Recaps

Song Ning helped Han Xiao’s investigation into Tan Min by uncovering her research record, then focused on completing her project. When Huang Yongfu and Manager Lu reported that the television station had rejected Chen Yawen’s commercial, Song Ning explained the policy barrier and hinted she had another way to help.

• Song Ning reviewed Tan Min’s archived project records, found that she had led two successful recent projects, and passed their names to Han Xiao for the investigation.
• Han Xiao drove Song Ning to Qingbei, then realized she had forgotten to visit the boss after spending the night and morning at the hospital.
• Song Ning concentrated on the project’s final review, with experts from De and China due to verify the results in three days.
• Huang Yongfu and Manager Lu told Song Ning that the television station would allow only product footage with a voice-over, not Chen Yawen appearing on camera.
• Song Ning explained that policy and the planned economy constrained the television station, then said she could still help Yongxing Electronics without making the station bend its rules.

Song Ning helped Huang Yongfu turn his unused television advertising budget into a charity campaign that earned publicity for Yongxing Electronics and Chen Yawen. After the Sino-German research project received international recognition, Han Xiao warned Song Ning that the boss would not be at the hospital.

• Song Ning urged Huang Yongfu to donate supplies and work with the television station to publicize genuine aid, and he agreed to spend three times his original advertising budget.
• Song Ning and her research team completed the project appraisal on December 31, 1979, and Chinese and German representatives confirmed their research had achieved groundbreaking results.
• On January 1, 1980, Song Ning delivered a bilingual television speech as the project’s results received prominent coverage in Hua Country.
• A television report showed Huang Yongfu and Chen Yawen donating supplies to children, with Yongxing Electronics’ name prominently displayed throughout the campaign.
• When Song Ning said she wanted to visit the hospital, Han Xiao offered to drive her and warned that the boss would not be there.

Song Ning checked on Elder Zhou and Zhou Yunzhi, whose brain damage had left her with severe cognitive impairment, and offered to try acupuncture. Tian Juying revealed that Zhou Qihang’s late wife was Tian Yingxue, a kind woman who had taken her and Yunzhi in after Yunzhi’s father died.

• Han Xiao told Song Ning that Boss had been discharged with Director Liu’s approval, and Song Ning decided to arrange rehabilitation.
• Song Ning examined Elder Zhou and found that his recovery was going well, though he still needed time before straightening his back.
• Song Ning found Zhou Yunzhi awake but unable to recognize people reliably, and Tian Juying described her cognitive problems and nightmares.
• Song Ning told Tian Juying that Zhou Yunzhi’s recovery was uncertain and offered acupuncture to stimulate the points around her head.
• Tian Juying told Song Ning that Tian Yingxue, Zhou Qihang’s late wife, had brought her and Zhou Yunzhi into the family after Yunzhi’s father died.

Song Ning heard a troubling detail about Zhou Xiaotang’s disappearance while visiting the Military District and preparing to travel to Shenzhen City. Dong Yuan revealed that Zhou Xiaotang and her mother vanished after arranging to bury Zhou Weide’s ashes in their ancestral home’s back garden.

• Tian Juying told Song Ning that Zhou Qihang’s heroic family was a forbidden subject among the Zhous, then stopped speaking when Zhou Yunzhi knocked over her cup.
• Song Ning learned that Dong Yuan and Li Suying had registered their marriage on New Year’s Day but had postponed their wedding feast until his case was finished.
• Song Ning told Xiong Gang and Dong Yuan that she planned to travel to Shenzhen City for seven or eight days and asked them about Gu Zheng’s arm rehabilitation.
• Xiong Gang and Han Xiao argued over who would escort Song Ning, while Dong Yuan reported that Zhou Xiaotang and her mother had vanished after returning to their hometown.
• Dong Yuan said Zhou Xiaotang and her mother had asked a clan uncle to bury Zhou Weide’s ashes in their ancestral home’s back garden, but disappeared before the planned burial ceremony.

Song Ning discussed the Lin family investigation and Tan Min’s confession with Xiong Gang, then learned that Gu Zheng had to remain behind to handle negotiations. As Lei Ming saw her off, Song Ning told him that many things still seemed off to her.

• Song Ning questioned Xiong Gang about Zhou Weide and Elder Zhou’s different ancestral homes but did not explain her suspicion.
• Xiong Gang told Song Ning that Lin Rongguang had confessed to issuing Buddha Lord’s travel permits and that Lin Xiaoming’s father had been arrested, while their other uncle had no known connection to the crimes.
• Xiong Gang revealed that Tan Min had accepted research achievements from Lin Xiaoming and wanted to gain status so she could be worthy of Gu Zheng.
• Lei Ming and Chen Liang returned without Gu Zheng, who stayed behind to handle matters and negotiate with the foreigners.
• Lei Ming praised Song Ning and walked her out, where she told him that many things seemed off.

Song Ning and Lei Ming discussed clues about K’s agents before Han Xiao drove her home and complained that Lei Ming was too familiar with her. At the courtyard, Zheng Chunzhi congratulated Song Ning and told her the Distillery handover was scheduled for the next day.

• Song Ning told Lei Ming that Suzanna, Zhou Weide’s burial, and Tan Min’s behavior still seemed suspicious, and questioned how Lin Xiaoming and A Pu had gained their skills so young.
• Lei Ming explained that Night Owl referred to the Lin Family branch, which had infiltrated the military, while A Pu represented the Ding Family branch, which funded K through crime and smuggling.
• Han Xiao drove Song Ning away and objected to Lei Ming patting her head, warning that Gu Zheng might be hurt; Song Ning said she would be more careful.
• Song Ning returned to the Siheyuan Courtyard, where Zheng Chunzhi congratulated her on her scientific achievements and said the Distillery handover contract would be signed the next day.

Song Ning and Zheng Chunzhi reviewed the Distillery contract, and Zheng Chunzhi shared how the deaths of her fiancé and father had left her estranged from her family. After a lively dinner, Song Ning teased Han Xiao about wanting to escort Zheng Chunzhi, then Gu Zheng arrived late and said he had important news.

• Song Ning and Zheng Chunzhi finished reviewing the contract and agreed to work together.
• Zheng Chunzhi told Song Ning about her fiancé and father dying, the rumors that she brought bad luck, and her estrangement from her relatives; Song Ning welcomed her as family.
• Song Wang called Zheng Chunzhi by her given name, and she explained that she had asked him to stop using her formal title; Song Ning learned she was twenty-seven.
• After dinner, Song Wang escorted Zheng Chunzhi to the bus station, while Song Ning teased Han Xiao about wanting to see her home.
• Gu Zheng visited Song Ning late at night, complained that she had not checked on him in the hospital, and asked her to stop focusing on his hand because he had something important to tell her.

Song Ning learned that Gu Zheng’s father was helping advance a policy legalizing private medical practice, while Gu Zheng reported that the Dawn Project was delayed until the end of 1981. Song Ning questioned why its completion date differed from what she remembered from the future.

• Gu Zheng confirmed that he had used all his strength to leave faint marks on Song Ning’s hand, and she gave him exercises to rehabilitate his left arm.
• Song Wang interrupted the couple, then retreated to his room after politely offering Gu Zheng noodles.
• Gu Zheng told Song Ning that foreign nationals accused of crimes in Hua Country would face prosecution despite pressure from their embassy.
• Gu Zheng said his father expected a policy legalizing private medical practice to take effect as early as the end of January, and Song Ning was delighted.
• Song Ning argued that the people and events she remembered from the future still followed their expected course despite her interventions.
• Gu Zheng said the Blue Shield expected the Dawn Project to finish at the end of 1981, and Song Ning wondered what had gone wrong.

Song Ning and Gu Zheng discussed their upcoming trips and shared an intimate moment before Gu Zheng decided to stay overnight at the compound. The next morning, Song Ning received Gu Zheng’s report on Zhou Qihang’s family and photographs that showed he had also been investigating Tian Yingxue.

• Song Ning and Gu Zheng agreed to travel to learn more about the Dawn Project and to handle Song Ning’s land transfer.
• Gu Zheng gave Song Ning a custom-made watch, and they kissed until Song Wang interrupted them.
• Gu Zheng said he would stay the night and bunk with Han Xiao, then left Song Ning with a basin and washing supplies.
• Song Ning remembered she had meant to ask about Tian Yingxue and wondered whether she was connected to the gold bars found in Songnian Alley.
• The next morning, Han Xiao gave Song Ning a document envelope from Gu Zheng containing a report on Zhou Qihang’s family and photographs of the former Unit "331" commander’s family.

Song Ning learned the tragic story of Zhou Qihang and Tian Yingxue, then uncovered a possible connection between Tian Yingxue’s relatives and Songnian Alley. At the Xingfu Road Winery’s formal handover, she kept her promise by asking Song Wang to sign the contract.

• Song Ning read the records describing Zhou Qihang’s military service, Tian Yingxue’s work helping disadvantaged children, and how the family died confronting Ghost in 1974.
• Han Xiao told Song Ning that a Tian-family rosewood chest had been found and that Tian Yingxue’s relatives had once lived in Songnian Alley, though the connection to the old man’s final words and Lin Xiaoming remained unclear.
• Song Ning and Han Xiao arrived at the Xingfu Road Winery, where officials and staff completed the equipment handover ceremony.
• When it was time to sign the formal contracting agreement, Song Ning called Song Wang forward and told him she was keeping her promise to lease him a winery.

Song Ning completed the Xingfu Road Winery handover, appointing Song Wang as its owner and Zheng Chunzhi as director. After seeing Mike and Lao Qi off, she explained her plans for reforming hospital staffing, then learned Zhou Yuanhang was likely in the interrogation room.

• Song Ning persuaded Song Wang to take responsibility for the winery, and he signed the handover documents.
• Song Ning appointed Zheng Chunzhi to manage the Xingfu Road Winery and its sales.
• Song Ning saw Mike off at the airport after he promised to arrange contacts for her hospital equipment.
• Song Ning told Lao Qi she planned to seek support for doctor exchanges and rotations at her hospital, and Lao Qi offered to join if the policy was approved.
• Song Ning and Han Xiao saw Lao Qi and the research team off at the train station as their nearly three-month project ended.
• Han Xiao told Song Ning that Zhou Yuanhang was probably in the interrogation room.

Song Ning and Han Xiao returned to the Siheyuan Courtyard, where Tang Wei invited Song Ning to lunch with Boss Huang’s group and asked to speak with her privately. He revealed that Miss Chen had confessed her feelings, and Song Ning asked him what he thought of her.

• Song Ning learned that Zhou Yuanhang was being questioned to verify details about his captivity by organization K and felt relieved that nothing seemed wrong.
• Tang Wei met Song Ning and Han Xiao at the courtyard and invited Song Ning to lunch with Boss Huang’s group before they left for Harbor City.
• Tang Wei asked to speak with Song Ning alone and explained that he had accompanied Miss Chen while she helped deliver aid to the countryside.
• Tang Wei told Song Ning that Miss Chen had confessed her feelings and asked for help turning her down.
• Tang Wei said their different backgrounds and careers made them unsuitable, and Song Ning asked what he thought of Miss Chen.

Song Ning learned that Tang Wei would give Chen Yawen a chance if they lived in the same city, while Chen Yawen said she was willing to leave her career behind to be with him. Song Ning promised to arrange another meeting and whispered a plan to Chen Yawen.

• Tang Wei told Song Ning he liked Chen Yawen but thought their long-distance relationship was impractical, then admitted he would try if she lived in Capital City.
• Han Xiao told Song Ning that Gu Zheng had left for a business trip, and Song Ning decided to travel to Flower City with Boss Huang's group.
• Song Ning treated Boss Huang and his party to a farewell meal and then accompanied Chen Yawen shopping in Wangfujing.
• Chen Yawen told Song Ning she was serious about Tang Wei and willing to give up her career and move to Capital City for him.
• Song Ning promised to arrange another meeting between Chen Yawen and Tang Wei, then whispered a plan that Chen Yawen agreed to follow.

Song Ning left Capital City with the Harbor City delegation, reunited with Deng Yixing in Flower City, and then traveled to Shen City to visit Fucheng Commune. She arrived to find Luohu District transformed by rapid development and was warmly greeted by Secretary Wu.

• Song Ning and Han Xiao arranged a call between Tang Wei and Chen Yawen, while Song Ning said she would help them overcome their practical difficulties.
• Huang Yongfu’s delegation, Song Ning, Han Xiao, and Xiong Gang departed Capital City for Flower City, where Tang Wei watched them leave and hoped to see Chen Yawen again.
• Deng Yixing welcomed Song Ning with a banquet and thanked her for inspiring his expanding distribution business; Chen Yawen and Huang Yongfu invited Song Ning to visit Harbor City.
• Song Ning traveled with Han Xiao and Xiong Gang to Shen City, where she saw that Luohu District’s infrastructure and investment system had rapidly developed.
• Song Ning went directly to Fucheng Commune, and Secretary Wu greeted her as the commune’s first client.

Song Ning went to sell her 860 mu of grade-A land and negotiated with Li Runxiang, who needed his cousin’s help to buy it. When his cousin arrived, she recognized Song Ning and rushed over to embrace her, leaving Han Xiao and Xiong Gang bewildered.

• Song Ning asked Secretary Wu to help sell all the land she held in Fucheng Commune.
• Li Runxiang arrived, examined Song Ning’s map, and confirmed that every plot was grade A.
• Li Runxiang said he could not afford all the land alone, so he called his cousin to help buy it.
• Li Runxiang’s cousin arrived in a mink coat and recognized Song Ning, then rushed over and embraced her.

Song Ning sold her land to Li Runxiang, with Li Lingshan joining the deal and defending Song Ning’s interests. After Han Xiao warned Song Ning about trusting A Qing, the group learned that something had happened to Yu Zhengyang.

• Li Lingshan reunited with Song Ning and insisted that her cousin Li Runxiang give Song Ning a favorable deal for the land.
• Song Ning agreed to sell all the land to Li Runxiang, and Secretary Wu began processing the paperwork.
• Li Runxiang invited Song Ning and the others to lunch while they waited for the payment to be processed.
• Han Xiao warned Song Ning that A Qing might leak information about the valuable deal, and Song Ning agreed to return to Capital City once the paperwork was finished.
• After lunch, A Qing called and told the group that something had happened to Yu Zhengyang.

Song Ning traveled to Harbor City with A Qing and her companions to find Yu Zhengyang and A Zhong after learning they had rushed there over trouble involving Yu Zhengyang’s woman. Their search led them to a locked architects association office and then the police station, where they discovered Yu Zhengyang had already filed a report.

• A Qing told Song Ning that Yu Zhengyang and A Zhong had gone to Harbor City after Yu Zhengyang received a call about his woman, and she gave Song Ning the address he had written down.
• Li Runxiang identified the address as Yihe Building, and Song Ning warned Li Lingshan not to hold the speculative land plots for more than a year before leaving for Harbor City.
• Song Ning and her companions reached the Harbor City Architects Association office at Yihe Building, but found it locked and could not learn what had happened to Yu Zhengyang and A Zhong.
• Song Ning and A Qing went to a police station to report their friends missing, but an officer accused them of filing a false report after noticing Yu Zhengyang had filed a report that afternoon.

Song Ning learned that Yu Zhengyang had reported Chen Yuting missing after she was abducted in Harbor City, then discovered Yu Zhengyang himself had vanished. She and the others went to the Balai Nightclub to find A Juan and learn more about the abduction.

• Song Ning questioned the police and learned Yu Zhengyang had reported Chen Yuting missing after she disappeared in Central, with A Juan listed as the friend who alerted him.
• A Qing took Song Ning, Han Xiao, and Xiong Gang to a hotel and went to gather information; Han Xiao and Xiong Gang discussed whether they could trust him and their concern for Chen Yuting.
• A Qing returned with A Zhong, who said Chen Yuting had been abducted by someone she knew and that Yu Zhengyang had disappeared after they reported it to the police.
• A Zhong explained that A Juan had called after witnessing Chen Yuting being grabbed near the Balai Nightclub, but she had not learned where Chen Yuting was taken.
• Song Ning and the others headed to the Balai Nightclub, while A Zhong explained that Yu Zhengyang had once saved A Juan and that Chen Yuting had beaten A Juan and gotten her fired.

Song Ning went to Balai Nightclub to find A Juan and learn how Chen Yuting had ended up there, while suspecting Yu Zhengyang might also be searching for her. Just as a handsome server offered Song Ning wine, someone burst into the private room before she could drink.

• A Zhong explained that Chen Yuting had secretly traveled to Harbor City with Boss Wan, the construction businessman A Juan was dating, and had run into A Juan there.
• Song Ning, Han Xiao, Xiong Gang, and A Zhong arrived at Balai Nightclub, where A Zhong failed to enter through the back and warned that the club admitted only members.
• Song Ning claimed that Li Lingshan had invited her, and the greeters let her and her bodyguards into the nightclub's reserved private room.
• A Zhong went to look for A Juan, while Song Ning suspected Yu Zhengyang was also at the nightclub and Han Xiao went to search for him.
• A handsome server opened a bottle of red wine and offered Song Ning a glass, but someone suddenly burst into the private room before she drank.

Song Ning questioned A Bin about the missing host A Pu and a woman named A Juan while waiting for Li Lingshan. Li Lingshan arrived with a surprise, and the chapter ended as a man was pushed into the room and everyone recognized one another in shock.

• Song Ning stopped Brother Cai's men from taking A Bin away and agreed to cover his fine on Li Lingshan's tab.
• Song Ning asked A Bin about A Pu, who had left the nightclub and was rumored to have been seen at Emerald Bay, and about a worker named A Juan.
• A Bin said he could not identify A Pu's friends or the villa he had visited, and he did not recognize anyone named A Juan.
• Li Lingshan arrived, learned Song Ning had helped A Bin, and said she had a surprise for her.
• A man was pushed into the room, and everyone who saw him reacted as though they had seen a ghost.

Song Ning and her companions searched the Balai Nightclub for Chen Yuting and the witness who had seen her abducted, while Li Lingshan helped them reach the kitchen staff. The manager brought in a frightened woman in a kitchen uniform, and Song Ning recognized her as someone familiar.

• Yu Zhengyang told Song Ning that A Juan had seen Chen Yuting in the alley behind the Balai Nightclub, and that he had been forced to work there after paying someone to get him inside.
• A Zhong reported finding a kitchen helper named A Juan before being caught, while Han Xiao said guards had blocked his way to the basement.
• Song Ning warned Li Lingshan to leave after explaining that Chen Yuting might be held in the basement, but Li Lingshan chose to help.
• Li Lingshan arranged for the nightclub manager to bring over a woman from the kitchen.
• Song Ning recognized the woman as a familiar face.

Song Ning learned that Chen Yuting had been abducted after following a group of men into the nightclub area, and suspected the kidnappers were connected to the K organization. She left with Yu Zhengyang to plan a search, while Song Caijuan begged to be taken home.

• Song Ning recognized A Juan as Song Caijuan, who begged her to take her home.
• Song Caijuan said Chen Yuting had left her room, followed several men, and was knocked unconscious and dragged away.
• Song Caijuan described the men as tall and muscular, and said she had watched them from a storage room behind the nightclub.
• Song Ning suspected Chen Yuting had encountered a mainland member of the K organization, possibly someone connected to the military.
• Yu Zhengyang feared Chen Yuting was in danger, and Song Ning told him they needed to plan carefully.
• Li Lingshan left after warning Song Ning to stay away from dangerous matters.

Song Ning rescued Yu Zhengyang from the Balai Nightclub and arranged for Song Caijuan to gather information about its basement and return to Shen City. Li Runxiang then invited Song Ning to a private auction in Kowloon, where she hoped to meet Fourth Young Master Hu, the nightclub's owner.

• Song Ning questioned Song Caijuan about the nightclub's basement and agreed to consider taking her back if she secretly tracked the kitchen's meal deliveries.
• Song Ning had A Zhong slap Song Caijuan so the nightclub staff would believe she had been punished, then left with Yu Zhengyang, Han Xiao, and Xiong Gang.
• The manager told Yu Zhengyang that Miss Li had arranged for him to leave with Song Ning, and the group exited the nightclub.
• Li Runxiang invited Song Ning to an auction in Kowloon and explained that Fourth Young Master Hu, who owned the Balai Nightclub, would attend.
• Song Ning accepted Li Runxiang's invitation and sent A Zhong with Yu Zhengyang to the hotel, instructing him to wait for Song Caijuan the next morning if she had not returned.

Song Ning attended an auction with Li Runxiang and recognized the Gilt Buddha Statue that Fourth Young Master Hu hoped to buy. As bidding rose, she stopped him and declared that the statue was fake.

• Li Runxiang escorted Song Ning into the auction while their bodyguards waited in a nearby lounge.
• Li Runxiang introduced Song Ning to Fourth Young Master Hu, who later took seats with them near the front.
• Auction staff unveiled a rare Gilt Buddha Statue, and two appraisers praised its Tang-era craftsmanship and condition.
• Song Ning inspected the statue and recognized it from her future, where Professor He had studied it with her.
• Fourth Young Master Hu began bidding for the statue, but Song Ning stopped him and said it was a fake.

Song Ning publicly proved that the Buddha statue auctioned as a Tang dynasty antique was a counterfeit, prompting the Feng family to withdraw it and cover the losses. As she tried to leave the embarrassed gathering, Liang Youde stopped her.

• Hu Yuanjing tried to outbid Liang Youde for the Buddha statue, but Song Ning stopped him and Liang won it for 380,000 Hong Kong dollars.
• Liang challenged Hu to explain why someone had called the statue fake, and Hu pointed to Song Ning in front of Elder Cen and the other guests.
• Song Ning explained that the flawless statue lacked the natural cracking expected of an ancient dry-lacquer piece and was missing the crescent-shaped mark found on the real statue.
• An elderly member of the Feng family examined the statue, admitted that a descendant had replaced the original with a counterfeit, and promised to cover the losses.
• The auctioneer voided the sale, and Liang Youde stopped Song Ning as she tried to slip away.