Recaps

Zhou Yi arranged an investigation into Gou Hongtao while Tian Zhengbing tried to contain the scandal and protect himself. He then asked Qu Hongying to give him a few days to settle department affairs before helping with the stalled Shanhai Group case.

• Zhou Yi proposed that Feng Shicheng lead a Party Committee investigation into the allegations against Gou Hongtao, and Tian Zhengbing agreed to a preliminary inquiry without reporting it to the provincial Discipline Inspection Commission yet.
• Tian Zhengbing told Gou Hongtao he would return the incriminating items and give him copies of the allegations, then urged him to clean up the evidence quickly.
• Gou Hongtao promised to take responsibility himself, and Tian Zhengbing suggested they might yield the deputy department director position to Jiang Xuezeng to protect him.
• Zhou Yi told Qu Hongying to wait a few days while he dealt with the department's affairs, and she sent him the requested good-luck comment.
• Wu Daojun asked Qu Hongying what Zhou Yi had said, then eagerly posted the same comment while waiting for progress on the Shanhai Group case.

After learning of the allegations against him, Gou Hongtao followed Yu Xia’s plan to return the gifts and contain evidence of a buried assault case. Qi Huawei went to return his own gifts to Wang Xianda, only to find procurators waiting at Wang’s home, where he handed over the valuables and confessed.

• Gou Hongtao returned home with the report, and Tian Zhengbing’s driver brought back the Little Golden Dragon, Hetian jade, and cash.
• Yu Xia instructed Gou Hongtao to return the gifts to Qi Huawei and to pressure the assault victim’s family and the officers who handled the case.
• Gou Hongtao summoned Qi Huawei, who returned the gifts and cash to him, then called Wang Xianda to arrange returning the valuables Wang had given him.
• Qi Huawei arrived at Wang Xianda’s home and discovered Kang Jian and other procurators waiting there.
• Kang Jian urged Qi Huawei to cooperate, and Qi handed over the Little Golden Dragon, Hetian jade, and cash while claiming he had come to return them.

Zhou Yi’s plan exposed the illicit gifts linking Gou Hongtao, Qi Huawei, and Wang Xianda, drawing the Discipline Inspection Commission toward Gou. As evidence implicated Tian Zhengbing, Secretary Hou Xiangyang ordered Guan Ruibo to investigate him according to procedure.

• Qu Hongying’s searches led to the arrests of Wang Xianda and Qi Huawei after Qi carried the illicit gifts into Wang’s home.
• Gou Hongtao feared Qi would implicate him, while Tian Zhengbing cut ties and told Gou not to mention their connection.
• Lü Ruiqi summoned Gou Hongtao to the provincial Discipline Inspection Commission, and Gou left the Public Security Department in regret.
• Guan Ruibo told Hou Xiangyang that evidence confirmed Tian Zhengbing had accepted a bribe from Gou Hongtao in exchange for a promotion.
• Hou Xiangyang ordered Guan Ruibo to investigate Tian Zhengbing according to procedure, then slammed his hand on the desk after Guan left.

Zhou Yi took charge of the Provincial Public Security Department after Tian Zhengbing was detained, and Tian confessed to accepting bribes and implicated Ma Gangyao. Meanwhile, Rong Jinxiu told Chen Yurong and Xie Fangfei that the investigation into her remained under control.

• Cheng Zhixing convened an emergency meeting after Qi Huawei, Gou Hongtao, Zhang Yongliang, and Tian Zhengbing were taken into custody, then announced that Zhou Yi would oversee the department.
• Cheng Zhixing urged Zhou Yi to keep the department's work running and advance the crackdown on organized crime, assuring him that the provincial leaders supported him.
• During interrogation, Tian Zhengbing saw evidence of his dealings with Gou Hongtao and confessed to taking bribes.
• Tian Zhengbing revealed that Ma Gangyao had paid him 500,000 yuan to secure the release of his nephew, prompting Qu Hongying and Wu Daojun to celebrate the new lead.
• Rong Jinxiu told Chen Yurong and Xie Fangfei that Qu Hongying had made no progress investigating her and that the situation remained under her control.

Rong Jinxiu learned that Zhou Yi’s moves had brought down Tian Zhengbing and led to Ma Gangyao’s detention, while Qu Hongying pursued the case. Zhou Yi redirected Qu Hongying toward Wang Xianda, whose confession implicated a senior Chuanhai official and alarmed provincial leaders.

• Rong Jinxiu told Chen Yurong and Xie Fangfei that Zhou Yi had caused Tian Zhengbing to be placed under Shuanggui and taken charge of the Public Security Department.
• Rong Jinxiu learned that Ma Gangyao had been detained after Tian Zhengbing confessed to financial dealings with him, and she tried to arrange protection for Ma Gangyao.
• Qu Hongying persuaded Guan Ruibo to let her question Ma Gangyao, but Ma Gangyao stayed silent throughout the interrogation.
• Zhou Yi advised Qu Hongying to question Wang Xianda instead, and Wang Xianda later implicated Chuanhai Executive Vice Mayor Guan Yifei.
• Jiang Yunlai, Guan Ruibo, Lan Kun, and Hou Xiangyang grew alarmed as the investigation threatened to ensnare more officials.

Hou Xiangyang and other provincial leaders discussed the recent corruption arrests before shifting their focus to the second-phase organized-crime crackdown. At a later Standing Committee meeting, Hou criticized the supervision task force in Desheng City, leaving Duan Huaien fearing he would be replaced and eyeing Zhou Yi as a possible successor.

• Hou Xiangyang convened a meeting with Lan Kun, Guan Ruibo, Cheng Zhixing, Jiang Yunlai, and Han Dong to discuss the recent arrests of corrupt officials.
• Han Dong and Guan Ruibo credited Qu Hongying and the Discipline Inspection Commission for the anti-corruption cases, while Lan Kun argued that the crackdown on graft must continue.
• Lan Kun redirected the meeting toward the organized-crime campaign, and Hou Xiangyang endorsed giving equal weight to anti-corruption and the crackdown on criminal forces.
• Three days later, Hou Xiangyang told the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee that Desheng City's problems and its officials' collusion with criminal forces remained unresolved.
• Hou Xiangyang rebuked Duan Huaien for the task force's ineffective work, and Duan wondered whether Zhou Yi would replace him in Desheng.

Zhou Yi accepted the assignment to lead the Provincial Party Committee's second supervision team in Desheng City, then helped Hou Xiangyang reconnect with the Jian family. The chapter ended with Hou promising to visit Zhou Chunyi and Jian Yan for New Year, while Zhou Chunyi reflected on how many powerful uncles Zhou Yi had gathered.

• Cheng Zhixing recommended replacing Duan Huaien with Zhou Yi as leader of the second supervision team, and Zhou Yi agreed to the organization's arrangement.
• Hou Xiangyang praised Zhou Yi and invited him to his office, prompting Lan Kun to worry that Hou was trying to draw Zhou Yi into his camp.
• Hou Xiangyang reminisced with Zhou Yi about his childhood friendship with Zhou Yi's father-in-law, Jian Wanyan, and asked after the Jian family.
• Zhou Yi took Hou Xiangyang's hint and passed his message to the Jian family, and Hou later received a call from Zhou Chunyi inviting him to visit for New Year.
• Hou Xiangyang promised to visit Zhou Chunyi and Jian Yan, while Zhou Chunyi noted that Zhou Yi's circle of powerful uncles had grown large enough for a mahjong table.

Zhou Yi led the Provincial Party Committee’s Second Inspection Team for the Crackdown on Organized Crime into Desheng City, where local leaders welcomed the team and Yang Mingshan worried about the scrutiny. As the inspection began, Bi Wensheng returned to Desheng and expressed renewed admiration for Zhou Yi.

• Jian Wanyan and Hou Xiangyang spoke for an hour, reconciled, and agreed to meet over the New Year holiday.
• Zhou Yi urged Qu Hongying to keep investigating Guan Yifei and Ma Gangyao while taking precautions against Rong Jinxiu.
• On December 20, Desheng City announced the inspection team’s arrival and publicized its hotline and mailbox for reports.
• Yang Mingshan watched coverage of Zhou Yi’s arrival and resolved to keep a low profile until the team left.
• Shen Zhendong and Su Qin welcomed Zhou Yi and his inspection team at a banquet attended by Desheng City officials.
• Bi Wensheng returned from leave to attend the banquet, and Zhou Yi greeted him warmly.

Deputy Department Director Zhou Yi unsettled Desheng’s officials by asking about Yang Mingshan and Guo Zikun, while a man was tortured and forced to watch his sister being raped. The chapter ended with the threat that she would die if he continued refusing to talk.

• Bi Wensheng believed Zhou Yi had secretly sent him to Desheng to investigate criminal forces, and resolved to follow Zhou’s instructions.
• Zhou Yi ate with Shen Zhendong, Su Qin, and other officials as the tense gathering watched him in silence.
• After Li Linsen whispered to him, Zhou Yi asked whether Yang Mingshan was well known, causing an official to drop a cup.
• Zhou Yi asked who Guo Zikun was, and Zou Guiping dropped another cup as the officials fell silent.
• Zhou Yi told everyone to sit and continue eating, then the scene shifted to a burly man threatening a battered captive as several men raped the captive’s sister.

Guo Zikun tortured Yu Xiaofeng and his sister over a missing disc, but Uncle Yang’s warning about Zhou Yi led him to imprison them instead of killing them. At a municipal banquet, Zhou Yi outlined three types of organized criminals and made the officials wonder whether he was already targeting people in Desheng.

• Guo Zikun accused Yu Xiaofeng of stealing a disc and had his men restrain him while his sister was tortured.
• Uncle Yang warned Guo Zikun that Zhou Yi had begun investigating him and urged him to stop causing trouble.
• Guo Zikun pretended to comply, then ordered his men to lock up Yu Xiaofeng and his sister.
• At the welcome banquet, Su Qin asked Zhou Yi to share his experience fighting organized crime.
• Zhou Yi described arrogant, calculating, and psychologically depraved criminals, prompting unease among the officials.

After Zhou Yi warned Desheng’s officials that he intended to pursue organized crime, he tested Bi Wensheng’s resolve and ordered him to arrest Guo Zikun. Guo calmly surrendered after a woman reassured him, but the interrogation began with a shocking reference to another man’s death sentence.

• At the banquet, Zhou Yi said he expected the officials to attend a victory banquet soon, leaving Shen Zhendong alarmed by the implied threat.
• Zhou Yi questioned Bi Wensheng about Yang Mingshan and Guo Zikun, then ordered him to arrest Guo immediately despite Bi’s concerns about leaks and interference.
• Bi Wensheng directed Dong Gang and Kong Kai to carry out the arrest, while refusing to back down after Liu Jian and Shi Nanting called to question him.
• Guo Zikun debated whether to flee, but a woman reassured him that Zhou Yi had no evidence against him, so he waited for the police and surrendered calmly.
• During Guo Zikun’s interrogation, the criminal police officer began by reciting the background of Wen Hua, a man sentenced to death for rape and intentional homicide.

Li Linsen exposed Guo Zikun as the long-sought Wen Hua, who broke down after learning Zhou Yi had directed his arrest. At the Desheng City Public Security Bureau, Bi Wensheng confronted Wen Xiaoyi with Wen Hua’s name, leaving her stunned that Zhou Yi had uncovered their secret without warning.

• Li Linsen showed Guo Zikun evidence of Wen Hua’s identity, and Guo Zikun eventually broke down and begged his mother to save him.
• Li Linsen credited Zhou Yi’s information for the arrest while reflecting on the far-reaching public tips that supported Zhou Yi’s investigations.
• Bi Wensheng convened the Desheng City Public Security Bureau’s Party Committee and announced Guo Zikun’s arrest.
• Bi Wensheng asked Wen Xiaoyi whether she knew Wen Hua, and her reaction revealed that she understood Zhou Yi had uncovered Guo Zikun’s true identity.
• Wen Xiaoyi wondered how Zhou Yi had discovered the secret without giving her any chance to prepare.

Bi Wensheng exposed Wen Xiaoyi’s role in Wen Hua’s return under the identity Guo Zikun, prompting the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission to detain her and other officials. Zhou Yi secured Desheng’s leaders’ agreement to act against Yang Mingshan and received the Provincial Party Committee’s full backing for the investigation.

• Bi Wensheng revealed that Guo Zikun was Wen Hua, and discipline inspection officers took Wen Xiaoyi away.
• Zhou Yi told Shen Zhendong and Su Qin that fingerprints had confirmed Guo Zikun’s identity and criticized Desheng’s failure to control criminal forces.
• Zhou Yi recommended that Desheng immediately take compulsory criminal measures against Yang Mingshan, and Shen Zhendong and Su Qin agreed.
• Zhou Yi called Guan Ruibo to report the Supervision Group’s progress and its leads implicating Yang Mingshan and Wen Hua in organized crime.
• Secretary Hou ordered Guan Ruibo to support Zhou Yi without reservation and praised his work.

As the investigation in Desheng City intensified, Yang Mingshan and Su Di decided to flee, and Yang ordered Cheng Youqiang to kill Zhou Yi. Yang and Su Di escaped before authorities could seize them, leaving Shen Zhendong and Su Qin facing the task of bringing them to justice.

• Guan Ruibo agreed to send Lü Ruiqi and a team to Desheng to support Zhou Yi, while Governor Lan ordered Su Qin to follow the supervision team's instructions.
• After learning about the arrests and investigations, Yang Mingshan, Su Di, and Cheng Youqiang discussed their worsening situation and decided to leave Desheng.
• Li Xianglin told Yang Mingshan that officials had not yet decided whether to investigate Hope Group, but Yang grew suspicious and ended the call.
• Yang Mingshan fled with Su Di and ordered Cheng Youqiang to get rid of Zhou Yi.
• Li Xianglin asked Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission staff whether his tip counted as making amends for his crimes.
• Shen Zhendong and Su Qin learned that Yang Mingshan and Su Di had vanished and worried they might fail to bring them to justice.

Yu Xiaofeng killed four men while defending his sister, and Zhou Yi’s team considered whether the killings qualified as special defense. As the investigation continued, Su Qin refused to protect her cousin Su Di, then learned that Zhou Yi had been in a car accident.

• Yu Xiaofeng killed four attackers after they assaulted his sister Yu Xiaohui, then police arrived to find the bloody scene.
• Bi Wensheng argued that Yu Xiaofeng’s actions qualified as special defense, and Zhou Yi ordered a thorough investigation supported by evidence and proper procedure.
• Su Qin told her sick aunt she could not save Su Di, who had colluded with Yang Mingshan and taken Wen Hua.
• Su Qin’s secretary Xiao Tian reported that Team Leader Zhou had been in a car accident, leaving Su Qin reeling.

After a staged-looking crash nearly killed Zhou Yi in Desheng City, he survived with minor injuries, prompting provincial leaders to send forces and launch a joint investigation. Meanwhile, Yang Mingshan and Su Di escaped abroad, unaware of the response gathering behind them.

• Cheng Youqiang followed the Supervision Group's car with a pistol, but a collision between a Black Sedan and the group’s vehicle caused a truck carrying rebar to crash into them, killing Cheng Youqiang and badly damaging all three cars.
• Yu Xiao helped free Zhou Yi from the wreckage, and both were taken to Desheng City People's Hospital, where Zhou Yi was found to be safe despite the severity of the crash.
• Su Qin and Shen Zhendong rushed to the hospital, while Shen Zhendong saw Zhou Yi bandaged and speaking on the phone.
• Hou Xiangyang ordered SWAT Officers Corps and People's Armed Police units to deploy to Desheng and directed the Discipline Inspection Commission to lead a Joint Investigation Team.
• Yang Mingshan and Su Di used prepared passports and disguises to board a flight from Chuanhai to the Beautiful Country.

After Zhou Yi survived a suspicious car crash, investigators found a pistol on the dead driver, raising fears that someone had tried to kill him. Yang Mingshan and Su Di were arrested after their plane was forced to return, while Rong Jinxiu wondered whether Zhou Yi would believe she had nothing to do with the attack.

• Criminal investigators reported Yang Mingshan and Su Di's departure to Yan Li, who informed the Provincial Party Committee.
• A suspected rat sighting forced Yang Mingshan and Su Di's plane to return, and investigators arrested them at Chuanhai Airport.
• Bi Wensheng reported that the Santana driver had died and that police found a Type 54 Pistol on him, prompting fears the crash had targeted Zhou Yi.
• Shen Zhendong and Su Qin apologized to Zhou Yi as a provincial investigation team and security forces prepared to come to Desheng.
• Chen Yurong and Xie Fangfei hurried to leave Shanhai Manor, while Rong Jinxiu stayed behind, worried Zhou Yi would suspect her.
• Hou Xiangyang apologized to Jian Wanyan over the failure to protect Zhou Yi.

Mu Yalan visited Zhou Yi in the hospital while provincial investigators uncovered that Yang Mingshan had hired Cheng Youqiang to kill him. With Tan Yuming’s crash appearing unrelated to the murder plot, the investigation left Zhou Yi’s near-miraculous survival looking like a chain of accidents that had protected him.

• Mu Yalan decided to visit Zhou Yi in Desheng after Hou Xiangyang took charge of investigating possible Rong Family involvement.
• Tian Tian and Jian Shuyue cared for Zhou Yi in the hospital, and Mu Yalan arrived and fussed over his injuries.
• Mu Yalan asked Tian Tian about her love life, and Tian Tian jokingly said she still thought Jian Shuyue was the best.
• Provincial investigators took over the case, ruled out the agricultural truck driver as a suspect, and focused on Cheng Youqiang and Tan Yuming.
• Yang Mingshan confessed that he had ordered Cheng Youqiang to murder Zhou Yi but denied knowing Tan Yuming.
• Investigators found no link between Yang Mingshan and Tan Yuming and concluded that the crash and Cheng Youqiang’s death appeared accidental, prompting the question of whether to close the case.

After Zhou Yi’s car accident prompted provincial leaders to launch a sweeping investigation, the Shanhai Group collapsed and Rong Jinxiu turned herself in. Zhou Yi and Jian Shuyue got engaged, and the chapter ended with Hou Xiangyang offering to arrange Zhou Yi’s next post in Linhai.

• On January 1, 2009, provincial agencies launched a coordinated investigation into the Shanhai Group and its alleged crimes.
• Yang Xin told Rong Jinxiu that Zhang Quan had been leaking information to Huai Guangkuo, and Rong Jinsheng urged his sister to surrender.
• Rong Jinxiu surrendered on January 20, and Rong Huazhao was placed under investigation on January 25 as the Shanhai Group fell.
• Authorities held thirty-two Desheng City officials accountable for the fallout from Zhou Yi’s car accident and investigated officials who had protected criminal forces.
• Zhou Yi and Jian Shuyue held a simple engagement ceremony, and Jian Shuyue chose all three rings Jian bought her.
• At a Spring Festival gathering in Capital City, Hou Xiangyang asked Zhou Yi which Linhai city he wanted to work in and offered to arrange his placement, alarming Wei Siqi.

Senior officials jokingly competed to recruit Zhou Yi, who remained undecided about his next post. At a later hot pot gathering, he said he would likely transfer to the Southwest in July or August, and Sima Yanan offered to join his leadership team.

• Hou Xiangyang and Wei Siqi each argued that Zhou Yi should work in their region, while Xiao Xiang jokingly proposed a Ministry of Public Security assignment.
• Jian Wanyan ended the debate by asking Zhou Yi to toast the senior officials, and Zhou Yi drank five glasses in succession.
• On February 12, Zhou Yi and Jian Shuyue met Xiao Han, Shan Wenxu, and Sima Yanan for lamb hot pot at the Gathering Fortune House.
• Zhou Yi told his friends that the Southwest was the most likely destination and that he might transfer in July or August after his appointment became formal.
• Sima Yanan offered to join Zhou Yi's leadership team if the opportunity arose, and Zhou Yi welcomed her offer.

After Zhou Yi became Linhai’s Public Security Department Director, Lin Fang published an article defending his record against criticism of his age and connections. In Capital City, Huai Jinqi praised Zhou Yi to his former chief, while Liu Weiguo raised a complaint, and the old man asked his granddaughter to go to Jingchu.

• Lin Fang listed Zhou Yi’s crime-fighting achievements and car crash in a widely shared article that challenged his critics.
• Zhou Yi read Lin Fang’s article and felt it forcefully answered the attacks against him.
• Huai Jinqi told his former chief how Zhou Yi had exposed the Shanhai Group’s embezzlement and saved Xinguang Factory, giving Zhou Yi most of the credit.
• Liu Weiguo told the old man that he had come to Capital City to complain.
• After the two former subordinates left, the old man asked his youngest granddaughter to go to Jingchu and look around for him.

Sima Yanan agreed to investigate problems in Shaohua at her grandfather’s request, and Zhou Yi was unexpectedly assigned there as its mayor after Old Xiao specifically asked for him. Sima later confessed to Zhou Yi that she had recommended him, leaving them both headed for Shaohua.

• Sima Yanan prepared to join Zhou Yi in Huaining, but Old Xiao asked her to go to Shaohua and address its problems.
• Old Xiao asked Sima Yanan what she thought of Zhou Yi, and she called him the most outstanding person of their generation she had ever met.
• Hou Xiangyang and Lan Kun told Zhou Yi that a central leadership figure had requested him and asked his opinion about a new posting.
• Hou Xiangyang informed Zhou Yi that he would become mayor of Shaohua City, a severely impoverished city in Jingchu Province.
• Wei Siqi and Jian Wanyan accepted that Zhou Yi would go to Shaohua and noted that Sima Yanan would work alongside him.
• Sima Yanan confessed to Zhou Yi that she had recommended him to her grandfather because she wanted to work with him.

Zhou Yi investigated Shaohua’s severe poverty and, after taking office as mayor, toured Zhiyuan County to see conditions firsthand. His visit left him determined to keep investigating, while Shaohua’s new leadership gathered for its first Standing Committee meeting without him.

• After speaking with Sima Yanan, Zhou Yi researched Shaohua and learned that nearly a million residents lived in poverty, making him wonder whether he could still change his mind.
• In July, Sima Yanan and Zhou Yi took office as Shaohua’s new Municipal Party Secretary and mayor, arriving from other provinces.
• Deputy Municipal Party Secretary Zhang Hui attended Sima Yanan’s first Standing Committee meeting while Zhou Yi remained away on field visits.
• In Zhiyuan County, Zhou Yi’s group walked through heavy rain to a village, where Zhou Yi saw residents living without electricity or running water.
• When Sun Youzhi and Zhang Lecheng suggested returning to the county seat, Zhou Yi decided to eat in the village and continue his field visits that afternoon.

Sima Yanan moved to halt Shaohua City’s major development projects while Zhou Yi investigated poverty in Zhiyuan County. The chapter left Zhou considering how local resources could guide villages toward prosperity.

• Sima Yanan proposed halting the Lotus Plaza, Lotus Treasure Altar, and Four Leading Bodies office building projects, but agreed to shelve the decision until Zhou Yi returned after several committee members objected.
• Sima Yanan shifted the meeting to discuss the year’s fiscal poverty alleviation funds, unsettling the standing committee members with her focus on Shaohua City’s problems.
• In Stream Guest Village, Yuan Guoqing asked Zhou Yi how the village could escape poverty, and Zhou pointed to its mountain setting and local resources.
• Zhou Yi tasked Yuan Guoqing with having each village Party secretary report in detail on what resources their village possessed.
• On the drive back, Zhou Yi reflected that villagers still lacked enough to eat despite the year being 2009.

Mayor Zhou Yi’s inspection in Zhiyuan County was interrupted when Ji Weizhen blocked his convoy to protest her son’s death and accuse County Party Secretary Sun Youzhi’s nephew of ordering the killing. After police handling shattered her urn and inflamed the crowd, Zhou sent his temporary secretary to bring her over.

• Zhou Yi reflected on his new responsibilities as Shaohua’s mayor and his partnership with Sima Yanan.
• Ji Weizhen knelt in the road with an urn and stopped the convoy carrying Zhou Yi and county officials.
• Sun Youzhi ordered Wen He to clear the road, and officers handling Ji Weizhen roughly caused her urn to shatter.
• Ji Weizhen cried over the scattered ashes as onlookers condemned the officers and Sun Youzhi tried to calm the crowd.
• Ji Weizhen accused Sun Youzhi’s nephew of ordering her son and granddaughter’s deaths, then charged at Sun as officers restrained her.
• Zhou Yi told Liang Xingjian to invite Ji Weizhen over.