Black & White Forest Episode 26 Recap
> Black & White Forest Recap
Nineteen years ago, Zhan Xiaoman sat outside, preparing to tear up his Gang City University admission notice. He explained that the annual cost of 50,000 yuan was too much for his family to afford, and he didn't want to burden his sister and brother-in-law. Zeng Zhijiang, who had come looking for him because his parents were worried, stopped him. Zeng Zhijiang expressed a desire to attend university himself but said he couldn't.
He showed Zhan Xiaoman injuries on his hand and arm, revealing he was involved in risky business where getting hurt was necessary to receive large compensation. Zeng Zhijiang insisted that they had money now and Zhan Xiaoman should go to school. In the present, police investigator Xing Liang received a report from officer Xiao Yu that the financial manager of Guotai Group was frequently meeting with An Zhiqiang, identified as Qi Hanchen's manager.
Xing Liang instructed officer Liu Yong to retrieve bank statements for Guotai Group and Qi Hanchen's companies and mentioned seeking a joint investigation with the Economic Crimes Detection branch. Meanwhile, Wen Zixuan asked her assistant to use her identity to register on an application and transfer 10,000 yuan into it, directing the assistant to track the money's final destination through bank statements. Bao Chenyan called Qi Hanchen, urging him to meet quickly.
Qi Hanchen stated he was in Gang City working on a project and couldn't return immediately, dismissing Bao's concern about the Tuan Island Market project's importance. He reminded Bao that he had initially insisted on the management rights for Tuan Island. Qi Hanchen explained that his focus regarding Tuan Island was solely on receiving his due profits based on his shares and evaluating Bao Chenyan's management abilities, explicitly stating he would not be responsible for or inquire about anything else.
He called this the "rule of the business game" and even offered to send someone to help Bao understand. Bao Chenyan then mentioned that Tu Manjiang had been hospitalized and many accounts were unclear, expressing concern about the Tuan Island funds. Qi Hanchen agreed to send An Zhiqiang, his manager and an Ivy League graduate, to examine the accounts and alleviate financial pressure, granting An Zhiqiang full authority on the Tuan Island project matters.
Wen Binbin, having spoken with Qi Hanchen, reported to Xing Liang that Qi Hanchen was acting evasively, which suggested he had something to hide, and recommended pressuring him further. Following up, Xing Liang called Qi Hanchen, stating he needed him to return for a case. When Qi Hanchen asked if they could discuss it over the phone, Xing Liang revealed a murder had occurred at the Guanhai Tea House, which is registered under Qi Hanchen's name.
He added that their investigation indicated the suspect had a close relationship with someone associated with the tea house, necessitating Qi Hanchen's questioning. Qi Hanchen responded that while the tea house was his investment, he was not directly responsible and offered to arrange for the person in charge to speak with Xing Liang.
Xing Liang stated they had already informed the person in charge, An Zhiqiang, but found he was also unavailable, claiming to be out of town for a project. Xing Liang warned that if they did not appear in person the next day, he would arrange for notifications or summons to be issued to the tea house and their company headquarters. Qi Hanchen agreed to arrive by noon the next day and stated An Zhiqiang would come with him.
Later, An Zhiqiang was questioned by Deputy Team Leader Yang at the police station. An Zhiqiang was asked about the surveillance monitors at Guanhai Tea House being broken and where he was at the time of the murder. An Zhiqiang acknowledged the broken monitors as a technical or security failure but noted they had been broken since the previous day, not just at the time of the incident. He denied responsibility for the murder, stating he was upstairs hosting guests.
He also confirmed he knew the victim, Na Fan, describing her as a good friend. Separately, Qi Hanchen arrived at the police station. Deputy Team Leader Yang informed him that Xing Liang had a last-minute meeting and couldn't be there. Qi Hanchen expressed annoyance at being called back from Gang City only for Xing Liang to be absent, but Yang explained it was unexpected. Qi Hanchen then asked if he was free to leave.
Bao Chenyan visited Tu Manjiang in the hospital, expressing concerns about the company's operations and risks related to the Make Money project, mentioning An Zhiqiang's recent visit and his worries about equity being lost if the project failed, especially since many small merchants were involved. Tu Manjiang dismissed the concerns, claiming it was impossible for the project to have issues because the financial company had thoroughly vetted the company and loan project before providing their license.
He offered to handle discussions with them but Bao told him to focus on recovering. After Bao left, Tu Manjiang's expression shifted to a calculating glare. After being released from the hospital, Tu Manjiang made a phone call, stating he was free and instructing the other party to proceed. Subsequently, Qi Hanchen was shown on a phone call, instructing An Zhiqiang to immediately cut all ties with the related financial company, dismiss all associated personnel, and withdraw all funds.
He further ordered An Zhiqiang to begin collecting payments and logistics fees from the Tuan Island merchants starting the following day, threatening to involve the police for anyone unable to pay. Qi Hanchen remarked that he would teach Bao Chenyan a lesson on how to operate in the business world.
Around the same time, the finance department at Wen Zixuan's company reported that the accounts were empty, the funds having been transferred to the Tuan Island project's special account and then fully withdrawn that morning, leaving no working capital. Wen Zixuan instructed them to delay payments to suppliers. Learning the extent of the financial loss involving Lin Yisheng and Tu Manjiang, Wen Zixuan confronted Xing Liang, who had returned.
She accused him of knowing the danger and watching her fall into the trap, stating she was very upset and wanted to live separately. Xing Liang attempted to calm her, explaining that police discipline and confidentiality prevented him from disclosing information during an ongoing investigation and assuring her that his salary could support them even if the money was lost.
Wen Zixuan remained firm, stating it wasn't about the money but about his apparent disregard for her family's business and reiterating her desire to live separately. Wen Zixuan, Bao Chenyan, and Wen Binbin discussed the situation. Wen Zixuan explained that she had suspected something was wrong with Lin Yisheng's project but his background was clean.
She used the app and traced the funds to a financial company in Huqing, which was not part of Guotai Group but had the Lin family as a shareholder. She described the company as having little visible activity but numerous risk warnings and being rumored to be a high-interest loan operation.
She realized Lin Yisheng's malicious intent when the Tuan Island project funds were moved, concluding that Lin Yisheng was the visible player, Tu Manjiang was operating from the shadows, and Qi Hanchen was facilitating the scheme. They noted that Tu Manjiang was now gone, but Lin Yisheng remained, and the stolen money was likely with either him or Qi Hanchen, leaving the case's resolution dependent on the police. Bao Chenyan mentioned he might have a way to secure funds.
Separately, someone warned Lin Yisheng that he was exposed as the public face of the scheme and the money had been laundered, making him a target for both Bao Chenyan and the police. The person advised him to flee abroad temporarily, but Lin Yisheng refused, stating he had important unfinished business. Downstairs, a crowd of Tuan Island merchants gathered, demanding answers from Bao Chenyan about their investments in the Make Money project, which they could no longer access.
They explained they had trusted him and their life savings were at stake. Bao Chenyan appeared and told them to calm down, acknowledging that he too had been deceived. He promised to find their money and get it back, offering a strong guarantee: if he failed, they could take anything from his company. He instructed them to form a line and register the exact amounts they had lost. Wen Binbin helped manage the crowd.
Bao Chenyan discussed the financial crisis with Wen Zixuan and likely Wen Binbin, reporting that over six million yuan was needed to cover the merchants' losses. He confirmed his company's funds were gone and his personal resources were insufficient, noting that even mortgaging his company might not cover the total. Wen Zixuan suggested they pool their resources. Investigating further, Zhan Xiaoman reported to Xing Liang his conclusion regarding "Big Eye Chen's mistress."
Based on his findings that Bao Chenyan had not introduced her but that she was very familiar with Tu Manjiang, Zhan Xiaoman believed Bao Chenyan had been deliberately framed. He concluded that Tu Manjiang was likely the mastermind behind all the recent events, including Zhan Xiaoman's lost gun and the company's financial collapse.
