Ordinary Greatness Episode 16 Recap
> Ordinary Greatness Recap
Yang Shu informed his master, Cao Jianjun, that a resident whose electric scooter was equipped with the GPS tracking system had reported their vehicle stolen. Cao Jianjun initially confused it with a charge card but quickly understood the GPS was working. He remarked on Yang Shu's intelligence, acknowledging his "Doctor" status. The owner, present at the police station, anxiously watched the GPS location on a screen, which was still moving.
Cao Jianjun assured her that with the GPS, they would track the thief to their selling point. Leading Yang Shu and other officers, they pursued the moving signal. Upon reaching the location, Cao Jianjun instructed the owner to wait in the car while the officers moved in. They successfully raided the hideout, apprehending numerous thieves involved in the theft ring. Back at Balihe Police Station, Wang Shouyi commended Cao Jianjun for solving the major case.
Cao Jianjun confidently took full credit, attributing the success to "technology" and claiming he learned from the "Doctor" (Yang Shu), though he gestured to his own head. Wang Shouyi then encouraged Yang Shu, saying that knowledge is power and that field work is more fulfilling than desk work. Later, Cao Jianjun instructed a visibly somber Yang Shu to write a detailed report about the electric scooter tracking case for Instructor Ye Wei, citing Yang Shu's strong writing skills.
Noticing Yang Shu's unresponsiveness, Cao Jianjun asked if he was upset for not being recognized. He tried to brush it off, suggesting that Wang Shouyi was smart enough to know the truth anyway, and that as master and disciple, their accomplishments were shared. However, when other colleagues approached, Cao Jianjun stated that Yang Shu was upset because he hadn't "shown him off" to the Chief.
The colleagues then teasingly remarked that Yang Shu, being a Doctor, shouldn't be so petty about credit, suggesting his purpose there was to build a "shiny resume." Xia Jie silently observed the entire interaction. After work, Xia Jie brought back many grilled skewers. Zhao Jiwei tried to call Yang Shu out for dinner, but Yang Shu, secluded in his room, claimed he was writing a report. However, Zhao Jiwei noticed Yang Shu's computer screen displayed information about PhD applications.
He then shared this observation with Xia Jie and Li Dawei. Xia Jie revealed that Cao Jianjun had taken all the credit for the GPS tracking system and the scooter recovery, leading colleagues to label Yang Shu as petty. Li Dawei was indignant, recalling how Cao Jianjun had previously shifted blame onto Yang Shu and was now snatching credit.
He also mentioned that the GPS system was Yang Shu's idea, and he himself helped Yang Shu contact a classmate and Yang Shu implemented it alone. Li Dawei suggested confronting Cao Jianjun directly, but Xia Jie cautioned against it, fearing it would create hostility. Li Dawei insisted that at least Wang Shouyi should know, believing the Chief would uphold justice.
Xia Jie, however, was skeptical, pointing out Wang Shouyi's strong emphasis on collective honor and questioning what the Chief could realistically do. Despite the concerns, Li Dawei decided he still needed to talk to Yang Shu, worried that Yang Shu was internalizing his frustrations. The next morning, Wang Shouyi decided on a specific strategy for returning the scooters.
Despite Cheng Hao's concern that Cao Jianjun would be angry, Wang Shouyi assigned Cheng Hao to lead the return of the "recovered" scooters, while Cao Jianjun was tasked with addressing the residents whose scooters "had not yet been found". At the handover site, grateful residents eagerly collected their recovered electric scooters, expressing immense thanks and even bringing flowers. Meanwhile, Cao Jianjun faced a volatile crowd of residents whose vehicles remained missing.
He brought the apprehended thieves to the scene, instructing one to demonstrate how he used a "master key" to steal the vehicles. When questioned about their lost scooters, Cao Jianjun explained that these particular vehicles had been sold to rural markets, making immediate recovery difficult. The residents grew increasingly agitated, protesting loudly about their unrecovered property and lost money. In the midst of the chaos, dirty water was suddenly splashed on Cao Jianjun from an upstairs window.
One resident further provoked him by questioning the police's competence. Yang Shu stepped forward, defending Cao Jianjun by pointing out that the police officers were also soaked and were victims themselves. Cao Jianjun then tried to defuse the situation, promising an investigation into the dirty water incident and assuring the residents that their missing scooters would still be pursued. He eventually managed to persuade the disgruntled residents to disperse.
Yang Shu checked on Cao Jianjun, who claimed to be fine, though his uniform was visibly soiled. He advised Cao Jianjun to change back at the station. Later, residents arrived at the police station with gongs and drums, bearing a banner to express their gratitude. Cheng Hao specifically urged Cao Jianjun to accept the accolade.
Cao Jianjun, however, stated publicly that the success was a collective effort of all officers at Balihe Police Station and acknowledged the public's crucial support, emphasizing their "family" relationship. He had the banner in his hands and wanted to take a photo of it to show his daughter, Yaya.
Li Dawei offered to take the picture, then insisted Yang Shu join for a group photo with Cao Jianjun and himself, reminding Yang Shu that the achievement was largely due to his efforts and ideas. Yang Shu initially declined, offering to photograph Li Dawei instead, but Li Dawei persisted, urging him to be a "sport." They all posed for a photo with the banner.
As Cao Jianjun was about to leave for his in-laws', Yang Shu returned to his task of writing the report. That weekend, Xiaohui and Yaya prepared to visit Xiaohui's parents. Yaya was excited to show her grandparents her perfect homework. Cao Jianjun arrived unexpectedly with many gifts, offering to accompany them, a rare occurrence that surprised Xiaohui, who knew her mother's admiration was reserved for her elder son-in-law Youguang and by extension, his wife, Xiaohui's twin sister Xiaocong.
Upon arriving, Yaya greeted her grandparents warmly and presented her perfect homework. Cao Jianjun also offered his gifts, which Xiaohui downplayed, saying he "just goes with his heart" when shopping. Soon after, Xiaocong and Youguang arrived. Xiaocong proudly mentioned that their son, Taotao, was attending an international school because Youguang believed children shouldn't "lose at the starting line."
Youguang then presented his mother-in-law with a jade bracelet, which he confirmed cost 160,000 yuan, much to her delight and his father-in-law's visible discomfort. Cao Jianjun, ever the police officer, tried to warn them about jade scams, citing a recent case where a jade bracelet was sold for hundreds of thousands but only cost a couple of hundred.
Youguang, a self-proclaimed jade enthusiast, confidently produced an official receipt and an identification certificate to prove its authenticity, while the mother-in-law dismissed Cao Jianjun's concerns, stating that as a police officer he probably only encountered fake goods. The mother-in-law continued to shower Youguang with praise, contrasting her twin daughters' lives and suggesting their family's prosperity was entirely due to Youguang. She even disparaged her own husband, calling him "useless" for only being a director.
The father-in-law, attempting to defend Cao Jianjun, spoke about the importance of police protection in society, but the mother-in-law continued her criticisms, lamenting that Xiaohui lived a hard life with Cao Jianjun. Youguang then offered to help Xiaohui if she ever faced financial difficulties. Infuriated by her mother's continuous belittlement and the comparison, Xiaohui declared she was "full of anger," grabbed Yaya, and left the house without eating, despite her sister's attempts to calm her.
Cao Jianjun quickly apologized to his in-laws, acknowledging Xiaohui's temper was like her mother's, and hurried after his wife and daughter. His father-in-law tried to reason with his wife, but she remained unyielding. That night, a distraught Cao Jianjun returned to the station, where Yang Shu was still working overtime and contemplating his future, acknowledging the practical benefits of a PhD while appreciating the fulfillment of his current work, despite its many dissatisfactions.
Cao Jianjun invited Yang Shu to dinner, but Yang Shu initially declined, stating he wasn't hungry. Cao Jianjun then attempted to take over a colleague Xu's night shift, but Xu politely refused, saying he had nothing else to do at home. Noticing his master's clear distress, Yang Shu eventually agreed to join Cao Jianjun for a meal. At the restaurant, Cao Jianjun produced a flask of alcohol, prompting Yang Shu to remind him of the police station's no-drinking policy.
Cao Jianjun retorted that it was off-duty hours and he was "at home" with his disciple, expressing a deep need to voice thoughts he normally couldn't. He assured Yang Shu he would not drive after drinking and asked for a ride home. Under the influence, Cao Jianjun tearfully confessed his long-held frustrations.
He spoke of his brilliant wife, Xiaohui, who came from an influential family and selflessly managed their household and cared for their child without complaint, despite his demanding police work. He explained his deep desire to be an excellent police officer and achieve recognition, primarily to impress his mother-in-law, who consistently looked down on him and considered him unworthy of her daughter.
He recalled the pain of seeing Xiaohui argue fiercely with her mother, defending him with "eyes angry on fire," and feeling "ashamed" in her own home. He expressed profound remorse for his actions, including taking Yang Shu's credit, driven by this desperation to prove himself, only to realize his mother-in-law still disapproved. Yang Shu listened in silence, occasionally pushing food towards his master, as Cao Jianjun poured out his heart.
