Being a Hero Episode 3 Recap
> Being a Hero Recap
Late one night, narcotics police officer Zhou Bowen was busy at his computer, logged into Ba Peng's account, when he received a message. Simultaneously, Wu Zhenfeng, hiding in a corner and eating instant noodles, received the very same message on his phone. Back in the past, a confrontation unfolded on a bus. Drug dealers, men loyal to K, appeared and demanded everyone get off and squat down.
One of them, Wang Yikun, identified Wu Zhenfeng and questioned if he knew who to find in Mengka, revealing that the head of Mengka was called Erliang. Wu Zhenfeng recognized Wang Yikun as one of K's men and questioned if his father's death was their doing. Wang Yikun refused to answer, only demanding Wu Zhenfeng hand over "the stuff" he took from his father. When Wu Zhenfeng hesitated, Wang Yikun fired his gun to threaten the passengers.
Chen Yu quickly intervened, holding Wang Yikun hostage and forcing the other drug dealers to back off, allowing him to escape with Wu Zhenfeng. As they fled through dense bush, numerous pursuers were close behind.
Chen Yu desperately urged Wu Zhenfeng to return with him to explain everything, but Wu Zhenfeng adamantly refused, asserting that the ongoing pursuit proved he was on the right track and he would not stop until he uncovered the truth, even if it meant risking his life. Chen Yu warned him that he would die if he continued. As their pursuers closed in, Wu Zhenfeng suddenly pushed Chen Yu away, broke free, and jumped into deep water.
Chen Yu immediately followed, but Wu Zhenfeng managed to elude him, though Chen Yu did retrieve a jade pendant from the water. Upon his return, Chen Yu faced disciplinary action for his unauthorized border crossing, resulting in his transfer from the investigation team to a local police station for three years. Although he kept his police uniform due to his youth, he felt deep regret.
He believed that if he hadn't allowed Wu Zhenfeng to overhear a phone call, Captain Gong would not have been injured, and perhaps the truth would have been uncovered sooner, preventing the current rampant drug problem in Yunhe. Meanwhile, Director Lin Dezan discussed a plan with Liu Kaihua. He tasked Liu Kaihua with discreetly investigating whether Wu Zhenfeng had returned to the country by checking with the Exit and Entry Administration Bureau.
Lin Dezan specifically instructed Liu Kaihua not to involve Chen Yu, fearing his impulsiveness might jeopardize the operation, especially given Chen Yu's past mistakes. Liu Kaihua acknowledged the need to gather clues about Wu Zhenfeng's activities over the past three years. After careful consideration, Wu Zhenfeng made a call to Erliang. He informed Erliang that Dong Ge knew he was in Yunhe, which was in turmoil. He spoke of someone secretly manufacturing a new drug behind Dong Ge's back.
Wu Zhenfeng proposed that if he could find the upstream distributor of this new drug and use it as a "proof of loyalty," Dong Ge would surely have to meet him. Erliang inquired about his progress, to which Wu Zhenfeng explained that the drug manufacturer he'd found had inexplicably died, and he himself had narrowly escaped a trap set to turn him over to the police.
Erliang warned him to be cautious and to complete his task quickly, suggesting he return if things didn't work out. However, Wu Zhenfeng insisted on trying again. After hanging up, Erliang commented to Qiong Jie that Wu Zhenfeng, whom he had saved from K's hands three years prior, had proven to be capable, and he hadn't saved the wrong person. He noted Dong Ge's firm refusal to cooperate with them again.
Qiong Jie calmly asserted that all business could be negotiated, though the price might be steep. Erliang expressed concern about their accumulated goods and the growing uneasiness among their people. Qiong Jie firmly stated that no matter the difficulty, this business had to be discussed; there was no room for negotiation or retreat. The two then rose, with dozens of their associates standing in unison to follow them. In a police briefing, officers reported on their investigation.
Genetic comparison confirmed that hair found at Xiangwei Restaurant did not belong to the deceased Ba Peng or his recently arrested accomplices, Zhang Xiaohui and Liu Yuan. Furthermore, drug samples from a chemical factory and the restaurant were identified as the same new type of drug: "Big Yellow Capsules." The team suggested investigating the raw materials.
It was also reported that a jade pendant, similar to one found in the bus incident, was discovered at the chemical factory, though its owner remained unconfirmed. Zhou Bowen then presented his findings from Ba Peng's recovered phone. He revealed that a QQ group for "Imported Milk Powder Purchasing" was a front for drug transactions, where "cans" and "bags" represented retail or bulk purchases, and prices hinted at the cost of "Big Yellow Capsules."
The "express tracking numbers" shared by the seller were actually coded transaction details. Zhou Bowen explained that a string like "08111130889" meant the transaction would occur at 11:30 AM on August 11th, at Nancheng Bus Station, specifically the 9th stop of Route 88.
Despite the inability to trace the sellers' identities or locations due to fake overseas IP registrations, Lin Dezan, acknowledging the urgency of their one-month deadline, ordered Liu Kaihua to proceed with an undercover operation at the Nancheng Bus Station. New, unrecognized officers would lead the charge, with others, including Lan Anran and Qiangzi, taking supporting roles. At the Nancheng Bus Station, undercover police officers were in position.
Wu Zhenfeng also arrived and observed Chen Yu, disguised as a sanitation worker, among the hidden police presence. Wu Zhenfeng then approached a black Hyundai sedan and addressed its occupant, Jiang Lei, stating that he knew someone was making drugs behind Dong Ge's back and could find them, but he expected Dong Ge to grant him a meeting.
This echoed a past encounter three years prior, when Jiang Lei had violently warned Wu Zhenfeng not to reappear in Yunhe after a similar demand for a meeting. Lan Anran, observing from surveillance, reported the suspicious conversation between the man outside and the man inside the black car. Liu Kaihua instructed her to maintain surveillance without alerting anyone, aiming for a red-handed arrest during the transaction.
Wu Zhenfeng then revealed to Jiang Lei that the police had set up surveillance, pointing out several disguised officers. To test Wu Zhenfeng's claim, Jiang Lei had his subordinate attempt to pick up goods from "Huang Daxian," while he secretly called his "Uncle," Liu Kaihua, asking about his location, specifically Nancheng Station, under the guise of asking him to bring food. Liu Kaihua's simple "Okay, got it" response inadvertently confirmed his presence near the station, verifying Wu Zhenfeng's warning.
Jiang Lei, recognizing Wu Zhenfeng's resourcefulness and connections, refused his request to meet Dong Ge. He then kicked Wu Zhenfeng out of the car, warning him to leave Yunhe. Jiang Lei also warned Wu Zhenfeng that he would be implicated in Lao Ba's (Ba Peng's) death if he was caught with goods, implying Wu Zhenfeng had nothing to gain from staying.
At that moment, Chen Yu, who had been maintaining his position, recognized Wu Zhenfeng and broke cover to pursue him. Liu Kaihua, alarmed by Chen Yu's impulsive move, immediately instructed other units to hold their positions, allowing only officers in sanitation worker disguises to join the chase, to avoid alerting the remaining suspects involved in the transaction, who quickly dispersed. Chen Yu, who had lost his earpiece during the chase, chased Wu Zhenfeng onto a rooftop, cornering him at gunpoint.
Wu Zhenfeng, however, used the reflection from a mirror above to momentarily blind Chen Yu, then swiftly jumped from the building to escape. Chen Yu, unable to prevent his escape, returned to face a stern reprimand from Liu Kaihua. Liu Kaihua criticized Chen Yu for leaving his post and for failing to apprehend Wu Zhenfeng despite drawing his weapon.
Chen Yu defended himself, explaining that he had fired warning shots and consciously avoided using lethal force because Wu Zhenfeng was the sole remaining lead, and he intended to capture him alive. Following this incident, Liu Kaihua authorized an arrest warrant for Wu Zhenfeng. Soon after, the police received a tip-off from a neighborhood committee: a new tenant matching Wu Zhenfeng's description had recently moved into an old residential building within their jurisdiction.
Liu Kaihua quickly mobilized his team, emphasizing that the suspect might be armed. However, Wu Zhenfeng had already left the area by bus, unknowingly passing the responding police vehicles. Wu Zhenfeng later surrendered himself at a police station. Officers confirmed that two "Big Yellow Capsules" were found at his residence, and his fingerprints were discovered at the scene of Hu Qingshan's death, effectively closing that murder case.
Chen Liwen, upon receiving the news, ordered an immediate, overnight interrogation of Wu Zhenfeng, demanding a complete and flawless report on the drug syndicate, manufacturing site, and main culprits. During the interrogation, Wu Zhenfeng displayed a defiant attitude. He revealed that he had originally intended to surrender at the Dexi District Police Station, assuming Chen Yu was still stationed there.
When questioned about his presence at the Nancheng Bus Station, Wu Zhenfeng admitted he went there to "get some goods" because he was experiencing withdrawal symptoms. He confirmed that the transaction was supposed to take place at the bus station, not in a car, as clearly stated in the QQ group the police had already monitored. He maintained that he was simply kicked out by someone, implying he wasn't part of the direct transaction.
Chen Yu, visibly emotional during the questioning, was sternly ordered by Liu Kaihua to leave the interrogation room. Meanwhile, in the monitoring room, police officer Lan Anran, while reviewing surveillance footage, began to suspect something. She then asked for directions to a restroom.
