Chapter Summaries

Meng Hanmei brought Su Yan to meet County Party Secretary Dong Xuebin, who had reviewed his unimpressive personnel file but valued his character. Dong asked Su Yan whether he wanted to become his secretary, leaving Su Yan stunned.

• Meng Hanmei summoned Su Yan and reassured him that the earlier incident in which he hit someone was not his fault.
• Meng Hanmei led Su Yan to Dong Xuebin's office after telling him that Dong wanted to see him.
• Dong Xuebin reviewed Su Yan's ordinary personnel file and decided that his character mattered more than his record.
• Dong Xuebin offered Su Yan the position of his secretary, and Su Yan was so shocked that he nearly spat out his water.

Dong Xuebin offered Su Yan a position as his secretary, and Su Yan accepted after Dong reassured him that he trusted his abilities. Dong arranged Su Yan’s appointment and began settling into his new post, leaving for the Family Compound with driver Xiao Ma.

• Dong Xuebin asked Su Yan to become his secretary, and Su Yan hesitated because he doubted his qualifications.
• Dong Xuebin explained that Su Yan suited his temperament and said he was unafraid of trouble, convincing Su Yan to accept.
• Dong Xuebin told Su Yan to report the next day and instructed Meng Hanmei to begin the appointment procedures.
• Dong Xuebin gathered documents and met the newly assigned driver, Xiao Ma, who drove him around the area to learn the roads.
• Dong Xuebin arrived at the Family Compound, exchanged contact details with Xiao Ma, and arranged for him to pick him up before eight the next morning.

Su Yan learned that Dong Xuebin had chosen him to be the County Party Secretary’s secretary and prepared to move into the secretary’s office. He began studying the Jingcheng Dialect so he could understand Dong Xuebin and serve him well.

• Meng Hanmei told Su Yan to pack his belongings and move them to Dong Xuebin’s office.
• Su Yan’s colleagues realized he was becoming Dong Xuebin’s secretary and crowded around to congratulate him.
• Su Yan moved his belongings to the outer room of Dong Xuebin’s office as news of his appointment spread.
• After work, Su Yan bought books about the Jingcheng Dialect to prepare for communicating with Dong Xuebin.

Dong Xuebin settled into his new residence and took a walk that brought him to Su Yan’s home. There, Su Yan told his parents that Dong had chosen him as his secretary, while Dong remained outside the family’s celebrations.

• Dong Xuebin enjoyed his spacious duplex, ate dinner on the terrace, and declined calls so he could spend the evening alone.
• Dong Xuebin wandered onto Hengchang Road, recognized it as Su Yan’s neighborhood, and asked Meng Hanmei for Su Yan’s address.
• Su Yan returned home with books and told his parents that he would become deputy director of the County Party Committee Office.
• Su Yan explained that Dong Xuebin had personally named him as secretary, and his parents were astonished and delighted.
• Su Yan said he would report directly to Dong the next day, while his mother planned to spread the news to relatives and an old blind-date family.

Dong Xuebin visited Su Yan’s home, where Su Yan’s mother assumed he had come to ask the newly promoted First Secretary for favors. The chapter ended with Su Yan emerging from the bathroom and recognizing Dong Xuebin in shock.

• Dong Xuebin arrived at Su Yan’s apartment with fruit and introduced himself to Su Yan’s suspicious mother as a colleague.
• Su Yan’s mother privately judged Dong Xuebin to be an opportunist seeking favors, while Su Yan’s father chatted politely with him.
• Su Yan’s mother warned Su Yan not to agree to any unreasonable requests from the unfamiliar visitor.
• Su Yan came out of the bathroom, saw Dong Xuebin, and exclaimed, “Secretary Dong!?”

Dong Xuebin visited Su Yan’s home unexpectedly and revealed to Su Yan’s parents that he was the new County Party Secretary. He reassured them after they realized they had mistaken him for someone seeking a favor, and the visit ended with Su Yan’s parents eagerly preparing food for him.

• Dong Xuebin surprised Su Yan by arriving at his home, and Su Yan hurried to welcome him.
• Su Yan introduced Dong Xuebin to his parents as the new County Party Secretary.
• Su’s Mom realized she had treated the County Party Secretary dismissively and apologized while making him tea.
• Dong Xuebin told Su Yan’s parents not to worry about their earlier behavior and said he would leave soon.
• Su’s Mom and Su’s Dad went to prepare food and fruit for Dong Xuebin despite his protests.

Dong Xuebin visited Su Yan’s family and eased their worries after Su’s Mom had mistaken him for someone seeking favors. Over dinner, he explained why he valued Su Yan’s kindheartedness, and the family welcomed him warmly as they began drinking together.

• Su’s Dad and Su’s Mom worried that her earlier behavior had offended Dong Xuebin and might affect Su Yan’s transfer.
• Dong Xuebin accepted Su’s Mom’s food, reassuring her that he held no grudge.
• Su Yan admitted he had bought books about Jingcheng Dialect, and Dong Xuebin said he would try to speak more clearly.
• Dong Xuebin praised Su Yan for stepping forward to protect ordinary people, explaining that this was why he had chosen him as his secretary.
• Su’s Dad offered Dong Xuebin a bottle of Moutai, and they raised their glasses while Su Yan stayed sober because he was allergic to alcohol.

Dong Xuebin visited Su Yan’s parents and then asked Su Yan about Jiaolin County’s political factions before his first official day as County Party Secretary. He learned that Zhang Dongfang’s bloc was cohesive and well-backed, leaving Dong Xuebin uncertain whether he could win enough Standing Committee votes to govern effectively.

• Dong Xuebin thanked Su Yan’s parents for dinner and left with Su Yan, asking him to walk while they looked for a taxi.
• Dong Xuebin asked Su Yan to explain the county leadership’s alliances and learned that Li Guian’s former faction and Zhang Dongfang’s faction had been closely divided.
• Su Yan told Dong Xuebin that Zhang Dongfang had support from the city, while Li Guian had provincial backing, and named the leaders aligned with each faction.
• Dong Xuebin asked about the personalities of the remaining Standing Committee members as he considered how to secure enough votes to carry out his policies.
• Dong Xuebin took a taxi back to the County Party Committee Family Compound after Su Yan shared what he knew.

On his first morning as Jiaolin County Party Secretary, Dong Xuebin found that county officials were keeping their distance and decided to convene the County Party Committee Standing Committee immediately. He left Meng Hanmei to notify the leaders, framing the meeting as a chance to greet everyone.

• Dong Xuebin ate breakfast with his driver, Xiao Wang, near the County Party Committee Compound.
• Dong Xuebin arrived at his office, reassured his new aide Su Yan, and reviewed the morning papers and files.
• Dong Xuebin noticed that no one had come to see him and concluded that the county leaders were waiting to see how events unfolded.
• Meng Hanmei told Dong Xuebin that Su Yan's appointment as Deputy Director of the County Party Committee Office required Standing Committee approval.
• Dong Xuebin ordered Meng Hanmei to notify the leaders that the Standing Committee would meet at ten that morning, and she went to inform them.

Dong Xuebin convened a Standing Committee meeting on his first morning as Jiaolin County Party Secretary, surprising county leaders who expected him to avoid an early confrontation with Zhang Dongfang. After the committee approved Su Yan’s promotion, Han Wu raised a Finance Bureau appointment that carried an apparent jab at Dong’s youth, leaving the meeting’s first clash unresolved.

• Dong Xuebin called an early Standing Committee meeting, while Zhang Dongfang and Han Wu discussed how to respond and agreed to test the waters rather than make a direct show of force.
• Dong Xuebin arrived after the other committee members, introduced himself, and invited Zhang Dongfang and the other leaders to do the same.
• Han Wu proposed promoting Su Yan to Deputy Director of the County Party Committee Office, and the committee members, including Zhang Dongfang, agreed.
• Han Wu presented Liu Ping as the Organization Department’s choice for the vacant Finance Bureau deputy director position, describing the other candidate, Sun Anshi, as too young.
• Meng Hanmei and Su Yan noticed the pointed remark about age, while Dong Xuebin smiled without reacting.

At a County Party Committee Standing Committee meeting, Dong Xuebin faced Zhang Dongfang’s attempt to push through a Finance Bureau deputy director appointment. Instead of approving Han Wu’s candidate or postponing the decision, Dong Xuebin proposed Sun Anshi and called for a vote, leaving the meeting stunned.

• Han Wu proposed a candidate for deputy director of the Finance Bureau, a move the attendees recognized as Zhang Dongfang’s effort to expand his influence over personnel appointments.
• Dong Xuebin reviewed the personnel files while Meng Hanmei and other committee members wondered whether he understood the political maneuver.
• Dong Xuebin said age did not determine a cadre’s suitability and named Sun Anshi as his preferred candidate.
• Zhang Dongfang questioned Sun Anshi’s suitability, and Han Wu began arguing for Liu Ping.
• Dong Xuebin cut Han Wu off and called for a vote, surprising Zhang Dongfang’s allies and neutral committee members.

Dong Xuebin forced the Standing Committee to openly vote on Sun Anshi’s appointment, using a sudden, high-pressure move to make members choose between him and Zhang Dongfang. The chapter ended before the votes were cast, with the committee facing only two practical choices: support Dong Xuebin or Zhang Dongfang.

• Dong Xuebin’s demand for an immediate vote stunned the Standing Committee, while Zhang Dongfang realized the unexpected move had left the outcome uncertain.
• Dong Xuebin explained his direct approach to himself as a way to avoid a prolonged struggle and force undecided members to reveal their positions.
• Zhang Dongfang proposed a secret ballot to reduce pressure on neutral committee members, but Dong Xuebin rejected the idea and insisted on an open vote.
• Dong Xuebin stated that he supported Sun Anshi for Deputy Director of the Finance Bureau and asked everyone to declare their positions.
• The committee members faced a choice between supporting Dong Xuebin and supporting Zhang Dongfang, with abstaining likely to alienate both sides.

Dong Xuebin and Zhang Dongfang faced off in a Standing Committee vote over whether Sun Anshi or Liu Ping should become Deputy Director of the Finance Bureau. The vote ended with Dong Xuebin’s side narrowly ahead, though several members had yet to speak.

• Zhang Dongfang and Han Wu supported Liu Ping, while Meng Hanmei challenged Han Wu’s emphasis on age and backed Sun Anshi, tying the vote at two to two.
• Wei Zhixuan, Xu Zhuang, and Song Hefei supported Liu Ping, putting Zhang Dongfang ahead five to two.
• Chang Lin and Wang Binhe backed Dong Xuebin, narrowing the count to five to four.
• Li Niu hesitated, then said he supported Dong Xuebin.

At a Jiaolin County Standing Committee meeting, Dong Xuebin and Zhang Dongfang each gathered five votes, leaving Sun Changzhi to decide the outcome. Sun Changzhi chose Zhang Dongfang’s proposal, giving Zhang’s faction a six-to-five victory in their first clash and leaving Dong Xuebin at a disadvantage.

• Li Niu sided with Dong Xuebin, bringing their support to five votes against Zhang Dongfang’s five.
• Zhang Dongfang and the others watched Sun Changzhi, whose vote would break the tie.
• Sun Changzhi weighed his doubts about both leaders while the room pressed him to choose.
• Zhang Dongfang urged Sun Changzhi as the meeting approached the lunch break.
• Sun Changzhi announced that he supported County Chief Zhang’s proposal, giving Zhang’s faction the victory.

Dong Xuebin rewound time after losing a Standing Committee vote and pressured Sun Changzhi to reconsider. Sun Changzhi sided with Dong, giving him a six-to-five victory over Zhang Dongfang and leaving the first clash unresolved in Dong’s favor.

• Zhang Dongfang won the initial six-to-five vote after Sun Changzhi sided with him, while Dong Xuebin remained calm.
• Dong Xuebin used his time-reversal ability to return the meeting to two minutes earlier.
• Dong Xuebin repeatedly pressed Sun Changzhi to cast his vote before Zhang Dongfang could influence him again.
• Sun Changzhi supported Dong Xuebin’s proposal, reversing the vote to six to five.
• Zhang Dongfang and his allies reacted with dismay, while Meng Hanmei regarded Dong Xuebin with new respect.

Dong Xuebin won the Standing Committee vote against Zhang Dongfang, then faced a sudden emergency when heavy rain cut off contact with nearly a hundred teachers and students on Qing'e Mountain. He joined the rescue effort as the Municipal Party Secretary demanded that everyone be brought back safely.

• Dong Xuebin secured a six-to-five Standing Committee vote, while Zhang Dongfang accepted the defeat and resolved to oppose him more seriously in the future.
• Heavy rain flooded parts of Jiaolin County, causing traffic accidents and a road collapse, so Dong Xuebin ordered departments to activate the emergency response plan.
• Chang Lin told Dong Xuebin that nearly a hundred teachers and students from City First Middle School had been out of contact on Qing'e Mountain for almost three hours.
• Dong Xuebin ordered police and local towns to join the search and went to the scene with Chang Lin, while Su Yan reported that Zhang Dongfang and television staff were already on their way.
• Municipal Party Secretary Qian Litao called Dong Xuebin and demanded that the teachers and students be rescued without anyone coming to harm.

Dong Xuebin arrived at Qing'e Mountain, where nearly a hundred teachers and students were missing in the storm, and took charge of the stalled search. When ordinary calls and loudspeakers failed, he used Slower to unleash a deafening shout, leaving the people around him hurt and stunned.

• Dong Xuebin reached the mountain, ordered the Fire Brigade commander to report, and learned that rescuers had found only snack wrappers.
• Dong Xuebin climbed into the rain to join the search while Zhang Dongfang and other officials followed, shouting for the missing children.
• Dong Xuebin realized ordinary calls could not reach the lost group and told everyone to quiet down so he could try something else.
• Dong Xuebin activated Slower and roared toward the mountain, making people nearby clutch their ears and chests, lose their balance, and vomit.

Dong Xuebin’s enormous shout rang across Qing'e Mountain as he tried to guide the missing students and teachers toward the rescue team. His voice stunned the rescuers and was heard in distant villages, and the operation paused while everyone recovered and waited for a response.

• Dong Xuebin shouted for the missing students and teachers, leaving people across the mountain with ringing ears and some nearly collapsing.
• Chang Lin and Meng Hanmei stopped Dong Xuebin from shouting again, while rescuers checked Zhang Dongfang and the other affected people.
• Dong Xuebin asked rescuers to call for more stretchers, and the team at the foot of the mountain confirmed they had heard his shout too.
• The rescue effort paused while the team rested and waited to see whether the missing students and teachers would follow the sound.
• Chang Lin reported that people in Zhangkou Village and Nan-Town had filed complaints about Dong Xuebin’s shout, astonishing everyone nearby.

Dong Xuebin led the search for the missing teachers and students on the mountain, and his shout helped the rescue teams find them before nightfall. With everyone located, the chapter ended as he carried two feverish students down the slippery mountain while reporters filmed.

• Dong Xuebin continued directing the search after teams failed to find any trace of the missing group.
• Rescue workers heard children calling for help, and Dong Xuebin led the teams toward their voices.
• A rescue team found the teachers and students in a cave, where they had taken shelter from the rain and followed Dong Xuebin’s shout toward help.
• Dong Xuebin reached the group and learned that everyone was accounted for, though several students were ill and some had minor injuries.
• Dong Xuebin gave his umbrella to a female student and carried two students with high fevers down the mountain.

Dong Xuebin carried two feverish students down the slippery mountain while the rest of the rescue party escorted the teachers and children at a cautious pace. He reached the foot of Qing'e Mountain with the students ahead of everyone, where reporters and medical staff rushed to meet them.

• Dong Xuebin carried two high-fever students downhill and ordered the officials to escort everyone else safely.
• Chang Lin tried to follow Dong Xuebin with an umbrella, slipped, and was ordered to return and direct the rescue.
• Meng Hanmei and Su Yan helped the rescue workers guide the remaining teachers and students down the mountain.
• Zhang Dongfang nearly collapsed from exhaustion, so several people supported him as they continued downhill.
• Dong Xuebin reached the foot of Qing'e Mountain with the two students, and reporters and medical staff rushed toward them.