Chapter Summaries

Dong Xuebin protected Ma Li and Shen Fei when Director Meng’s son fired a firecracker at them, but the boy’s family refused to apologize. After Geng Yuehua rejected Ma Li’s request to let the matter go, Dong Xuebin blocked the wedding convoy’s exit and declared that no one was leaving.

• Director Meng’s son fired a firecracker toward Ma Li and Shen Fei, and Dong Xuebin slapped it away before it could hit them.
• Ma Li was unharmed, but her pants were blackened, and the wedding party ignored the incident as they continued preparing to leave.
• Geng Yuehua demanded that the boy’s parents come forward, but a young man offered Ma Li three thousand yuan and asked them to let the matter go.
• Dong Xuebin demanded an apology from the boy and his parents, while Director Meng dismissed the confrontation and told the guests to get into their cars.
• After Geng Yuehua refused to drop the matter, Dong Xuebin drove his Porsche across the compound entrance and stopped the wedding convoy from leaving.

Dong Xuebin blocked the Lü'an City Municipal Party Committee Family Compound entrance after Director Meng’s family refused to apologize for the firecracker that injured Ma Li. He escalated the standoff by blasting funeral music at the wedding, leaving both sides stunned and furious.

• Dong Xuebin parked his Porsche sideways across the compound entrance and demanded that the child and his family apologize to Ma Li.
• Director Meng and the surrounding cadres berated Dong Xuebin, but he challenged them to ram his expensive car and refused to move it.
• The cadres realized Geng Yuehua was the Nanshan District Party Secretary and Ma Li was her secretary, but Director Meng still refused to apologize and called the police.
• Director Meng let his son continue lighting firecrackers while Lü'an City cadres resumed celebrating the wedding and ignored Geng Yuehua’s group.
• Dong Xuebin asked Geng Yuehua if she wanted music, then opened his car doors and blasted funeral music across the wedding compound.

Dong Xuebin blocked Director Meng’s wedding convoy until Meng apologized for his son firing firecrackers at Ma Li. When the police arrived, Dong recognized Deputy Director Hou Qing, an old acquaintance, but refused her request to move his car, leaving the officers wary of arresting him.

• Dong Xuebin kept his car and funeral music blocking the compound gate, demanding that Director Meng apologize for his son nearly injuring Ma Li with firecrackers.
• Police arrived with a tow truck, and Dong argued with the officers and warned them not to tow his car or arrest him.
• Deputy Director Hou Qing intervened and revealed that she knew Dong from their past undercover investigation in Lü'an City.
• Hou Qing asked Dong to move his car so they could discuss an apology and compensation, but he insisted that Director Meng apologize first.
• After Director Meng refused to accept responsibility, Hou Qing told the officers to mediate and not arrest Dong.
• The officers recognized Dong as the notorious figure from Fenzhou City, while Shen Fei and Ma Li realized his reputation had spread to Lü'an City.

Dong Xuebin blocked the entrance to the Municipal Party Committee Family Compound and demanded an apology from Director Meng’s family after Ma Li was injured. The confrontation halted when Madam Luan revealed that Dong Xuebin was her son.

• Dong Xuebin and Geng Yuehua refused to move the Porsche until Director Meng’s family apologized, leaving the officers unsure how to respond.
• Dong Xuebin chatted with Geng Yuehua about her Wild Ginseng and Taisui while traffic backed up around the compound.
• Deputy Mayor Zhou arrived, heard Director Meng’s account, and grew cautious after noticing Ma Li’s injuries and Dong Xuebin’s actions.
• Ma Li suggested that Geng Yuehua and the others leave when Madam Luan, the Mayor’s Wife, came outside.
• Madam Luan recognized Dong Xuebin as her son, and Dong Xuebin sheepishly called her Mom.

Dong Xuebin revealed that Luan Xiaoping was his mother and forced Director Meng’s family to apologize for the firecracker blast that injured Ma Li. After the apology and compensation, Dong moved his car and apologized to the people delayed at the gate.

• Luan Xiaoping arrived and ordered Dong Xuebin to move his car, but he insisted that Director Meng apologize to Ma Li first.
• Deputy Mayor Zhou recognized Dong Xuebin as Luan Xiaoping’s son and urged Director Meng to take responsibility for his child’s dangerous firecrackers.
• Director Meng stopped himself from hitting his son, made him apologize, and apologized to Dong Xuebin and the others with his wife and secretary.
• Director Meng offered Ma Li several thousand yuan, but she accepted only one thousand.
• Luan Xiaoping asked Dong Xuebin to move his car, and he drove it into the courtyard and apologized to the people waiting outside.

After Dong Xuebin resolved the confrontation with Director Meng’s family, he reunited with Geng Yuehua briefly before joining Luan Xiaoping and Yang Zhaode for dinner. The chapter ended with the family sharing a meal and Yang Zhaode approving Dong Xuebin’s willingness to fight back when challenged.

• Dong Xuebin let the Meng family’s apology stand, then invited Geng Yuehua, Ma Li, and Shen Fei to stay, but they left after Geng Yuehua declined.
• Dong Xuebin thanked Luan Xiaoping for handling the confrontation and learned that Yang Zhaode had advised her on what to say.
• Yang Zhaode welcomed Dong Xuebin home and served dinner while Luan Xiaoping and Dong Xuebin spent time with Qian Qian.
• At dinner, Luan Xiaoping criticized Dong Xuebin for provoking trouble, while Yang Zhaode defended his judgment and agreed that he sometimes had to fight back.

Dong Xuebin spent the afternoon doting on Xiao Qianqian before talking privately with Yang Zhaode about his career. He hoped to reach Zhengchu Level and agreed to seek Hui Lan’s advice, though he planned to pursue promotion at his own pace.

• Dong Xuebin played with Xiao Qianqian for hours until Luan Xiaoping took her from him and sent him to speak with Yang Zhaode.
• Yang Zhaode told Dong Xuebin that he respected his own approach to work and urged him not to worry his mother.
• Dong Xuebin said he wanted to build experience in his current Discipline Inspection Committee position before seeking promotion to Zhengchu Level.
• Yang Zhaode advised Dong Xuebin to consult Hui Lan more often, and Dong Xuebin agreed to ask her for advice while watching for a chance to advance.

Dong Xuebin accepted Hou Qing’s invitation to dinner after explaining his unusual lack of social engagements to Yang Zhaode and Luan Xiaoping. At the restaurant, Hou Qing introduced him to Lü'an officials who treated him warmly, and Dong Xuebin realized Yang Zhaode’s influence was drawing people around him.

• Hou Qing called Dong Xuebin and invited him to dinner, and he agreed despite Luan Xiaoping wanting him to stay with the family.
• Yang Zhaode learned that Dong Xuebin’s many clashes with senior officials had left him with few social engagements and encouraged him to build ties with Hou Qing.
• Dong Xuebin agreed to invite Hou Qing to meet Yang Zhaode, who hoped to bring the capable official closer to his circle.
• Hou Qing met Dong Xuebin at the restaurant and introduced him to Deputy Mayor Zhou, Director Liu, and Dean Li.
• Deputy Mayor Zhou left during dinner, while the other officials and visiting cadres toasted Dong Xuebin enthusiastically, making him realize Yang Zhaode’s influence was behind the attention.

Dong Xuebin said goodbye to the officials from Lü'an City, then visited Geng Yuehua at her hotel and they had sex. The chapter ended with them lying together as Geng Yuehua recovered her breath.

• Dong Xuebin learned that Deputy Mayor Zhou had paid the restaurant bill and said goodbye to Hou Qing and the other officials.
• Dong Xuebin called Geng Yuehua, learned she was staying at a hotel with Xiao Ma, and drove there to see her.
• Dong Xuebin entered Geng Yuehua's hotel room, teased her about her recovery, and took a shower.
• Dong Xuebin joined Geng Yuehua under the covers and had sex with her, using REVERSE to regain his strength.
• Geng Yuehua cried out during sex for the first time, and afterward they lay together as her breathing steadied.

Dong Xuebin returned to work at the Fenzhou City Discipline Inspection Committee after the New Year and found colleagues keeping their distance because of his reputation and political troubles. He met with Zhan Guiping, who welcomed him warmly and thanked him for helping Zhan Rourou recover, leaving Dong reassured by their strong relationship and support.

• Dong Xuebin returned to the Municipal Party Committee Courtyard and noticed that colleagues greeted him but avoided further contact because they feared his reputation and uncertain political standing.
• Dong Xuebin reviewed his office and work documents, and Luo Haiting told him that Zhan Guiping had returned from vacation and wanted to see him.
• Dong Xuebin visited Zhan Guiping, who warmly welcomed him and said he had been worried about Dong and his family.
• Zhan Guiping told Dong Xuebin that Zhan Rourou had recovered enough to walk and run after surgery, and thanked him for arranging treatment and saving her during the hospital collapse.
• Dong Xuebin accepted Zhan Guiping's invitation to dinner and felt relieved that Zhan Rourou had recovered and that he had Zhan Guiping's support at the Discipline Inspection Committee.

Dong Xuebin caught up on work at the Discipline Inspection Committee and learned from Xie Huilan that he would accompany her to a charitable fundraising gala for earthquake relief. He and his mother also discovered that she and Old Yang would attend, while Dong Xuebin went home to cook and wondered how much he should donate.

• Dong Xuebin ate with Zhan Guiping, surprising Discipline Inspection Committee staff with their friendly rapport.
• Dong Xuebin spent the afternoon signing documents and reviewing meeting papers before Xie Huilan called and insisted he attend the gala as her escort.
• Luan Xiaoping told Dong Xuebin that she and Old Yang had also been invited to the gala and planned to check on Xie Huilan afterward.
• Dong Xuebin bought groceries, cooked dishes for Xie Huilan, and weighed how much to donate given his publicly declared assets.

Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan attended a charity fundraiser in Fenzhou City, where the strained relationship with Wan Fanglei remained evident. Luan Xiaoping and Yang Zhaode publicly revealed their family connection to the couple, leaving the other guests stunned as the event began.

• Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan discussed how much to donate before heading to the fundraiser.
• Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan greeted the attendees, including Zhong Zhengwei and Wan Fanglei, whose family avoided them.
• Yang Zhaode and Luan Xiaoping arrived, and Luan Xiaoping warmly addressed Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan as her son and daughter-in-law.
• Yang Zhaode introduced Dong Xuebin to several guests while the attendees reacted to the revelation that Luan Xiaoping was Dong Xuebin's mother and Yang Zhaode's wife.
• The host opened the charity event, and the guests took their seats.

At a charity auction, Song Fei challenged Xie Huilan over Mayor Zhong Zhengwei’s calligraphy, prompting Dong Xuebin to outbid him dramatically. Dong won the calligraphy for three million, leaving the hall stunned and Song Fei unable to compete.

• Wan Fanglei bought Teacher Zhang’s manuscript for twenty thousand, and businessmen drove the price of a painting up to two hundred thousand.
• Xie Huilan waited for Zhong Zhengwei’s calligraphy and bid three hundred sixty thousand to support the mayor and strengthen their ties.
• Song Fei kept raising his bid against Xie Huilan, hoping to win the calligraphy and gain favor with Wan Fanglei.
• Dong Xuebin angrily bid one million, then two million and three million, forcing Song Fei to stop bidding.
• Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan collected the calligraphy after it sold for three million, while Fenzhou City officials recalled Dong’s vast cash wealth.

Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan left the charity auction after Dong’s three-million donation made them the event’s focus. Song Fei dismissed warnings about provoking Dong, unaware that Dong could indeed use unscrupulous methods against him.

• Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan secured Zhong Zhengwei’s calligraphy for three million, and Xie discussed learning calligraphy from him.
• The auction ended with nearly ten million raised, and Wan Fanglei promised the donations would be transparently used for reconstruction.
• Dong Xuebin collected the donation account details and left the hotel with Xie Huilan.
• Boss Zhang warned Song Fei that Dong Xuebin was notorious and dangerous to provoke in Fenzhou City.
• Song Fei brushed off the warning and remained determined to pursue business connections, while Dong Xuebin’s capacity for immoral retaliation went unrecognized.

After Xie Huilan urged him to focus on his Discipline Inspection Commission duties, Dong Xuebin used FORWARD to obtain tomorrow’s newspaper and discovered a deadly collapse involving a new post-earthquake school building. The report pointed to shoddy construction and bribed officials, giving him a case to pursue.

• Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan discussed their efforts to build ties with Mayor Zhong and Dong Xuebin’s anger at Song Fei.
• Xie Huilan urged Dong Xuebin to investigate misconduct proactively, and he decided to focus on his actual work.
• Dong Xuebin used FORWARD on the family mailbox and retrieved a newspaper dated tomorrow.
• Dong Xuebin read that a new post-earthquake teaching building had collapsed, killing seven and injuring five.
• Dong Xuebin learned the report cited substandard materials, cut corners, and bribery, and resolved to investigate.

Dong Xuebin investigated suspicious construction materials at Xiping Third Middle School and prepared an anonymous tip-off about possible corruption. Xie Huilan agreed to raise the matter at the Mayor’s Office Meeting, though she warned that officials might hesitate to act.

• After reading a newspaper report about a coming accident, Dong Xuebin asked Xie Huilan about Xiping Third Middle School and learned that Song Fei’s company supplied its building materials.
• Dong Xuebin inspected the unfinished school at night, found that its materials and walls crumbled easily, and photographed the construction site before leaving when security guards arrived.
• Dong Xuebin wrote an anonymous tip-off letter and asked Liu Dahai to arrange for copies to be sent to the City Discipline Inspection Committee and to him.
• Dong Xuebin showed Xie Huilan the photographs and urged her to alert the city’s leaders about the school and other reconstruction projects.
• Xie Huilan agreed to bring the tip-off letter up at the Mayor’s Office Meeting, while cautioning that officials might avoid an investigation because it could disrupt reconstruction.

Dong Xuebin obtained Zhan Guiping’s approval to discreetly investigate suspected embezzlement of disaster relief funds for Xiping District’s Third Middle School Teaching Building. Xie Huilan explained that Deputy Mayor Feng had opposed a formal investigation, apparently to protect his chances of joining the municipal Party committee’s Standing Committee, as Dong Xuebin prepared to lead a team to investigate.

• Dong Xuebin brought an anonymous tip-off about disaster relief funds to Zhan Guiping, who assigned Discipline Inspection and Supervision Office One to investigate discreetly.
• Dong Xuebin asked Luo Haiting to remain behind and chose Deputy Director Liu Hanqing to accompany him on the investigation.
• Xie Huilan told Dong Xuebin that Deputy Mayor Feng had opposed involving the Construction Committee in the investigation and said he would verify the allegations privately.
• Xie Huilan explained that Deputy Mayor Feng wanted to avoid trouble because Deputy Mayor Qian’s departure could give Feng a chance to join the Standing Committee.

Dong Xuebin brought a Discipline Inspection Committee team to Xiping Third Middle School under the pretext of an undercover inspection, hoping to uncover construction problems before the Teaching Building collapsed. When Deputy Mayor Feng Jie and Deputy District Governor Chu confronted his staff at the site, Dong Xuebin dismissed them as “stray cats and dogs” and ordered his team to keep working.

• Dong Xuebin treated his team to lunch and instructed them to enter Xiping Third Middle School undercover and inspect the construction project.
• Liu Hanqing, Zhu Zhu, Fei Fan, and the others got past the security guard and examined the unfinished Teaching Building while Dong Xuebin waited at a nearby teahouse.
• Dong Xuebin spotted Deputy Mayor Feng Jie arriving with Deputy District Governor Chu and suspected that news of the inspection had reached them.
• Feng Jie and Chu confronted Liu Hanqing and his colleagues about their presence at the school and complained that they had not coordinated with the district.
• Dong Xuebin strode up, called Feng Jie, Chu, and their companions “stray cats and dogs,” and ordered his staff to return to work.

Dong Xuebin drove Deputy Mayor Feng Jie and his entourage away after they interfered with the Discipline Inspection Committee’s investigation at Xiping Third Middle School. Watching Feng Jie inspect the school’s construction, Dong suspected the officials had staged a cover-up, though he alone knew the Teaching Building was on the verge of collapse.

• Dong Xuebin insulted Feng Jie and the Xiping District officials, pretending he mistook the deputy mayor for a migrant worker until Feng Jie angrily left.
• Dong Xuebin told Zhu Zhu, Fei Fan, and the others to continue investigating openly and to send anyone who objected to him.
• Two security guards approached the investigators, but they backed off when Dong ordered them not to interfere with the Discipline Inspection Committee’s case.
• Feng Jie and Deputy District Governor Chu praised the construction quality and prepared to inspect a completed building.
• Dong noticed that the materials he had seen outside the Teaching Building the previous night were gone and suspected the officials had replaced them to conceal problems.

Dong Xuebin’s undercover inspection at Xiping Third Middle School was compromised, and he realized the coming aftershock might collapse the completed Teaching Building rather than the unfinished one. He rushed to protect the officials and staff still inside as the aftershock approached.

• Dong Xuebin told Zhan Guiping that Deputy Mayor Feng had exposed the inspection and that the suspicious building materials were gone, but Zhan Guiping told him to keep investigating if he wished.
• Expecting an aftershock to collapse a Teaching Building, Dong Xuebin sent Fei Fan, Zhu Zhu, Ning Shaoyang, and the others toward the completed building while he entered the unfinished one.
• The workers left the unfinished building for a break, and Dong Xuebin initially believed that this had changed the predicted casualties.
• A worker told Dong Xuebin that the crew had been scheduled to work in the nearly completed Teaching Building, and Dong Xuebin realized that it was the building likely to collapse.
• Dong Xuebin understood that his colleagues were still inside the endangered completed building and reacted in alarm.