Chapter Summaries

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.

Zhou Yi heard Ji Weizhen’s account of her family’s deaths and the unpaid demolition compensation, then ordered Zhiyuan County to resolve the dispute and advance the murder investigation. Sun Youzhi faced a two-week deadline and worried that Tianqian Development Co., Ltd. would be exposed.

• Liang Xingjian stopped the police from taking Ji Weizhen and brought her to Zhou Yi, who offered to hear her out.
• Ji Weizhen told Zhou Yi that Tianqian Development Co., Ltd. had withheld compensation for demolished homes and that her son, Feng Jinghua, and granddaughter, Feng Ying, had been murdered after organizing residents.
• Ji Weizhen said she suspected Tianqian and its connections to Sun Youzhi’s nephew, Sun Qian, had caused the murders, and Zhou Yi promised to investigate and seek justice.
• After returning from his month-long tour, Zhou Yi ordered Sun Youzhi to address the compensation dispute and accelerate the murder investigation within two weeks.
• Sun Youzhi feared Tianqian would become the prime suspect and considered visiting Lulu to settle his nerves.

Liang Xingjian was detained after catching Ye Yuxin staying overnight at Pan Chengyun’s home, apparently ruining his chance to become Mayor Zhou’s secretary. After serving five days, he returned to the Government Office, where Zhang Le Cheng told him that Zhou Yi wanted to see him.

• Liang Xingjian left work to look for Ye Yuxin after learning she was out late with Pan Chengyun.
• Zhou Yi asked where Liang was, and Lü Wenying explained that he had taken sick leave; she soon learned he had been detained for hitting Pan Chengyun.
• Song Yunzhi blamed Ye Yuxin for jeopardizing Liang’s prospects, while Ye Zhao defended their daughter and encouraged her to break up with Liang.
• Liang Xingjian returned to the secretarial section after several days, determined to face whatever came next.
• Zhang Le Cheng congratulated Liang and told him Zhou Yi wanted to see him.

Liang Xingjian became Mayor Zhou’s secretary and received sudden respect from his colleagues, while Ye Yuxin regretted their breakup and tried to call him. Pan Chengyun claimed that even the mayor was nothing special, but three men confronted him and one punched him in the nose.

• Fang Daye congratulated Liang Xingjian and urged him to settle into his new role as Mayor Zhou’s secretary.
• Colleagues greeted Liang Xingjian warmly, and he reminded himself to stay humble and honor the mayor’s trust.
• Ye Yuxin’s father told her to apologize to Liang Xingjian and celebrate his new position, so she left her friends and tried calling him, but he rejected her calls.
• Wu Jia Ni told Dai Yingtao and the others that Liang Xingjian had become Mayor Zhou’s secretary, prompting them to agree to celebrate him.
• Pan Chengyun caught up with Ye Yuxin and declared that even the mayor was nothing special to his family.
• Three middle-aged men confronted Pan Chengyun about his remark, and one punched him in the nose.

Pan Chengyun was beaten after insulting Mayor Zhou Yi, but the officers who arrived recognized the men who had assaulted him and left without making arrests. Pan Longqun then ordered his son to apologize to Zhou Yi and the officials he had offended, slapping him when he protested.

• Pan Chengyun called Executive Deputy Director Guo Jinxing after three men beat him at the Prosperity Restaurant, then watched them return to their meal.
• Fu Yanping and his officers found the men, recognized Deputy Director Cai, Captain Shao Mingbao, Commissar Zhu Jianping, and Captain Li, and withdrew after learning they had come from Linhai with Mayor Zhou Yi.
• Pan Chengyun went home and, with his mother and grandmother, demanded that Pan Longqun seek justice for the beating.
• Pan Longqun said Pan Chengyun would apologize to Zhou Yi, while his mother and grandmother supported the plan and Pan Chengyun demanded a slap in return.
• Pan Longqun slapped Pan Chengyun and ordered him to apologize the next day to Zhou Yi, Cai Xiaobo, Shao Mingbao, Zhu Jianping, and Liang Xingjian.

Vice Governor Huang called Zhou Yi to smooth over Pan Chengyun’s insult, and Zhou agreed to let the matter go while asking Huang for help with something. The next morning, Zhou spoke with Cai Xiaobo, while Ye Zhao regretted urging his daughter to break up with Liang Xingjian and Cai declined Pan Chengyun’s dinner invitation.

• Vice Governor Huang told Zhou Yi that Pan Chengyun had insulted him while drunk and that Pan Longqun wanted to bring his son to apologize.
• Zhou Yi said Pan Chengyun did not need to apologize in person, then asked Huang for help with another matter.
• Huang told Pan Longqun that Zhou had let the matter go but recommended that Pan Chengyun apologize to Liang Xingjian for having him detained.
• Ye Zhao regretted encouraging his daughter to leave Liang Xingjian and decided to try to have her win him back, while Song Yunzhi resolved to warn her against pursuing him.
• Zhou Yi called Cai Xiaobo, told him not to act rashly, and invited him and his colleagues to dinner that weekend.
• Cai Xiaobo declined Pan Chengyun’s dinner and apology, then listened as Guo Jinxing invited him and others to dinner instead.

At a citywide officials' conference, Mayor Zhou Yi exposed the misuse of poverty alleviation funds and called for officials who harmed ordinary people to be removed. Sun Youzhi was taken away for a Shuanggui investigation, while Zhou vowed to hold corrupt officials accountable.

• Sima Yanan outlined Shaohua City's plan to fight poverty by prioritizing impoverished villages, developing industries, and helping workers find jobs elsewhere.
• Zhou Yi described the hardship he had seen in impoverished villages and challenged Poverty Alleviation Office Director Hong Dawei's explanation that their circumstances could not be changed.
• Zhou Yi revealed that Zhiyuan County had spent much of its poverty alleviation funding on squares, roads, government buildings, and a cultural park.
• Zhou Yi condemned officials who diverted poverty alleviation funds to vanity projects and declared that they would be removed.
• Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection staff placed Sun Youzhi under Shuanggui investigation and escorted him from the hall.
• Zhou Yi declared that he would destroy officials who exploited Shaohua's people.

Mayor Zhou exposed corruption and abuse of power by several county party secretaries at a cadre conference, then praised Lu Chengfeng for serving the people and resisting corruption. The chapter ended with the hall applauding as Lu Chengfeng felt hopeful about Shaohua City's future.

• Mayor Zhou denounced Sun Youzhi and warned that other corrupt officials would also be removed.
• Mayor Zhou accused Zhang Baiyan of abusing public power to imprison Yang Linhai, and Discipline Inspection Commission staff escorted Zhang Baiyan away.
• Mayor Zhou revealed Xu Baocai had used public funds to equip his home with an expensive KTV system, and staff escorted him out.
• Mayor Zhou praised Lu Chengfeng for developing Jigao County, serving its people, and resisting corrupt officials.
• Mayor Zhou urged officials to learn from Lu Chengfeng and unite under Secretary Sima to fight poverty, prompting thunderous applause.

After Mayor Zhou Yi publicly praised Lu Chengfeng and exposed corrupt county officials, senior Shaohua City officials grew wary and uncertain about how to align themselves. Their awkward attempt to visit Zhou and Sima Yanan together ended with Sima calling a meeting to reinforce the new leadership’s control.

• Zhou Yi invited Lu Chengfeng to share Jigao County’s poverty-alleviation experience, and Lu delivered a confident speech praising Zhou and Sima Yanan.
• Hong Dawei vowed to reform after fearing the consequences of corruption, while Zhang Hui, Ma Hongfei, and Jiang Yongcheng discussed how to protect themselves from the new leadership.
• Zhang Hui, Ma Hongfei, and Jiang Yongcheng each claimed they had other plans, but all three arrived at Zhou Yi’s reception room to seek an audience.
• Liang Xingjian kept the three waiting without revealing who else was meeting Zhou, and Sima Yanan then passed by with Zhou and caught them together.
• Ma Hongfei claimed the three had important business to report, and Sima Yanan announced an afternoon meeting with other officials while exchanging a knowing glance with Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi and Sima Yanan halted wasteful construction projects and launched plans to recruit College Student Village Officials, but Zhou soon faced the challenge of financing Shaohua’s development and poverty alleviation. After reviewing local resources, he gave Taiping Township’s Wang Jili another chance to work with Laifeng Township.

• Shaohua’s Standing Committee unanimously approved halting planned construction projects, recommending new county secretaries, and recruiting College Student Village Officials for impoverished villages and townships.
• Old Xiao and Sima Yanan considered Zhou Yi’s successful early efforts to tackle corruption and strengthen rural leadership.
• Zhou Yi reviewed an economic development report and worried that Shaohua lacked the money to fund poverty alleviation, investment, education, and healthcare.
• Zhou Yi read reports identifying local specialties in nineteen villages and townships, then criticized Wang Jili for claiming Taiping Township had nothing.
• Wang Jili proposed that Taiping Township work with Laifeng Township, and Zhou Yi agreed to give him a chance.

Mayor Zhou Yi secured pledges of billions in investment and poverty alleviation funding for Shaohua City, while Hexin City’s leaders complained that they had been overlooked. Pan Longqun invested in tea-industry poverty alleviation bases, and Pan Yingying brought her boyfriend home, leaving Pan Chengyun stunned when he recognized him.

• Mayor Zhou Yi asked Li Ruoyun for investment, and she offered five hundred million yuan while Zhao Qiushui signaled she could contribute another five hundred million.
• Zhou Yi asked Shan Wenxu to help attract investment, and Shan assigned Li Daming to match Shaohua’s projects with companies.
• Wen Wan sent agricultural company owners to Zhou Yi, and Secretary Sima returned with an additional one billion yuan in provincial poverty alleviation funds.
• Hexin City’s leaders demanded funding from the Province, but the Provincial Leaders said the money had been allocated to Shaohua.
• Pan Longqun chose to invest fifty million yuan in tea-industry poverty alleviation bases, then told Pan Chengyun to come home for Pan Yingying’s birthday.
• Pan Yingying introduced her boyfriend to Pan Chengyun, who recognized the man and reacted in shock.