Chapter Summaries

Dong Xuebin and county leaders went to meet Xinhua News Agency reporters after learning they had begun questioning workers at a new pork processing plant without notifying the county. The reporters focused on possible procedural violations, leaving Dong and the leaders suspecting that someone wanted to obstruct Yantai County’s investment work.

• Dong Xuebin prepared the county’s itinerary, but Zhao Xinglong learned that the Xinhua News Agency reporters had bypassed the County Party Committee and gone directly to the processing plant.
• Cao Xupeng, Zhao Xinglong, and Dong Xuebin drove to the site, where Liang Zeyuan told them the reporters had been questioning construction workers.
• Cao Xupeng welcomed reporters Wang Na, Wang Ting, and Li Shengbin, while Zhao Xinglong directed them to ask Dong Xuebin about the project.
• Wang Na questioned whether the factory’s approval process was complete, and Li Shengbin reframed Dong’s explanation as criticism of the approval departments.
• Liang Zeyuan worried that a negative report could halt construction, while Dong Xuebin reassured him and complained to the county leaders about the reporters’ conduct.
• Cao Xupeng and Zhao Xinglong agreed that someone might be targeting Yantai County, and Zhao Xinglong decided the matter should be reported to Secretary Xiang.

Dong Xuebin struggled to manage Xinhua News Agency reporters who kept searching for faults during their visit to Yantai County. When a local troublemaker accused the Investment Bureau of corruption and assault in front of the reporters, Dong Xuebin finally lost his temper and confronted them.

• Li Shengbin repeatedly diverted the inspection schedule and scrutinized unfinished projects, angering Dong Xuebin and Cao Xupeng.
• Li Shengbin insisted that the group eat at the Investment Bureau, so Dong Xuebin called Luo Haiting to arrange a lavish meal.
• Luo Haiting warned Dong Xuebin that Wang Shaoyan had caused a scene at the bureau entrance, and the arriving officials found him lying on the ground before a crowd.
• Wang Shaoyan told Li Shengbin that the Investment Bureau had beaten him and withheld his promised fifty-thousand-yuan commission, accusing its staff of corruption.
• Li Shengbin and Wang Na questioned Wang Shaoyan while Wang Ting took notes and Li Shengbin photographed the scene and the bureau sign.
• Dong Xuebin cursed at the reporters for taking pictures, shocking the people around him.

Dong Xuebin clashed with Xinhua News Agency reporters Li Shengbin, Wang Na, and Wang Ting over their investigation at the Investment Bureau Compound. After checking their IDs, he called Xie Jing, who confirmed Li Shengbin worked at Xinhua and asked to speak with him.

• Dong Xuebin furiously accused the reporters of nitpicking and refusing to seek the truth, while Cao Xupeng and Zhao Xinglong tried to calm him down.
• Cao Xupeng called Xiang Daofa, who ordered him to remove Dong Xuebin from the reception and handle the reporters himself.
• Li Shengbin questioned Wang Shaoyan about the disputed Fifty thousand yuan and photographed the county officials as they defended the Investment Bureau.
• Dong Xuebin demanded the reporters' IDs, examined them, and called Xie Hao to ask about his second sister's position at Xinhua News Agency.
• Dong Xuebin called Xie Jing, described Li Shengbin's conduct, and gave her his ID details; Xie Jing confirmed his department and asked Dong to put him on the phone.

Dong Xuebin used Xie Jing’s call to force Li Shengbin and his colleagues to back down after they threatened Yantai County’s Investment Bureau. The reporters left, Wang Shaoyan was detained, and Dong later learned he was unlikely to face serious discipline for his outburst.

• Dong Xuebin made Li Shengbin answer a call from Xie Jing, who reprimanded him and ordered him to report to the Personnel Bureau after returning.
• Li Shengbin apologized to Dong Xuebin and the county officials, deleted his photos, and left with Wang Na and Wang Ting after being ordered back to Beijing.
• Cao Xupeng and Zhao Xinglong criticized Li Shengbin, while Cao warned Dong Xuebin to submit a written self-criticism.
• Dong Xuebin ordered the security guards to hold Wang Shaoyan for the police, then sent the Investment Bureau staff back to work.
• That afternoon, Dong Xuebin finished his self-criticism and called Zhao Xinglong, who reassured him that serious discipline was unlikely.

Dong Xuebin suspected that an armed martial artist was following Xie Huilan and stopped the man on the road. He caught the pursuer with the help of Time Stop, discovered a military pistol, and demanded to know who had sent him as Xie Huilan got out of her car.

• After submitting his self-criticism, Dong Xuebin learned that Deputy County Chief Cheng Keliang was pursuing Xie Huilan.
• Dong Xuebin followed Xie Huilan's car and noticed a Jetta continuing to trail it through several turns.
• Dong Xuebin blocked the Jetta and confronted its young driver, who countered his hold and proved highly skilled.
• Dong Xuebin used Time Stop to seize the driver, then discovered a military pistol at his waist.
• Dong Xuebin demanded to know the armed man's identity and intentions as Xie Huilan stepped out of her Passat.

Dong Xuebin mistook Xie Huilan’s new bodyguard, Chen Xuan, for a threat and subdued him before learning who he was. Later, Xie Jing revealed that Dafeng County official Pan Zhou had helped orchestrate trouble against Dong’s Investment Bureau, leaving Dong determined to settle the score.

• Dong Xuebin caught Chen Xuan following Xie Huilan and pinned him down before Xie explained that he was her assigned bodyguard.
• Xie Huilan introduced Dong Xuebin as her fiancé and told Chen Xuan to prioritize Dong’s safety if danger arose, but Dong rejected the idea of having a bodyguard.
• After Xie Huilan left for a dinner engagement, Dong Xuebin went home and received a call from Xie Jing.
• Xie Jing told Dong Xuebin that Li Shengbin had named Pan Zhou, a Dafeng County official, as someone who helped arrange trouble for Dong’s Investment Bureau.
• Luo Haiting identified Pan Zhou as Dafeng County’s Investment Bureau director and linked his actions to Liang Zeyuan choosing Yantai County over Dafeng County for an investment.
• Dong Xuebin decided not to report Pan Zhou to the county and vowed to settle the score himself.

Dong Xuebin attended the Municipal Investment Bureau’s annual work conference in Fenzhou City and met Pan Zhou, his rival from Dafeng County. After learning that Pan Zhou was negotiating an investment deal with snooker player Liu Cheng, Dong Xuebin left the meeting and headed back to Yantai County.

• Dong Xuebin visited Director Zeng Wei before the meeting and explained why he had not reported in earlier.
• A municipal bureau staffer mistook Dong Xuebin for a secretary, then apologized after learning he was Yantai County’s director.
• Dong Xuebin met Pan Zhou at their neighboring seats and sarcastically confronted him over sending Xinhua News Agency reporters to Yantai County.
• Dong Xuebin overheard Pan Zhou discussing Dafeng County’s negotiations with snooker player Liu Cheng and considered the publicity value of the deal.
• Zeng Wei led the annual work conference, and after it ended Director Ruan recognized Dong Xuebin from a tiger-fighting news video.
• Dong Xuebin said he had to leave, exchanged parting remarks with Pan Zhou, and heard his phone ring.

Dong Xuebin learned that his mother, Luan Xiaoping, was dating Yang Zhaode, the Municipal Party Committee Organization Department Minister, and went to meet him. Yang Zhaode made a warm first impression and asked Dong Xuebin for his opinion about the relationship, leaving Dong unsure how to respond.

• Luan Xiaoping invited Dong Xuebin to meet her boyfriend at his home in the Municipal Party Committee Family Compound.
• Dong Xuebin confirmed with Luo Haiting that Luan Xiaoping's boyfriend was Yang Zhaode, the Municipal Party Committee Organization Department Minister.
• Dong Xuebin drove to Yang Zhaode's apartment, where Luan Xiaoping welcomed him with fruit he had brought.
• Yang Zhaode greeted Dong Xuebin warmly and cooked while Luan Xiaoping joined them, accidentally revealing that she had stayed at Yang's place the night before.
• Yang Zhaode asked Dong Xuebin for his opinion about his relationship with Luan Xiaoping, and Dong agreed to call him Old Yang.

Dong Xuebin visited Yang Zhaode and Luan Xiaoping, approved of their relationship, and learned they planned to marry soon. The visit ended with Dong Xuebin tipsily warning Yang Zhaode to treat his mother well.

• Yang Zhaode warmly praised Dong Xuebin’s past achievements over lunch, then asked whether he approved of transferring Luan Xiaoping to a school in the city.
• Dong Xuebin agreed to the transfer and told Luan Xiaoping he would not interfere with her relationship with Yang Zhaode.
• Luan Xiaoping told Dong Xuebin that she and Yang Zhaode planned to register their marriage without a wedding, and he agreed to keep it private for now.
• Yang Zhaode offered to help Dong Xuebin with work and suggested introducing him to unmarried women, but Dong Xuebin declined both offers.
• After drinking with Yang Zhaode at dinner, Dong Xuebin pretended to be drunk and warned him not to mistreat Luan Xiaoping.

Dong Xuebin enjoyed breakfast with Luan Xiaoping and Yang Zhaode, then heard from his former leader Xu Yan that she wanted to become director of the Fenzhou City State Security Bureau. He promised to ask around and realized he would need to seek Yang Zhaode’s help.

• Luan Xiaoping scolded Dong Xuebin for getting drunk, while Yang Zhaode prepared breakfast and shared a warm meal with them.
• Yang Zhaode told Dong Xuebin that he and the mayor had arranged for the former State Security Bureau director to be transferred after repeated conflicts with the city.
• Xu Yan called Dong Xuebin and explained that Zhen Anguo had sidelined her at the bureau and that she hoped to transfer to the vacant director position in Fenzhou City.
• Dong Xuebin promised to ask around for Xu Yan, then realized he would have to approach Yang Zhaode despite having recently said he would not ask him for favors.

Dong Xuebin asked Yang Zhaode to help his former leader, Xu Yan, transfer to the vacant director position at Fenzhou City's State Security Bureau, and Yang agreed to try. After meeting host Su Jia at the family compound, Dong Xuebin discovered she had arrived at Yang Zhaode's home too.

• Luan Xiaoping encouraged Dong Xuebin to ask Yang Zhaode for help with Xu Yan's transfer.
• Dong Xuebin explained Xu Yan's qualifications, and Yang Zhaode agreed to work on pushing her nomination through.
• Yang Zhaode began making calls while Dong Xuebin went to buy groceries for the family gathering.
• Dong Xuebin ran into Su Jia at the compound, exchanged phone numbers with her, and agreed to have dinner.
• Dong Xuebin reached Yang Zhaode's door and was surprised to find Su Jia inside.

Dong Xuebin reunited with Su Jia at Yang Zhaode’s home and learned that their families were becoming relatives. After noticing Yang Zhaofen’s coolness toward his mother, he helped Luan Xiaoping choose a generous first-meeting gift, and the visit ended with the families warming to one another.

• Dong Xuebin arrived at Yang Zhaode’s home and discovered that Su Jia was Yang Zhaode’s niece and his future cousin.
• Dong Xuebin and Su Jia chatted while preparing lunch, and Luan Xiaoping hosted Yang Zhaofen and Su Zhongyi in the living room.
• Dong Xuebin noticed Yang Zhaofen’s distant manner toward Luan Xiaoping and learned his mother wanted money for Su Jia’s first-meeting gift.
• Dong Xuebin gave Luan Xiaoping his valuable jadeite ring to present to Su Jia, reassuring her that their family was well-off.
• Luan Xiaoping gave Su Jia the ring, which Su Jia accepted after recognizing its value, and Yang Zhaofen’s attitude toward Luan Xiaoping softened.

Dong Xuebin drove Su Jia home and grew closer to her before Yu Meixia called to say provincial State Security officers had taken her in for questioning. He rushed to the teahouse, became suspicious of the officers’ demands, and confronted their leader as the situation escalated.

• Dong Xuebin drove Su Jia to her television station dormitory, and they chatted warmly about work and visiting each other.
• Su Jia’s coworkers teased her about Dong Xuebin giving her a ride and admired the jade ring Luan Xiaoping had given her.
• Dong Xuebin returned home, watched Su Jia on television, and received a call from Yu Meixia saying State Security had taken her to a teahouse.
• Dong Xuebin hurried to the teahouse and found Yu Meixia with several other people and three plainclothes men claiming to be State Security officers.
• The men ordered everyone to hand over their phones and belongings, but Dong Xuebin stopped Yu Meixia and demanded to see their identification.
• The leader accused Dong Xuebin of obstructing the investigation and ordered him to hand over his phone, while Dong Xuebin again demanded to see the officers’ IDs.

Dong Xuebin exposed three scammers who were impersonating State Security officers and frightened them into fleeing by revealing his name. He returned home with Yu Meixia, where their intimate moment was interrupted by the doorbell.

• Dong Xuebin recognized the fake State Security IDs and revealed that he had once worked for State Security.
• The three scammers recognized Dong Xuebin as the Plague God and ran from the tea house.
• Dong Xuebin called Deputy Captain Feng to have the police intercept the scammers and advised the other victims to be more cautious.
• Dong Xuebin drove Yu Meixia home and reassured her that she was not to blame for being tricked.
• At home, Yu Meixia admitted that she and Qian Qian had missed Dong Xuebin, but the doorbell rang as they drew close.

Yu Meixia’s neighbor Sister Fang asked her to help secure a permanent job for her son, Xiao Xu, at the County TV Station. Yu Meixia asked Dong Xuebin to intervene, and he agreed to help.

• Yu Qianqian came home and asked Dong Xuebin to fix her slow computer and help with her math.
• Sister Fang visited Yu Meixia with her son, Xiao Xu, and explained that he might not be made permanent at the County TV Station.
• Sister Fang asked Yu Meixia to use her influence to help Xiao Xu keep his job, and Yu Meixia promised to think of something.
• Yu Meixia privately asked Dong Xuebin to help Xiao Xu, and he agreed to ask around.

Dong Xuebin called Su Jia to help Yu Meixia’s friend’s son, Sun Xu, secure a full-time job at the County TV Station. After spending the evening with Yu Meixia and Xiao Qian, Dong Xuebin and Yu Meixia met privately in his bedroom and became intimate.

• Dong Xuebin asked Su Jia to help Sun Xu become a full employee at the County TV Station, and Su Jia agreed.
• Yu Meixia told Sister Fang and Xiao Xu that the job would be arranged, making Sister Fang and Xiao Xu grateful.
• Dong Xuebin stayed for dinner and promised Xiao Qian he would spend the night and play games with her.
• After Yu Meixia and Xiao Qian went to bed, Yu Meixia visited Dong Xuebin in his bedroom and embraced and kissed him.
• Yu Meixia undressed, and Dong Xuebin asked her to call him “Good Brother” before they became intimate.

Dong Xuebin visited Xie Huilan after a tiring week of investment work, where he drove off Cheng Keliang and shared a meal with her. Han Jing invited him to her fifty-fifth birthday banquet, and Dong Xuebin agreed to attend in Xie Huilan’s place.

• Dong Xuebin reported the Investment Promotion Bureau’s progress to Xie Huilan at her home while Cheng Keliang was there.
• Dong Xuebin kept talking until Cheng Keliang left, then discovered that Xie Huilan had prepared dinner for him.
• Dong Xuebin ate with Xie Huilan and fell asleep with his head on her lap as she finished paperwork.
• Han Jing called to invite Dong Xuebin to her birthday banquet because Xie Huilan would be away for work.
• Dong Xuebin agreed to attend Han Jing’s birthday and planned to return to Beijing to prepare a gift.

Dong Xuebin met Xie Hao and Xie Jing in Beijing, learned about the valuable Bodhisattva statue Xie Jing had borrowed from Madam Han, and accompanied them to Xie Jing’s old apartment. They found it ransacked and the safe containing the statue missing.

• Dong Xuebin met Xie Hao and Xie Jing, who showed him the antique gifts they had bought for Madam Han’s birthday.
• Xie Jing explained that she had borrowed a valuable Tang dynasty Bodhisattva statue from Madam Han and stored it in a safe at her old apartment.
• Dong Xuebin drove Xie Jing and Xie Hao to the apartment, where they reminisced about their childhood and discussed Xie Jing’s work.
• Xie Jing discovered that the apartment door lock had been forced, and the three rushed inside to find the rooms ransacked.
• Xie Jing, Dong Xuebin, and Xie Hao found that the safe containing the Bodhisattva statue had been stolen, leaving Xie Jing distraught.

After discovering that the Xie Family’s treasured Bodhisattva Statue had been stolen, Xie Jing, Xie Hao, and Dong Xuebin followed the investigation as the Xie Family mobilized its contacts. They learned it had been smuggled to Japan and donated to the Tokyo National Museum, which refused to return it.

• Xie Jing called the police after she, Xie Hao, and Dong Xuebin found her home ransacked and the Bodhisattva Statue missing.
• The police found no usable forensic evidence and identified a blurry surveillance image of a suspected burglar.
• Xie Jing told Xie Guoliang about the theft, and he scolded her before arranging a wider investigation through the Xie Family’s contacts.
• Xie Guoliang told Xie Jing that burglar Wang Dongran had sold the statue to a Japanese businessman, who donated it to the Tokyo National Museum.
• Xie Guoliang informed Xie Jing that the museum had refused to return the statue, while Xie Hao and Dong Xuebin reacted angrily.

After Han Jing suffered a high blood pressure attack over the Bodhisattva Statue’s theft, she reassured Xie Jing and concealed her grief, but efforts to recover the heirloom from Japan failed. Dong Xuebin left the hospital and asked Xu Yan to arrange a passport and yen so he could fly to Japan that night.

• Xie Jing learned Han Jing had been taken to 305 Military Region Hospital, and Dong Xuebin hurried there with Xie Jing and Xie Hao.
• Han Jing comforted Xie Jing and told Dong Xuebin not to tell Xie Huilan, though she privately grieved over losing the heirloom entrusted to her by Old Xie.
• Xie Jing and the family tried to pressure Japan to return the Bodhisattva Statue, but the National Museum denied it was stolen and refused to cooperate.
• Xie Huilan arrived and accepted that ordinary efforts would not recover the statue, while Han Jing urged everyone to stop dwelling on its loss.
• Dong Xuebin left the hospital and called Xu Yan to arrange a passport and Japanese yen for a flight to Japan that night.