Chapter Summaries

After Xie Huilan and Qu Yunxuan agreed to a five-year marriage arrangement, Xie Huilan revealed that both women still hoped to win Dong Xuebin for themselves. She warned that the arrangement depended on Dong Xuebin reaching deputy division level first, leaving him determined to advance quickly so he could marry her before circumstances changed.

• Dong Xuebin thanked Xie Huilan for agreeing to the Five-Year Agreement, but she explained that she and Qu Yunxuan each had their own plans to keep him for themselves.
• Xie Huilan told Dong Xuebin she would try to make him devoted to her during their five years of marriage, while Qu Yunxuan would likely try to claim him afterward.
• Dong Xuebin privately resolved to keep the agreement and win both women over, though he recognized that his ambitions might be unrealistic.
• Xie Huilan reminded Dong Xuebin that he could marry her only after reaching deputy division level, and that her family might not wait if he took too long.
• Dong Xuebin concluded that reaching deputy division level was a test from the Xie Family and resolved to advance quickly so he could marry Xie Huilan.

Dong Xuebin took office as director of the Yantai County Investment Bureau and found the bureau in a shabby, disorganized state. He resolved to get the staff under control so he could improve its results and advance in rank.

• Xie Huilan advised Dong Xuebin to take charge of the bureau’s internal management and guide his staff rather than trying to handle every investment personally.
• Dong Xuebin arrived at the Investment Bureau on his first day and inspected its cramped compound and rundown office building.
• The reception clerks recognized Dong Xuebin and respectfully greeted him as Director Dong.
• Dong Xuebin walked through the bureau and found staff across its offices and business sections chatting, reading, or sitting idle.
• Dong Xuebin grew angry at the bureau’s lax atmosphere and worried that its poor performance would keep him from advancing and marrying Xie Huilan and Qu Yunxuan.

Dong Xuebin began his first day as director of the County Investment Bureau, meeting department leaders and assessing their attitudes toward him. Deputy Director Lu Dafa failed to attend the introductory meeting, and Dong Xuebin decided to use him as the target for his first move to establish authority.

• Luo Haiting welcomed Dong Xuebin, showed him deference, and arranged a brief meeting for him with the bureau staff.
• Sun Shuli briefly met Dong Xuebin, whose behavior suggested that he resented an outsider taking the director's post.
• Pu Yang and Guo Junbao also paid their respects before nearly all the bureau's department heads gathered for the meeting.
• Dong Xuebin noticed that Lu Dafa had not appeared and concluded that the bureau's internal tensions could obstruct his work.
• Dong Xuebin resolved to make Lu Dafa an example as he established his authority, while remembering the grievances he held against Lu Dafa and his family.

Dong Xuebin officially took charge of the Investment Bureau, urged its staff to improve the county’s poor investment results, and began reshaping the bureau’s leadership structure. He ended his first meeting by placing Luo Haiting’s office directly under him, openly stripping Lu Dafa of authority and escalating their conflict.

• Dong Xuebin delivered his first speech as director, criticized the bureau’s weak investment performance, and challenged the staff to attract major investments.
• After the staff began to leave, Dong Xuebin called the bureau leaders back for a meeting to learn about their departments.
• Dong Xuebin skipped Lu Dafa and asked Luo Haiting to report first, then ordered her to report the office’s work directly to him.
• Lu Dafa reacted with anger as Dong Xuebin’s order removed the office from his supervision and made Luo Haiting report to the new director.

Dong Xuebin tried to establish his authority as the new Investment Bureau director, but Lu Dafa undermined him by spreading a rumor that he planned to cut bonuses and commissions. Dong Xuebin resolved to strike back against Lu, facing his first political test in the bureau.

• Dong Xuebin saw staff working more diligently after his swift move against Lu Dafa and his visit to Business Section One.
• Dong Xuebin overheard Lu Dafa reassuring office staff and continuing to assign work, then recognized that Lu intended to resist him behind the scenes.
• Luo Haiting brought Dong Xuebin files for potential secretaries, but he postponed choosing one because the candidates were unsuitable for him.
• Luo Haiting told Dong Xuebin that staff believed he planned to reduce bonuses and commissions, and he ordered her to investigate the rumor.
• Dong Xuebin concluded that Lu Dafa was behind the rumor and decided he needed to damage Lu's influence, though he had not yet chosen how.

Dong Xuebin searched for a way to weaken Lu Dafa’s influence at the Investment Bureau while its staff watched to see which man would prevail. Guo Panwei arrived from Beijing and was appointed deputy director of the Office to serve as Dong Xuebin’s secretary, giving Dong a trusted aide as his struggle with Lu continued.

• Dong Xuebin considered how to undermine Lu Dafa, while bureau leaders and staff withheld their support and waited to see who would win their power struggle.
• Dong Xuebin asked Luo Haiting about the bureau and learned that Lu Dafa appeared to have no financial or personal-conduct weaknesses to exploit.
• Dong Xuebin told Luo Haiting to ensure the promotional brochure was completed that day for County Chief Zhao to review the next morning.
• Guo Panwei arrived from Beijing, and Dong Xuebin introduced him to Luo Haiting as the new deputy director of the Investment Bureau Office.
• Dong Xuebin clarified that Guo Panwei would handle his office work as his secretary, easing Luo Haiting’s concern that Guo had been brought in to replace her.

Dong Xuebin stayed in a hotel after insecticide made his home uninhabitable, where Xie Huilan warned him that county officials were backing opposition at his bureau to undermine her. As he reviewed Luo Haiting’s promotional materials in his room, someone pounded on the door, claiming police had received a prostitution report.

• Dong Xuebin booked a hotel room because insecticide had made his home too unpleasant to stay in.
• Xie Huilan warned Dong Xuebin that county officials planned to embarrass him through opposition at the Investment Bureau, and he vowed to protect them both.
• Luo Haiting brought Dong Xuebin the completed promotional materials, and he approved the first version for printing.
• Luo Haiting mistook Dong Xuebin’s hotel invitation for a sexual advance but relaxed when he focused on reviewing the documents.
• Someone pounded on Dong Xuebin’s door and shouted that prostitution had been reported at the hotel.

Dong Xuebin used Time Stop to escape a staged police raid intended to disgrace him and Luo Haiting. After the officers searched the room, he confronted the man who had tipped them off and discovered he was Lu Dafa’s brother, Lu Dacai.

• Dong Xuebin realized the police raid on Room 603 was a deliberate attempt to ruin his and Luo Haiting’s reputations, and he sent Luo Haiting into the bathroom.
• Dong Xuebin stopped time, left the hotel, and took the three officers’ wallets and identification before hiding them in a storm drain.
• Dong Xuebin resumed time from a dark patch beside a flower shop as the police burst into the room and found it empty.
• Dong Xuebin recognized Lu Dacai watching the hotel from a Honda and realized he had alerted Lu Dafa to the pair’s arrival.
• Dong Xuebin struck Lu Dacai’s shoulder, making him turn around in shock.

Dong Xuebin turned the failed hotel raid against the three officers who had targeted him, getting Deputy Captain Feng to arrest them as fake police. He returned to Room 603 and reassured Luo Haiting that they could proceed with their publicity document, leaving her baffled about how he had escaped.

• Dong Xuebin confronted Lu Dacai, forced him to drive to a smoke shop, and called Deputy Captain Feng to report a case at Jiade Hotel.
• The three officers left Room 603 without finding Dong Xuebin, and Dong made them search for their missing IDs in front of bystanders.
• Dong accused the officers of impersonating police, and Deputy Captain Feng arrived and ordered them arrested.
• Dong returned to Room 603, where Luo Haiting had been waiting for him, and told her they could proceed with the publicity document as planned.
• Luo Haiting wondered how Dong had appeared behind her after she had searched beneath the bed.

Dong Xuebin broke into Lu Dafa’s home while time was stopped, hoping to find evidence against him, but his search turned up nothing. As he prepared to leave, he discovered Lu Dacai embracing Li Hong and realized he might have found leverage against Lu Dafa.

• Dong Xuebin used Time Stop to enter Lu Dafa’s apartment and search for evidence while Lu Dafa, Li Hong, and Lu Dacai remained frozen.
• Dong Xuebin searched Lu Dafa and Li Hong’s bedroom but found no secrets or suspicious finances.
• Lu Dafa told Li Hong and Lu Dacai that an investigation would find nothing wrong with his finances or private life.
• Lu Dafa left to meet a leader, and Dong Xuebin stopped considering a plan to expose him with compromising photographs.
• Dong Xuebin ended Time Stop and saw Lu Dacai embracing Li Hong in the living room, then realized the scene might give him leverage against Lu Dafa.

Dong Xuebin discovered that Lu Dacai and Li Hong were having an affair and used his time-stopping ability to photograph them. He arranged for Liu Dahai to print and secretly mail copies, then told Xie Huilan his plan was ready to turn the tables on those targeting him.

• Dong Xuebin overheard Lu Dacai and Li Hong confessing their affair and waited until they were together on the sofa.
• Dong Xuebin stopped time, photographed Lu Dacai and Li Hong, and escaped before they could catch him.
• Dong Xuebin drove to Huitian Township and asked Liu Dahai to print three copies of the photos and secretly mail two of them to designated recipients.
• Liu Dahai returned with the prints, and Dong Xuebin gave him the addresses and recipients for mailing the copies the next day.
• Xie Huilan called Dong Xuebin about the officers and the move against him, but he assured her he had already settled his plan and would act tomorrow.

Dong Xuebin faced resistance from Lu Dafa’s allies at the Investment Bureau, then learned that compromising photos of Lu Dafa’s wife and younger brother had arrived. He pretended to condemn the photos while leaving Luo Haiting room to spread the scandal, setting up a blow against Lu Dafa.

• Guo Panwei reported that he was settling into his new job, and Dong Xuebin assigned him several tasks.
• Dong Xuebin learned that Lu Dafa’s allies were delaying or undermining his instructions.
• Shan Enguo told Lu Dafa that the departments were not cooperating with Dong Xuebin, while Lu Dafa prepared to challenge him.
• Lu Dafa received photos of Li Hong and Lu Dacai together, confronted Li Hong by phone, and heard her confess.
• Luo Haiting received another set of the photos and brought them to Dong Xuebin, who demanded an investigation while saying the scandal should preferably remain private.
• Luo Haiting understood Dong Xuebin’s insinuation and instructed trusted subordinates, allowing the photos to spread.

Dong Xuebin used compromising photographs to undermine Lu Dafa’s standing at the Investment Bureau, then tightened control over reimbursements and won the other officials’ support. By the end of the day, he had established himself as the bureau’s undisputed leader.

• Dong Xuebin confronted Lu Dafa with photographs of the scandal involving Lu Dafa’s wife and younger brother, and Lu Dafa tore them up before asking for leave.
• Dong Xuebin kept the photographs as leverage, and Xie Huilan praised how he had weakened Lu Dafa and those opposing them.
• Dong Xuebin ordered that all reimbursements above five hundred yuan require his signature, and Luo Haiting circulated the new rule.
• Investment Bureau staff recognized Dong Xuebin as the top leader as Lu Dafa’s influence collapsed.
• Officials from across the bureau visited Dong Xuebin to report work and express their support, leaving him firmly in control.

Dong Xuebin noticed his mother, Luan Xiaoping, had been dressing up and visiting less often, then learned she had grown close to a widower named Yang Zhaode. He agreed to meet Yang and support his mother if the man proved trustworthy.

• Dong Xuebin woke late on his day off and found Luan Xiaoping cleaning his home and making breakfast.
• Dong Xuebin noticed Luan Xiaoping’s makeup and realized she had been visiting him less often.
• Luan Xiaoping asked whether Dong Xuebin would object if she found a stepfather, and he worried she was already dating someone.
• Luan Xiaoping explained that she met Yang Zhaode when he scared off a scammer who was threatening her, and that they had since met and spoken often.
• Dong Xuebin told Luan Xiaoping he supported her finding companionship but wanted to meet Yang Zhaode first.
• Luan Xiaoping agreed that the three of them would have a meal together when Yang was free.

Dong Xuebin learned that Yantai County had set the Investment Bureau a daunting 500-million-yuan investment target and confronted Xie Huilan about it. He accepted the assignment and vowed to resign if he failed to meet it.

• Dong Xuebin asked Guo Panwei about the bureau’s investment efforts and learned that the staff had secured only a few million yuan in deals since the New Year.
• Zhao Xinglong told Dong Xuebin that the county had set the Investment Bureau’s annual target at 500 million yuan and would hold individuals responsible if it was missed.
• Zhao Xinglong explained that Xiang Daofa had pushed for the higher target at the Standing Committee meeting, with three million yuan in funding planned to support the bureau.
• Dong Xuebin went to Xie Huilan to protest the assignment, and she said she supported raising the bureau’s workload and expected Investment Promotion Work to advance.
• Dong Xuebin accepted the 500-million-yuan target and vowed to resign if he failed to bring that much investment to the county.

Dong Xuebin gathered the Investment Bureau’s department leaders after the county assigned them a five-hundred-million investment target, which sparked widespread anger and doubt. He forced them to commit to the assignment and left the bureau facing the challenge with renewed resolve.

• Lin Pingping complained to Dong Xuebin that the five-hundred-million target was unrealistic and had crushed her staff’s morale.
• Dong Xuebin convened the department leaders, who argued that the county’s target was impossible and said they would be held responsible for failing.
• Dong Xuebin ordered anyone who lacked confidence to submit a resignation within five minutes, but no one wrote one.
• Lin Pingping, Jiang Hailiang, and Luo Haiting pledged that their departments would do their utmost to support the target.
• Dong Xuebin revealed that he had promised County Chief Xie he would resign if the bureau failed to reach five hundred million, then urged the leaders to focus on how to achieve it.

Dong Xuebin rallied the Investment Bureau by promising new vehicles and generous bonuses to help meet the county’s five-hundred-million investment target. The staff’s enthusiasm rose, and Lin Pingping borrowed Dong Xuebin’s Mercedes for an important dinner with an investor.

• Dong Xuebin announced that the county would allocate three million to the Investment Bureau and asked the staff how to spend it.
• Luo Haiting and the other officials argued that the bureau needed more presentable vehicles, so Dong Xuebin ordered four new cars, including three Camrys and a Buick Business.
• Dong Xuebin offered his Mercedes for important work occasions, and Lin Pingping borrowed it for dinner with an investor.
• Dong Xuebin reserved two million for staff rewards and promised an additional bonus of one hundred thousand for each ten million in investment brought in.
• Dong Xuebin instructed Pan Wei to write and distribute the bonus policy, and the officials’ enthusiasm for the investment target grew.

Dong Xuebin learned that Lin Pingping was raising her young son alone, then discussed how to restore the Investment Bureau’s confidence in reaching its five-hundred-million target. He prepared to help Lin Pingping secure Liang Zeyuan’s twenty-million-yuan pork processing plant project, which Dafeng County was also pursuing.

• Dong Xuebin saw Lin Pingping take her son Liang Liang to kindergarten and offered her a ride to work.
• Lin Pingping told Dong Xuebin that staff lacked confidence in the five-hundred-million target and suggested winning a ten-million-yuan deal to boost morale.
• Lin Pingping explained that Liang Zeyuan was considering a twenty-million-yuan pork processing plant project but was also being courted by Dafeng County.
• Dong Xuebin agreed to join Lin Pingping in persuading Liang Zeyuan and invited Deputy County Chief Zhao Xinglong to lunch with him.
• Dong Xuebin studied the project proposal and resolved to make the deal his first major success at the Investment Bureau.

Dong Xuebin joined county officials in trying to secure Liang Zeyuan’s pork-processing project, but Liang favored a competing county and offered to reconsider only if someone outdrank him. The chapter ended with Zhang Fan overwhelmed by the challenge and Dong Xuebin asking Liang whether he meant his offer.

• Dong Xuebin, Lin Pingping, Zhang Fan, Guo Panwei, and Zhao Xinglong met investor Liang Zeyuan for a meal and learned that Liang was an exceptionally heavy drinker.
• Dong Xuebin worried about his poor alcohol tolerance while he chatted with Liang, who noticed his expensive watch and learned that Dong had won the lottery jackpot.
• Lin Pingping presented Yantai County’s project budget and support policies, but Liang said Dafeng County’s stronger facilities and industrial chain made it a better location.
• Liang rejected Yantai County’s proposal, then offered to inspect the site again if Zhang Fan could drink three jin of liquor.
• Zhang Fan froze at the challenge, and Dong Xuebin asked Liang whether he meant what he had said.

Dong Xuebin wagered that he could drink three pounds of Maotai to secure Liang Zeyuan’s investment for Yantai County. Using his ability to stop time, he secretly spat out the liquor while making everyone believe he had swallowed it, then left the room stunned after finishing all three bottles.

• Dong Xuebin got Liang Zeyuan to promise that he would invest in Yantai County if someone drank three pounds of liquor in one go.
• Zhang Fan refused the challenge, and Lin Pingping offered to try before Dong Xuebin stopped her.
• Dong Xuebin opened three bottles of Maotai and volunteered to drink them, despite his colleagues’ protests.
• Dong Xuebin stopped time repeatedly and spat the liquor into a flowerpot while pretending to swallow it.
• Dong Xuebin finished all three bottles, leaving Liang Zeyuan and the others astonished.