Ordinary Greatness Episode 3 Recap
> Ordinary Greatness Recap
Xia Jie receives a phone call from her mother, who is crying and extremely worried. Her mother explains that she had been unable to reach Xia Jie, so she called Wang Shouyi and Ye Wei, learning about Xia Jie’s dangerous act of descending into a dry well to save a child. Xia Jie’s mother, distraught, tells her to immediately come home, insisting she leave Balihe Police Station.
When her mother threatens to call the Director, Xia Jie desperately stops her, promising to return home at once. Later, Wang Shouyi comments to Xia Jie that her mother had called them that morning, asking them to take good care of her, emphasizing that they would have done so anyway. As Cheng Hao drives home after work, his thoughts drift back ten years to a tragic incident.
He recalls pursuing a criminal with Xia Junxiong, who bravely charged forward and was fatally stabbed by the assailant before Cheng Hao’s eyes. The memory is still vivid, particularly the heart-wrenching cries of Xia Junxiong’s wife and young daughter, Xia Jie, who at that moment learned she had lost her father. Returning home late, Li Dawei is greeted by his mother, Xu Cuiping, who is joyfully singing and dancing.
She excitedly welcomes her “big handsome guy,” praising his appearance and encouraging him after his first busy day at work. She tells him that although it's his first day, he's been working constantly, and offers him a prepared meal. As Li Dawei eats, his mother expresses concern, asking if the police station’s food is poor, to which he explains that their unpredictable work schedule often prevents them from eating on time during missions.
Recognizing the difficulty of his job, she offers him more soup. Xia Jie rushes home to find her mother lying in bed, tearful and claiming to feel unwell with no appetite. Her mother confronts her, having learned from Wang Shouyi about Xia Jie’s dangerous mission. Xia Jie tries to reassure her that it was an ordinary dispute and many colleagues were present, but her mother insists it was too risky, especially on her second day.
She accuses Wang Shouyi of pushing their luck and suspects Cheng Hao of influencing Xia Jie, which Xia Jie denies. Her mother reiterates her opposition to Cheng Hao being Xia Jie’s master, bitterly recalling how, when Cheng Hao was her father’s apprentice, Xia Junxiong wouldn’t have been sacrificed if Cheng Hao had been “more clever and smarter.”
Xia Jie pleads with her mother not to dwell on the past, asserting that she no longer suffers from her previous fear of blood, but her mother remains unconvinced, stating that “the tea cools down as soon as the person is gone.” Xia Jie, exhausted and hungry, eventually persuades her crying mother to join her for a meal. She reflects that everyone at the station is kind to her, but she doesn’t want special treatment as a police officer.
Later, Xia Jie raises the idea of renting a house near the police station, explaining that it’s far from home and dormitory space is limited. Her mother, however, becomes emotional and firmly rejects the idea, threatening instead to call the bureau to have Xia Jie transferred to a station closer to home. Begging her mother not to interfere, Xia Jie reluctantly drops the plan, agreeing to commute daily.
Meanwhile, Li Dawei’s mother, doting on her son, suggests renting a larger apartment for him near the police station. She stresses the importance of his dedication to work and being on call. Although Li Dawei tries to decline, mindful of her hard-earned money and wanting to ease the family’s financial burden, his mother insists.
She affectionately calls him sensible and asserts that as “the top-flight lady of the labor collective” and “the devil of the earthwork,” she is responsible for earning money so he can happily pursue his calling. When Li Dawei attempts to compromise by offering to pay rent from his future salary, she playfully scolds him and silences him.
During the morning meeting, Wang Shouyi emphasizes the importance of applying the “Fengqiao experience” in concrete work, especially for the new cadets, rather than just discussing it or documenting it. He uses the Sunshine Community incident as an example, stressing the need for thorough investigation and sincere, empathetic engagement to resolve conflicts at the grassroots level.
He then singles out Xia Jie, praising her as a “hero’s descendant” for her brave actions in the incident and her ability to move people through her deeds. Xia Jie, feeling embarrassed, humbly clarifies that it was a team effort. Wang Shouyi acknowledges her modesty but warns her against taking such risks again. Li Dawei immediately volunteers to handle any future risky situations, prompting Wang Shouyi to tell him off.
Wang Shouyi then addresses criticisms about his leniency towards Sunshine Community residents, explaining that having worked there for thirty years, he’s witnessed their transition from farmers to city dwellers who are still learning urban “survival laws.” He sees it as the police’s duty to guide them.
After a brief motivational speech, Wang Shouyi announces the new mentor assignments, emphasizing the station’s tradition of “inheritance” where experienced officers guide new recruits not only in skills but also in the honor and mission of policing, noting that learning can go both ways. He states that Cheng Hao will mentor Xia Jie in public security. Cao Jianjun, described as a “star” with many achievements, is paired with Yang Shu, a top student and key bureau trainee.
Cao Jianjun expresses modesty about mentoring a Peking University student, but Yang Shu promises to learn diligently. Zhang Zhijie, an “all-rounder,” is assigned to Zhao Jiwei for community work. Finally, Wang Shouyi announces that Li Dawei will be mentored by Chen Xincheng, whom he describes as the station’s most capable and experienced officer. Chen Xincheng immediately protests Wang Shouyi’s decision, claiming he is not capable, but Wang Shouyi dismisses the meeting before Chen Xincheng can argue further.
Chen Xincheng, persistent, waits for Wang Shouyi outside his office, squatting due to back pain. Wang Shouyi finds him, helps him up, and invites him inside. Chen Xincheng complains about being “tortured” by the assignment, reiterating that he is too old and lacks the patience to mentor Li Dawei. Wang Shouyi challenges his age claim, stating that age represents experience, and dismisses his request to mentor someone else.
He reminds Chen Xincheng that he already announced the assignments and cannot change them. Wang Shouyi then appeals to Chen Xincheng, acknowledging Li Dawei’s impatience but highlighting his potential. He specifically entrusts Li Dawei to Chen Xincheng, believing only he can make the young officer more steady and keep a close eye on him. Sensing Chen Xincheng’s continued reluctance, Wang Shouyi directly addresses Chen Xincheng’s “painful point,” acknowledging that his mindset shifted after he was wronged in a past case.
He urges Chen Xincheng to let go of the past, assuring him that he won’t be assigned dangerous frontline tasks like Gao Chao. Instead, his main responsibility will be to perform his current duties and mentor Li Dawei. After a moment of thought, Chen Xincheng reluctantly agrees.
As a parting gesture, Wang Shouyi offers him some plaster for his back pain, which Chen Xincheng declines, suggesting Wang Shouyi use it for his neck instead, prompting Wang Shouyi to playfully scold him for his childlike stubbornness. Cheng Hao initially prepared an office desk for Xia Jie, but she declines it, asserting that since all new police officers are equal, she should not receive special treatment. Despite Cheng Hao’s insistence, she gracefully refuses the offer and returns downstairs.
Meanwhile, Li Dawei constantly follows Chen Xincheng, attempting to curry favor. Chen Xincheng, however, is unreceptive. He interrogates Li Dawei about his age and why he joined the police academy, sarcastically suggesting his mother sent him there because she couldn't control him, treating the academy like a daycare. Li Dawei even offers Chen Xincheng wolfberries from his mother, but Chen Xincheng rebuffs him, making it clear he doesn't want to be his mentor.
Li Dawei assures him of his good behavior and willingness to report everything, big or small. Frustrated, Chen Xincheng tells him to stop talking and finds an empty desk for him, explicitly telling him to stop following him around. Li Dawei then asks Yang Shu to share a drawer at his desk, as if it’s no big deal. The Balihe Police Station is a hive of activity, with alarm bells ringing incessantly.
Gao Chao, Cheng Hao, and Chen Xincheng, each accompanied by their new apprentices, are constantly dispatched to various emergencies. Cheng Hao remains highly protective of Xia Jie, instructing her to merely observe and learn from a distance, keeping her away from the most dangerous situations. Meanwhile, Li Dawei, driven by youthful enthusiasm, often charges headfirst into action, prompting Chen Xincheng to repeatedly warn him against impulsiveness. Yang Shu struggles to match Gao Chao’s rapid pace, often appearing slow to react.
Zhao Jiwei, assigned to community work with Zhang Zhijie, spends his days reviewing hundreds of hours of surveillance footage, despite craving more active assignments. That night, as Li Dawei, Yang Shu, and Xia Jie finally rest in the duty room, they discuss their experiences. Li Dawei complains about being constantly scolded by Chen Xincheng, wondering why his master wears long sleeves in the heat, while Yang Shu praises his own mentor, Cao Jianjun, as a “real cop.”
Xia Jie notes that everyone at the station is particularly kind to her, which makes her determined to prove herself as a capable police officer and live up to expectations. Zhao Jiwei, listening to their conversations from a distance, feels a sense of yearning, silently wishing for more active duties. He stays up late, continuing to pore over surveillance footage after Zhang Zhijie tells him to go home.
The next morning, Zhang Zhijie gives Zhao Jiwei a proper notebook, instructing him to meticulously record all case details and prepare another one specifically for meeting minutes, emphasizing that “a good memory is not better than a pen,” and such records can be crucial later. Initially, Zhao Jiwei thinks these measures are excessive, preferring to use his phone, but accepts his mentor’s advice.
Zhang Zhijie then takes Zhao Jiwei out for community rounds, where Zhao Jiwei is struck by how many residents greet and know his master. Zhang Zhijie explains that making friends with the community is a vital part of their job, as it helps them gather information and address daily “trivial matters” which accumulate into significant insights.
Their patrol is interrupted by two children asking for help with a pregnant stray cat, explaining they used their pocket money for a cage but couldn’t afford a vet. Zhao Jiwei suggests it’s outside police jurisdiction, but Zhang Zhijie readily agrees to take the cat to the hospital, remarking that “kids are also friends.”
