Chapter Summaries

Dong Xuebin and Li Feng tried to attend Deputy Commander Xiong’s birthday banquet but were turned away for lacking invitations. Liu Haibin offered entry to Li Feng’s group while excluding Dong Xuebin, and Li Feng chose to stay outside with him.

• Dong Xuebin and Li Feng arrived at Deputy Commander Xiong’s birthday banquet without invitations and were refused entry by the guard.
• Liu Guowei and Liu Haibin arrived, and Liu Haibin arranged for Li Feng’s group to enter while deliberately excluding Dong Xuebin.
• Dong Xuebin told Li Feng to go inside, but Li Feng declined the offer and stayed with him.
• Li Feng accepted that his choice would offend Liu Guowei, deciding not to abandon Dong Xuebin.

Dong Xuebin clashed with the guard at Navy Deputy Commander Xiong’s birthday celebration after he and Li Feng were denied entry without invitations. Xie Huilan told him their invitation number, and Dong used it to get himself and the Dafeng County officials inside.

• Dong Xuebin apologized to Li Feng for the trouble caused by his dispute with Liu Guowei, then insisted they still go into the celebration.
• Dong Xuebin argued with the guard, who tried to block him and reached for his gun, while Li Feng urged him to leave things alone.
• An officer explained that invitations had not been sent to local officials, and Dong received a call from Xie Huilan.
• Xie Huilan told Dong that their invitation number was 002, and Dong gave the number to the officer.
• The officer found Dong’s name in the invitation record and let Dong, Li Feng, and the others enter.

Dong Xuebin and Li Feng entered Commander Xiong’s birthday banquet after the guards discovered Dong’s invitation was numbered 002, signaling his importance to the host. Inside, they chose a seat at the sixth table while Liu Guowei and Liu Haibin watched them from the third.

• A political officer reprimanded the guard for confronting Dong Xuebin and explained that his Invitation Number 002 placed him among Commander Xiong’s most important invitees.
• Dong Xuebin told Li Feng that he had only learned his family had an invitation when his wife, Xie Huilan, called him.
• Dong Xuebin and Li Feng picked a seat at the sixth table, behind the tables reserved for senior military figures and officials.
• Liu Haibin wondered how Dong Xuebin and Li Feng had entered, and Liu Guowei told him to stop asking and watch his behavior.
• Liu Guowei focused on building connections with the officers at the banquet, while assuming the city would soon discipline Dong Xuebin.

At Deputy Commander Xiong’s birthday banquet, Dong Xuebin and Li Feng were left isolated at their table while Liu Haibin recruited friends to target Dong. Wang Yue and the others began forcing Dong into a series of large toasts, and Dong agreed to drink with them.

• Deputy Commander Xiong began his birthday banquet with a toast, and guests from the first three tables offered their congratulations.
• Dong Xuebin and Li Feng exchanged drinks but received little attention from the other guests because they were local officials and Dong had argued with a guard.
• Liu Haibin complained to his friends about Dong and pointed him out at the sixth table.
• Wang Yue and several young men approached Dong under the pretext of toasting him, then switched to large glasses and pressured him to keep drinking.
• Li Feng offered to drink in Dong’s place, but Dong stopped him and accepted the challenge from Wang Yue and the others.

Dong Xuebin let Liu Haibin, Wang Yue, and the others challenge him to a drinking contest at the birthday banquet, secretly using Reverse to recover after each round. He drank seven or eight jin of liquor while his challengers became too drunk to respond.

• Dong Xuebin accepted the officials’ toasts despite Li Feng’s warning and used Reverse to recover after Xiao Xiao’s drink.
• Liu Haibin, Wang Yue, and the others took turns toasting Dong Xuebin as he pretended to grow drunk, while the banquet guests watched.
• Dong Xuebin revealed he had drunk more than five jin and challenged the others to drink with him.
• When no one answered, Dong Xuebin had seven glasses poured and drank them in two minutes, stunning the banquet guests.

At Deputy Commander Xiong’s birthday banquet, Dong Xuebin outdrank Liu Haibin and the other young men who had tried to get him drunk, then refused to let them back out of their promised return toast. As officers and relatives confronted him, Deputy Commander Xiong learned Dong Xuebin’s name and reacted with surprise.

• Dong Xuebin drank seven cups of baijiu, astonishing the banquet guests and impressing the officers at the first table.
• Dong Xuebin demanded that Liu Haibin, Wang Yue, and their companions return his seven cups, but their drinking companion Zhou refused to help.
• Liu Guowei tried to call off the drinking, but Dong Xuebin argued that the young men had agreed to the contest and should honor it.
• Wang Yue attempted to drink his cup but vomited, prompting his father, Political Commissar Wang, and other relatives to confront Dong Xuebin.
• Li Feng urged Dong Xuebin to stop escalating the dispute, but Dong Xuebin again challenged Liu Haibin and the others to drink.
• Deputy Commander Xiong asked who Dong Xuebin was, and Political Commissar Yan identified him; Xiong then demanded to know why he had not been told sooner.

At Xiong Liping’s birthday banquet, Dong Xuebin refused to back down from his clash with Liu Haibin and the others. Xiong Liping recognized him as an honored guest, warmly welcomed him to the first table, and left the gathered officers wondering who Dong Xuebin was.

• Xiong Liping scolded Political Commissar Yan for failing to tell him Dong Xuebin had arrived.
• Dong Xuebin insisted Liu Haibin and the others still owed him six drinks, despite warnings that Xiong Liping was approaching.
• Xiong Liping greeted Dong Xuebin warmly and recalled that his ship had brought Dong back after the hostage exchange in Bu Zhou.
• Xiong Liping asked after Hui Lan, then invited Dong Xuebin to join him at the first table.
• Xiong Liping introduced Dong Xuebin to Xiong Fei and praised his drinking capacity, stunning Liu Guowei, Liu Haibin, and the other guests.

At Xiong Liping’s sixtieth birthday banquet, Xie Huilan used a phone call to explain Dong Xuebin’s dispute with Liu Guowei and prompt Xiong to support him. Xiong forced Liu Haibin to honor his drinking challenge, and Dong left the banquet with the military guests newly aware of Xiong’s regard for him.

• Xie Huilan called Xiong Liping and explained that Liu Guowei had reprimanded Dong Xuebin and that the city might investigate him for bringing his arrested friends back from the military district.
• Dong Xuebin toasted Xiong Liping, then Xiong questioned Liu Haibin for backing out of a drinking challenge after Dong had accepted drinks from the others.
• Xiong Liping ordered Liu Haibin to drink, and Liu Haibin vomited after forcing down a glass of liquor.
• Liu Guowei took his sick son away, recognizing Xiong Liping’s intervention as a warning.
• Dong Xuebin declined to make the other young men keep drinking, and Xiong Liping’s guests treated him with greater respect.

After the banquet, Dong Xuebin learned that the investigation against him had been canceled. Xiong Liping explained Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan’s influence to his children, leaving them stunned by Dong Xuebin’s military record.

• Dong Xuebin left the banquet after reassuring Li Feng that he was sober, and Li Feng ordered Dafeng County officials to prepare for the Inspection Team.
• Xiong Liping told Xiong Fei and the young woman that Xie Huilan was the Xie Family’s eldest granddaughter and warned them not to offend Dong Xuebin.
• Xiong Liping revealed that the Central Military Commission had a file on Dong Xuebin, prompting Xiong Fei to connect him to the African Waters incident.
• Zhan Guiping told Dong Xuebin that Commander Liu’s proposed investigation had been canceled and that no disciplinary action would follow.
• Dong Xuebin realized Liu Guowei had withdrawn the investigation after seeing Xiong Liping’s attitude toward him, then relaxed as he drove.

Dong Xuebin returned from an inspection assignment and secured the removal of Liu Haibin, despite Xie Huilan advising him to handle the matter more cautiously. Just before lunch, he discovered that Nanqi Morning News had published a hostile article exposing his assets and portraying him as a corrupt, violent official.

• Dong Xuebin presented evidence against Liu Haibin at a Discipline Inspection Committee meeting, and He Suien approved removing Liu Haibin from office and investigating him.
• Dong Xuebin told Xie Huilan he had acted because Liu Haibin's misconduct warranted punishment, and they planned to have dinner together.
• Luo Haiting warned Dong Xuebin that Nanqi Morning News had published another article about him.
• Dong Xuebin read the article, which disclosed his assets and cited past incidents without context while making fabricated claims of violent law enforcement.

After the Nanqi Morning News published a damaging report about Dong Xuebin, he blamed Liu Haibin for manipulating Dong Haitao and ordered a renewed investigation into Liu Haibin. Dong Haitao realized he had been deceived by Liu Haibin and was suspended, while Dong Xuebin began deciding how to handle the fallout.

• Dong Xuebin discussed the Nanqi Morning News report with Xie Huilan, who offered to help manage the public reaction, but he insisted on handling it himself.
• Geng Yuehua told Dong Xuebin she would have Dong Haitao pack his things within two days, and Dong Xuebin thanked her.
• Dong Xuebin ordered Liu Hanqing to investigate Liu Haibin’s entire record and report any findings directly to him.
• Liu Guowei called Dong Haitao and berated him, revealing that Liu Haibin had falsely claimed his father approved the report.
• Ma Li informed Dong Haitao that the District Party Committee had suspended him, leaving him to realize he had made another grave mistake.

After the Nanqi Morning News smeared Dong Xuebin, Liu Hanqing uncovered evidence that Liu Haibin had accepted a fifty-thousand-yuan bribe, and Zhan Guiping backed the investigation. Online condemnation of Dong Xuebin spread, and the chapter ended with protesters gathering outside the Municipal Party Committee Courtyard demanding an investigation.

• Liu Hanqing told Dong Xuebin that Liu Haibin had allegedly accepted fifty thousand yuan for a tourism collaboration and ordered a full investigation.
• Zhan Guiping told Dong Xuebin to submit the evidence to him and said Secretary He was also angry about the newspaper report.
• Dong Xuebin read online attacks accusing him of corruption and felt hurt despite Xie Huilan's reassurance.
• Luo Haiting told Dong Xuebin that people were protesting outside the Municipal Party Committee Courtyard.
• Dong Xuebin saw about forty protesters, including former adversaries, calling him a corrupt official and demanding an investigation.

Dong Xuebin faced a protest at the Municipal Party Committee Courtyard over accusations of corruption and violent law enforcement. As the crowd attacked him, he refused to fight back and told the leaders not to intervene, insisting he would be fine.

• Dozens of citizens blocked the courtyard entrance and demanded Dong Xuebin step down, prompting Zhong Zhengwei to call for the crowd to be dispersed.
• Dong Xuebin came outside despite Xie Huilan, He Suien, and Zhan Guiping urging him to stay inside.
• Dong Xuebin told the protesters that his lottery winnings were legitimate and defended his past actions, but the crowd refused to listen and pressed toward him.
• Protesters threw tomatoes, eggs, vegetables, and a stone at Dong Xuebin, striking his forehead and drawing blood.
• Dong Xuebin remained calm and did not fight back, telling Xie Huilan and the others not to come over because he would be fine.

Dong Xuebin let an enraged crowd beat him in the Municipal Party Committee Courtyard rather than fight back, while city officials struggled to save him. After the police arrived and the crowd fled, he showed no serious injury and checked on the officials who had tried to help him.

• Protesters surrounded Dong Xuebin and beat him as Xie Huilan, Zhong Zhengwei, Wan Fanglei, and other officials called for the police and tried to stop the attack.
• Dong Xuebin used a reverse to recover from his injuries and continued standing silently as the crowd struck him with bricks, rods, and other objects.
• Xie Huilan tried to rush into the crowd, but Zhan Guiping held her back, while Liu Hanqing and Discipline Inspection Committee Staff were beaten back when they tried to reach Dong Xuebin.
• The protesters gradually stopped attacking Dong Xuebin in alarm, and they scattered when the police sirens arrived.
• Xie Huilan, Zhong Zhengwei, and the others rushed to Dong Xuebin, who brushed off the blood and walked over to check whether Liu Hanqing and the staff were hurt.

After citizens beat Dong Xuebin during a protest at the Municipal Party Committee Courtyard, he revealed that his injuries were only superficial and returned home with Xie Huilan. Videos of the beating spread online, shocking viewers with his apparent ability to withstand the blows.

• After the crowd dispersed, Dong Xuebin reassured the assembled officials that he was fine, and they found only superficial wounds despite seeing him take a prolonged beating.
• Xie Huilan examined Dong Xuebin, while Wan Fanglei ordered the Public Security Bureau to investigate and punish those who led the attack.
• Dong Xuebin got into the car with Xie Huilan and suggested buying groceries so he could cook dinner, but she drove them home instead.
• At home, Xie Huilan checked Dong Xuebin for injuries and then watched the news while he tried to apologize and comfort her.
• That evening, websites shared photos and videos of the beating, and netizens marveled that Dong Xuebin had endured the bricks and remained standing.

Dong Xuebin explained to Xie Huilan that he had let the crowd beat him so the authorities would investigate Liu Haibin’s role in the unrest. Liu Guowei warned his son that the investigation could bring prison time for Liu Haibin and endanger his own position, leaving them with no clear way out.

• Xie Huilan questioned Dong Xuebin about why he had stood still while the crowd attacked him, and he admitted that he wanted to force an investigation into Liu Haibin.
• Dong Xuebin asked Xie Huilan to reassure his mother that he was unharmed, and she warned him not to risk himself that way again.
• Liu Guowei confronted Liu Haibin with the newspaper report about Dong Xuebin being beaten outside the Municipal Party Committee Courtyard.
• Liu Haibin admitted that he had contacted officials who opposed Dong Xuebin, though he said they had organized the protest themselves and he had not expected them to attack.
• Liu Guowei told Liu Haibin that the provincial leaders would demand a full investigation and that both of them could face severe consequences.
• Liu Guowei realized he had no way to protect Liu Haibin and regretted underestimating Dong Xuebin.

Dong Xuebin returned to work unharmed after the attack and ignored attempts to talk him out of pursuing Liu Haibin. The investigation traced the disturbance to Liu Haibin, and police moved to arrest him.

• Dong Xuebin arrived at the Discipline Inspection Commission, where staff marveled that he had recovered from his injuries.
• Zhan Guiping urged Dong Xuebin to rest and warned him not to take such risks again.
• Dong Xuebin briefly answered Liu Guowei’s call, then hung up without hearing his attempt to smooth things over.
• The Municipal Public Security Bureau began arresting people involved in the attack and investigating the lack of guards at the Municipal Party Committee Courtyard.
• Luo Haiting told Dong Xuebin that arrested ringleaders had named a Nanshan District cadre, who provided evidence that Liu Haibin had arranged to stir up the crowd.
• Dong Xuebin learned that Liu Haibin was being arrested in connection with the criminal case.

Dong Xuebin went to the hospital for a checkup at He Suien’s insistence, where he encountered Liu Haibin trying to use his injuries to delay being taken back to the police bureau. His scans showed he was perfectly healthy, leaving hospital staff astonished by his legendary toughness.

• He Suien told Dong Xuebin to get examined before returning to work, and Dong agreed.
• At the hospital, Dong Xuebin spotted Liu Haibin in a wheelchair and realized he was using his injuries to stall for time.
• Municipal Public Security Bureau officers received orders to take Liu Haibin back despite his fracture, and they pushed him away as he protested.
• Dong Xuebin underwent a CT scan, blood test, and X-ray, and the examinations found nothing wrong with him.
• Hospital staff discussed Dong Xuebin’s past feats and concluded that he was like high-strength steel rebar covered in human skin.

After confirming his examination results were fine, Dong Xuebin visited Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian at their new apartment. He secretly had sex with Yu Meixia in the kitchen while Qianqian watched television, then stayed to eat soup.

• Dong Xuebin called Yu Meixia and learned that she and Yu Qianqian had moved into a newly renovated apartment.
• Dong Xuebin arrived, greeted Yu Qianqian, and admired the apartment she and Yu Meixia had designed.
• Yu Meixia served Dong Xuebin spare rib soup, and he followed her into the kitchen while Qianqian watched television.
• Dong Xuebin and Yu Meixia had sex in the kitchen despite her concern that Qianqian was nearby.
• Dong Xuebin asked Yu Meixia about staying the night, but she warned him not to let his wife find out; he then asked her to serve the soup.

Dong Xuebin spent the snowy afternoon at Yu Meixia’s home, where she cooked for him and later fell asleep in his arms after he gave her a massage. He stayed through dinner, leaving Yu Meixia to show affection toward him in front of Yu Qianqian for the first time.

• Yu Meixia served Dong Xuebin Spare Rib Soup, and he ate until he was too full to move.
• Yu Meixia massaged Dong Xuebin, then he returned the favor until she fell asleep against him.
• Dong Xuebin stayed beside the sleeping Yu Meixia for hours and told Xie Huilan and Luan Xiaoping he would not be going home that night.
• Yu Qianqian cooked dinner, and Dong Xuebin praised her dishes while Yu Meixia served him with her arm linked through his.
• Yu Qianqian blushed as she watched Yu Meixia show affection toward Dong Xuebin in front of her for the first time.