Yang Bowen

Biodata

Background / History

Yang Bowen supported his family by driving freight trucks, reporting earnings of around five thousand yuan a month. Although he made many friends through his work, he considered himself unsuccessful. His wife’s frequent comparisons with more prosperous people wore on him; when his son said he wanted an impressive father, Yang lost his temper, argued with his wife, and was sent out of the house 19 20.

Looking for somewhere to sit, he entered Xia Xu’s shop after seeing its psychological-counseling sign. Xia Xu checked his attributes and discovered exceptional potential for detective work. He suspected the encounter was an opportunity created by Tang Youxin’s Husband-Blessing fate, rather than ordinary chance 18 19.

Xia Xu offered Yang a paid trial with an eight-thousand-yuan monthly base salary and the possibility of bonuses or raises. The prospect of becoming a detective—especially one his son could admire—finally persuaded him. Yang agreed to begin at eight the following morning and asked Xia Xu to call him “Old Yang” now that they were employer and employee 20.

Appearance

• Burly, sturdy build: His years of hauling and unloading freight gave him considerable physical strength 30 35.
• Honest, good-natured appearance: His initial demeanor matched this impression 18.
• Convincing adult guardian: His middle-aged appearance made him a suitable choice to impersonate Xia Xu’s relative at school 30 31.

Personality

Yang is sociable and readily strikes up conversations with strangers. Initially, he dismisses this as little more than an ability to accumulate drinking buddies. His first successful investigation changes that view: finding Zhang Jianmin gives him an unfamiliar sense of accomplishment and makes him eager to continue detective work 20 25.

His strongest personal motivation is earning his family’s respect. He brings his wife and son to the celebratory dinner and embellishes the account of Xia Xu’s success while subtly emphasizing his own contributions. Despite enjoying recognition, he remains modest toward Xia Xu and says he will not take wages for nothing if he cannot learn the job 18 20 38.

Yang has a strong sense of justice but can act impulsively. Hearing how Qian Chenghe cheated an elderly man out of his retirement savings makes him seize the scammer before Xia Xu’s plan is complete. He later recognizes why the legitimate purchase mattered, apologizes, and accepts Xia Xu’s instruction to think matters through before acting 34 36 37.

Abilities & Skills

Tracking

Talent Potential: 4 stars. Xia Xu considers Yang a natural detective, hunter, or scout, despite his lack of professional experience when recruited 18 19 23.

• Traces Zhang Jianmin’s likely residence in less than a day by reconstructing his journey after release from the police station 25.
• Subsequently confirms Zhang’s address and identity through direct observation 28.
• Keeps track of Zhang’s movements, including visits to Golden Sun KTV and Xieyou Travel Agency 29 43.

Reconnaissance

Talent Potential: 3 stars. Yang’s attentiveness to surrounding details complements his tracking ability 18 20.

• Conducts ongoing surveillance of Zhang Jianmin so Xia Xu can locate him when needed 25 28.
• Searches construction sites for the elderly antiques seller and eventually reports his appearance 28 30.
• Begins as a novice; Xia Xu assigns practical work and promises professional study materials rather than treating talent as a substitute for training 23.

Intelligence Gathering

Talent Potential: 3 stars. Yang combines social ease with the contacts accumulated during his driving career 18 20 25.

• Uses taxi-driver chat groups to identify the two rides taken from the police station on the relevant day, narrowing Zhang’s destination to a residential complex 25.
• Obtains Zhang’s telephone number from the property management office 30.
• Draws on experience delivering building materials to warn Xia Xu about scammers posing as construction workers to sell antiques 26.

Acting and Pretexts

• Poses as Xia Xu’s uncle and invents a dying family elder to persuade Liu Xiulan to approve leave. His performance secures a day and a half off, beyond the half-day he initially intended to obtain 31.
• Suggests contacting Zhang under a business pretext and asking him to call upon returning from Tibet; Xia Xu recommends a pretext better suited to Zhang’s circumstances 43.
• Successfully arranges a café meeting immediately after Zhang returns home 49.

Physical Strength

• Has substantial brute strength from loading and unloading freight, but no particular combat talent 35.
• Knocks Qian Chenghe down with a kick when the fugitive charges at Xia Xu 35.
• Restrains Qian by twisting both arms behind his back before the police arrive 37.

Equipment / Items

• Spare shop key — Given by Xia Xu so Yang can enter the office independently while his employer attends school 26.
• Blue freight truck — Used to deliver the consulting firm’s sofas, tables, chairs, reception desk, and other furnishings 26.

Relationships

• Xia Xu — Employer who identifies his detective potential and gives him a new career opportunity. Yang’s displayed affinity begins at 5 and rises to 65 after his first successful assignment; he increasingly admires Xia Xu’s judgment 18 20 25.
• Yang Xiaoyong — His five- or six-year-old son. Xiaoyong’s wish for an impressive father deeply hurts Yang, but later learning that his father is a detective prompts him to ask about becoming one himself 19 38.
• Wife — Unnamed spouse whose comparisons with other families contribute to his feelings of inadequacy. Yang nevertheless seeks her approval and brings her to the celebration to share his achievements 19 37 38.
• Tang Youxin — Fellow worker at Xia Xu’s shop who welcomes him during his first visit. Yang later agrees to take her home by taxi with his family while Xia Xu follows Luo Hongyun 18 23 40.
• Zhang Jianmin — First investigative target and continuing surveillance assignment. Yang eventually establishes direct telephone contact with him 23 30 49.
• Qian Chenghe — Wanted fugitive whom Yang helps locate, subdue, and hand over to the police 30 35 37.

Story Role / Major Arcs

First Detective Assignment

• On his first working day, Yang helps clean the shop and asks for an assignment. Xia Xu sends him to find Zhang Jianmin, presenting the search as a safe practice commission 23.
• His driver contacts produce a likely address that same day, exceeding Xia Xu’s expectations. Xia Xu then assigns him to determine Zhang’s exact apartment and follow his movements 25.
• After confirming the address, Yang leads Xia Xu to Zhang at Golden Sun KTV and obtains enough contact information to locate him without relying solely on surveillance 28 29 30.

Construction-Site Antiques and Qian Chenghe

• Yang reports the antiques seller’s appearance and helps Xia Xu obtain school leave to investigate 30 31.
• He warns that the Guanyin statue is fake, then angrily grabs Qian after hearing Xia Xue’s accusation. Xia Xu intervenes to complete a documented purchase before exposing the medicine hidden inside the statue 32 34.
• Yang protects Xia Xu from Qian’s attack and later understands that purchasing the statue legitimately helps prevent it from being treated as stolen property or evidence 35 36.
• He restrains Qian for the police and accompanies Xia Xu to give statements. Afterward, Xia Xu offers a celebratory dinner and a bonus; Yang downplays his contribution and asks to bring his family instead 37.

Family Celebration

• Yang recounts the investigation at dinner, presenting both Xia Xu’s achievements and his own involvement to his wife and son 38.
• At Star City Amusement Park, he takes his family to the carousel, deliberately leaving Xia Xu and Tang Youxin together 39.
• When Xia Xu pursues Luo Hongyun to discuss recruitment, Yang agrees to escort Tang Youxin home 40.

Zhang Jianmin’s Return from Tibet

• Yang continues monitoring Zhang as he arranges a Tibet tour, then establishes a way to receive notice of his return 43.
• On the day Zhang returns, Yang immediately invites him to a café and alerts Xia Xu. The meeting allows Xia Xu to inspect Zhang’s updated storyline and investigate its next rooftop encounter 49.