Recaps

Dong Xuebin insisted on collecting his lunch at the back of the queue with county staff, reinforcing his principle that leaders and ordinary employees should be treated equally. His example prompted other County Leaders to line up too, and the chapter ended with staff noticing a warmer, more relaxed atmosphere in Jiaolin County.

• Dong Xuebin refused special delivery and joined the end of the lunch line with everyone else.
• The staff felt reassured by Dong Xuebin's example, and their resentment toward the temporary compound eased.
• Zhang Dongfang's secretary noticed Dong Xuebin in line and returned without collecting meals for the leaders.
• Zhang Dongfang, Wei Zhixuan, Sun Changzhi, Chang Lin, and the other County Leaders came out and joined the queue.
• The County Leaders chatted with staff and stopped junior employees from leaving their places to make room for them.
• Staff observed that the county's work atmosphere had grown more relaxed since Dong Xuebin arrived, while he remained committed to his governing style regardless of others' opinions.

Dong Xuebin received an angry call from Fang Wenping over his treatment of foreign guests and argued that he had done nothing wrong. Fang Wenping warned him that Baohong City’s Discipline Inspection Committee was sending investigators, and Dong Xuebin prepared to face them.

• Dong Xuebin finished lunch in his temporary office and answered Fang Wenping’s call.
• Fang Wenping berated Dong Xuebin for cursing at city officials and snubbing foreign guests, saying the incident had caused trouble for her reception work and drawn attention at a provincial meeting.
• Dong Xuebin defended his actions, saying the foreigners had repeatedly broken their promises and mistreated the county delegation.
• Dong Xuebin and Fang Wenping argued over the phone until Fang Wenping threatened to handle the matter strictly by the book.
• Fang Wenping told Dong Xuebin that someone from Baohong City’s Discipline Inspection Committee would investigate him, and he braced for their arrival.

The City Discipline Inspection Committee arrived in Jiaolin County to investigate Dong Xuebin over the dispute with the Foreign Guests, while Dong Xuebin worried that a punishment could derail his promotion prospects. Director Zhang questioned Meng Hanmei, who defended the county’s actions and challenged the committee’s one-sided investigation.

• The City Discipline Inspection Committee arrived without warning and announced that it would interview county cadres and staff about the Foreign Guests incident.
• Dong Xuebin learned of the investigation and privately worried that a Party warning or removal from office could cost him his promotion opportunity.
• Zhang Dongfang called the Municipal Party Committee and learned that the investigation concerned Dong Xuebin, though the city also signaled its dissatisfaction with Zhang Dongfang’s conduct.
• Director Zhang told Wei Zhixuan that the committee would question other people first and speak with Dong Xuebin last.
• Director Zhang questioned Meng Hanmei about Dong Xuebin’s alleged cursing and the canceled hotel reservations, but she denied knowing about the cursing and explained that the Foreign Guests had disrupted the county’s plans.
• Meng Hanmei challenged Director Zhang for focusing on Jiaolin County’s actions while ignoring the Foreign Guests’ and Deputy Director Niu’s role in the dispute.

The City Discipline Inspection Committee struggled to obtain evidence against Dong Xuebin from Jiaolin County’s leaders, but a nervous clerk described his phone call and other conduct. With enough information to characterize some complaints, Director Zhang moved to question Dong Xuebin.

• Director Zhang questioned Meng Hanmei and then Zhang Dongfang about Dong Xuebin’s phone call and the canceled hotel reservations, but neither gave him useful testimony.
• Several Jiaolin County leaders gave the investigators vague answers, while a recently hired clerk’s nervous reaction drew their attention.
• Under questioning, the clerk recounted Dong Xuebin’s curse at Niu and what happened afterward.
• Director Zhang prompted the clerk about Dong Xuebin’s alleged verbal and physical violence, and an inspector recorded the clerk’s acknowledgment that Dong had spoken harshly to staff.
• The investigators pressed the clerk about possible bribery tied to the hotel reservations, but he said he knew nothing, and Director Zhang decided they could now talk to Dong Xuebin.

Dong Xuebin faced a City Discipline Inspection Committee investigation over his clash with city officials and the hotel arrangements for foreign guests, but refused to back down. Just as Zhang Ping threatened a disciplinary decision, Vice-Governor Fang Wenping arrived at his office.

• Dong Xuebin considered asking Fang Wenping for help but decided against calling her.
• Zhang Ping and other City Discipline Inspection Committee officials questioned Dong Xuebin about cursing at city officials and canceling the foreign guests’ hotel reservation.
• Dong Xuebin admitted what he had done and argued that his personally funded hotel reservation was outside the committee’s jurisdiction.
• Zhang Ping ended the questioning and told Dong Xuebin to await a disciplinary decision.
• Fang Wenping arrived at the county compound and entered Dong Xuebin’s office, where Zhang Ping recognized her as the provincial vice-governor.

Fang Wenping arrived at Jiaolin County while the City Discipline Inspection Committee was questioning Dong Xuebin, and everyone assumed she had come to punish him. Instead, she defended the county, ordered foreign guest reception work canceled, and rebuked the investigators, leaving them unable to press their case.

• Jiaolin County staff worried that Dong Xuebin would be punished after the City Discipline Inspection Committee questioned him and Fang Wenping arrived.
• Fang Wenping entered the questioning room and challenged Zhang Ping when he claimed the foreign guests’ treatment had caused a serious impact.
• Fang Wenping condemned the investigators for worrying about foreign guests and called her office to cancel all foreign guest reception and exchange assignments.
• Fang Wenping told Zhang Ping to investigate her for cursing, then criticized the City Discipline Inspection Committee for pursuing minor faults instead of important work.

Fang Ping defended Jiaolin County and showed her close connection to Dong Xuebin by giving him clothes for Qian Qian, leaving the City Discipline Inspection Committee unable to continue its investigation. After hearing what happened, Qian Litao ordered the officials withdrawn, and Zhang Ping left Jiaolin County humiliated.

• Fang Ping scolded the City Discipline Inspection Committee officials, said she would not interfere with their investigation, and called Dong Xuebin over.
• Fang Ping gave Dong Xuebin boxes of clothes and shoes for Qian Qian before driving away, prompting the Jiaolin County officials to recognize their connection.
• Zhang Ping called the city for instructions because he could not decide whether to continue investigating Dong Xuebin.
• Qian Litao learned Fang Ping had intervened and ordered the City Discipline Inspection Committee to pull everyone back.
• Zhang Ping received the withdrawal order and led the City Discipline Inspection Committee officials out of Jiaolin County.

Fang Wenping intervened to stop the City Discipline Inspection Committee from punishing Dong Xuebin and ended the province’s arrangements for the Foreign Guests. Dong Xuebin thanked her and urged Jiaolin County officials to keep a low profile, while his new connection to Fang Wenping unsettled his political rivals; the Foreign Guests left Shanbei Province in anger.

• Fang Wenping’s intervention sent the City Discipline Inspection Committee away and ended the investigation into Dong Xuebin.
• Dong Xuebin called Fang Wenping to apologize and thank her, and she told him to deliver Qian Qian’s new clothes.
• Dong Xuebin asked Meng Hanmei to keep county officials cautious, while Zhang Dongfang and others worried about Fang Wenping backing him.
• The province canceled the Foreign Guests’ exchange event and reception arrangements, leaving Deputy Director Niu frustrated.
• The Foreign Guests protested the province’s decision, received no help from the city, and angrily left Shanbei Province.

After the discipline inspection investigation ended, Dong Xuebin worried that the incident might cause trouble for Fang Wenping. Fang Wenping told Secretary Chen to relay to her family that Dong Xuebin was her responsibility and that no one else should interfere.

• Dong Xuebin left his office after the city investigators had departed and carried on as usual.
• Dong Xuebin worried about how Fang Wenping would handle the political fallout from helping him.
• Fang Wenping told Brother Chen she had canceled the exchange activities with the Foreign Guests because they had disrespected her people.
• Brother Chen asked Fang Wenping about her connection to Dong Xuebin and warned that her family and others in the province disapproved.
• Fang Wenping told Secretary Chen that Dong Xuebin was her person and that she would deal with him herself if he made a mistake.
• Secretary Chen agreed to pass Fang Wenping's message to her family.

Dong Xuebin visited Fang Wenping to help her move and discovered that Xiao Dongnan, a provincial Culture Hall director, was courting her. After Fang Wenping and Xiao Dongnan went upstairs, Dong Xuebin stacked nearly all her belongings together downstairs, ready to carry them up himself.

• Dong Xuebin called Fang Wenping and agreed to help her move into her new home.
• At the residential complex, Dong Xuebin saw Xiao Dongnan eagerly offering Fang Wenping help and realized he was her suitor.
• Fang Wenping introduced Dong Xuebin to Xiao Dongnan and told him to call her Old Fang, while Xiao Dongnan remained attentive to her.
• Fang Wenping and Xiao Dongnan went upstairs, and Dong Xuebin stacked the furniture and appliances together downstairs.
• Fang Wenping and Xiao Dongnan returned as Dong Xuebin prepared to carry the stacked belongings upstairs.

Dong Xuebin helped Fang Wenping move into her new apartment, astonishing Xiao Dongnan and the neighbors by carrying an enormous stack of furniture upstairs in one trip. After seeing Fang Wenping and Dong Xuebin finish the move together, Xiao Dongnan was dismissed and left without a chance to help.

• Xiao Dongnan bragged to Fang Wenping about his stamina and insisted he could handle the move alone.
• Dong Xuebin stacked Fang Wenping's furniture and belongings into a towering load, while Fang Wenping calmly trusted him to carry it.
• Dong Xuebin lifted the enormous pile and carried it up the five-story building's stairs, stunning Xiao Dongnan and the neighbors.
• Dong Xuebin quickly unloaded everything into Fang Wenping's apartment, and he and Fang Wenping worked together without needing to speak.
• Xiao Dongnan offered to help, but Fang Wenping told him to go back because the move was nearly finished.

Dong Xuebin helped Fang Wenping move into her new home, where Xiao Dongnan tried to pursue her and push Dong Xuebin out. Fang Wenping finally cut their argument short by ordering delivery, and the three sat down to eat in tense silence.

• Dong Xuebin, Fang Wenping, and Xiao Dongnan finished moving furniture and appliances into Fang Wenping's new apartment.
• Xiao Dongnan repeatedly asked Fang Wenping to spend time with him, but she rejected his invitations.
• After Dong Xuebin brought up the groceries, Xiao Dongnan tried to send him home and take over cooking.
• Dong Xuebin challenged Xiao Dongnan, and the two began arguing about his attempt to order him around.
• Fang Wenping slammed down the remote, told them to stop arguing, and ordered five dishes and a soup for delivery.
• When the food arrived, Fang Wenping began eating, followed by Dong Xuebin and then Xiao Dongnan.

After Xiao Dongnan left, Dong Xuebin tried to reassure Fang Wenping and wondered about her relationship with her suitor. The two ended up in bed together, where Dong Xuebin initiated an intimate encounter.

• Xiao Dongnan left after taking a work call, and Dong Xuebin criticized his disrespectful behavior to Fang Wenping.
• Fang Wenping ignored Dong Xuebin and told him to clean the dishes, which he did before she went to shower.
• After Fang Wenping returned from her bath and lay down for a nap, Dong Xuebin joined her in bed and asked whether she liked Xiao Dongnan.
• Fang Wenping told Dong Xuebin to mind his own business and go to sleep, but he initiated an intimate encounter with her.

After sleeping with Fang Wenping, Dong Xuebin rushed out to buy emergency contraception, but Fang Shuiling arrived at her aunt’s new apartment before he could explain himself. The chapter ended with Fang Shuiling reaching for the medicine box while Dong Xuebin desperately tried to keep her from reading it.

• Dong Xuebin realized he had finished inside Fang Wenping and hurried to find emergency contraceptive pills.
• Fang Wenping received a call from Fang Shuiling and gave her the address of her new apartment.
• Dong Xuebin drove around until he found a shop selling emergency contraception and bought a box.
• Fang Shuiling surprised Fang Wenping at the apartment and found Dong Xuebin there when he returned.
• Dong Xuebin claimed the medicine was for Fang Wenping’s cold, but Fang Shuiling tried to open the box and he snatched it away.

Dong Xuebin helped Fang Wenping take a birth-control pill, only for her period to arrive shortly afterward, then agreed to help Fang Shuiling deal with Zhao Zibang’s unwanted pursuit. After Dong confronted Zhao downstairs and identified himself, Zhao recognized his reputation and became afraid to provoke him.

• Fang Shuiling tried to help Dong Xuebin with the medicine, so he secretly gave Fang Wenping a birth-control pill while Fang Shuiling fetched water.
• Fang Wenping swallowed the pill, then discovered her period had started and went to get a sanitary pad.
• Fang Shuiling told Fang Wenping and Dong Xuebin that Zhao Zibang had followed her and would not stop pursuing her despite her relationship with Xie Ran.
• Fang Wenping suggested Dong Xuebin was better suited to intervene, and Fang Shuiling persuaded him to help as her future brother-in-law.
• Dong Xuebin confronted Zhao Zibang downstairs and warned him to stop pestering Fang Shuiling.
• Zhao Zibang recognized Dong Xuebin’s notorious reputation and realized he did not dare provoke him.

Dong Xuebin sent Zhao Zibang away after he had pursued Fang Shuiling, then joined Fang Shuiling in discussing Fang Ping’s love life. Fang Ping agreed to consider a suitable man, leaving Dong Xuebin privately jealous of the possibility.

• Dong Xuebin told Zhao Zibang to stop bothering Fang Shuiling, and Fang Shuiling saw that he had left.
• Fang Ping objected when Dong Xuebin called Fang Shuiling part of his family, but Fang Shuiling softened the argument by pampering her aunt.
• Dong Xuebin revealed that a Provincial Chemical Department Director was pursuing Fang Ping, and Fang Shuiling eagerly asked about him.
• Fang Shuiling urged Fang Ping to find a partner, while Dong Xuebin dismissed the suitor as unreliable and offered to look after Fang Ping himself.
• Fang Ping promised Fang Shuiling that she would consider a suitable man, and Dong Xuebin privately grumbled about her agreement.

Dong Xuebin spent the afternoon showing Fang Shuiling around the provincial capital and returned to Fang Wenping’s home to wait for her. After seeing Fang Wenping arrive with Xiao Dongnan, Dong Xuebin grew jealous and pressured her sexually, leaving her kneeling before him and obeying his demands.

• Fang Wenping left to handle business and told Dong Xuebin to take Fang Shuiling around the provincial capital.
• Dong Xuebin drove Fang Shuiling around, then returned to Fang Wenping’s home with her keys while Fang Shuiling went to meet a classmate.
• Fang Wenping returned with Xiao Dongnan, who had driven her home, and Dong Xuebin watched him leave.
• Dong Xuebin questioned Fang Wenping about dating Xiao Dongnan, then began touching and kissing her despite her protests and her period.
• Dong Xuebin pulled Fang Wenping to her knees and ordered her to perform oral sex, and she eventually complied.

Dong Xuebin finished his encounter with Fang Wenping, who angrily rebuked him while he tried to make amends. When Fang Shuiling returned, Fang Wenping concealed what had happened, and Dong Xuebin left.

• Dong Xuebin helped Fang Wenping off the floor, gave her tissues, and supported her as she rinsed her mouth and changed her dirty pants.
• Fang Wenping ordered Dong Xuebin to leave and cursed him for pulling her hair and making her use her mouth, while he apologized and placated her.
• Fang Wenping stopped scolding Dong Xuebin and watched television as he said he would leave before Fang Shuiling returned.
• Fang Shuiling came home and noticed Fang Wenping had changed pants and had swollen lips, but Fang Wenping and Dong Xuebin made excuses.
• Fang Wenping sent Fang Shuiling to wash up, and Dong Xuebin took the hint, exchanged farewells, and left.

After celebrating his encounter with Fang Wenping, Dong Xuebin turned his attention to producing political achievements in Jiaolin County before the ancient tomb’s discovery and the county’s possible elevation. He decided to pursue investment promotion and planned to organize an Investment Promotion Culture Festival.

• Dong Xuebin drove home while singing loudly and thinking about his encounter with Fang Wenping.
• After returning home, Dong Xuebin considered the political achievements he still needed to secure his future in Jiaolin County.
• Dong Xuebin concluded that he should not wait for the ancient tomb’s discovery and needed to prove his governing ability through tangible results.
• Dong Xuebin chose investment promotion as his next priority because he knew the field and believed it could benefit Jiaolin County over the long term.
• Dong Xuebin decided to learn from other places and develop a comprehensive program, including an Investment Promotion Culture Festival.

Dong Xuebin chaired Jiaolin County’s Standing Committee meeting, approved Zhang Dongfang’s nominee for deputy town head, and presented a plan for an Investment Promotion Culture Festival. The committee discussed the proposal’s risks, and Dong Xuebin began arguing that the county could draw on artistic culture from elsewhere.

• Dong Xuebin opened the Standing Committee meeting and led discussion of routine directives and documents.
• Han Wu presented two candidates for a vacant deputy town head position, and Dong Xuebin agreed with Zhang Dongfang to appoint Xiao Chen.
• Dong Xuebin distributed his plan for an Investment Promotion Culture Festival and argued that Jiaolin County needed new sources of fiscal revenue beyond land sales.
• Wei Zhixuan, Xu Zhuang, Zhang Dongfang, Meng Hanmei, Chang Lin, and others raised concerns about the festival’s appeal, cost, and chances of success.
• Dong Xuebin acknowledged the county’s limited cultural foundation and proposed drawing on artistic culture from other areas.

Dong Xuebin proposed holding a variety show as part of Jiaolin County’s Investment Promotion Culture Festival to attract attention and investors. The Standing Committee approved preparations for a two-day festival at the start of next month, while Dong Xuebin took responsibility for recruiting performers without paying appearance fees.

• Dong Xuebin proposed inviting celebrities and art troupes to perform at the Investment Promotion Culture Festival and argued the show could boost investment promotion.
• Wei Zhixuan and Xu Zhuang questioned the plan because the county’s two-million-yuan budget could not cover well-known performers.
• Dong Xuebin scheduled the festival for the start of next month, assigned Zhang Dongfang and the county government to contact investors, and said he would handle the performers.
• Dong Xuebin told the committee that the performers would require only food and lodging, then directed everyone to prioritize festival preparations.
• After the meeting, Dong Xuebin reflected that his connections and family’s support gave him a strong chance of recruiting performers, and decided to ask for help.

Dong Xuebin worked on preparations for the county’s Investment Promotion Culture Festival and focused on securing performers for its gala. He asked Zhang Longjuan for help, and she agreed to use her entertainment-industry connections to find foreign celebrities willing to appear as a friendly sponsorship.

• Dong Xuebin left work after assigning Su Yan to monitor the festival preparations and went home to focus on recruiting performers.
• Dong Xuebin called Zhang Longjuan in the United States and invited her to attend the festival and make a symbolic investment.
• Zhang Longjuan agreed to attend if she could and said she would send someone from her company if she could not.
• Dong Xuebin asked Zhang Longjuan to help find foreign celebrities for the gala, explaining that the county could not pay appearance fees.
• Zhang Longjuan said she owned shares in a U.S. entertainment company and would contact its celebrities, with the company covering their travel and Dong Xuebin’s county handling food and lodging.

Dong Xuebin recruited relatives to find performers for his county’s upcoming Investment Promotion Culture Festival gala, despite having no budget or experience. By the end, his plans included domestic and foreign stars, a director, and possible performers from the General Political Department Song and Dance Troupe.

• Dong Xuebin asked Xie Huilan to find popular stars willing to perform without appearance fees, and she agreed to contact her connections.
• Dong Xuebin asked Ci Lifen for help finding performers, and she agreed to approach entertainment companies for him.
• Ci Lifen warned Dong Xuebin that a successful gala needed careful planning and offered to find a director to organize it.
• Ci Lifen suggested that her husband use his former General Political Department connections to invite performers from the General Political Department Song and Dance Troupe.
• Dong Xuebin recorded the stars and group performers as essentially settled and looked forward to the gala.

The day before Jiaolin County’s Investment Promotion Culture Festival, Dong Xuebin inspected Central Park and assured anxious officials that performers would arrive in time for the gala. The performers’ identities and arrival remained unknown as preparations continued.

• Dong Xuebin arrived early at Central Park, where county staff were setting up the festival venue.
• Dong Xuebin met Zhang Dongfang, who described plans to pick up arriving investors and transport them to county hotels.
• Director Sun criticized the disorganized stage setup and asked where the performers and program list were.
• Wei Zhixuan, Meng Hanmei, Chang Lin, and other officials arrived and worried that no performers had appeared before the festival.
• Dong Xuebin assured Director Sun and the officials that performers would arrive by the start of the gala, though he could not confirm who would come.

Dong Xuebin and Jiaolin County officials prepared for the Investment Promotion Culture Festival gala, but no city or provincial leaders had confirmed they would attend. Dong Xuebin dismissed the need to chase them and expected the celebrity team to make leaders seek tickets from the county instead.

• Director Sun finished preparing the stage while scolding the venue workers, and the County Leaders accepted his expertise.
• Dong Xuebin asked Meng Hanmei to estimate guest attendance and reserve tickets for investors, leaders, and the public.
• A county official estimated that about ninety to one hundred and twenty investors might attend, while Dong Xuebin expected the festival to attract many more.
• Meng Hanmei reported that no city or provincial leaders had confirmed their attendance, and officials worried that their absence would hurt investor confidence.
• Zhang Dongfang offered to contact leaders, but Dong Xuebin told him not to beg and said the county would proceed without them.
• Dong Xuebin privately expected the arriving celebrity team to make leaders ask Jiaolin County for gala tickets.