Recaps

After Zhou Changchun returned from the hospital to complete his retirement, Dong Xuebin stood by him when the General Office staff avoided him. Zhou Changchun then nominated Dong Xuebin for deputy director, putting his name before the Bureau Party Committee while warning that the promotion would be difficult.

• Zhou Changchun returned to the General Office, where Guo Panwei and the other staff members refused to leave their seats or accompany him.
• Dong Xuebin helped Zhou Changchun carry and pack his belongings, earning his gratitude while Guo Shunjie, Guo Panwei, and Tan Limei questioned Dong’s judgment.
• Zhou Changchun called Director Yan and nominated Dong Xuebin for deputy director instead of Guo Panwei.
• Director Yan confirmed that Director Li Qing had also nominated Dong Xuebin, allowing the General Office to put forward a unified recommendation for the Bureau Party Committee meeting.
• Zhou Changchun warned Dong Xuebin that Guo Shunjie and Guo Panwei had powerful backers, but Dong resolved to fight for the position.

Dong Xuebin learned that his nomination for deputy director had been submitted, but Director Li Qing doubted he could win and urged him to use the opportunity to meet bureau leaders. Dong decided to seek Xu Yan’s support, but their first meeting ended without him making an impression.

• Tan Limei warned Dong Xuebin that associating with Zhou Changchun could put him at risk, while Dong insisted Zhou had no financial problems.
• Guo Shunjie and Guo Panwei traded barbs as they competed for the deputy director position, unaware that Dong Xuebin had also been nominated.
• Li Qing told Dong Xuebin his nomination had gone to Director Yan and advised him to build relationships with bureau leaders rather than expect to win the post.
• Dong Xuebin considered the Bureau Party Committee members and chose Xu Yan as someone who might support his promotion.
• Dong Xuebin delivered files to Xu Yan, but she did not recognize him and questioned why he had not joined the soccer tournament; he explained he had recently been hospitalized and left without building a rapport.

Dong Xuebin went to watch Chengxi Branch Bureau face Chaoyang Branch Bureau as the team tried to avoid another loss. With the match tied in stoppage time, a collision let Chaoyang’s No. 21 break through, and the referee awarded a penalty after the goalkeeper brought him down.

• Li Qing told the bureau’s soccer players that avoiding defeat was a political assignment, while Dong Xuebin stayed behind at the office.
• Dong Xuebin and Tan Limei went to Yuetan Sports Field, where Chengxi Branch Bureau was holding Chaoyang Branch Bureau to a 0–0 draw.
• Chang Juan told Dong Xuebin and Tan Limei that Director Xu and East City Branch Bureau’s deputy political commissar Xu Yan were rivals because Xu Yan had married Director Xu’s ex-husband.
• In stoppage time, Guo Panwei collided with a teammate and Chaoyang’s No. 21 broke into the penalty area.
• Goalkeeper Xiao Gao brought No. 21 down, and the referee awarded Chaoyang Branch Bureau a penalty.

After a disputed penalty call and a series of arguments, the Chengxi Branch Bureau struggled to find a goalkeeper to face Chaoyang’s No. 21. Dong Xuebin volunteered at the last moment, hoping to earn Director Xu’s favor.

• The referee awarded Chaoyang a penalty, and Xu Yan and Xu Yan argued over whether the call was correct.
• A Municipal Bureau leader ordered Xu Yan to stop arguing and let the penalty proceed.
• Xiao Gao could not continue because of his injured leg, and Xu Yan demanded that a substitute goalkeeper be found.
• Li Qing asked several substitutes to take the position, but each refused or claimed he could not do it.
• As Xu Yan berated the substitutes, Dong Xuebin offered to go in goal.

Dong Xuebin volunteered to defend Chengxi’s goal against No. 21’s penalty, and his first attempt failed. He rewound time, saved the shot on his second try, and left the Chengxi Team celebrating.

• Xu Yan asked Dong Xuebin whether he could save the penalty, and he guaranteed he would complete the task.
• Dong Xuebin took Xiao Gao’s gloves and faced No. 21 as his colleagues worried he had never played goalkeeper.
• No. 21 sent the ball into the upper-left corner, scoring and giving Chaoyang the victory.
• Dong Xuebin used his ability to rewind time and returned the match to the penalty kick.
• Dong Xuebin anticipated No. 21’s shot, blocked it, and pinned the ball beneath himself.
• Xu Yan and the Chengxi Team cheered Dong Xuebin for saving the penalty.

Dong Xuebin helped Chengxi hold the Chaoyang Branch Bureau to a draw with a crucial penalty save, earning Xu Yan’s praise. As Xu Yan prepared the team for its must-win match against East City, Dong decided to impress her again and strengthen his chances of blocking Guo Shunjie’s promotion.

• Dong Xuebin saved a penalty in the final moments, and Chengxi ended its losing streak by drawing 0:0 with Chaoyang.
• Xu Yan praised Dong Xuebin and learned that he was the newcomer who had rescued important documents from a fire.
• Xu Yan asked Dong to replace the goalkeeper for the next match, but he said his doctor had forbidden strenuous exercise and offered to play only if a dangerous set piece arose.
• Xu Yan rallied the team for its final match against East City, insisting that Chengxi had to win.
• Dong Xuebin resolved to perform well in the next match so Xu Yan might support his bid for deputy director and oppose Guo Shunjie.

The Chengxi Team faced the Chengdong Team in a crucial match, where the opponents’ rough play and the referee’s calls left Chengxi with several injured players and no substitutes remaining. The score stayed 0–0 at halftime, and Xu Yan worried that the team might be forced to finish short-handed.

• Xu Yan urged the Chengxi Team to win as both teams and their leaders exchanged hostile remarks before kickoff.
• The Chengdong Team attacked aggressively, and Zhuangzi was injured by a dangerous tackle and replaced.
• The Chengxi players protested the rough play, but the referee gave the Chengdong player only a yellow card.
• Near halftime, Chengdong’s number 13 elbowed a Chengxi Political Department player during a header, but the referee did not punish him and instead booked a Chengxi player.
• The first half ended 0–0, with Chengxi having one yellow card, Chengdong four, and Chengxi no substitutes left after the injuries.

Chengxi Team remained unable to score as Chengdong Team’s dirty play injured another player and sparked a confrontation. After Xu Yan suffered a personal setback and accepted that the match was lost, Dong Xuebin asked to enter the game.

• Chengdong Team fouled Chengxi Team repeatedly, and the score stayed 0–0 as the match neared its end.
• With two minutes remaining, a Chengxi striker broke toward the penalty area, but a Chengdong defender deliberately crashed into him and left him unable to continue.
• Chengxi players confronted their opponents until two Municipal Bureau leaders arrived and Director Lü ordered the teams to resume play.
• Xu Yan’s ex-husband called to take their son away early, and she swallowed half a blood pressure pill after the call left her shaken.
• As Xu Yan slumped on the bench and the match seemed lost, Dong Xuebin clenched his fist and asked to go in.

Dong Xuebin entered as a forward for the final minute, and Chengxi Team appeared to lose again after the match ended. He then rewound time, intercepted Chengdong Team’s back pass, and scored a last-second winner, leaving Chengxi Team celebrating its victory.

• Xu Yan initially refused to substitute Dong Xuebin into the match, but relented after he insisted and told him to be careful.
• Chengxi Team failed to recover the ball before time expired, and the referee ended the match with the team facing its eighth winless game.
• Dong Xuebin used BACK to return to the closing seconds and anticipated Chengdong Team’s center forward’s back pass.
• Dong Xuebin collected the ball, beat the goalkeeper, and scored in the upper-right corner just before time ran out.
• Xu Yan and Chengxi Team’s players celebrated as they realized Dong Xuebin had won the match for them.

Dong Xuebin scored a last-second goal to give Chengxi Branch Bureau a 1:0 victory over Chengdong Team, earning praise from his colleagues and leaders. As the team celebrated and Xu Yan thanked him, Guo Shunjie remained resentful, while Dong Xuebin’s nickname “Firefighter” spread through the bureau.

• With seconds left, Dong Xuebin ran forward, met Chengdong Team’s back pass, and scored the winning goal.
• The referee ended the match, and Chengxi Branch Bureau celebrated its 1:0 victory as colleagues praised Dong Xuebin.
• The team tossed Dong Xuebin into the air until Xu Yan and Li Qing reminded them that his injuries had not healed.
• Xu Yan berated Chengdong Team’s players for their failed back pass and poor marking, then quietly thanked Dong Xuebin.
• Guo Shunjie walked behind the celebrating group, resentful of Dong Xuebin’s success, while the nickname “Firefighter” spread through Chengxi Branch Bureau.

Dong Xuebin grew anxious about his chances of becoming deputy director and struggled to ask Xu Yan for help. Xu Yan remembered his nomination and promised to advocate for him, though she could not guarantee the result.

• Dong Xuebin received warm greetings from colleagues after his performance in the football tournament, while Guo Shunjie and Guo Panwei resumed their rivalry in the General Office.
• Dong Xuebin worried that the upcoming deputy director decision would leave him vulnerable to Guo Shunjie's retaliation, but he could not decide how to approach Xu Yan.
• Tan Limei told Dong Xuebin that Xu Yan had asked him to deliver the keys assigned to Lao Shen in the Political Department.
• Dong Xuebin delivered the keys to Xu Yan but nervously avoided asking her to support his nomination.
• Xu Yan recalled that Dong Xuebin had been nominated for deputy director and said she would do her best to fight for him, though she could not promise success.

With four days left before the deputy director nomination, Dong Xuebin worked to win over Yang Yizhong and identified Liu Hua as another potential supporter. He left work planning to visit Liu Hua that night, despite learning that Liu kept everyone at a distance.

• Dong Xuebin chose Yang Yizhong and Liu Hua as his next targets for support.
• Dong Xuebin delivered Yang Yizhong a polished speech, which Yang approved and agreed to use.
• Yang Yizhong criticized Guo Panwei and Guo Shunjie for separately delivering identical materials and told Dong Xuebin to handle deliveries from then on.
• Tan Limei told Dong Xuebin that Liu Hua avoided workplace ties, abstained from votes, and refused gifts.
• Dong Xuebin asked about Liu Hua's home and decided to visit him that night.

Dong Xuebin tried to win Liu Hua over with a gift, but Liu Hua refused it, so Dong stole a look at Liu Hua’s notebook using Back. He discovered Liu Hua urgently wanted a matched pair of rare 4.6-centimeter Lion’s Head walnuts for his wife’s wedding anniversary, but realized they would be extremely difficult to find.

• Dong Xuebin spotted Guo Shunjie leaving Liu Hua’s residential complex after an unsuccessful attempt to give Liu Hua gifts.
• Dong Xuebin visited Liu Hua and offered cosmetics for Liu Hua’s wife, but Liu Hua refused the gift and would not invite him inside.
• When Liu Hua wrote in his notebook after a phone call, Dong Xuebin snatched it and used Back to return to the moment before Liu Hua noticed.
• Dong Xuebin recalled that Liu Hua’s notebook repeatedly mentioned finding a 4.6-centimeter Lion’s Head walnut for Tian Tian.
• Dong Xuebin recognized Lion’s Head as a valuable collectible walnut and realized that finding a matched pair in that size would be extremely difficult.

Dong Xuebin tried to find a pair of 46 mm Lion’s Head walnuts at Panjiayuan but came up empty. He spotted a green-husk walnut stall and considered gambling on the possibility of finding the rare pair inside.

• Qu Yunxuan woke Dong Xuebin, accepted the cosmetics he had bought for his superior’s wife, and left for work at the newspaper office.
• Dong Xuebin decided to find another way to earn money while Qu Yunxuan worked toward opening her own company.
• Dong Xuebin withdrew twenty thousand yuan and went to Panjiayuan to search for 46 mm Lion’s Head walnuts for Liu Hua and Tian Tian.
• Dong Xuebin visited several walnut shops, but none had the rare walnuts he wanted.
• Dong Xuebin noticed a stall selling green-husked walnuts and considered trying his luck at finding 46 mm Lion’s Heads inside them.

Dong Xuebin waited all day for a chance to find a 46mm Lion's Head walnut, then used Back to claim the rare walnut before another buyer could take it. He ended the chapter thrilled with his flawless 46.8mm find.

• Dong Xuebin watched buyers open green-skinned walnuts for hours but saw none large enough to meet his 46mm target.
• A Big Man bought two walnuts, and the second revealed a 46.8mm Lion's Head that he refused to sell.
• Dong Xuebin used Back to return to the moment before the Big Man chose the walnuts.
• Dong Xuebin grabbed the two rotten-skinned walnuts first and paid 800 yuan for them.
• The vendor opened one and found a flawless 46.8mm Lion's Head, which Dong Xuebin joyfully claimed.

Dong Xuebin searched the Shilihe Flower and Bird Market for another 46mm Lion's Head and found a 46.6mm walnut he could trade for a pair of large Chicken Hearts. When nearby shops had none, he decided to gamble on fresh green-peel walnuts himself.

• Dong Xuebin spent the morning watching walnut stalls but did not find a four-six Lion's Head.
• Dong Xuebin saw a high school student with a 46.6mm Lion's Head and offered to buy it, but the boy wanted to trade it for a pair of large Chicken Hearts above four-six.
• Dong Xuebin rushed to three shops to look for the Chicken Hearts, but none had them.
• Dong Xuebin spotted a shop bringing out fresh green-peel walnuts and decided to gamble on large Chicken Hearts to secure the trade.

Dong Xuebin tried to trade for a 46mm Dwarf Lion’s Head, but another buyer got it first, and he was left with walnuts from a stall. When the stall’s mislabeled green peels turned out to contain Dwarf Lion’s Heads, the sellers refused to honor the deal, and Dong Xuebin used his ability to turn back time.

• Dong Xuebin chose four pairs of Big Chicken Heart green peels and asked the stall owner to open them quickly while he watched the high school student with the 46mm Dwarf Lion’s Head.
• A buyer traded with the high school student first, giving him Big Chicken Hearts in exchange for the Dwarf Lion’s Head.
• Dong Xuebin asked the stall owner to open only two walnuts, but the owner refused to refund him, so Dong Xuebin told him to open all eight.
• Dong Xuebin and the onlookers discovered that the supposed Big Chicken Hearts were Dwarf Lion’s Heads from a basket the stall owner’s son had mislabeled.
• The stall owner’s son said Dong Xuebin had paid for only one pair, and both sellers insulted him when he objected.
• Dong Xuebin smiled coldly and activated his ability, saying, “...back.”

Dong Xuebin bought all 202 green-husked walnuts from the dark-skinned young man and spent the afternoon peeling them, hoping to find a 46mm Dwarf Lion’s Head. He finally uncovered a 46.8mm walnut that nearly perfectly matched the one he had found earlier.

• Dong Xuebin changed his mind and bought all 202 green-husked walnuts from the dark-skinned young man for the remaining twenty thousand yuan.
• Dong Xuebin returned home and began peeling and scrubbing the walnuts, confirming that the first several were Dwarf Lion’s Heads.
• Dong Xuebin spent the afternoon peeling walnuts and found examples ranging from 39mm to 44mm, including some with flaws.
• Dong Xuebin received Qu Yunxuan’s message that she would not be home for dinner, then continued peeling the fifty-fifth walnut.
• Dong Xuebin uncovered a 46.8mm Dwarf Lion’s Head and compared it with his earlier walnut, finding that the two were an almost perfect match.

Dong Xuebin matched his Dwarf Lion's Head walnuts into pairs and sold them to a shop for 70,000 yuan. He returned home with his assets at 100,000 yuan, one step closer to his million-yuan goal.

• Dong Xuebin finished opening the walnuts and matched the undamaged ones into pairs.
• Dong Xuebin packed the walnuts into a suitcase and took them to a shop near the North Entrance of Heping Street.
• Dong Xuebin showed the shop owner several pairs, then laid out the rest for appraisal.
• The shop owner offered 70,000 yuan for the walnuts, and Dong Xuebin accepted the cash.
• Dong Xuebin returned home and realized that his total assets had reached 100,000 yuan.

Dong Xuebin brought Liu Hua the rare walnuts he wanted for his wedding anniversary, and Liu Hua accepted them after paying him. Liu Hua planned to surprise Tian Tian with the gift and began wondering about Dong Xuebin’s abilities.

• The bureau inspection passed through the General Office, where Dong Xuebin noticed Deputy Director Liu Hua among the leaders.
• Liu Hua recalled his difficult early years with Tian Tian and searched for a pair of 46-millimeter Dwarf Lion's Head walnuts for their tenth wedding anniversary.
• Dong Xuebin visited Liu Hua and offered him a pair of 46.8-millimeter Dwarf Lion's Heads.
• Liu Hua paid Dong Xuebin five thousand yuan for the walnuts and accepted them.
• Liu Hua called Tian Tian to arrange a weekend dinner and promise her a surprise, then wondered about Dong Xuebin’s reputation for handling difficulties.

Dong Xuebin waited anxiously for the Party Committee meeting that would decide the deputy director of the General Office, as Guo Shunjie and Guo Panwei sought support from opposing leaders. Xu Yan explained Dong Xuebin’s remarkable record to Song Shoujie, hoping to win support for his candidacy, while Guo Shunjie remained confident Zhou Guoan would secure the appointment for him.

• Dong Xuebin saw Guo Shunjie dismiss his wife at the bureau gate, and Guo Shunjie warned him he would make trouble for him after his promotion.
• Guo Panwei went to seek Pang Bin’s support, while Guo Shunjie visited Zhou Guoan, who assured him his appointment would face no problems.
• Xu Yan summoned Dong Xuebin to copy and file a document, then discussed his candidacy with Song Shoujie.
• Xu Yan reminded Song Shoujie that Dong Xuebin had risked himself to save a document from a fire and had made decisive plays in soccer matches.
• Xu Yan told Song Shoujie that Dong Xuebin had memorized the clothing and other details of three people who passed during his civil service interview, leaving Song impressed by him.

The Chengxi Branch Bureau Party Committee discussed several bureau matters and approved relocating its Guest House before turning to a contested personnel appointment. The meeting ended as Pang Bin argued for Guo Panwei, while Zhou Guoan’s efforts to secure the deputy director post left Guo Panwei’s prospects uncertain.

• The Party Committee began its meeting with all ten members present and debated whether to relocate the Guest House.
• Yan Liang called for a show-of-hands vote, and the proposal to relocate the Guest House passed despite opposition and an abstention.
• The committee discussed several other proposals, which passed with differing levels of support.
• Pang Bin presented Guo Panwei, Guo Shunjie, and Dong Xuebin as candidates for deputy director of the General Office.
• Pang Bin backed Guo Panwei on the grounds of seniority and experience, while Cheng Haimei stayed silent and Zhou Guoan’s support for securing the post became apparent.

The branch bureau committee clashed over who should become Deputy Director of the General Office, with Xu Yan nominating Dong Xuebin against the leading support for Guo Shunjie. Zhou Guoan remained confident that Yan Liang would ultimately back Guo Shunjie, leaving the appointment unresolved in the meeting.

• Zhao Jinxi challenged Pang Bin's support for Guo Panwei and argued that Guo Shunjie was the better choice, prompting a heated exchange.
• Cheng Haimei and Li Mingyu supported Guo Shunjie, while Yan Liang sought to move the meeting along.
• Xu Yan asserted her authority over the General Office and nominated Dong Xuebin, citing his achievements and drive.
• Song Shoujie and Yang Yizhong supported Dong Xuebin, while Zhao Jinxi and Li Mingyu dismissed his candidacy as too young and inexperienced.
• Zhou Guoan noted that Dong Xuebin had gained three supporters but remained confident Yan Liang would ultimately support Guo Shunjie.

Yan Liang expected to support Guo Shunjie for Deputy Director of the General Office, but the Party committee vote took an unexpected turn when Liu Hua backed Dong Xuebin. With the vote at five to four, Yan Liang realized that his own vote for Guo Shunjie would only create a tie, leaving the outcome unresolved.

• Yan Liang privately planned to support Guo Shunjie, while Zhou Guoan and others argued that Dong Xuebin was too new and needed further review.
• Yan Liang called for a vote, and Zhou Guoan, Li Mingyu, Zhao Jinxi, and Cheng Haimei supported Guo Shunjie while Xu Yan, Song Shoujie, and Yang Yizhong supported Dong Xuebin.
• Pang Bin unexpectedly supported Dong Xuebin, bringing the vote to four votes for each candidate.
• Liu Hua cast his first vote at a Party committee meeting and supported Dong Xuebin, putting him ahead five to four.
• Yan Liang realized that voting for Guo Shunjie would only produce a tie, and the chapter ended before he announced his vote.

After the Bureau Party Committee meeting, Xiao Lü announced that Dong Xuebin had been appointed deputy director of the General Office. Dong Xuebin accepted the news with barely contained joy, while Guo Shunjie rushed off to challenge the unexpected result.

• The General Office staff waited through lunch for Xiao Lü to bring news of the Party Committee meeting, while Guo Shunjie assumed he had won the deputy director position.
• Chang Juan warned Dong Xuebin to accept his place beneath the leaders, but he refused to bow to Guo Shunjie.
• Xiao Lü entered the office, ignored Guo Shunjie and Guo Panwei, and congratulated Dong Xuebin as Director Dong.
• Dong Xuebin told his astonished coworkers that the appointment had not yet been formally announced, and Guo Panwei slumped into his chair.
• Guo Shunjie ran off to find Political Commissar Zhou, while Xu Yan called Dong Xuebin to confirm that the appointment was settled.