Chapter Summaries

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.

Dong Xuebin agreed to represent the Xie Family in asking the Fang Family to accept Xie Ran and Fang Shuiling’s marriage, though he expected the proposal to face resistance. Before heading to the Fang Family that afternoon, he checked on Old Master Xie, who urged him to rely on his own persuasive ability.

• Dong Xuebin reasoned that the Xie Family would welcome the marriage alliance, but the Fang Family might resist because of pride and its history with the Xie Family.
• Xie Guoliang told Dong Xuebin to visit the Fang Family that afternoon, and Dong Xuebin agreed to make the proposal on the family’s behalf.
• Xie Ran thanked Dong Xuebin for taking on the task, while Fang Shuiling chatted with the Xie elders and tried to make a good impression.
• Xie Guobang sent Dong Xuebin upstairs to call Old Master Xie for lunch and check on his health.
• Dong Xuebin checked Old Master Xie’s pulse and helped restore his vitality, then asked for advice about approaching the Fang Family.
• Old Master Xie told Dong Xuebin to adapt to the situation and reminded him that he had once persuaded Old Master Xie to accept his own marriage to Hui Lan.

Dong Xuebin and the archaeological specialists investigated Qingluan Mountain and uncovered a corroded sword with distinctive patterns. Mu Zhengzhong concluded that an intact Han Dynasty emperor’s tomb and nearby burial tombs lay beneath the mountain, and recommended sealing off the area and bringing in the national Archaeological Team.

• Teacher Chu questioned Xiao Cheng about Qingluan Mountain’s history and studied the mountain with Teacher Meng and Mu Zhengzhong before beginning an excavation.
• Dong Xuebin arranged for searchlights and ordered Su Yan to organize accommodations and supplies for the work team.
• Teacher Chu uncovered a corroded sword, and Mu Zhengzhong recognized its patterns from reference materials.
• Mu Zhengzhong told Dong Xuebin and Zhang Dongfang that the site was almost certainly a Han Dynasty emperor’s tomb with intact nearby burial chambers.
• Mu Zhengzhong recommended sealing off all of Qingluan Mountain and having Teacher Chu contact the national Archaeological Team.

After five months of work in Zhenshui County, Dong Xuebin learned that he would soon return to Capital City, leaving the Chinese Academy of Sciences Experimental Base project in Yao Cui’s care. He prepared to hand over his duties and said goodbye to local colleagues, though his new post had not yet been decided.

• Dong Xuebin inspected the Experimental Base construction site and told Yao Cui to take charge of the project, protect its confidentiality, and report any problems.
• Xie Guobang called Dong Xuebin and told him to organize his work and luggage because his grassroots training was over and he would return to Capital City.
• Dong Xuebin told Yao Cui he was leaving for Capital City, and she congratulated him and suggested holding a farewell dinner.
• County cadres and clerks congratulated Dong Xuebin on his reported promotion when he returned to the County Party Committee Compound.
• Jiang Fangfang discussed Dong Xuebin’s departure with him, and he promised to return when he could and stay in contact.

Dong Xuebin refused to contact the foreign guests after they skipped their planned exchange forum, while they complained to the city and province about his treatment of them. Municipal Party Secretary Qian Litao ordered an investigation into Dong and said he should receive at least a Party warning, leaving Dong facing disciplinary action.

• Dong Xuebin told the County Party Committee Office deputy director to focus on Jiaolin County’s work and not contact the foreign guests unless they reached out first.
• The foreign guests and City Government Office staff stayed away from Jiaolin County and reported their complaints to the city and province.
• Qian Litao learned that the foreign guests were still in the city and had no plans to leave until their complaints were resolved.
• Qian Litao spoke with Director Yan, who told him to handle the matter as he saw fit.
• Qian Litao ordered the City Discipline Inspection Committee to investigate Dong Xuebin and set a minimum punishment of a Party warning, with removal from office possible if further issues emerged.

After leaving Zhenshui County, Dong Xuebin drove east at his leisure and stopped at a highway service area. There, he unexpectedly reunited with his former teacher Jiang Min and offered to drive her toward the Capital City.

• Dong Xuebin handed over his keys and paperwork, said goodbye to his colleagues in Zhenshui County, and drove away.
• He spent the day sightseeing along the road, stopping by lakes and enjoying his freedom from work.
• At a highway service area, Dong Xuebin heard Jiang Min asking strangers for a ride toward the Capital City and offered to take her part of the way.
• Dong Xuebin recognized Jiang Min as his former university teacher, and she remembered him as well.
• Jiang Min explained that she had been traveling with colleagues before deciding to hitch rides back, and Dong Xuebin agreed to be her driver and keep her company.

After Xie Huilan and their unborn child survived the construction-site accident, Dong Xuebin vowed to retaliate against Li Zhixin and the Chenggang County officials he believed had knocked her down. He learned that Li Zhixin had reported the incident as a fall, and the chapter ended with Dong Xuebin declaring that none of them would escape.

• Dong Xuebin visited Xie Huilan in the hospital, learned she could not identify who had knocked her down, and promised to deal with those responsible.
• Xie Huilan told Dong Xuebin that Li Zhixin, his secretary, other county officials, and a construction company representative had been at the site.
• Jiang Fangfang called Dong Xuebin and told him that Li Zhixin had reported Xie Huilan's injury as an accidental fall.
• Dong Xuebin told Jiang Fangfang that construction materials had blown down and the fleeing officials had knocked Xie Huilan aside, while Fenzhou City witnesses had seen what happened.
• Dong Xuebin ended calls from others who had heard of the accident and vowed revenge against Li Zhixin and Chenggang County.

Dong Xuebin hosted celebrities and investors in Jiaolin County, using his connections and drinking skills to strengthen ties. When he learned the county’s funds were nearly exhausted, he negotiated free meals from the restaurant in exchange for publicity, leaving his colleagues embarrassed and Chen Ying amused.

• Dong Xuebin and Zhang Dongfang toasted the guests, then Zhang Dongfang asked whether Zhang Longjuan might invest in Jiaolin County.
• Dong Xuebin joined the investors next door and built rapport with them by drinking several glasses of Moutai.
• Dong Xuebin overheard a county clerk asking the restaurant for a discount and proposed that the restaurant provide free meals in exchange for news coverage featuring the stars and its name.
• The restaurant owner agreed to cover the meals and alcohol, while Zhang Dongfang, Chen Ying, and county staff heard Dong Xuebin’s deal.
• Dong Xuebin walked with Chen Ying and asked her to keep the bargain quiet, and she laughed at how difficult his job as County Party Secretary was.

Dong Xuebin healed Xiao Qianqian’s fever and confronted the pirates while holding her. After dodging gunfire and killing two pirates, he faced the nineteen who remained.

• Dong Xuebin used Reverse to cure Xiao Qianqian’s fever, then comforted and kissed her despite the guns aimed at them.
• The Pirate Leader ordered a skinny pirate to shoot Dong Xuebin, while the warship and Niu Dazhao’s crew watched helplessly.
• Dong Xuebin dodged the point-blank shot and killed the skinny pirate with a knife without turning around.
• The pirates fired at Dong Xuebin, who used Stop to evade their bullets before charging into their ranks.
• Dong Xuebin knocked aside one pirate’s AK47 and cut another pirate’s throat, leaving nineteen pirates alive.

Dong Xuebin reflected on choosing a political camp and proving himself, then struggled to find dinner in Zhenshui County. The chapter left him stunned when County Chief Jiang Fangfang brought groceries to his home and began cooking for him.

• Dong Xuebin considered how to win local leadership’s recognition and earn a promotion, but decided not to rush into choosing a side or producing results.
• Yao Cui invited Dong Xuebin to eat at her home and offered to cook for him, but he declined and went searching for a restaurant.
• Dong Xuebin found the nearby restaurants unappealing and returned to the Family Compound without having eaten.
• Dong Xuebin ran into Jiang Fangfang taking out the garbage, and they walked upstairs together while discussing his difficulty finding food.
• Jiang Fangfang returned with groceries, entered Dong Xuebin’s apartment, and began washing vegetables to cook dinner for them.

Dong Xuebin used false documents arranged through the Ministry of State Security to board a flight to Fu Continent, America, keeping his destination and identity secret. He sat beside Zhai Lei, an undercover agent on a mission to locate and rescue Zhong Lizhen, unaware that Dong Xuebin might be able to help.

• Dong Xuebin collected a fake passport, fake ID, and boarding pass from a Ministry of State Security contact at the airport.
• Dong Xuebin boarded the flight to Fu Continent using his false documents and mistakenly sat in Zhai Lei’s seat.
• Dong Xuebin and Zhai Lei exchanged brief introductions, with Dong Xuebin giving only the nickname Little Dong and Zhai Lei claiming to work for an internet company.
• Dong Xuebin fell asleep after takeoff while Zhai Lei privately considered his mission to investigate the research institute and rescue Zhong Lizhen.

Dong Xuebin accompanied Zhong Lizhen to the Standing Committee Family Compound so she could reunite with Sister Han, while he struggled to tell her who he was. After the guards let Zhong Lizhen in because they recognized Dong Xuebin, he decided to enter as well, despite expecting trouble from his family.

• Dong Xuebin helped Zhong Lizhen arrange her hair before they checked out of the hotel, where staff gossip about them and a guard's insult made him angry.
• Zhong Lizhen stopped Dong Xuebin from confronting the guards, and they took a taxi to the Standing Committee Family Compound.
• On the way, Zhong Lizhen explained her close bond with Sister Han and insisted on introducing Dong Xuebin to her family, but he could not bring himself to reveal the truth.
• Zhong Lizhen hurried toward Villa Number One, and the guards let her pass after Dong Xuebin signaled them to stand aside.
• Dong Xuebin worried that Xie Guobang, Han Jing, and Xie Huilan would criticize him for secretly going to America, but he finally entered the compound.

Dong Xuebin reunited with Qu Yunxuan, kissed her, and learned that Deputy Director Gong had punished and pressured her for refusing to date his younger brother. When Gong said his brother had gone to Qu Yunxuan’s home and hinted that dating him could restore her position, Dong Xuebin grabbed the phone and threatened Gong.

• Dong Xuebin returned home and found Qu Yunxuan cleaning his apartment and washing his clothes.
• Dong Xuebin hugged and kissed Qu Yunxuan, and she warned him not to tell anyone about their intimacy.
• Qu Yunxuan explained that Deputy Director Gong had transferred her after she refused to date Gong’s younger brother and had arranged for a client to complain about her.
• Qu Yunxuan told Dong Xuebin that Gong had sent her on the dangerous undercover assignment and that she might resign if he kept targeting her.
• Gong called Qu Yunxuan and said his younger brother was at her home, suggesting that dating him could help her return to the Advertising Department.
• Dong Xuebin took Qu Yunxuan’s phone and threatened Gong.

While recovering in the hospital after rescuing documents from a fire, Dong Xuebin received visits from his leaders and colleagues. Li Qing and Zhou Changchun told him that the bureau had approved his exceptional admission to the Party, leaving him delighted by the unexpected reward.

• Dong Xuebin received treatment for his burns, sprains, and cuts, and the General Office’s leaders and colleagues came to visit him that evening.
• Li Qing and Zhou Changchun urged Dong Xuebin to stay in the hospital and assured him that his leave and expenses were handled.
• Dong Xuebin’s colleagues praised his courage, while Guo Shunjie and Guo Panwei privately doubted his explanation for entering the fire.
• Li Qing announced that the bureau had approved Dong Xuebin’s admission to the Party through a special front-line procedure.
• Dong Xuebin thanked the leaders and celebrated privately after the visitors left.

Tang Jin told her family that thugs had harassed her, and the Huitian Township police station ignored their calls for help. Dong Xuebin confronted station chief Liu Dahai, who realized the household belonged to the new deputy bureau chief and rushed to respond.

• Tang Jin told Dong Xuebin and the family that the mine owner's thugs had harassed her on her way home.
• Second Aunt's husband wanted to confront the thugs, but Dong Xuebin urged the family to call the police, and Grandma backed him.
• Za Xiaoping called the Huitian Township police station twice, but no officers arrived, and the station claimed it was short-staffed.
• Dong Xuebin obtained Liu Dahai's number from Hu Silian, identified himself, and ordered the station chief to come to the Za family home within ten minutes.
• Liu Dahai learned from a subordinate that the family had reported the harassment but the station had ignored it, then Hu Silian told him Dong Xuebin's mother was surnamed Za.
• Liu Dahai ordered officers to respond immediately and hurriedly drove to Dong Xuebin's home.

After leaving the hospital, Dong Xuebin received three merit medals and set his sights on earning another First Class Merit to secure a promotion. When the Provincial Museum was robbed of priceless relics, Liang Chengpeng assigned him to help investigate, and Dong Xuebin launched a countywide search determined to recover the treasures.

• Dong Xuebin left the hospital, returned to the County Public Security Bureau, and planned to earn a First Class Merit before his probation ended so he could pursue promotion to Zhengke Level.
• A provincial leader pinned First Class, Second-Class, and Third-Class Merit medals on Dong Xuebin at a commendation meeting.
• A Provincial Public Security Bureau leader rushed away after learning of a major incident, and Dong Xuebin later watched news reports confirming that the Provincial Museum had been robbed.
• Liang Chengpeng showed Dong Xuebin the list of stolen relics, including the Liu Sheng Jade Burial Suit, and assigned him to assist with the investigation and search in Yantai County.
• Dong Xuebin ordered checkpoints and enlisted the Criminal Investigation Team to search for the thieves, then continued studying the case materials after work.

Dong Xuebin hired Yu Meixia as his live-in nanny and offered her and Yu Qianqian a place to stay while deducting part of her salary toward her debt. After returning from an emergency meeting, he settled into his new household routine with them and enjoyed Yu Meixia’s cooking and massage.

• Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian visited Dong Xuebin to thank him, and Yu Meixia offered to work as his nanny to repay the money he had given them.
• Dong Xuebin hired Yu Meixia for three thousand yuan a month, arranged for one thousand to go toward her debt, and invited her and Yu Qianqian to live in his apartment.
• Dong Xuebin gave Yu Meixia the apartment key and five thousand yuan for expenses and necessities before leaving for an emergency case meeting.
• After returning, Dong Xuebin saw Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian in their new clothes, praised Yu Meixia’s cooking, and ate with them.
• Yu Meixia massaged Dong Xuebin’s head and back after the meal, easing his aches and pleasing him.

Dong Xuebin attended the county officials’ New Year gala and watched several entertaining performances. He was caught off guard when the host announced that he would perform a brick-breaking act, though he had never submitted a program.

• Dong Xuebin and Qin Yong took seats at the gala, where Xiang Daofa gave a speech and Xie Huilan urged everyone to start the show.
• The County Cultural Troupe opened with a dance, followed by an environmental protection skit and a retired Bureau of Culture official’s live painting.
• The Public Security Bureau’s criminal investigators performed martial arts feats, and Qin Yong praised Dong Xuebin’s own fighting ability.
• Dong Xuebin noticed missed calls from gala staff and learned they wanted him backstage because his program was coming up.
• Su Jia announced that Investment Bureau Director Dong Xuebin would perform “Single Hand Brick Breaking,” leaving him stunned.

Han Jing took Dong Xuebin to a clubhouse to exercise after arranging a coveted capital license plate for his car. There, Pan Zhou spotted them and steered snooker player Liu Cheng’s attention toward Han Jing; Dong returned from getting water to find Liu beside her.

• Han Jing told Dong Xuebin the national-treasure controversy had quieted down, arranged a capital license plate ending in 9999 for him, and invited him to exercise.
• At a clubhouse, Dong spotted Pan Zhou arriving with Liu Cheng and recalled Pan’s role in causing trouble over Yantai County’s investment.
• Pan identified Dong to Liu and described Han Jing as his widowed mother, prompting Liu to take an interest in her.
• Han Jing jogged briefly on a treadmill while Dong stayed nearby, then rested as he went to fetch her mineral water.
• Dong returned with a drink and froze when he saw Liu Cheng sitting beside Han Jing.

Dong Xuebin drove Deputy Mayor Feng Jie and his entourage away after they interfered with the Discipline Inspection Committee’s investigation at Xiping Third Middle School. Watching Feng Jie inspect the school’s construction, Dong suspected the officials had staged a cover-up, though he alone knew the Teaching Building was on the verge of collapse.

• Dong Xuebin insulted Feng Jie and the Xiping District officials, pretending he mistook the deputy mayor for a migrant worker until Feng Jie angrily left.
• Dong Xuebin told Zhu Zhu, Fei Fan, and the others to continue investigating openly and to send anyone who objected to him.
• Two security guards approached the investigators, but they backed off when Dong ordered them not to interfere with the Discipline Inspection Committee’s case.
• Feng Jie and Deputy District Governor Chu praised the construction quality and prepared to inspect a completed building.
• Dong noticed that the materials he had seen outside the Teaching Building the previous night were gone and suspected the officials had replaced them to conceal problems.