Chapter Summaries

Dong Xuebin brought two seriously ill students down the dangerous mountain and arranged for medical help while the other students and teachers remained on the trail. He identified himself to the reporters as the County Party Secretary, leaving them and the onlookers shocked.

• Dong Xuebin pushed through the crowd and handed two feverish students to the medical staff, who took them to the hospital.
• Dong Xuebin told the doctor that the other students and teachers were still coming down and urged more medical staff to go up the mountain.
• Dong Xuebin told the reporters that everyone had been found and that the rescue workers still on the mountain deserved admiration.
• Dong Xuebin gave the reporters his name and left to return up the mountain, and the crowd realized he was the County Party Secretary.

Dong Xuebin brought all 96 teachers and students down from Qing'e Mountain and dealt with the aftermath of the rescue. When the City Rescue Team arrived late and tried to take over, he confronted its leader and defended Jiaolin County's rescuers.

• Dong Xuebin helped escort the teachers and students down the mountain, and medical staff carried the injured and exhausted Zhang Dongfang to an ambulance.
• Parents reunited with their children as Dong Xuebin answered Municipal Party Secretary Qian Litao's call and reported that all 96 people had been rescued.
• The City Rescue Team arrived, questioned Jiaolin County's headcount, and began taking over the evacuation despite the local rescuers' objections.
• Dong Xuebin confronted the City Rescue Team leader after learning he was the County Party Secretary, then cursed the late-arriving team for questioning Jiaolin County's rescue work and trying to claim authority.

Dong Xuebin berated the late-arriving City Rescue Team for trying to interfere with Jiaolin County's rescue work, leaving them subdued and the local rescue workers firmly on his side.

• Dong Xuebin cursed the City Rescue Team's personnel in front of officials, reporters, and onlookers.
• Jiaolin County Rescue Team members cheered Dong Xuebin and criticized the city team for arriving late and trying to direct them.
• Dong Xuebin ordered the City Rescue Team to leave and insisted Jiaolin County's rescuers would handle the work.
• Su Yan blocked a cameraman from filming, while the cameraman explained that he wanted a closer shot of Dong Xuebin cursing.
• Meng Hanmei urged Dong Xuebin to calm down, and the City Rescue Team stood by silently.

After the mountain rescue, Dong Xuebin thanked the local residents who had volunteered and spoke with the students’ parents. The rescued teachers and students headed to the city, while grateful parents thanked him for saving their children.

• After the rain stopped, Dong Xuebin refused offers of dry coats and thanked the officials and rescue workers for completing the mission.
• Dong Xuebin sought out the residents who had volunteered for the rescue and shook each of their hands, thanking them on behalf of Jiaolin County.
• Meng Hanmei reconsidered her opinion of Dong Xuebin and felt that, despite his unconventional behavior, she could trust him as a leader.
• Tour buses and rescue vehicles carried nearly a hundred teachers and students toward the city, with no serious injuries reported.
• Several parents thanked Dong Xuebin; one told him her child’s fever had eased after being taken to the hospital, and another said he had saved her daughter from falling down the mountain.

After handling county business following the Qing'e Mountain incident, Dong Xuebin invited supportive Standing Committee Members to dinner at his home. Meng Hanmei arrived early and began cutting his hair, leaving him startled when he leaned back against her chest.

• Dong Xuebin returned to the County Party Committee Compound, finished urgent work, and asked Meng Hanmei to arrange dinner with several Standing Committee Members that evening.
• Dong Xuebin went home, showered, and prepared to host the dinner in his pajamas.
• Meng Hanmei arrived early with haircutting tools and offered to cut Dong Xuebin's hair, explaining that her family had a barbering tradition.
• Meng Hanmei skillfully cut Dong Xuebin's hair in the bathroom, and he startled awake after leaning back against her chest.

Dong Xuebin hosted a dinner for the County Party Committee Standing Committee members who had aligned with him, hoping to build personal ties and unite them against Zhang Dongfang. After Meng Hanmei cut his hair and prepared the meal, the gathering began with the group chatting as friends.

• Meng Hanmei finished cutting Dong Xuebin’s hair, and he praised her work.
• Dong Xuebin offered to cook, but Meng Hanmei insisted on preparing the dishes.
• Chang Lin, Sun Changzhi, Wang Binhe, and Li Niu arrived together with gifts, which Dong Xuebin accepted while asking them not to bring anything in the future.
• The Standing Committee members volunteered to cook, but Meng Hanmei prepared the meal while Dong Xuebin poured tea and brought out liquor.
• Dong Xuebin decided to focus the dinner on personal relationships so his allies could grow closer and unite against Zhang Dongfang.

After the mountain rescue, Dong Xuebin watched Jiaolin County’s news coverage with his colleagues over dinner and saw it highlight his efforts while the municipal station focused on Zhang Dongfang. The chapter left Dong Xuebin’s first day in office looking like a major success.

• Meng Hanmei served dinner, and Dong Xuebin and the others ate and drank together at home.
• Meng Hanmei and Sun Changzhi suggested watching the news, so Dong Xuebin turned on the television.
• Jiaolin County’s news showed Dong Xuebin directing the rescue, helping students, and carrying two feverish students down the mountain.
• The county anchor praised Dong Xuebin’s actions and reported that Zhang Dongfang had been injured and was receiving treatment.
• Dong Xuebin switched to the municipal news, which emphasized Zhang Dongfang’s rescue efforts and hospital stay instead.
• Meng Hanmei, Chang Lin, and the other committee members admired Dong Xuebin’s work and considered his first day a success.

Dong Xuebin secretly inspected the nearly completed New County Party Committee Compound to check for construction problems. He and Su Yan were stunned by how luxurious it looked when they reached the gate.

• Dong Xuebin arrived at work hungover and heard from Meng Hanmei that Zhang Dongfang was sick and the new compound was awaiting inspection.
• Meng Hanmei gave Dong Xuebin the compound's documents, and he decided to visit the site with Su Yan without notifying anyone.
• Dong Xuebin and Su Yan drove to the compound discreetly and walked toward its main gate.
• Dong Xuebin and Su Yan saw the compound and were shocked by its extraordinary luxury.

Dong Xuebin inspected the lavish New County Party Committee Compound and learned that its extravagant construction had been approved by the previous Standing Committee. With the old office building becoming dangerous, he reluctantly approved a prompt inspection and a staged move if the new compound had no quality issues.

• Dong Xuebin and Su Yan toured the palace-style compound, where Dong Xuebin was appalled by its extravagance despite its meticulous construction.
• Dong Xuebin called Meng Hanmei and learned that Secretary Li had pushed for the plan, which passed the Standing Committee despite County Chief Zhang's opposition.
• Meng Hanmei told Dong Xuebin that heavy rain had worsened cracks and collapses in the old office building and cafeteria, leaving staff afraid they might fall.
• Dong Xuebin ordered the relevant departments to inspect the new compound and, if it passed, move the County Party Committee and county government there in stages.

Dong Xuebin remained troubled about allowing the county to move into the wasteful New County Party Committee Compound, so he used Forward to look ahead at the newspapers. When the drawer stayed empty despite his attempts to account for it, he suspected something major would happen the next day.

• Office staff and county leaders discussed the imminent move to the New County Party Committee Compound, while Dong Xuebin privately regretted allowing it.
• Dong Xuebin worked late, ate dinner with Su Yan, and told him to come in early for the move the next day.
• After Su Yan left, Dong Xuebin used Forward on the afternoon newspapers to try to see the next day's news, but found the drawer empty.
• Dong Xuebin called Su Yan and told him to put all newspapers directly in the drawer, then tried Forward again and still found nothing.
• Dong Xuebin reasoned that the missing newspapers might mean an extraordinary event would disrupt the next day.

Dong Xuebin used Forward to look ahead and discovered that an online exposé of Baohong City’s lavish government compounds had triggered a sweeping investigation. The papers reported that he had been suspended pending investigation, leaving him facing the possibility that he would be implicated in the scandal.

• Dong Xuebin worried that the newspapers had stopped arriving and used Forward to check the drawer two minutes into the future.
• Dong Xuebin found three newspapers, including issues for the next day and the day after, and saw that their headlines concerned an exposé of Baohong City’s extravagant government compounds.
• The exposé spread across major news outlets, prompting the province to dispatch an investigation team to examine construction, accounts, and officials across Baohong City.
• Dong Xuebin learned that Jiaolin County was hit especially hard and that he had been suspended pending investigation over the new County Party Committee Compound.
• Dong Xuebin realized that Li Guian had likely been implicated in the scandal and feared that he would suffer the same fate.

Dong Xuebin sought a way to prevent the coming investigation from ruining his career and Jiaolin County. He secretly summoned Huo Yibang and ordered him to demolish the New County Party Committee Compound before morning.

• Dong Xuebin realized the newspapers he had seen predicted an investigation, his suspension, and disciplinary action unless he intervened before morning.
• Dong Xuebin asked clerk Sun to find Urban Management Bureau director Huo Yibang’s number and burned the newspapers from the future.
• Dong Xuebin called Huo Yibang and arranged a secret meeting at the New County Party Committee Compound.
• Dong Xuebin met Huo Yibang outside the compound and ordered him to level its walls, gate, and buildings before morning.
• Huo Yibang was shocked by Dong Xuebin’s demolition order.

Dong Xuebin ordered Huo Yibang to demolish the newly built New County Party Committee Compound before nine the next morning, refusing to explain why. Huo Yibang accepted the secret assignment and began calling in his trusted people and equipment.

• Dong Xuebin told Huo Yibang to level the compound by nine the next morning and said he would take full responsibility.
• Huo Yibang questioned the order and pointed out that the compound gates were locked.
• Dong Xuebin kicked the gates off their hinges and ordered Huo Yibang to demolish every building without moving anything inside.
• Dong Xuebin insisted that the demolition remain secret and gave Huo Yibang the choice to accept or leave.
• Huo Yibang agreed to the task, promised to keep it quiet, and said he would summon workers and equipment immediately.

Huo Yibang committed to Dong Xuebin’s secret plan to demolish the New County Party Committee Compound and mobilized trusted staff and equipment for the night operation. While they waited, Dong helped Huo arrange a connection at a top hospital in the Capital City for his ailing son, leaving Huo more certain that backing Dong was the right gamble.

• Huo Yibang decided to carry out Dong Xuebin’s order and secretly summoned trusted enforcement officers and demolition equipment.
• Dong Xuebin kicked in the door of a building in the compound, and he and Huo waited inside for the team to arrive.
• Huo told Dong that his twenty-year-old son suffered frequent fevers and had no diagnosis despite repeated hospital visits.
• Dong gave Huo the contact information of Liu Xuemei, a former Major General and Vice Dean at 301, and told him to mention Dong’s name when seeking treatment.
• Huo inferred that Dong had strong connections in the Capital City and felt reassured that he had chosen to support him.

Dong Xuebin and Huo Yibang summoned the Urban Management Bureau’s personnel to the New County Party Committee Compound in the middle of the night. Dong Xuebin ordered them to demolish the entire compound before morning, leaving the stunned crew facing the task.

• Dong Xuebin and Huo Yibang went outside when the Urban Management Bureau’s vehicles arrived at the compound.
• Lao Zhou brought roughly fifteen or sixteen personnel and several vehicles into the compound after Huo Yibang confirmed the group was present.
• Dong Xuebin introduced himself as the newly appointed County Party Secretary and ordered everyone to hand their communication devices to Huo Yibang.
• Dong Xuebin promised the personnel four times their daily wage in overtime pay and told Huo Yibang to explain the assignment.
• Huo Yibang ordered the personnel to level every building and wall in the New County Party Committee Compound before morning, leaving them dumbfounded.

Huo Yibang committed to Dong Xuebin’s secret, unauthorized demolition order and arranged trusted staff and equipment to carry it out. While they waited, Dong gave Huo a connection at a top hospital to help his frail son, leaving Huo more convinced that he had chosen the right side.

• Huo Yibang decided to gamble on Dong Xuebin’s order and secretly summoned trusted enforcement officers and demolition equipment.
• Dong Xuebin kicked down a locked door, and he and Huo waited inside the compound for the team to arrive.
• Dong learned that Huo Yibang’s twenty-year-old son suffered frequent fevers and had not received a diagnosis.
• Dong gave Huo the phone number of Liu Xuemei, a former major general and vice dean at the People's Liberation Army General Hospital, and told him to mention Dong’s name.
• Huo agreed to take his son to the Capital City for treatment and inferred that Dong had powerful connections there.

Dong Xuebin stayed calm as news reports condemned Jiaolin County’s New County Party Committee Compound and ordered Su Yan to rent every nearby row house. He then checked on Huo Yibang, whose Urban Management Bureau crew had worked through the night carrying out Dong’s secret instructions.

• Meng Hanmei warned Dong Xuebin that online criticism of county compounds had spread to Provincial Television Station, but he took his time getting ready.
• Fang Wenping told Dong Xuebin the province might take measures and that he should prepare to take responsibility.
• Dong Xuebin instructed Su Yan to rent all the row houses near the New County Party Committee Compound as quickly as possible.
• Dong Xuebin called Huo Yibang and learned that his crew had worked overnight on the task, with cleanup still underway.

After a Provincial Television Station report sparked widespread online criticism of Jiaolin County’s new County Party Committee compound, Zhang Dongfang and the other Standing Committee Members halted the move. Dong Xuebin arrived and ordered everyone to continue, leaving the county’s leaders stunned as the relocation proceeded amid the controversy.

• Dong Xuebin arrived at work calmly while county officials and staff worried about the Provincial Television Station report and its fallout.
• Zhang Dongfang, Wei Zhixuan, and the other Standing Committee Members held an emergency meeting and discussed the rapidly spreading online post about the new compound.
• Zhang Dongfang proposed suspending the move, and the Standing Committee Members agreed before telling staff to stop and carry the items back inside.
• Dong Xuebin came out carrying his own belongings and asked why everyone was moving things back.
• Dong Xuebin dismissed the report as unrelated to them and ordered all departments to continue moving into the new compound as quickly as possible.

Dong Xuebin ordered Jiaolin County’s offices to move into the controversial new compound despite opposition from Zhang Dongfang and other leaders. When a Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee investigation team arrived, Dong Xuebin still insisted on proceeding with the move and offered to take them along, leaving the officials stunned by his defiance.

• Dong Xuebin ordered county departments to pack and move into the New County Party Committee Compound, overruling objections from Wang Binhe, Wei Zhixuan, and Zhang Dongfang.
• Zhang Dongfang told his faction to comply while formally reserving his objections to the move.
• A Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee investigation team led by Cheng Wei arrived to investigate Jiaolin County’s government offices and Family Compounds.
• Meng Hanmei and other county officials panicked, but Dong Xuebin told them to cooperate with the investigation and continue their plans.
• Dong Xuebin invited Cheng Wei’s team to inspect the new compound as the county moved in, then ordered the trucks to depart with the investigators aboard.

Dong Xuebin led the Provincial Investigation Team and Jiaolin County officials away from the rumored New County Party Committee Compound, then presented a shabby rented site as the county’s new headquarters. When Cheng Wei confronted him with photographs of the palace-like building exposed on television, Dong Xuebin pretended not to know what it was.

• Cheng Wei and the Provincial Investigation Team discussed Dong Xuebin’s defiant attitude and resolved to proceed with their investigation.
• Dong Xuebin reassured Meng Hanmei, Chang Lin, and Sun Changzhi that they would understand his plan soon.
• Dong Xuebin redirected the convoy away from the expected compound and led it to a remote site with small, shabby buildings.
• Su Yan told Dong Xuebin that the rental contract had been signed, and Dong ordered the county’s belongings moved inside.
• Cheng Wei accused Dong Xuebin of trying to fool the investigation team and showed him photographs of the palace-like compound, but Dong pretended ignorance.