Chapter Summaries

Dong Xuebin defended Yu Qianqian after she was bullied at school, then treated her injuries in the infirmary while waiting for the police and the bullies’ parents. When the officers arrived, they recognized the person inside and froze before arresting him.

• Huang Tingting called her father, while the homeroom teacher called the police and Dong Xuebin demanded that the other students’ parents and the principal come to the school.
• Dong Xuebin led Yu Qianqian to the infirmary, tended to her injuries, and reassured her that he was not afraid of the police.
• Five officers from Chengguan Police Station arrived and hurried to the infirmary, intending to take Dong Xuebin into custody.
• Qian Dong looked through the infirmary window, recognized Dong Xuebin, and froze, leaving the homeroom teacher’s demand to arrest him unanswered.

Police officers recognized Dong Xuebin as the notorious plague god and refused to arrest him after he beat Huang Tingting, while Huang Shizhong arrived and confronted him. The homeroom teacher learned Dong’s identity and slipped away, leaving the conflict between Dong and Huang unresolved.

• Qian Dong and the officers recognized Dong Xuebin in the Medical Room and avoided arresting him.
• Qian Dong called Wan Tao, who told him not to bring Dong back to the station and to handle the matter cautiously.
• Huang Shizhong arrived with the school principal and demanded that the officers arrest the person who had beaten his daughter.
• Dong Xuebin admitted he had hit Huang Tingting, challenged Huang Shizhong over his daughter’s behavior, and cursed at him.
• The principal identified Dong Xuebin as the Street Office Director of Nanshan District, and the homeroom teacher recognized him as the infamous plague god and slipped away.

Dong Xuebin confronted Huang Shizhong over their daughters’ fight, then showed him and the officials a video of Huang Tingting and her classmates bullying Yu Qianqian. The footage exposed Huang Tingting’s role, but Dong Xuebin’s assault on the students left both sides at an impasse as news of his return spread through Yantai County.

• Dong Xuebin and Huang Shizhong argued in the infirmary, with Huang Shizhong denying that Huang Tingting had beaten Yu Qianqian.
• Dong Xuebin found the video online and played it for Huang Shizhong, Principal Qian Dong, and the officers.
• The video showed Huang Tingting and her classmates punching and kicking Yu Qianqian and forcing her to kneel, leaving Huang Shizhong unable to deny his daughter’s actions.
• Dong Xuebin confronted Huang Shizhong and blamed him for excusing Huang Tingting, while Huang Shizhong accused Dong Xuebin of breaking the law by hitting students.
• The dispute stalled as the officials recognized that Huang Tingting had started the bullying but Dong Xuebin had also acted improperly.
• Word spread through the Yantai County Public Security Bureau and Education Bureau that Dong Xuebin had returned and caused trouble at County No. 1 Middle School.

Dong Xuebin demanded that Huang Tingting and the students who bullied Yu Qianqian apologize and face school discipline, then eased his demand from expulsion to probation after Duan Zheng'an urged him to settle the matter. Huang Shizhong rejected the compromise and reported Dong for intentional injury, leaving the conflict poised to escalate.

• Dong Xuebin told the principal that Huang Tingting's group must apologize to Yu Qianqian and initially demanded that they be expelled.
• Duan Zheng'an called Dong Xuebin and urged him to stop escalating the dispute, so Dong agreed to accept probationary discipline instead of expulsion.
• Huang Tingting, Lei Zi, Xiao Fan, and their parents blamed Yu Qianqian and demanded that the police arrest Dong Xuebin.
• Qian Dong explained the proposed settlement to Huang Shizhong, including apologies and probation for the students who assaulted Yu Qianqian.
• Huang Shizhong rejected the terms, called the County Public Security Bureau to report Dong Xuebin for intentional injury, and vowed to use his connections against him.

After Huang Shizhong refused to make his daughter apologize or accept punishment, Dong Xuebin abandoned his attempt to settle the dispute and made several calls. Huang Shizhong then watched the police let Dong Xuebin walk away and realized he had badly misjudged the situation.

• Qian Dong and the No. 1 High School Principal left the office and wondered whether Huang Shizhong knew who Dong Xuebin was or was pretending not to.
• Dong Xuebin learned that Huang Shizhong had rejected the proposed settlement, and he told Yu Qianqian that it was too late to let the matter go.
• Dong Xuebin called Duan Zheng'an to complain about Huang Shizhong, then made several more calls to address the Education Bureau's conduct.
• Dong Xuebin took Yu Qianqian out of the infirmary and ignored the police officers who had come to investigate.
• Huang Shizhong saw the officers fail to stop Dong Xuebin and realized that something was wrong.

Dong Xuebin admitted to hitting Huang Tingting and two other students, while the police questioned him over the school incident. County leaders pressured County No. 1 Middle School to expel the three students, and the police withdrew before Huang Shizhong learned what had happened.

• Dong Xuebin admitted to Xiao Wang and the other officers that he had hit Huang Tingting, Sun Lei, and Meng Fan, then invited the officers to eat with him.
• Huang Shizhong called Pang Dabing to ask about Dong Xuebin and felt reassured when Pang described Dong as unpopular in Nanshan District.
• The County No. 1 Middle School principal convened a committee meeting and proposed expelling Huang Tingting, Sun Lei, and Meng Fan.
• The school committee unanimously approved the expulsions, and the principal issued and signed the documents while Huang Shizhong remained unaware.
• Xiao Wang received a call from the bureau, informed Dong Xuebin, and withdrew the officers from the restaurant.

Huang Shizhong learned that Huang Tingting and her friends had been expelled after he refused to drop his effort to blame Dong Xuebin. He discovered the county leaders had ordered the punishment because Dong Xuebin was engaged to County Chief Hui Lan and Yu Qianqian was County Chief Xie's goddaughter.

• Huang Shizhong coached Huang Tingting on what to tell the police and planned to protect her from a disciplinary record.
• Huang Shizhong and Huang Tingting learned that the school had expelled her and the other students involved.
• Huang Shizhong summoned the No. 1 High School Principal and angrily demanded an explanation for the expulsions.
• The No. 1 High School Principal told Huang Shizhong that the punishment had come from above and reminded him that Yu Qianqian was Director Dong's goddaughter.
• The No. 1 High School Principal revealed that Dong Xuebin and County Chief Hui Lan were about to marry, leaving Huang Shizhong stunned by the county's connection to the case.

Huang Shizhong learned that Dong Xuebin was closely connected to County Chief Xie Huilan and many county leaders, then failed to win Secretary Xiang Daoyu’s help. He finally withdrew his report against Dong Xuebin, though he remained furious about his daughter’s punishment.

• The No. 1 High School Principal told Huang Shizhong that Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan were a couple, leaving Huang stunned by the revelation.
• Huang Shizhong investigated Dong Xuebin and discovered his powerful connections and fearsome reputation in Yantai County.
• Huang Shizhong decided to seek help from County Party Secretary Xiang Daoyu, believing Xiang disliked Dong Xuebin.
• Secretary Xiang did not respond to Huang Shizhong’s complaint, and Huang realized he would not intervene.
• Huang Shizhong called the Public Security Bureau and withdrew his report against Dong Xuebin.

Dong Xuebin secured the expulsion of Huang Tingting and the other students who bullied Yu Qianqian, while Huang Shizhong withdrew his report and came to apologize. Huang Shizhong and Tingting left the Yu family’s home after making peace with Qianqian, and Dong Xuebin let the matter rest.

• Dong Xuebin thanked Deputy County Chief Cheng Keliang for arranging the students’ expulsion and invited him to dinner.
• A Public Security Bureau officer told Dong Xuebin that Huang Shizhong had withdrawn his report and agreed to settle the matter privately.
• Dong Xuebin reassured Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian that Tingting and the other students had been expelled, and promised to protect Qianqian.
• Huang Shizhong and Huang Tingting arrived at the Yu family’s home to apologize to Qianqian and her mother.
• Tingting apologized, brought tea, and made peace with Qianqian, while Huang Shizhong showed Dong Xuebin that he accepted defeat.

After a night of drinking with former colleagues, Dong Xuebin returned to Xie Huilan’s home and told her how the school had handled Yu Qianqian’s bullying case. As Xie Huilan soaked her feet in his bath, Dong Xuebin secretly admired her legs and gathered one into his arms.

• Dong Xuebin arrived at Xie Huilan’s home drunk after Secretary Hu drove him there.
• Xie Huilan brought Dong Xuebin a towel and toothbrush while he bathed, then discussed how Huang Tingting and the other students had been expelled and Huang Shizhong had apologized.
• Dong Xuebin urged Xie Huilan to remove Huang Shizhong as Education Bureau director, but she said the timing and political consequences required caution.
• Xie Huilan asked about Yu Qianqian’s recovery and Yu Meixia, and Dong Xuebin explained that he had helped them because they struggled on their own.
• Xie Huilan put her bare legs into Dong Xuebin’s bathtub to soak her feet, and he secretly admired them before drawing one thigh into his arms.

While Dong Xuebin washed Xie Huilan’s legs, he told her about his conflicts with Nanshan District’s leaders and asked how to improve his prospects. Xie Huilan advised him to build ties with a top district leader, and Dong Xuebin resolved to approach Wang Anshi or Geng Yuehua himself.

• Dong Xuebin told Xie Huilan that he had clashed with several Nanshan District leaders, including Xue Qingrong, and asked for advice on advancing.
• Xie Huilan explained that Dong Xuebin had established authority in his subdistrict but needed support from a powerful district leader.
• Xie Huilan advised Dong Xuebin to choose a side and recommended getting closer to Wang Anshi or Geng Yuehua rather than a weaker leader.
• Xie Huilan offered to use her connections to introduce Dong Xuebin, but he refused and said he would handle it himself.
• Dong Xuebin agreed to seek an opportunity to build ties with Wang Anshi or Geng Yuehua and promised to consult Xie Huilan about future work problems.

Dong Xuebin returned to the Guangming Street Office and learned that it had been selected as a National Model Unit for Respecting the Elderly. He announced the news and informed district leaders, securing a major political achievement for himself.

• Dong Xuebin returned to his office and heard Zhou Yanru and Wang Yuling report on the Model Unit selection and local political developments.
• Dong Xuebin received a call from the National Respect for the Elderly Office, which invited his unit to send its top leader to a Beijing commendation meeting.
• Dong Xuebin realized the invitation meant the Guangming Street Office had been selected for the national honor.
• Dong Xuebin told Zhou Yanru and Wang Yuling to summon the department heads for an immediate meeting.
• Dong Xuebin informed Shen Fei, who praised his work and promised to report the news to District Governor Yuehua.
• Dong Xuebin announced the selection at the Conference Room, causing an uproar at the Guangming Street Office.

Dong Xuebin tried to build a relationship with District Party Secretary Wang Anshi by visiting him and signaling his willingness to join Wang’s camp. After seeing Wang’s illness, Dong realized he might use his reverse command to cure it and win Wang’s trust.

• Dong Xuebin suspected Geng Xinke had been involved in Guo Mingfeng’s scheme and considered aligning himself with Wang Anshi instead of District Governor Geng Yuehua.
• Dong Xuebin learned that Wang Yuling’s uncle, Wang Anshi, was suffering from appendicitis complicated by diabetes.
• Dong Xuebin visited Wang Anshi’s home with health supplements, but Madam Yan initially tried to turn him away because of their past encounter.
• Wang Yuling arrived and helped Dong Xuebin enter the home, where he reported the Model Unit commendation and declared that Guangming Street Office would follow Wang Anshi’s leadership.
• Dong Xuebin realized his reverse command might be able to turn back Wang Anshi’s appendicitis and decided he could use it to cure him.

Dong Xuebin used his time-reversal ability to cure Wang Anshi’s sudden appendicitis attack after his family had doubted his medical skills. Wang Anshi recovered and invited Dong Xuebin to stay for a meal.

• Dong Xuebin offered to treat Wang Anshi’s illness, but Wang Anshi initially refused and went to eat.
• Wang Anshi suffered a severe attack just after Dong Xuebin left, so Dong Xuebin hurried back and offered to help.
• Dong Xuebin pretended to perform acupressure, then reversed Wang Anshi’s appendix and nearby tissue by four days.
• Wang Anshi’s pain vanished, and he stood up feeling better than he had before the illness.
• Wang Anshi thanked Dong Xuebin and invited him to eat with the family after refusing to go to the hospital.

Dong Xuebin learned that the Nanqi Morning News had published another distorted report accusing him of assaulting students and a teacher. After discovering links between the reporter Liu Gang, vice president Pang Dabing, and Organization Department Deputy Minister Peng Kun, Dong Xuebin worried that district officials might use the allegations against him.

• The principal of County No. 1 Middle School warned Dong Xuebin that a Nanqi Morning News reporter had visited the school to investigate the assault.
• Zhou Yanru brought Dong Xuebin the paper, which accused him of injuring three students and a teacher and portrayed his past actions in a damaging light.
• Dong Xuebin called Qu Yiqiang to ask about Peng Kun’s dinner with a Nanqi Morning News executive.
• Qu Yiqiang identified the executive as Pang Dabing and said Liu Gang, who wrote both negative reports about Dong Xuebin, appeared to be Pang Dabing’s relative.
• Dong Xuebin remembered their names and worried that district officials would exploit the assault allegations against him.

After the Nanqi Morning News published an inflammatory report about Dong Xuebin, he obtained information on the reporter and editor-in-chief and decided to retaliate. Huang Shizhong feared the article would implicate him, while Dong suspected Xue Qingrong had arranged it and prepared to go after them one by one.

• Dong Xuebin told Xu Yan that the newspaper had distorted the school incident and asked her to find Liu Gang and Pang Dabing’s home addresses.
• Xu Yan sent Dong the two men’s addresses and details, including that Pang Dabing was Liu Gang’s older cousin.
• Huang Shizhong angrily confronted Pang Dabing about the report, but Pang denied responsibility and defended publishing it.
• Huang Shizhong worried that Dong Xuebin and Hui Lan would suspect him of arranging the story and that an investigation could threaten his position.
• Dong Xuebin suspected Xue Qingrong was behind the report and resolved to take down Xue Qingrong, Pang Dabing, and Liu Gang one by one.

Pang Dabing and Liu Gang planned to smear Dong Xuebin through Nanqi Morning News, and Liu Gang confronted him at Guangming Street Office. Dong Xuebin stayed composed, but his final words left Liu Gang facing his anger.

• Pang Dabing told Liu Gang to keep investigating Dong Xuebin and find material to portray him as a violent official.
• Liu Gang agreed to manufacture problems if needed and planned to exploit public distrust of officials to ruin Dong Xuebin's reputation.
• Guangming Street Office staff condemned Nanqi Morning News for publishing another report against their office.
• Liu Gang visited Dong Xuebin and accused him of beating students and a teacher, claiming students had suffered fractures.
• Dong Xuebin challenged Liu Gang to provide evidence and accused the newspaper of distorting facts to deceive the public.

Dong Xuebin confronted reporter Liu Gang over Nanqi Morning News’s planned false reports, then discovered Liu was following him and resolved to use the opportunity to deal with him and Pang Dabing. The chapter ended with Dong Xuebin forming a plan as Liu Gang continued tailing his car.

• Liu Gang provoked Dong Xuebin during an interview and threatened to publish a report portraying him as violent.
• Liu Gang told Pang Dabing he had gathered material and agreed to keep looking for damaging evidence against Dong Xuebin.
• Dong Xuebin told Zhou Yanru he would handle Nanqi Morning News and drove toward Liu Gang’s home, planning to take down both Liu Gang and Pang Dabing.
• Dong Xuebin noticed a red Xiali following him, checked Xu Yan’s notes, and identified it as Liu Gang’s car.
• Dong Xuebin realized Liu Gang was surveilling him to manufacture compromising stories and formed a plan to turn the tailing against him.

Dong Xuebin arranged to meet Xu Yan and led Liu Gang to believe he was secretly involved with a married woman. The chapter left Liu Gang following Xu Yan’s car, unaware Dong had slipped away at a flower shop.

• Dong Xuebin called Xu Yan and arranged to meet her at the Family Compound while Liu Gang continued tailing him.
• Dong Xuebin stopped outside a residential compound, where Xu Yan arrived in a black HuaChen Zhonghua.
• Liu Gang photographed Dong Xuebin and Xu Yan, mistook their meeting for evidence of an affair, and followed Xu Yan’s car.
• Xu Yan’s car stopped at a corner and then drove off, while Dong Xuebin emerged from a flower shop after it passed.

Dong Xuebin and Xu Yan lured Liu Gang into following them, then had State Security agents arrest him. At the Third Division office, Liu Gang learned that the woman he had followed was Xu Yan, the municipal State Security director, and realized Dong Xuebin had set a trap for him.

• Liu Gang told Pang Dabing he was following Dong Xuebin and a woman, then watched their Brilliance stop near an inn.
• Xu Yan approached Liu Gang’s car as State Security agents blocked his escape, and she threw him to the ground when he tried to run past her.
• The agents arrested Liu Gang after identifying themselves as State Security, while Dong Xuebin watched from across the road.
• At the Third Division office, Xu Yan inspected Liu Gang’s camera and deleted its photos of Dong Xuebin.
• The Third Division chief questioned Liu Gang and revealed that he had followed Xu Yan, the municipal State Security director.
• Liu Gang realized Dong Xuebin had deliberately lured him into the arrest.