Chapter Summaries

Dong Xuebin and Jiang Fangfang returned from a private morning encounter, then discussed the county’s investment targets and prepared for the Signing Conference. Jiang Fangfang left for work looking noticeably healthier, while Dong Xuebin drove off to handle the final arrangements.

• Dong Xuebin and Jiang Fangfang got dressed in the car after being intimate, and Jiang Fangfang reminded him not to litter in the woods.
• Jiang Fangfang told Dong Xuebin that the county’s bottom line for actual investment was seventy million, though she would support him if he fell short of his original fifty-million promise.
• Dong Xuebin reaffirmed that he expected to secure one hundred million and promised to raise funds for road construction after the investment work.
• Dong Xuebin drove Jiang Fangfang to the County Party Committee Compound, where she reminded him to finish the Signing Conference preparations before she and Secretary Meng arrived at ten.
• County cadres and Li Xiaona remarked on Jiang Fangfang’s rosy complexion, and Dong Xuebin left feeling guilty about their secret relationship.

Dong Xuebin agreed to return to Yantai County the next morning when Xie Huilan told him to leave Dafeng County, but he still intended to bring back an investor. At the hotel, he settled the dispute over Li Xiaoan’s camera and injuries by writing a 100,000-yuan check, while the police and onlookers watched in surprise.

• After Xu Yan left the swimming pool, Dong Xuebin went to dinner and received a call from Xie Huilan, who ordered him to return the next morning after he beat Li Xiaoan.
• Dong Xuebin agreed to Xie Huilan’s instructions but privately decided to find an investor to take back to Yantai County before he left.
• At the Ruihe Hotel, Dong Xuebin saw police officers speaking with Li Xiaoan, an interpreter, and Wang Bo about the swimming-pool incident.
• The older officer offered Dong Xuebin a private settlement of 100,000 yuan or a trip to the Police Station, after explaining that Park Yong-hee had compensated the young man he hit.
• Dong Xuebin pulled out a checkbook and handed the officer a cash check for 100,000 yuan, astonishing Wang Bo and the investors in the lobby.

Dong Xuebin took office as director of the Yantai County Investment Bureau and found the bureau in a shabby, disorganized state. He resolved to get the staff under control so he could improve its results and advance in rank.

• Xie Huilan advised Dong Xuebin to take charge of the bureau’s internal management and guide his staff rather than trying to handle every investment personally.
• Dong Xuebin arrived at the Investment Bureau on his first day and inspected its cramped compound and rundown office building.
• The reception clerks recognized Dong Xuebin and respectfully greeted him as Director Dong.
• Dong Xuebin walked through the bureau and found staff across its offices and business sections chatting, reading, or sitting idle.
• Dong Xuebin grew angry at the bureau’s lax atmosphere and worried that its poor performance would keep him from advancing and marrying Xie Huilan and Qu Yunxuan.

Xue Xiaoliang underwent repeat imaging after Dong Xuebin challenged the injury evidence, but every test showed that his fractures and other injuries had disappeared. The results suggested that the original examination had been falsified, leaving Xue Qingrong demanding an explanation as Dong Xuebin turned the accusation back on them.

• Xue Qingrong and Director Wu waited for Xue Xiaoliang's X-ray results, expecting them to confirm his fractures.
• Dong Xuebin blocked the doctor from taking Director Wu inside and demanded that the images be brought out.
• Director Wu examined Xue Xiaoliang's right-hand X-ray and found no fracture, while Lawyer Hu secured the image as evidence.
• Director Wu ordered CT scans and repeat examinations, but every result showed that Xue Xiaoliang had no fractures or other injuries.
• Xue Xiaoliang realized that his chest no longer hurt, and Xue Qingrong demanded an explanation from Director Wu as Dong Xuebin challenged them to explain the falsified examination.

After confirming his examination results were fine, Dong Xuebin visited Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian at their new apartment. He secretly had sex with Yu Meixia in the kitchen while Qianqian watched television, then stayed to eat soup.

• Dong Xuebin called Yu Meixia and learned that she and Yu Qianqian had moved into a newly renovated apartment.
• Dong Xuebin arrived, greeted Yu Qianqian, and admired the apartment she and Yu Meixia had designed.
• Yu Meixia served Dong Xuebin spare rib soup, and he followed her into the kitchen while Qianqian watched television.
• Dong Xuebin and Yu Meixia had sex in the kitchen despite her concern that Qianqian was nearby.
• Dong Xuebin asked Yu Meixia about staying the night, but she warned him not to let his wife find out; he then asked her to serve the soup.

Dong Xuebin secured an inspection by the Respect-the-Elderly Model Unit team for Guangming Street Office, provoking Chu Qinghua and district officials who expected the team to inspect Peace Street Office. After Shen Fei summoned him, Dong defended his actions by arguing that the team had approached him voluntarily and that he had helped Peace Street Office.

• Dong Xuebin called a meeting and got Qu Yiqiang and Wang Yuling to support accepting the inspection team's visit, then sent staff to Huai'an First Lane to meet the inspectors.
• Chu Qinghua learned that Wei Yandong's team had gone to Guangming Street Office instead of Peace Street Office and rushed to the district government in anger.
• Wei Yandong praised the work at Huai'an First Lane, and Dong Xuebin arranged for the team to visit Huai'an Second Lane before Shen Fei summoned him.
• At Shen Fei's office, Chu Qinghua accused Dong Xuebin of poaching the inspectors, while Dong argued that the team had approached him and that repairing Team Leader Cheng's necklace had helped Peace Street Office.
• Dong Xuebin offered to send the inspection team away if the district considered its visit improper, leaving Shen Fei frustrated by his defiance.

At the Standing Committee meeting, Xiang Daofa’s faction tried to weaken Xie Huilan and block her nomination of Dong Xuebin to lead the Investment Bureau. Xie forced a vote, but Xiang’s side took an early lead as the remaining committee members prepared to vote.

• Xiang Daofa’s allies repeatedly challenged Geng Yu Chao and Huang Li’s proposals while Xie Huilan stayed silent through most of the meeting.
• Xiang Daofa opened discussion on the vacant Investment Bureau director post, and Yi Tao recommended Lu Dafa over Dong Xuebin.
• Geng Yu Chao and Huang Li defended Dong Xuebin, while Liao Yanshan and Chen Tongbing argued that Lu Dafa’s experience made him more suitable.
• Xiang Daofa declared that Lu Dafa should get the post without first calling a vote, but Xie Huilan insisted that the committee vote on her nomination of Dong Xuebin.
• Liao Yanshan and Yi Tao voted for Lu Dafa, while Geng Yu Chao and Huang Li supported Dong Xuebin, leaving the vote tied at three to three.
• Chen Tongbing voted for Lu Dafa, giving Xiang Daofa’s side a four-to-three lead as Geng Yu Chao looked to Xie Huilan for another counterattack.

Dong Xuebin and Zhang Longjuan settled into their cruise ship suite while Shen Xiaoyan and Shen Xiaomei checked for surveillance devices and prepared to handle the mission. After they ate and prepared to rest before the casino opened, Zhang Longjuan called Dong into the bathroom and asked him to scrub her back.

• Shen Xiaoyan and Shen Xiaomei inspected the suite and found no surveillance devices.
• Zhang Longjuan assigned the sisters to the adjoining room while she and Dong Xuebin shared one.
• The sisters left to familiarize themselves with the ship and prepare for their work.
• Zhang Longjuan ordered a meal, and she and Dong Xuebin ate together in bed.
• Zhang Longjuan told Dong Xuebin to rest before the casino's overnight opening, then went to bathe.
• Zhang Longjuan called Dong into the bathroom and asked him to scrub her back.

Dong Xuebin answered State Security’s questions about the surveillance incident and learned that the Nanqi Morning News had dismissed Liu Gang and Pang Dabing. After confronting both men, he suspected Xue Qingrong had directed the campaign against him and said he was ready to face him.

• Dong Xuebin told State Security that he had met Xu Yan but had not gotten into her car, then asked to confront Liu Gang and Pang Dabing.
• Dong Haitao told Dong Xuebin that Liu Gang and Pang Dabing had been dismissed and that Liu Gang’s expulsion from the Party had been submitted.
• Dong Xuebin told Liu Gang about his dismissal and taunted him over the surveillance and the Morning News articles.
• Dong Xuebin questioned Pang Dabing about who had directed him, but Pang Dabing accepted responsibility and warned that the Nanshan District Discipline Inspection Commission was investigating Dong Xuebin.
• Dong Xuebin suspected Xue Qingrong was behind the campaign and told Pang Dabing to pass on that he would be waiting.

Dong Xuebin brought Zhang Longjuan to Xu Yan’s home, where the two old friends teased each other while he prepared dinner. After their shower ran long, Dong Xuebin needed to use the bathroom, and Zhang Longjuan invited him in; the chapter ended as he opened the bathroom door.

• Dong Xuebin booked hotel rooms for the foreign investors and arranged to pick them up the next morning.
• Dong Xuebin and Zhang Longjuan drove to Xu Yan’s home, where Xu Yan welcomed them and the two women began trading jokes.
• Xu Yan offered to cook for Dong Xuebin, but he went to prepare dinner while Xu Yan and Zhang Longjuan talked.
• Xu Yan and Zhang Longjuan went to shower together and continued teasing each other, leaving Dong Xuebin waiting with dinner prepared.
• Dong Xuebin asked when they would finish because he needed to use the bathroom, and Zhang Longjuan invited him inside.
• Xu Yan told Dong Xuebin to come in, and he opened the bathroom door.

After several days of intensive tutoring from Grandpa Hu, Dong Xuebin prepared for the Civil Servants exam while clashing with Section Chief Xu’s family over their treatment of his mother. The chapter ended with Qu Yunxuan encouraging Dong Xuebin to take the exam well and prove that he could enter government service too.

• Dong Xuebin spent three days practicing his memory and using Back to prepare for the exam, then studied essays and government-related topics with Grandpa Hu.
• Grandpa Hu told Dong Xuebin to rely on understanding the material and wished him success in the exam.
• Section Chief Xu kicked Luan Xiaoping’s garbage bag, blamed her for dirtying his shoe, and argued with Dong Xuebin when he defended his mother.
• After Section Chief Xu’s family left, Luan Xiaoping warned Dong Xuebin that they could not afford to provoke them.
• Qu Yunxuan told Luan Xiaoping and Dong Xuebin that Section Chief Xu had insulted her for rejecting Xiao Dong’s advances.
• Qu Yunxuan encouraged Dong Xuebin to pass the exam and show Section Chief Xu’s family that he could become a civil servant too.

Zhai Shun and Old Hong tried to escape a military checkpoint after realizing their State Security mission was exposed, but the soldiers pursued and overturned their vehicle. With Zhang Longjuan, Zhai Shun, and Old Hong injured and surrounded, Dong Xuebin remained inside the wreck with no gun aimed at him.

• Zhai Shun told Zhang Longjuan and Dong Xuebin that he and Old Hong were State Security agents and apologized for endangering them.
• Old Hong reversed the Buick Business and sped away from the checkpoint, but two Military Jeeps caught up and forced them off the highway.
• Zhai Shun and Old Hong prepared to hold off the soldiers so Zhang Longjuan and Dong Xuebin could escape.
• A Military Jeep rammed the Buick Business, flipping it into the grass and injuring Zhang Longjuan, Zhai Shun, and Old Hong.
• Old Hong and Zhai Shun fired at the pursuing soldiers, but their ammunition ran out and seven or eight soldiers surrounded them.
• Zhai Shun and Old Hong faced capture while Dong Xuebin stayed inside the vehicle, with no soldier aiming a gun at him.

Dong Xuebin used Time Stop to escape a staged police raid intended to disgrace him and Luo Haiting. After the officers searched the room, he confronted the man who had tipped them off and discovered he was Lu Dafa’s brother, Lu Dacai.

• Dong Xuebin realized the police raid on Room 603 was a deliberate attempt to ruin his and Luo Haiting’s reputations, and he sent Luo Haiting into the bathroom.
• Dong Xuebin stopped time, left the hotel, and took the three officers’ wallets and identification before hiding them in a storm drain.
• Dong Xuebin resumed time from a dark patch beside a flower shop as the police burst into the room and found it empty.
• Dong Xuebin recognized Lu Dacai watching the hotel from a Honda and realized he had alerted Lu Dafa to the pair’s arrival.
• Dong Xuebin struck Lu Dacai’s shoulder, making him turn around in shock.

Dong Xuebin mistook Xie Huilan’s new bodyguard, Chen Xuan, for a threat and subdued him before learning who he was. Later, Xie Jing revealed that Dafeng County official Pan Zhou had helped orchestrate trouble against Dong’s Investment Bureau, leaving Dong determined to settle the score.

• Dong Xuebin caught Chen Xuan following Xie Huilan and pinned him down before Xie explained that he was her assigned bodyguard.
• Xie Huilan introduced Dong Xuebin as her fiancé and told Chen Xuan to prioritize Dong’s safety if danger arose, but Dong rejected the idea of having a bodyguard.
• After Xie Huilan left for a dinner engagement, Dong Xuebin went home and received a call from Xie Jing.
• Xie Jing told Dong Xuebin that Li Shengbin had named Pan Zhou, a Dafeng County official, as someone who helped arrange trouble for Dong’s Investment Bureau.
• Luo Haiting identified Pan Zhou as Dafeng County’s Investment Bureau director and linked his actions to Liang Zeyuan choosing Yantai County over Dafeng County for an investment.
• Dong Xuebin decided not to report Pan Zhou to the county and vowed to settle the score himself.

Dong Xuebin vented to Xu Yan about being unable to investigate a powerful official’s son, while Xu Yan shared her distress over her son’s conflict with his stepmother and her attempt to regain custody. They drank together in a secluded car, and Xu Yan continued drinking as she became intoxicated.

• Dong Xuebin brooded over the resistance to investigating Liu Haibin and resolved to keep doing what he believed was right despite his low rank.
• Xu Yan called Dong Xuebin and asked him to meet for a drink because she was in a bad mood.
• Xu Yan picked Dong Xuebin up, drove into a secluded forest, and listened as he described the obstacles to investigating a Municipal Party Secretary’s son.
• Xu Yan told Dong Xuebin that her son had fought with his stepmother and that her ex-husband refused to give her custody.
• Xu Yan and Dong Xuebin drank Wuliangye together, and Xu Yan continued drinking as she became visibly intoxicated.

After the clash with the neighboring county, Dong Xuebin learned that Leng Gang had been suspended and Wei Lin had lost his chance at reinstatement. Despite his severe injuries, Dong Xuebin’s arm had begun healing, and he insisted on leaving the hospital, with Jiang Fangfang approving his discharge.

• Little Yao told Dong Xuebin that Leng Gang had been suspended pending investigation and that Wei Lin would not return to his post.
• Dong Xuebin smoked by the hospital window and dismissed the doctors’ warnings when they caught him.
• Pu An and Jian Xiangrong visited Dong Xuebin, who collapsed from pain while trying to greet them.
• The doctors reported that Dong Xuebin’s injuries had not worsened and that his forearm fracture had nearly healed.
• Dong Xuebin insisted on leaving the hospital, and Jiang Fangfang told the doctors to process his discharge.

Dong Xuebin publicly showed his closeness to Yao Cui, then accompanied her to her family’s home after her transfer was settled. Her parents and Yao Li were stunned to learn that Dong Xuebin was the executive deputy county chief who had helped secure her promotion.

• Dong Xuebin waited outside the Office Building and left with Yao Cui so officials would know they were old classmates.
• Yao Cui rode her bicycle while Dong Xuebin sat on the back seat, and they traveled to her family’s Small Courtyard.
• Yao Cui told her anxious parents that her transfer had been settled, then introduced Dong Xuebin as Zhenshui County’s executive deputy county chief.
• Yao Cui’s parents and Yao Li were shocked, and Yao’s Mother and Yao’s Father hurried to offer County Chief Dong tea and hospitality.

Dong Xuebin treated the injured in a ten-car pileup and directed their evacuation to the hospital. When the city leaders arrived, they learned that his emergency care had helped all twenty injured people survive.

• Dong Xuebin finished treating the injured and told the medical staff which patients needed urgent follow-up surgery and hospital observation.
• The doctor in charge followed Dong Xuebin's instructions, arranged the injured patients' transfer, and recorded their conditions and treatment.
• Xie Huilan told Wan Fanglei and Zhong Zhengwei that the death toll was still being counted as the ambulances continued to leave.
• The doctor reported that the crash had injured twenty people, thirteen seriously and seven lightly, with no fatalities.
• The doctor credited Dong Xuebin's emergency treatment with keeping the injured alive until the ambulances arrived.

Dong Xuebin defended Yu Qianqian after she was bullied at school, then treated her injuries in the infirmary while waiting for the police and the bullies’ parents. When the officers arrived, they recognized the person inside and froze before arresting him.

• Huang Tingting called her father, while the homeroom teacher called the police and Dong Xuebin demanded that the other students’ parents and the principal come to the school.
• Dong Xuebin led Yu Qianqian to the infirmary, tended to her injuries, and reassured her that he was not afraid of the police.
• Five officers from Chengguan Police Station arrived and hurried to the infirmary, intending to take Dong Xuebin into custody.
• Qian Dong looked through the infirmary window, recognized Dong Xuebin, and froze, leaving the homeroom teacher’s demand to arrest him unanswered.

Dong Xuebin read a future electronic newspaper revealing that a magnitude 8.0 earthquake would devastate Fenzhou in about a month, killing hundreds of people in his jurisdiction and costing him his position. He resolved to use what he knew to prevent the disaster.

• Dong Xuebin read that a magnitude 8.0 earthquake had struck Fenzhou, with its epicenter in Dafeng County, causing nearly 90,000 deaths and widespread destruction.
• Dong Xuebin checked a map and realized Guangming Street would be among the hardest-hit areas because it was near the epicenter.
• Dong Xuebin learned that the future earthquake would kill 827 people and injure 2,100 within Guangming Street, which ranked fifth in casualties across Fenzhou.
• Dong Xuebin saw that the newspaper said he would resign as Secretary and Director of Guangming Street Office to take responsibility.
• Dong Xuebin realized the earthquake was still a month away and vowed to do everything he could to prevent it.