Chapter Summaries

Dong Xuebin visited Fang Wenping’s home to see his daughter, Qian Qian, and learned Fang wanted him to help Sun Jia enter the entertainment industry. He reluctantly agreed to ask around for her, leaving Fang insisting that helping her was part of his duty.

• Dong Xuebin went to Fang Wenping’s home and happily played with his daughter, Qian Qian.
• Fang Wenping introduced Sun Jia as the daughter of an old friend and asked Dong Xuebin to help her pursue acting.
• Fang Wenping explained that her family’s conflict with the Xie family made it risky for her to contact entertainment companies herself.
• Sun Jia overheard their argument and offered to drop the request, but Fang Wenping insisted Dong Xuebin handle it.
• Dong Xuebin agreed to ask around for Sun Jia and told Fang Wenping she now owed him another favor.

Dong Xuebin called his second aunt, Ci Lifen, to help Sun Jia and Chen Ying find opportunities in the entertainment industry. He tried to leave with Qian Qian, but Fang Wenping kept the child and joined him in scolding Sun Jia for mentioning Christmas.

• Dong Xuebin called Ci Lifen, who agreed to pass Sun Jia and Chen Ying’s information to people who could arrange auditions and contacts.
• Dong Xuebin told Sun Jia to send her résumé and said someone would call her about opportunities.
• Dong Xuebin tried to take Qian Qian home, but Fang Wenping held onto the child and said she wanted to keep her longer.
• Sun Jia offered to treat Dong Xuebin and Fang Wenping to dinner for Christmas, prompting Dong Xuebin to angrily criticize her for celebrating a foreign holiday.
• Fang Wenping agreed with Dong Xuebin and told Sun Jia that celebrating Christmas would embarrass her Party-member parents.

As the New Year approached, Dong Xuebin told his staff they could all leave early for the holiday and volunteered to remain on duty himself. The chapter ended with him taking responsibility for keeping the office staffed.

• Dong Xuebin arrived at the Ninth Office Second Division as his colleagues celebrated the early holiday schedule.
• Dong Xuebin gathered his staff and explained that each division had to leave someone on duty.
• Luo Haiting offered to stay if needed, while Zhang Lili, Han Fei, and Li Hong each indicated they could not take the shift.
• Dong Xuebin told everyone they could go home that afternoon and said he would stay on duty for the next few days.

Dong Xuebin stayed on duty through the New Year so his subordinates could go home, then reflected on his career and set his sights on reaching deputy department level within half a year.

• Dong Xuebin refused his colleagues’ offers to stay and told them to go home for the New Year while he covered the office.
• Dong Xuebin urged Luo Haiting, Zhang Lili, Han Fei, and the others to collect their New Year’s goods and warned them not to bring gifts when visiting him.
• Dong Xuebin met Fang Wenping in the cafeteria, where she gave him a gold Longevity Lock as a gift for Qian Qian.
• Dong Xuebin returned to the empty office, reviewed the past year, and set himself the goal of earning a deputy department-level promotion opportunity within half a year.

Dong Xuebin spent New Year's Eve preparing the Ninth Office for the holiday and visiting the Xie family, where he learned that Old Master Xie had been seriously unwell for about a month. The family had kept his illness secret, and the chapter ended with everyone worried about his condition.

• Dong Xuebin learned from Xie Huilan that she could not return for New Year's Eve because of work and would bring their son back several days later.
• Dong Xuebin finished his work, checked that the Ninth Office was secure, and drove to Old Master Xie's home.
• Dong Xuebin greeted the Xie family and handed out generous New Year's gifts and lucky money to the relatives who had gathered.
• Xie Guoyue arrived and asked where Old Master Xie was, prompting Han Jing to reveal that he was upstairs receiving an IV.
• Han Jing explained that Old Master Xie had suffered from heart disease and high blood pressure for about a month, despite treatment from doctors.

Dong Xuebin insisted on treating Old Master Xie after the doctors could not help his illness. He used Reverse to restore Old Master Xie's health, leaving him energetic and able to sit up with ease.

• Dong Xuebin's family discussed Old Master Xie's serious illness, and Han Jing said doctors had recommended rest.
• Dong Xuebin ignored his family's objections, went upstairs, and found Old Master Xie resting under medical care.
• Dong Xuebin asked Old Master Xie to trust him and give him a chance to treat him, and Old Master Xie agreed.
• Dong Xuebin used Reverse while massaging Old Master Xie's shoulder, regressing his body through time.
• Old Master Xie sat up feeling remarkably well and praised Dong Xuebin's treatment.

Dong Xuebin treated Old Master Xie, who had been bedridden, and the old man recovered so dramatically that he walked downstairs to join the New Year’s Eve reunion dinner. The chapter ended with medical tests confirming that Old Master Xie was completely healthy, leaving the Healthcare Doctor stunned.

• Han Jing’s family prepared to eat without Dong Xuebin, who was upstairs treating Old Master Xie.
• The Healthcare Doctor came downstairs and told the family that Dong Xuebin had woken Old Master Xie and sent him out of the room.
• Dong Xuebin helped Old Master Xie downstairs, but the old man walked briskly on his own and announced that he felt better than ever.
• Old Master Xie seated Dong Xuebin beside him at the head of the table and said they would drink together.
• The Healthcare Doctor examined Old Master Xie and found his blood pressure, heart, and other routine results normal.

At the Xie family’s New Year’s Eve dinner, Dong Xuebin’s treatment of Old Master Xie and several relatives established his reputation as a gifted healer. He left the family impressed while continuing to boast about his medical abilities.

• Old Master Xie drank diluted wine and praised Dong Xuebin for restoring his health with a massage.
• Dong Xuebin dismissed the difficulty of saving Sun Kai’s life, and Sun Kai praised his skill.
• Dong Xuebin used Reverse to cure Xia Yanzhen’s shoulder pain and Ci Lifen’s headache.
• Han Jing called Dong Xuebin a miracle doctor, while he claimed he could treat numerous illnesses.
• Xie Jing noticed Dong Xuebin had drunk too much and urged him to eat.

Dong Xuebin celebrated New Year's Eve with the Xie family after waking from a nap and joined them outside to watch firecrackers. When a toppled Small Fireworks aimed at Old Master Xie and the others, Dong Xuebin appeared in front of them and knocked its shell into the sky.

• Dong Xuebin woke after a long nap, returned New Year greetings, and went outside with Xie Jing to watch Xie Hao and Hou Ming set off firecrackers.
• Old Master Xie joined the family in lighting firecrackers, and Xie Guoyue praised Dong Xuebin for working overtime to cover for his subordinates.
• Xie Huilan called to wish the family a happy New Year, and Dong Xuebin passed the phone around to the elders.
• Xie Hao accidentally knocked over a lit Small Fireworks, aiming its opening at Old Master Xie, Xie Guoyue, and the others.
• Dong Xuebin rushed in front of the family and knocked the Small Fireworks shell upward, where it burst in the sky.

Dong Xuebin protected Old Master Xie and the others from a malfunctioning fireworks launcher by deflecting its rockets and stopping it from causing damage. He emerged unharmed, leaving the family and guards stunned and relieved.

• Dong Xuebin rushed in front of Old Master Xie and knocked aside the first Small Fireworks with his bare hand.
• Dong Xuebin deflected the next rockets while Xie Guoyue moved Old Master Xie and the others out of danger.
• Dong Xuebin continued batting away the rockets, even stepping on one and narrowly dodging another that passed close to his face.
• Dong Xuebin straightened the launcher and let it fire its remaining Small Fireworks safely into the sky.
• Dong Xuebin checked that everyone was safe, and the elders scolded him for taking such a risk while the guards marveled at his skill.

After Dong Xuebin effortlessly knocked away the firecrackers, the Xie Family’s security guards challenged him to spar, curious whether his quick reflexes translated into fighting skill. Dong Xuebin kept dodging without seriously counterattacking, while Xie Hao urged him to use his supposed trump card.

• Dong Xuebin reassured the family that he was unharmed, and they abandoned the firecrackers and went inside for dinner.
• Xie Guoyue and Hou Ming praised Dong Xuebin’s feat, while Xie Hao boasted that he could defeat dozens of security guards.
• Xie Guojian relayed Old Master Xie’s order giving the security guards New Year’s Eve off and cited Dong Xuebin as protection.
• The lead security guard asked Dong Xuebin to spar, and Dong Xuebin reluctantly agreed to stop at the right point.
• Dong Xuebin dodged the security guard’s attacks for several minutes without fighting back, as Xie Hao shouted for him to use his trump card.

Dong Xuebin sparred with the Xie family’s security guards in the courtyard and effortlessly avoided their attacks, even when all three fought him together. The guards accepted that his skill was far beyond theirs and understood why the Xie family trusted him to keep them safe.

• A security guard challenged Dong Xuebin to keep sparring, while Dong held back and dodged every attack.
• Xie Hao urged the guards to attack Dong together, and Xie Ran and Xie Jing agreed that he was holding back.
• The first guard called Xiao Zhang and Xiao Liu into the fight, and all three guards coordinated their attacks against Dong.
• Dong calmly evaded the guards for several more minutes until they were exhausted and stopped fighting.
• The guards thanked Dong for his guidance, admitted the gap between them was immense, and headed back.

Dong Xuebin celebrated New Year's Eve with the Xie Family, where Xie Hao told everyone about Dong's impressive sparring session with Old Master Xie's three bodyguards. As the family watched the Spring Festival Gala and prepared dumplings, Dong approached Han Jing to ingratiate himself while hoping to discuss his promotion.

• Xie Hao told the family that Dong Xuebin had dodged attacks from Old Master Xie's three bodyguards until they gave up exhausted.
• Dong Xuebin denied knowing martial arts, but Xie Hao insisted he had performed a legendary kung fu technique and asked him to teach it.
• The family watched the Spring Festival Gala while Han Jing, Xia Yanzhen, and Ci Lifen made dumplings together.
• Dong Xuebin joined Han Jing at the dumpling table and asked her to teach him, though he was really seeking a chance to bring up his promotion to deputy department level.

Dong Xuebin asked Han Jing and Old Master Xie whether he could reach Deputy Department Level within half a year, but both told him his age and lack of seniority made it impossible. He was left frustrated and still determined to find a way to advance sooner.

• While making dumplings, Dong Xuebin quietly asked Han Jing if he could reach Deputy Department Level within half a year, and she said his qualifications were insufficient.
• Han Jing explained that Dong Xuebin had advanced unusually quickly, had only recently become a Zhengchu Level leader, and needed to build seniority for two or three years before a further promotion.
• Dong Xuebin asked Han Jing to seek help from his father, but she refused and told him to wait.
• After the dumplings were finished, Dong Xuebin privately asked Old Master Xie about reaching Deputy Department Level soon.
• Old Master Xie said his influence could not bypass the system and advised Dong Xuebin to wait another three or four years.

Dong Xuebin despaired of reaching deputy department level through ordinary connections and decided to use his special ability to find another path. He used Forward on two newspapers and began advancing time, leaving the result unknown.

• Han Jing and Old Master Xie told Dong Xuebin that his promotion goal was impossible through the Xie Family's connections.
• Dong Xuebin left the house to think and received a call from Xie Huilan, who teased him about pursuing deputy department level so soon.
• Dong Xuebin concluded that his special ability was his only hope of advancing quickly.
• Dong Xuebin found two newspapers in the mailbox, closed it, and activated Forward.

Dong Xuebin used nearly all his remaining forward time to obtain newspapers from six months in the future, hoping to find a route to a deputy department-level post. The newspapers revealed no useful lead until People's Daily reported that an ordinary county had become a County-level City after the discovery of a valuable ancient tomb, giving Dong Xuebin a possible opportunity.

• Dong Xuebin advanced time by three hours, bringing himself six months into the future, and retrieved three newspapers from the villa's mailbox.
• Dong Xuebin hid the future newspapers and read the Jingcheng Evening News and Jinghua Times, but found nothing that could help his career.
• Dong Xuebin read People's Daily and noticed a report about an ancient tomb discovered in an ordinary county.
• Dong Xuebin learned that the county had been raised to a County-level City, making its Party Secretary and mayor deputy department-level officials, and recognized a possible path to his goal.

On New Year's Eve, Dong Xuebin asked Han Jing to help him transfer to Jiaolin County, hoping to take a county leadership post despite the likely demotion. Han Jing said she would consult his father, while Dong Xuebin privately counted on the county’s future promotion to county-level city to propel him to deputy department level.

• Dong Xuebin watched the Spring Festival Gala with his family while thinking about the future news he had memorized about Jiaolin County.
• Dong Xuebin pulled Han Jing aside and asked whether he could make a lateral transfer to Jiaolin County.
• Han Jing questioned why Dong Xuebin wanted to leave his newly attained post at the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection for an obscure county.
• Dong Xuebin insisted that he wanted to serve at the grassroots and would accept either County Party Secretary or County Chief, even if it meant a demotion.
• Han Jing said she would ask Dong Xuebin's father before deciding whether the difficult transfer could be arranged.

Dong Xuebin celebrated the New Year with the Xie family while waiting to hear whether they would support his transfer to Jiaolin County. Xie Guobang agreed to help, though he warned that the Fang family's influence and the Organization Department of the Central Committee could make the move difficult.

• Dong Xuebin exchanged New Year's greetings with friends and relatives, then joined the family for dumplings.
• Han Jing told Xie Guobang that Dong Xuebin wanted to transfer to Jiaolin County and take a grassroots post.
• Xie Guobang agreed Dong Xuebin had a history of making unconventional decisions that proved right, and decided to speak with him.
• Xie Guobang warned Dong Xuebin that the transfer could delay his advancement and would face obstacles from the Fang family and the Organization Department of the Central Committee.
• Dong Xuebin insisted he had to go, and Xie Guobang agreed to help if Jiaolin County had a vacancy and the Organization Department approved the transfer.

Dong Xuebin secured Xie Guobang’s support for his risky transfer to Jiaolin County and began arranging the connections he would need. He planned New Year visits with Han Zhenghe and Fang Wenping as he prepared to overcome the political obstacles.

• Xie Guobang told Dong Xuebin he would help clear remaining obstacles and contact the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection if Dong could establish the necessary connections.
• Han Jing and Xie Guobang discussed the risks of Dong Xuebin’s proposed move, including opposition from the Fang Family and the Organization Department of the Central Committee.
• Dong Xuebin called Han Zhenghe and arranged to visit his home for dinner on the second day of the New Year.
• Dong Xuebin called Fang Wenping to arrange a New Year visit, and she reluctantly agreed to see him on the evening of the second day.

Dong Xuebin hosted colleagues and former subordinates who came to pay New Year’s calls, then visited Han Zhenghe’s home to seek his help. Han Fei promised to clear the guests away after dinner so Dong Xuebin could speak privately with her father.

• Dong Xuebin welcomed Luo Haiting, Zhang Lili, Li Hong, Han Fei, and other visitors, politely refusing expensive gifts and cash.
• After the New Year’s calls ended, Dong Xuebin drove through the snow to the Organization Department of the Central Committee Senior Officials’ Family Compound using Xie Huilan’s pass.
• Han Zhenghe, his wife, and Han Fei greeted Dong Xuebin at their home, where he met other guests from government offices and ministries.
• Han Fei noticed that Dong Xuebin had come to ask her father for help and promised to get the other guests to leave after dinner.