Chapter Summaries

Dong Xuebin confronted Meihe City over its withholding of Zhenshui County’s central government allocation, while Meng Rui and Jiang Fangfang agreed to seek back at least half. Dong volunteered to go to the city, but he privately resolved to recover every cent.

• Meng Rui and Jiang Fangfang told Dong Xuebin that Meihe City had transferred only five million of the county’s fifty-million allocation and that city officials were evading their questions.
• Dong called City Finance Bureau Director Wei Lin, demanded an explanation, and warned that the county’s unpaid workers and teachers were growing increasingly agitated.
• A city leader told Meng Rui that the remaining funds would be held temporarily and paid in installments, prompting Meng Rui and Jiang Fangfang to set twenty-five million as their minimum goal.
• Dong volunteered to go to the city to demand the money, and Meng Rui agreed to send him the next day with several county officials.
• After hearing county employees discuss the withheld funds, Dong resolved to make the city return the full fifty million, without missing a cent.

Dong Xuebin confronted Deputy Mayor Zhao Xu over the city withholding Zhenshui County’s central funding. Zhao Xu refused to release the money for now, leaving the dispute unresolved and relations between them hostile.

• Dong Xuebin arrived in Meihe City with Yan Yizhi, Chen Xiaomei, and Yao Cui and went to see the deputy mayor in charge of finance.
• After waiting outside Zhao Xu’s office, Dong Xuebin confronted him about the city withholding nearly all of Zhenshui County’s funding.
• Zhao Xu said the city was managing the money and told the county to submit another funding application if it needed more.
• Dong Xuebin argued that the funding belonged to Zhenshui County and challenged the city’s claim that its decision served the bigger picture.
• Zhao Xu ordered Dong Xuebin to leave and decided not to release any more money until the county returned with a more deferential attitude.

Dong Xuebin confronted Meihe City over the forty-five million yuan still withheld from Zhenshui County and suspected the city might use the funds to build a new leaders’ compound. Though Meng Rui urged him to recover at least six million quickly, Dong Xuebin remained determined to get every cent back and headed for Finance Bureau Director Wei Lin’s office.

• Zhao Xu told Wei Lin to handle Zhenshui County’s funding request as he saw fit and criticized Dong Xuebin’s political awareness.
• Dong Xuebin rejected Yan Yizhi’s suggestion to accept a few million and took the county delegation to the City Finance Bureau.
• Meng Rui and Jiang Fangfang warned that the city might be delaying the funds and discussed reports of plans for a new Municipal Party Committee Family Compound.
• Meng Rui instructed Dong Xuebin to recover as much as possible, setting six million as the minimum and ten million as the preferred amount.
• Dong Xuebin resolved to reclaim all the remaining money and went upstairs after learning Wei Lin was away at a meeting.

Dong Xuebin and Zhenshui County officials went to the City Finance Bureau to reclaim the remaining forty-five million yuan of central funding, but Wei Lin refused and claimed the city would decide how to use it. The chapter left Dong Xuebin furious at the city’s open attempt to keep the county’s money.

• Dong Xuebin led Yan Yizhi, Chen Xiaomei, and Yao Cui past a staff member who tried to keep them from visiting Wei Lin.
• Dong Xuebin confronted Wei Lin in his office and applied for the forty-five million yuan still owed to Zhenshui County.
• Wei Lin said the city’s finances were difficult and warned that the application would not be approved soon.
• Dong Xuebin challenged Wei Lin over the central funding, but Wei Lin insisted the city would manage and distribute it as it saw fit.
• Dong Xuebin and the Zhenshui County officials grew furious as Wei Lin dismissed their claim to the money.

Dong Xuebin confronted Wei Lin over the city’s refusal to return Zhenshui County’s forty-five million in funds, then used Wei Lin’s light shove to crash through a third-floor window. The chapter ended with Dong Xuebin falling from the building.

• Wei Lin refused to return the forty-five million to Zhenshui County and told Dong Xuebin to submit an application instead.
• Yan Yizhi called security after Wei Lin dismissed their objections, and guards and clerks surrounded Dong Xuebin and the county officials.
• Dong Xuebin slipped past the guards and followed Wei Lin into the hallway, where he blocked Wei Lin and again asked about the funds.
• When Wei Lin tried to squeeze past and lightly shoved him, Dong Xuebin cried out, crashed through a glass window, and fell from the third floor.

Dong Xuebin fell through a third-floor window after Wei Lin shoved him, and the witnesses believed he had been killed. The chapter left Dong Xuebin motionless and bleeding in the Finance Bureau courtyard as people gathered and an ambulance was called.

• Wei Lin bumped Dong Xuebin, who fell through the window and crashed onto the concrete below.
• Chen Xiaomei shouted that Wei Lin had killed Dong Xuebin, while Wei Lin denied pushing him and the witnesses refused to support his account.
• Yao Cui saw blood below and nearly collapsed, and Chen Xiaomei and Yan Yizhi blamed Wei Lin for Dong Xuebin's fall.
• Finance Bureau staff called for emergency services and rushed downstairs to check on Dong Xuebin.
• People in the courtyard saw Dong Xuebin lying motionless and bleeding as the crowd grew.

After Dong Xuebin fell from the third floor of the City Finance Bureau, officials rushed him to the hospital while Zhenshui County leaders mobilized and reported the incident to the police. The city leadership called an emergency Standing Committee meeting, and Director Wei Lin realized he faced a major crisis as Dong’s condition remained uncertain.

• Yan Yizhi, Chen Xiaomei, and Yao Cui found Dong Xuebin unconscious, and Wei Lin confirmed that he still had a pulse.
• The doctor treated Dong Xuebin and took him to the hospital with Chen Xiaomei and Yao Cui accompanying him.
• Yan Yizhi told Jiang Fangfang that Wei Lin had pushed Dong Xuebin from the third floor, and Jiang ordered him to call the police.
• Jiang Fangfang informed Meng Rui, and they both canceled their schedules and set off for the city.
• Wei Lin decided not to coordinate witnesses’ accounts and headed to the hospital as police cars arrived at the Finance Bureau.
• Deputy Mayor Zhao Xu berated Wei Lin and warned him that the city Party secretary and mayor had called an emergency Standing Committee meeting.

Dong Xuebin was rushed to Third People's Hospital after his fall, where doctors operated and warned that his condition was critical. He survived and woke soon after surgery, while privately enjoying the belief that his staged fall had made Wei Lin look responsible.

• Hospital staff at Third People's Hospital rushed Dong Xuebin into emergency treatment and issued a critical condition notice, prompting Yao Cui and Chen Xiaomei to worry over him.
• Wei Lin, Yan Yizhi, and Deputy Mayor Zhao Xu arrived and waited as doctors operated on Dong Xuebin.
• A doctor said Dong Xuebin's life had been saved but that he remained in danger, before the vice dean confirmed he was no longer in life-threatening condition.
• Dong Xuebin woke during surgery and was wheeled out, where Yao Cui, Chen Xiaomei, Yan Yizhi, Zhao Xu, and Wei Lin saw him.
• Dong Xuebin ignored Zhao Xu and Wei Lin and privately laughed that his staged fall had made them believe Wei Lin had pushed him.

After Dong Xuebin was rescued from his fall, Meng Rui and Jiang Fangfang rushed toward the hospital while Zhang Feng contacted his family. His mother and wife refused to come, leaving the county officials stunned by their indifference.

• Yan Yizhi told Meng Rui that Dong Xuebin was awake and temporarily stable, though he had multiple fractures and faced a long recovery.
• Meng Rui told Zhang Feng to contact Dong Xuebin's family and ask them to come to the hospital.
• Dong Xuebin's mother questioned Zhang Feng about the fall but ended the call without agreeing to come.
• Dong Xuebin's wife said she would visit only if he died and refused to come while he was still alive.
• Zhang Feng relayed their responses, shocking Meng Rui and Jiang Fangfang as Lao Wang nearly crashed the car.

Dong Xuebin woke after surgery and received visits from Zhenshui County’s leaders, who promised to handle the dispute with the city while he recovered. He learned that his wife and mother had been notified, and worried about them coming to the hospital.

• Dong Xuebin woke in the hospital, learned it was evening, and heard doctors say his condition was stable and improving.
• Meng Rui, Jiang Fangfang, Yan Yizhi, Chen Xiaomei, and Yao Cui visited Dong Xuebin, and Meng Rui promised to secure an explanation from the city.
• Dong Xuebin recognized that his injury had shifted public pressure onto the city and strengthened Zhenshui County’s position over its funding dispute.
• Jiang Fangfang and Meng Rui prepared to leave, while Dong Xuebin urged Yao Cui, Chen Xiaomei, and Yan Yizhi to rest instead of staying with him.
• Dong Xuebin learned his wife and mother had been notified, then asked the nurse to make sure the visitors had left so he could rest.

After leaving the hospital, Meng Rui and Jiang Fangfang learned that Dong Xuebin’s family would not visit, while Dong called his wife, Xie Huilan, from his hospital room. Xie and his mother had recognized that Dong’s apparent grave injuries were likely another scheme, and he ended the call before she could keep scolding him.

• Jiang Fangfang sent Yan Yizhi and the others to a hotel, while Yao Cui offered to stay with Dong Xuebin at the hospital.
• Zhang Feng told Yao Cui and Chen Xiaomei that Dong’s mother was not coming and his wife had said to contact her when he died.
• Dong asked the nurse to retrieve his phone and call Xie Huilan.
• Xie Huilan mocked Dong for pretending that an unarmed Finance Bureau director had pushed him down the stairs, and Dong asked her to explain things to his mother.
• Dong ended the call, while the nurse angrily criticized his wife and Dong privately reasoned that Xie and his mother knew he was far too tough to be seriously harmed by a fall from the third floor.

After learning that Xinhua News Agency had asked about his fall, Dong Xuebin faced Deputy Mayor Zhao Xu and Wei Lin as Meihe City sought to settle the matter. The city offered to cover his medical bills and pay compensation, but Dong Xuebin rejected the apology’s value by offering Wei Lin two million yuan so he could shove him in return.

• Dong Xuebin called Xie Jing, who said Hui Lan had already asked her to contact friends at the Provincial Xinhua News Agency Branch and put pressure on Meihe City's leaders.
• Zhao Xu learned that Xinhua News Agency was investigating reports that Meihe City withheld county funds and Wei Lin pushed Dong Xuebin from a building, so the mayor told him to settle the matter with Zhenshui County.
• Meng Rui, Jiang Fangfang, Yan Yizhi, and others visited Dong Xuebin at the hospital before Zhao Xu arrived with Wei Lin and several cadres.
• Zhao Xu said Wei Lin would be suspended pending investigation and offered to cover Dong Xuebin's medical expenses and provide two hundred thousand yuan in compensation.
• Dong Xuebin told Yao Cui to transfer two million yuan to Wei Lin, saying he would pay for the right to shove Wei Lin in return.

In the hospital, Dong Xuebin pressed city officials to return Zhenshui County’s withheld central funds and demanded an extra million in compensation. The mayor ordered the city to transfer the full 46 million soon, and Dong Xuebin remained in the hospital as the dispute was settled.

• Zhao Xu offered compensation, but Dong Xuebin said he wanted the central government funds returned to Zhenshui County instead.
• Jiang Fangfang explained the county’s financial needs, and Dong Xuebin claimed its shortfall was 46 million, a million more than the city owed.
• Zhao Xu offered another 30 million, but Dong Xuebin threatened to transfer hospitals and pursue the matter elsewhere.
• After Zhao Xu reported the dispute to the mayor, the mayor ordered him to give Zhenshui County the money.
• Zhao Xu told his officials to inform the county that the 46 million would be transferred soon.

Dong Xuebin recovered enough to leave the hospital in Meihe City and return to the county, while city officials eagerly saw him off after he helped recover 46 million yuan. The chapter ended with the officials relieved that Dong Xuebin was finally leaving their city.

• Dong Xuebin took a wheelchair ride around the hospital garden with his nurse and learned that his injuries had stabilized but his fractures would need months to heal.
• Yan Yizhi and Chen Xiaomei arrived and told Dong Xuebin that 46 million yuan had been recovered; he ordered them to prepare for the trip back to the county.
• Dong Xuebin refused an ambulance, and the hospital examined him before clearing him to travel in his Land Rover.
• Zhang Feng and a group of city officials arrived to accompany Dong Xuebin out of the hospital and bid him farewell.
• City officials saw Dong Xuebin off, privately relieved that the troublesome county chief was leaving Meihe City.

Dong Xuebin traveled back to Zhenshui County with his fractures still untreated, while Jiang Fangfang warned him that Wei Lin might retaliate. Left suspended and blamed for the lost city funds, Wei Lin learned Dong Xuebin had left the city without senior leaders accompanying him and called an old friend for help.

• Zhang Feng stopped the convoy after Jiang Fangfang called to say she was arriving, and she joined Dong Xuebin in the Land Rover.
• Jiang Fangfang apologized for sending Dong Xuebin to recover the money and warned him that Wei Lin might hold a grudge against him.
• Dong Xuebin began coughing from the pain, so Jiang Fangfang had Chen Xiaomei drive carefully to the county hospital.
• Wei Lin heard that Deputy Mayor Zhao Xu had avoided visiting Dong Xuebin and that Dong had already left the city with only a few subordinates.
• Wei Lin learned that Jiang Fangfang was not with Dong Xuebin and called an old friend he had helped before.

On the way back to Zhenshui County, Dong Xuebin and Jiang Fangfang’s convoy was stopped by villagers demanding an exorbitant repair fee. After Zhang Feng called the police, the villagers summoned armed reinforcements and surrounded the cars, leaving the convoy in danger.

• Jiang Fangfang supported Dong Xuebin as the convoy traveled over a rough road toward the neighboring county.
• A group of villagers blocked the narrow road with a tractor and demanded ten thousand yuan to let the convoy pass.
• Zhang Feng and the others failed to reach local county officials, and Jiang Fangfang’s call also went unanswered.
• Zhang Feng called 110 to report the roadblock and toll demand.
• The villagers reacted angrily, summoned more men carrying weapons, and surrounded all three cars.

Dong Xuebin and Jiang Fangfang were trapped in their Land Rover by villagers who appeared to be acting on Wei Lin’s orders, while the local police failed to respond. Zhang Feng reached Meng Rui, who mobilized the Public Security Bureau to protect them as the group waited for help.

• Yan Yizhi, Zhang Feng, and Lao Wang retreated as nearly twenty villagers surrounded them and demanded repair costs.
• Dong Xuebin warned Jiang Fangfang that the ambush was likely aimed at him, and the group climbed into the Land Rover.
• Jiang Fangfang ordered everyone to stay inside while the villagers crowded around and struck the vehicle.
• Zhang Feng called Meng Rui and reported that the group, including Jiang Fangfang and Dong Xuebin, was trapped and threatened.
• Meng Rui contacted Chu Peng and ordered him to mobilize every available officer.

Villagers armed with weapons surrounded County Chief Jiang and County Chief Dong's cars, prompting Zhenshui County officials to mobilize and rush to their aid. Wei Lin learned that Jiang Fangfang might be among those trapped, but the chapter ended before the confrontation was resolved.

• News spread through Zhenshui County that nearly twenty villagers had surrounded County Chief Jiang and County Chief Dong's cars with weapons.
• Yao Cui learned from Yan Yizhi that the officials were trapped inside their cars and hurried to drive to the scene.
• Meng Rui and Chu Peng led police cars out of the County Public Security Bureau to reach the stranded officials.
• Wei Lin told Little Li that he had arranged for villagers to hassle Dong Xuebin and the others, then cautioned him not to let the situation get out of hand.
• Little Li realized that his county's officials were choosing to ignore the incident to do Wei Lin a favor.

Dong Xuebin and the Zhenshui County officials were trapped in their Land Rover by villagers demanding money, while the delayed police failed to arrive. After Jiang Fangfang agreed to pay to protect Dong Xuebin’s injuries, a villager spat on her, prompting Dong Xuebin to demand help getting out of the car.

• Villagers surrounded the Land Rover, shoved it repeatedly, and worsened Dong Xuebin’s pain as the police and county vehicles remained absent.
• Dong Xuebin urged Chen Xiaomei to drive through the crowd, but Jiang Fangfang refused because someone could be killed.
• Jiang Fangfang ordered the officials to pay the villagers so Dong Xuebin could reach the hospital, and they handed over twenty thousand yuan.
• The villagers demanded more money and continued insulting the officials, and their leader spat through the window onto Jiang Fangfang’s suit.
• Dong Xuebin told Chen Xiaomei to help him out of the car after seeing Jiang Fangfang spat on.

After villagers spat on County Chief Jiang and accepted money to clear the road, Dong Xuebin refused to let them leave and got out of the car despite his severe injuries. The villagers mocked him, and a bearded man approached with a club as the others in the car shouted warnings.

• A middle-aged villager spat on Jiang Fangfang, and she calmly wiped her jacket before asking him to move the tractor.
• The villagers began to disperse after receiving money, but Dong Xuebin said they would not be allowed to leave.
• Dong Xuebin asked Chen Xiaomei to count the villagers, and she counted eighteen.
• Jiang Fangfang and the others tried to stop Dong Xuebin from getting out, but he stepped out and barely managed to stand by holding the car door.
• Dong Xuebin challenged the eighteen villagers, and a bearded villager raised a club and walked toward him.