Recaps

Dong Xuebin hosted a dinner for the County Party Committee Standing Committee members who had aligned with him, hoping to build personal ties and unite them against Zhang Dongfang. After Meng Hanmei cut his hair and prepared the meal, the gathering began with the group chatting as friends.

• Meng Hanmei finished cutting Dong Xuebin’s hair, and he praised her work.
• Dong Xuebin offered to cook, but Meng Hanmei insisted on preparing the dishes.
• Chang Lin, Sun Changzhi, Wang Binhe, and Li Niu arrived together with gifts, which Dong Xuebin accepted while asking them not to bring anything in the future.
• The Standing Committee members volunteered to cook, but Meng Hanmei prepared the meal while Dong Xuebin poured tea and brought out liquor.
• Dong Xuebin decided to focus the dinner on personal relationships so his allies could grow closer and unite against Zhang Dongfang.

After the mountain rescue, Dong Xuebin watched Jiaolin County’s news coverage with his colleagues over dinner and saw it highlight his efforts while the municipal station focused on Zhang Dongfang. The chapter left Dong Xuebin’s first day in office looking like a major success.

• Meng Hanmei served dinner, and Dong Xuebin and the others ate and drank together at home.
• Meng Hanmei and Sun Changzhi suggested watching the news, so Dong Xuebin turned on the television.
• Jiaolin County’s news showed Dong Xuebin directing the rescue, helping students, and carrying two feverish students down the mountain.
• The county anchor praised Dong Xuebin’s actions and reported that Zhang Dongfang had been injured and was receiving treatment.
• Dong Xuebin switched to the municipal news, which emphasized Zhang Dongfang’s rescue efforts and hospital stay instead.
• Meng Hanmei, Chang Lin, and the other committee members admired Dong Xuebin’s work and considered his first day a success.

Dong Xuebin secretly inspected the nearly completed New County Party Committee Compound to check for construction problems. He and Su Yan were stunned by how luxurious it looked when they reached the gate.

• Dong Xuebin arrived at work hungover and heard from Meng Hanmei that Zhang Dongfang was sick and the new compound was awaiting inspection.
• Meng Hanmei gave Dong Xuebin the compound's documents, and he decided to visit the site with Su Yan without notifying anyone.
• Dong Xuebin and Su Yan drove to the compound discreetly and walked toward its main gate.
• Dong Xuebin and Su Yan saw the compound and were shocked by its extraordinary luxury.

Dong Xuebin inspected the lavish New County Party Committee Compound and learned that its extravagant construction had been approved by the previous Standing Committee. With the old office building becoming dangerous, he reluctantly approved a prompt inspection and a staged move if the new compound had no quality issues.

• Dong Xuebin and Su Yan toured the palace-style compound, where Dong Xuebin was appalled by its extravagance despite its meticulous construction.
• Dong Xuebin called Meng Hanmei and learned that Secretary Li had pushed for the plan, which passed the Standing Committee despite County Chief Zhang's opposition.
• Meng Hanmei told Dong Xuebin that heavy rain had worsened cracks and collapses in the old office building and cafeteria, leaving staff afraid they might fall.
• Dong Xuebin ordered the relevant departments to inspect the new compound and, if it passed, move the County Party Committee and county government there in stages.

Dong Xuebin remained troubled about allowing the county to move into the wasteful New County Party Committee Compound, so he used Forward to look ahead at the newspapers. When the drawer stayed empty despite his attempts to account for it, he suspected something major would happen the next day.

• Office staff and county leaders discussed the imminent move to the New County Party Committee Compound, while Dong Xuebin privately regretted allowing it.
• Dong Xuebin worked late, ate dinner with Su Yan, and told him to come in early for the move the next day.
• After Su Yan left, Dong Xuebin used Forward on the afternoon newspapers to try to see the next day's news, but found the drawer empty.
• Dong Xuebin called Su Yan and told him to put all newspapers directly in the drawer, then tried Forward again and still found nothing.
• Dong Xuebin reasoned that the missing newspapers might mean an extraordinary event would disrupt the next day.

Dong Xuebin used Forward to look ahead and discovered that an online exposé of Baohong City’s lavish government compounds had triggered a sweeping investigation. The papers reported that he had been suspended pending investigation, leaving him facing the possibility that he would be implicated in the scandal.

• Dong Xuebin worried that the newspapers had stopped arriving and used Forward to check the drawer two minutes into the future.
• Dong Xuebin found three newspapers, including issues for the next day and the day after, and saw that their headlines concerned an exposé of Baohong City’s extravagant government compounds.
• The exposé spread across major news outlets, prompting the province to dispatch an investigation team to examine construction, accounts, and officials across Baohong City.
• Dong Xuebin learned that Jiaolin County was hit especially hard and that he had been suspended pending investigation over the new County Party Committee Compound.
• Dong Xuebin realized that Li Guian had likely been implicated in the scandal and feared that he would suffer the same fate.

Dong Xuebin sought a way to prevent the coming investigation from ruining his career and Jiaolin County. He secretly summoned Huo Yibang and ordered him to demolish the New County Party Committee Compound before morning.

• Dong Xuebin realized the newspapers he had seen predicted an investigation, his suspension, and disciplinary action unless he intervened before morning.
• Dong Xuebin asked clerk Sun to find Urban Management Bureau director Huo Yibang’s number and burned the newspapers from the future.
• Dong Xuebin called Huo Yibang and arranged a secret meeting at the New County Party Committee Compound.
• Dong Xuebin met Huo Yibang outside the compound and ordered him to level its walls, gate, and buildings before morning.
• Huo Yibang was shocked by Dong Xuebin’s demolition order.

Dong Xuebin ordered Huo Yibang to demolish the newly built New County Party Committee Compound before nine the next morning, refusing to explain why. Huo Yibang accepted the secret assignment and began calling in his trusted people and equipment.

• Dong Xuebin told Huo Yibang to level the compound by nine the next morning and said he would take full responsibility.
• Huo Yibang questioned the order and pointed out that the compound gates were locked.
• Dong Xuebin kicked the gates off their hinges and ordered Huo Yibang to demolish every building without moving anything inside.
• Dong Xuebin insisted that the demolition remain secret and gave Huo Yibang the choice to accept or leave.
• Huo Yibang agreed to the task, promised to keep it quiet, and said he would summon workers and equipment immediately.

Huo Yibang committed to Dong Xuebin’s secret plan to demolish the New County Party Committee Compound and mobilized trusted staff and equipment for the night operation. While they waited, Dong helped Huo arrange a connection at a top hospital in the Capital City for his ailing son, leaving Huo more certain that backing Dong was the right gamble.

• Huo Yibang decided to carry out Dong Xuebin’s order and secretly summoned trusted enforcement officers and demolition equipment.
• Dong Xuebin kicked in the door of a building in the compound, and he and Huo waited inside for the team to arrive.
• Huo told Dong that his twenty-year-old son suffered frequent fevers and had no diagnosis despite repeated hospital visits.
• Dong gave Huo the contact information of Liu Xuemei, a former Major General and Vice Dean at 301, and told him to mention Dong’s name when seeking treatment.
• Huo inferred that Dong had strong connections in the Capital City and felt reassured that he had chosen to support him.

Dong Xuebin and Huo Yibang summoned the Urban Management Bureau’s personnel to the New County Party Committee Compound in the middle of the night. Dong Xuebin ordered them to demolish the entire compound before morning, leaving the stunned crew facing the task.

• Dong Xuebin and Huo Yibang went outside when the Urban Management Bureau’s vehicles arrived at the compound.
• Lao Zhou brought roughly fifteen or sixteen personnel and several vehicles into the compound after Huo Yibang confirmed the group was present.
• Dong Xuebin introduced himself as the newly appointed County Party Secretary and ordered everyone to hand their communication devices to Huo Yibang.
• Dong Xuebin promised the personnel four times their daily wage in overtime pay and told Huo Yibang to explain the assignment.
• Huo Yibang ordered the personnel to level every building and wall in the New County Party Committee Compound before morning, leaving them dumbfounded.

Huo Yibang committed to Dong Xuebin’s secret, unauthorized demolition order and arranged trusted staff and equipment to carry it out. While they waited, Dong gave Huo a connection at a top hospital to help his frail son, leaving Huo more convinced that he had chosen the right side.

• Huo Yibang decided to gamble on Dong Xuebin’s order and secretly summoned trusted enforcement officers and demolition equipment.
• Dong Xuebin kicked down a locked door, and he and Huo waited inside the compound for the team to arrive.
• Dong learned that Huo Yibang’s twenty-year-old son suffered frequent fevers and had not received a diagnosis.
• Dong gave Huo the phone number of Liu Xuemei, a former major general and vice dean at the People's Liberation Army General Hospital, and told him to mention Dong’s name.
• Huo agreed to take his son to the Capital City for treatment and inferred that Dong had powerful connections there.

Dong Xuebin stayed calm as news reports condemned Jiaolin County’s New County Party Committee Compound and ordered Su Yan to rent every nearby row house. He then checked on Huo Yibang, whose Urban Management Bureau crew had worked through the night carrying out Dong’s secret instructions.

• Meng Hanmei warned Dong Xuebin that online criticism of county compounds had spread to Provincial Television Station, but he took his time getting ready.
• Fang Wenping told Dong Xuebin the province might take measures and that he should prepare to take responsibility.
• Dong Xuebin instructed Su Yan to rent all the row houses near the New County Party Committee Compound as quickly as possible.
• Dong Xuebin called Huo Yibang and learned that his crew had worked overnight on the task, with cleanup still underway.

After a Provincial Television Station report sparked widespread online criticism of Jiaolin County’s new County Party Committee compound, Zhang Dongfang and the other Standing Committee Members halted the move. Dong Xuebin arrived and ordered everyone to continue, leaving the county’s leaders stunned as the relocation proceeded amid the controversy.

• Dong Xuebin arrived at work calmly while county officials and staff worried about the Provincial Television Station report and its fallout.
• Zhang Dongfang, Wei Zhixuan, and the other Standing Committee Members held an emergency meeting and discussed the rapidly spreading online post about the new compound.
• Zhang Dongfang proposed suspending the move, and the Standing Committee Members agreed before telling staff to stop and carry the items back inside.
• Dong Xuebin came out carrying his own belongings and asked why everyone was moving things back.
• Dong Xuebin dismissed the report as unrelated to them and ordered all departments to continue moving into the new compound as quickly as possible.

Dong Xuebin ordered Jiaolin County’s offices to move into the controversial new compound despite opposition from Zhang Dongfang and other leaders. When a Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee investigation team arrived, Dong Xuebin still insisted on proceeding with the move and offered to take them along, leaving the officials stunned by his defiance.

• Dong Xuebin ordered county departments to pack and move into the New County Party Committee Compound, overruling objections from Wang Binhe, Wei Zhixuan, and Zhang Dongfang.
• Zhang Dongfang told his faction to comply while formally reserving his objections to the move.
• A Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee investigation team led by Cheng Wei arrived to investigate Jiaolin County’s government offices and Family Compounds.
• Meng Hanmei and other county officials panicked, but Dong Xuebin told them to cooperate with the investigation and continue their plans.
• Dong Xuebin invited Cheng Wei’s team to inspect the new compound as the county moved in, then ordered the trucks to depart with the investigators aboard.

Dong Xuebin led the Provincial Investigation Team and Jiaolin County officials away from the rumored New County Party Committee Compound, then presented a shabby rented site as the county’s new headquarters. When Cheng Wei confronted him with photographs of the palace-like building exposed on television, Dong Xuebin pretended not to know what it was.

• Cheng Wei and the Provincial Investigation Team discussed Dong Xuebin’s defiant attitude and resolved to proceed with their investigation.
• Dong Xuebin reassured Meng Hanmei, Chang Lin, and Sun Changzhi that they would understand his plan soon.
• Dong Xuebin redirected the convoy away from the expected compound and led it to a remote site with small, shabby buildings.
• Su Yan told Dong Xuebin that the rental contract had been signed, and Dong ordered the county’s belongings moved inside.
• Cheng Wei accused Dong Xuebin of trying to fool the investigation team and showed him photographs of the palace-like compound, but Dong pretended ignorance.

Dong Xuebin delayed the Provincial Investigation Team’s inquiry by moving county officials into temporary quarters, provoking the investigators and alarming his colleagues. After the move was finished, he agreed to take the team to the site in the photographs and summoned other county leaders to join them.

• Cheng Wei and the Provincial Investigation Team demanded an explanation about the buildings in their photographs, but Dong Xuebin insisted he would cooperate only after handling the county’s move.
• Dong Xuebin directed Jiaolin County officials to unload trucks and settle into temporary quarters, leaving the investigation team waiting outside.
• Zhang Dongfang confronted Dong Xuebin for not informing him about the move, then walked away in frustration.
• Meng Hanmei, Chang Lin, Sun Changzhi, and other Dong Faction cadres privately questioned Dong Xuebin’s resistance, but he said he knew what he was doing and used the delay to buy the Urban Management Bureau time.
• After the rest of the investigation team arrived and the move was completed, Dong Xuebin agreed to take Cheng Wei to the site and called Zhang Dongfang, Meng Hanmei, and Chang Lin to accompany them.

Dong Xuebin ordered the Old County Party Committee Compound renovated while the Provincial Investigation Team prepared to build a case against him. At the New County Party Committee Compound, Huo Yibang led the officials and investigators to a site where the entire compound had vanished, leaving everyone but Dong Xuebin and Huo Yibang stunned.

• Dong Xuebin put Meng Hanmei in charge of renovating the old compound and told her to begin work immediately.
• Cheng Wei spoke with a provincial leader, who urged him to gather evidence and said Dong Xuebin could be suspended for investigation.
• Dong Xuebin stopped the cars near the New County Party Committee Compound and had everyone continue on foot.
• Huo Yibang told Dong Xuebin that the job was done, then led the group onward.
• The group saw that the New County Party Committee Compound had been reduced to a flat, empty expanse of land.

The Provincial Investigation Team arrived to inspect the New County Party Committee Compound, but found that the entire site had disappeared. A construction expert confirmed the demolition would have taken all night, leaving Cheng Wei and the others unable to explain how it had begun before the scandal broke.

• The leaders and investigators were shocked to find the compound, its walls, buildings, and garden completely gone.
• Dong Xuebin invited Cheng Wei and the Provincial Investigation Team to investigate the empty site.
• Cheng Wei accused Dong Xuebin of stalling while the county demolished the compound, but Dong challenged him to explain how it could have been done so quickly.
• A construction expert compared the site with the photos and confirmed that the demolition and debris removal could not have been completed in a few hours.
• The investigators realized the work must have started the previous night, before the online exposé and investigation, and wondered how Dong Xuebin could have known the scandal was coming.

Dong Xuebin defended Jiaolin County’s demolition of the New County Party Committee Compound before Cheng Wei’s provincial investigation team, presenting it as a collective decision made for the people. The team struggled to hold the county accountable, while Cheng Wei remained frustrated that he could not discover how Dong Xuebin had acted in advance.

• Huo Yibang and the Urban Management Bureau officers realized Dong Xuebin had ordered the compound demolished before the provincial investigation began, and Huo Yibang became convinced of Dong’s judgment.
• Dong Xuebin told Cheng Wei and the investigation team that the compound had been proposed under former Secretary Li Guian and that he had ordered its demolition after judging it inappropriate.
• Dong Xuebin apologized on behalf of the county and asked the investigation team to handle the matter leniently, while emphasizing that the county had acted voluntarily before the controversy arose.
• Zhang Dongfang and the other county leaders supported Dong Xuebin’s decision and presented a united front before the provincial team.
• Cheng Wei found the investigation team had little basis to pursue the county and remained unable to understand how Dong Xuebin had known to demolish the compound in advance.

Dong Xuebin’s demolition of the New County Party Committee Compound blunted the Provincial Investigation Team’s inquiry and won the support of Jiaolin County’s leaders. After consulting his superior, Cheng Wei was told to investigate briefly, provide a suitable explanation, and withdraw the team, leaving Dong Xuebin relieved that the immediate danger had passed.

• Cheng Wei’s team photographed the demolished compound, then followed Meng Hanmei to check its funding records while Dong Xuebin stayed to handle relocation and county business.
• Jiaolin County’s leaders praised Dong Xuebin for demolishing the compound, and he claimed he had acted alone because he believed it would cause trouble.
• In the car, Cheng Wei told his superior that the compound had been demolished before the public revelations and asked how to proceed.
• Cheng Wei’s superior ordered the team to investigate briefly, find a suitable explanation, and withdraw from Jiaolin County.
• Fang Wenping told Dong Xuebin that the investigation team was expected to leave that afternoon, and Dong Xuebin finally relaxed.

Dong Xuebin watched Jiaolin County’s Morning News report on the demolition of the New County Party Committee Compound and saw residents and officials praise the decision. The broadcast left him satisfied that his media strategy had strengthened public trust in the county leadership.

• Dong Xuebin watched a news report in which he explained that the county had demolished the New County Party Committee Compound and apologized to residents.
• Residents interviewed by the station supported the demolition and praised Dong Xuebin’s concern for ordinary people.
• Zhang Dongfang said the demolition had been proposed by Dong Xuebin and decided by the county’s main leaders.
• Meng Hanmei recounted Dong Xuebin’s remarks about working anywhere so long as the people trusted the county leadership.
• Dong Xuebin recalled arranging the interview-focused broadcast with Sun Changzhi and approved of how it presented the county’s decision.

After the investigation team withdrew, Dong Xuebin saw provincial news praise Jiaolin County’s response and ignored newspapers criticizing the demolition. At the temporary offices, county staff treated him with greater respect, recognizing that he had turned a political crisis to his advantage.

• Dong Xuebin watched a provincial TV commentator praise his decision to demolish the County Party Committee Compound and Jiaolin County’s handling of the scandal.
• Dong Xuebin bought newspapers on the way to work and dismissed criticism of the demolition, reasoning that it had been necessary to protect himself and the county.
• Dong Xuebin arrived at the temporary offices and noticed that county officials, including some Zhang faction members, greeted him more respectfully than before.
• Dong Xuebin’s actions in the crisis showed Jiaolin County officials that he could reverse seemingly hopeless political situations to his advantage.

Dong Xuebin began the county leadership’s first workday in their cramped temporary offices and urged staff to endure the poor conditions while renovations continued. His focused example helped calm the office, and the chapter left him preparing for a Standing Committee meeting.

• Meng Hanmei told Dong Xuebin that staff were struggling with the disorganized, crowded workspaces, and he ordered her to reassure them and accelerate renovations at the Old County Party Committee Compound.
• Dong Xuebin told Meng Hanmei to convene a Standing Committee meeting at ten o’clock and had Su Yan summon Huo Yibang.
• Dong Xuebin returned to his windowless office, accepted the noisy conditions, and began processing documents with his door open.
• Staff saw Dong Xuebin concentrating on work, and the office gradually grew quieter as they followed his example.

Dong Xuebin used the County Party Committee Standing Committee meeting to propose promoting Huo Yibang to fill the deputy county chief vacancy. The committee approved the recommendation, though the city still had to make the final decision.

• Dong Xuebin’s open office helped the county staff settle into work, and Su Yan admired his leadership.
• Dong Xuebin told Su Yan to have Huo Yibang attend the Standing Committee meeting as an observer, without explaining the purpose beforehand.
• Dong Xuebin decided to reward Huo Yibang for his role in the demolition operation by recommending him for the vacant deputy county chief position.
• Dong Xuebin proposed Huo Yibang’s appointment at the meeting, and the Dong Faction members supported it.
• Zhang Dongfang agreed after the proposal gained majority support, and the committee passed its recommendation for the city to consider.

Dong Xuebin consolidated his authority in Jiaolin County and reached out to Zhang Dongfang after a calm Standing Committee meeting. The city approved Huo Yibang’s appointment as deputy county chief, strengthening Dong’s position as the county’s political balance settled.

• Dong Xuebin secured approval for the meeting’s proposals, including renovating the Old County Party Committee Compound, while Zhang Dongfang’s faction offered little resistance.
• Dong Xuebin and Zhang Dongfang left the meeting together and exchanged friendly words to signal that relations had eased.
• Dong Xuebin told Huo Yibang that the city might challenge his appointment, and Huo pledged his loyalty to Dong.
• Qian Litao criticized Dong Xuebin’s appointment proposal but set it aside amid the city’s other urgent problems.
• The Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee approved Huo Yibang’s appointment as deputy county chief.