Xie Guobang asked Dong Xuebin about moving from the Public Security System to the Investment Bureau, and Dong gave an earnest speech about serving the county’s economy.
• Xie Huilan and Dong Xuebin greeted Old Master Xie, who ignored Dong’s gift of Wild Ginseng and went to speak with Xie Guobang and Han Jing.
• Xie Huilan introduced Dong Xuebin to Xie Ran and Xie Jing, then told him the family hoped to support Xie Ran’s future career.
• Xie Hao arrived, hugged Dong Xuebin, and excitedly told Xie Jing about Dong’s challenge to Korean Taekwondo schools.
• At dinner, Dong Xuebin toasted the elders and drank several cups of Baijiu despite his poor alcohol tolerance.

Dong Xuebin, drunk after dinner, was summoned by Old Master Xie for chess and ended up speaking frankly with him. Their conversation left Old Master Xie laughing and listening as Dong Xuebin criticized his handling of Xie Huilan’s engagement.

• Xie Huilan went upstairs with Xie Ran, leaving Dong Xuebin downstairs with Old Master Xie and the younger generation.
• Old Master Xie invited Dong Xuebin upstairs to play chess, then made the loser drink Moutai; Dong lost several games and became thoroughly drunk.
• Dong Xuebin accused Old Master Xie of trying to get him drunk, then sat in the old man’s chair and asked why he always looked stern.
• Old Master Xie explained that he had spent decades smiling in public before retirement and had grown tired of it.
• Dong Xuebin praised Old Master Xie for enduring a difficult life and defended his own impulsive actions as necessary to protect ordinary people and his conscience.
• Old Master Xie laughed and encouraged Dong Xuebin to keep talking, while Dong criticized him for arranging Xie Huilan’s engagement badly.

After waking at Xishan Villa, Dong Xuebin learned that he had drunkenly called Old Master Xie “Old Xie,” lectured him, and sung the national anthem with him. The morning ended with Old Master Xie giving Dong a personally signed inscription reading “A Clear Conscience.”

• Xie Huilan told Dong Xuebin that he had gotten drunk playing chess with Old Master Xie and had called him “Old Xie,” criticized him, and sung the national anthem with him.
• Xie Huilan reassured Dong Xuebin that Old Master Xie had not been angry and had laughed and chatted with him.
• Old Master Xie practiced calligraphy and wrote inscriptions for Xie Ran, Xie Hao, Xie Jing, and Xie Huilan.
• Dong Xuebin apologized to Old Master Xie for his drunken behavior the night before.
• Old Master Xie wrote and signed an inscription reading “A Clear Conscience” for Dong Xuebin, surprising the family.

Grandpa Xie gave Dong Xuebin a signed calligraphy piece reading “A Clear Conscience,” then presented him and Xie Huilan with “Match Made in Heaven,” formally approving their relationship. Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan left with the Xie Family’s acceptance.

• Grandpa Xie gave Dong Xuebin the signed calligraphy “A Clear Conscience,” which Xie Huilan explained was a rare honor and a sign that Grandpa Xie liked him.
• Xie Huilan and Dong Xuebin prepared to leave the Xie Family villa and went to say goodbye to Grandpa Xie.
• Grandpa Xie presented Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan with a calligraphy piece reading “Match Made in Heaven,” signaling his approval of their relationship.
• Xie Ran congratulated the couple, while Xie Jing and Xie Hao began treating Dong Xuebin as their brother-in-law.
• Xie Huilan accepted the calligraphy, and she and Dong Xuebin left the villa.

After returning from the Xie Family, Dong Xuebin reunited with his former subordinate Guo Panwei, who described his stalled career at the State Security Bureau. Guo asked to work under Dong at the grassroots level, and Dong agreed to look into arranging it after he returned.

• Dong Xuebin returned home and found Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian there after their bus to Yantai County had broken down.
• Guo Panwei visited Dong Xuebin, thanked him for his past support, and explained that a new General Office director had sidelined him and stalled his promotion.
• Dong Xuebin told Guo Panwei that he would become the head of the Investment Bureau after the New Year, impressing Guo with his latest promotion.
• Dong Xuebin hosted Guo Panwei, Yu Meixia, and Yu Qianqian for lunch, and Guo toasted them while flattering his former leader.
• Guo Panwei asked Dong Xuebin to help him transfer to the grassroots level and work under him, and Dong agreed to look into it after returning.