Being a Hero Episode 23 Recap
> Being a Hero Recap
Wu Zhenfeng arranged for police to be distracted, then located Hao Dong and Wan Heda, and brutally beat Hao Dong. He took a clear photograph of Hao Dong and sent it to Lin Dezan. Police quickly verified Hao Dong's true identity as Li Xiandong, Li Linfan's son, who had returned to Yunhe three years prior with Wang Yikun and opened a wood carving factory under the alias Hao Dong.
Concurrently, police identified Erliang as Yan Meng and Qiong Jie as Li Yiqiong, both core members of Mengka. Meanwhile, Chen Yu interrogated Dr. Yu about Wan Mengmeng's overdose. Dr. Yu claimed she had been secretly treating Wan Mengmeng for nearly two years at Wan Heda's request, as he did not wish to send his daughter to rehab. She then pleaded with Chen Yu to keep this confidential to protect her medical license.
However, Chen Yu's investigation revealed that the excessive Diazepam dosage used on Wan Mengmeng originated from outside the rehabilitation center. Due to the complex situation in Yunhe, Wan Mengmeng was approved for transfer to Kundu Rehab Center for secure treatment. Chen Yu informed Wang Yikun about the attempted assassination on Wan Mengmeng in the hospital, and revealed that there had been a second attempt. He pressed Wang Yikun to reveal the mastermind to save her.
Wang Yikun reacted angrily, recalling his belief that Wan Mengmeng was a burden and questioning how long she could be hidden, then blamed the police for their inability to protect her. Hao Dong and Wan Heda were subsequently brought to Erliang. Erliang immediately began to taunt Hao Dong, reminding him of past misdeeds involving a person named "Bone," Wu Zhenfeng, and the tea factory.
Erliang also blamed Wang Yikun for trying to kill him three years prior but instead killing Du San, a fact Hao Dong admitted. Erliang's men seized Hao Dong and attempted to bury him alive. Wan Heda frantically pleaded with Erliang to stop, invoking their decades-long friendship and even mentioning Erliang's daughter. When his pleas failed, Wan Heda broke free and threatened to be buried alongside Hao Dong if Erliang proceeded.
At this point, Qiong Jie intervened, offering Wan Heda a chance to be "family" if he cooperated, arguing that Hao Dong was already cornered and not worth protecting. However, Wan Heda stood firm, declaring that there would be no discussions unless Hao Dong was released. Inside Erliang's compound, a tense confrontation unfolded.
Erliang challenged Wu Zhenfeng, suggesting he should have killed him three years prior, and questioning Wu Zhenfeng's actual role in Yunhe, wondering if he was Mengka's protector or an informant. Wu Zhenfeng asserted his commitment to ending the long-standing feud between Mengka and K. Hao Dong then directly accused Qiong Jie of orchestrating his father Li Linfan's death three years ago. Qiong Jie admitted to setting up Li Linfan's death, stating he had broken their rules by raising prices.
She revealed that Wan Heda had recruited Wu Gang, expecting him to tip off the police about Li Linfan's drug deliveries, but the plan went awry when Li Linfan unexpectedly drove the vehicle himself and was killed by the police. Wan Heda, filled with remorse for bringing Hao Dong there, continued to insist that Hao Dong was still "Dong Ge" to Erliang and Qiong Jie.
He reminded them that the ultimate motive for Li Linfan's death was revenge for Yu Zong's wife, whom Li Linfan had killed. Hao Dong then confronted Wu Zhenfeng, asking about his relationship with Chen Yu. Wu Zhenfeng claimed Chen Yu was his brother and his "protector" in Yunhe. Disbelieving, Hao Dong urged Qiong Jie to investigate Wu Zhenfeng, hinting that if he was unlucky today, they might be next, drawing a parallel between father and son.
Qiong Jie, however, dismissed his concerns as Mengka's internal matters. During his interrogation, Wang Yikun, confronted with Hao Dong's true identity as Li Xiandong (Li Linfan's son) which police had already uncovered, insisted he was the true "Dong Ge" and Li Linfan's adopted son, to whom the drug network "K" was entrusted. Wang Yikun confessed that Li Xiandong had been sent overseas twenty years ago by Li Linfan.
This was done after another drug dealer in Yunhe stole Li Linfan's business, leading Li Linfan to retaliate by killing the rival's wife. Li Xiandong was then sent abroad to protect him from potential future revenge. Wang Yikun further claimed that Li Xiandong (Hao Dong) returned to China three years ago only after Wang Yikun himself had killed Wu Gang to avenge his adopted father, Li Linfan.
Wang Yikun insisted that all actions related to taking over the drug network "K" and the murder of Wu Gang were his sole responsibility, completely unrelated to Li Xiandong. He claimed he did not know the identity of the rival drug dealer from two decades ago. After interrogating Wang Yikun, Chen Yu was left deeply disturbed.
Reflecting on Wang Yikun's words and the clear photo of Hao Dong that had been obtained, he began to suspect that Wu Zhenfeng was the police informant. Meanwhile, Lin Dezan, recalling his past conversation with Yang Xingquan, felt a growing unease. Yang Xingquan had lamented that he was ruined because of Lin Dezan, asking him to bury his wife and care for Yang Ling, and accusing Lin Dezan of owing him.
Yang Xingquan also implied that the tea factory fire was a retaliation or warning to Lin Dezan, possibly due to his inquiries about Wu Zhenfeng in Mengka. Haunted by these thoughts and Wang Yikun's confession, Lin Dezan contacted Chen Liwen, requesting an investigation into Yang Xingquan's ten years abroad, connecting it to Yang Ling's mother's death two decades prior. Yang Yi visited Yang Ling and asked for childhood photos, fabricating a story about an "organizational activity" needing them.
While searching, he found a photo of a young Yang Ling with "Aunt Qiong," whom Yang Ling identified as someone who used to visit her. Yang Yi immediately took the photo, without explaining his true reason, leaving Yang Ling confused. Yang Yi later brought this photo to Chen Yu.
Chen Yu speculated that Wu Zhenfeng held a low position within Mengka, being used for dangerous cover-up operations, and that Mengka did not trust him or care about his life, which was why Wu Zhenfeng often used Chen Yu's name as a shield. Lan Anran countered that Wu Zhenfeng's past actions, such as risking his life for evidence at Arat's boxing ring and saving "Ghost Hand" during the tea factory fire, suggested he was still redeemable.
Investigations into financial transactions also revealed that Li Yiqiong (Qiong Jie) had frequent dealings with an overseas account three years prior, which paused and then resumed with a payment to Li Yiqiong shortly before the tea factory fire, subsequently transferred to Guangmangshan Tea Factory. Liu Kaihua returned home to find Jiang Lei had ordered his favorite takeout.
Liu Kaihua reiterated his intention for Jiang Lei to come to the police station, promising to help him apply for a reduced sentence through cooperation. However, Jiang Lei was terrified, believing he would be killed if he went to prison. Liu Kaihua gave him a choice: surrender himself or be arrested. Jiang Lei desperately pleaded for his uncle to release him. Unyielding, Liu Kaihua handed him the phone, instructing him to call and surrender.
Jiang Lei, crying, called his mother instead. His mother called Liu Kaihua, accusing him of failing to properly supervise Jiang Lei, contrasting it with Liu Kaihua's own upbringing. She then requested two months' time, stating she would take Jiang Lei away once she obtained her green card. Liu Kaihua, speechless, retreated to his bedroom.
While investigating the accounts of Wan Heda's company, Wanlutong, Chen Yu discovered that it had a business connection with Guangmangshan Tea Factory three years prior, which then abruptly ceased. Upon hearing this information, Lin Dezan was visibly shaken.
