Ordinary Greatness Episode 31 Recap
> Ordinary Greatness Recap
Gathering his courage, Cheng Hao visited Xia Mother, aiming to confess the truth about the past and find closure. Xia Mother, however, was wary, asking if he was there to discuss Xia Jie's job transfer or to try and change her mind. Cheng Hao clarified he was there to speak about what transpired between him and her late husband. Xia Mother initially rebuffed him, telling him there was nothing to say and to leave.
Despite her resistance, Cheng Hao persisted, pouring out his confession and regret. He admitted that ten years ago, during the confrontation with a ruthless criminal alongside Xia Junxiong, he was overcome with fear. His feet felt rooted to the ground, and his legs turned weak, preventing him from rushing forward as Xia Junxiong was killed. He openly declared himself a coward, confessing that he had never possessed the courage to admit this truth to anyone, including himself.
Though he knew his words couldn't change the past, he expressed deep remorse for Xia Junxiong, Xia Mother, and Xia Jie, acknowledging the constant self-condemnation and repentance he carried. His confession, however, was interrupted by a phone call from Instructor Ye Wei, summoning him back to the police station for an urgent matter. Before departing, Cheng Hao promised Xia Mother he would do everything to protect Xia Jie, always respecting her wishes.
He reiterated that his visit was to finally put an end to his long-held burden and hoped that Xia Mother too could find a way to move past the painful memories. Cheng Hao hurried back to the Balihe Police Station, where Ye Wei had just finished a call with the Municipal Bureau. She quickly briefed him on a critical situation.
During a previous joint operation, when Qizi tried to investigate a tenant at an old lady's home, the lady, in her seventies, had been uncooperative, leading to a heated argument that Gao Chao had to mediate. It was later discovered that one of her tenants, aware of the large-scale investigation, had moved to the Xinjie Police Station's jurisdiction overnight, taking a hidden detonator with him. This detonator then accidentally exploded in Xinjie.
Although there were no casualties, the incident caused a significant uproar, especially as it occurred during a city-wide safety inspection. Consequently, Deputy Chief Chu of Xinjie Police Station was immediately dismissed, with even their chief potentially facing removal. The Xinjie station felt wronged, believing Balihe had failed to properly address the safety hazard, effectively passing it to them. An inspection team from the Municipal Bureau was now investigating Balihe.
Qizi, consumed by guilt, claimed full responsibility, stating he should have followed up. Gao Chao tried to shield him, taking the blame himself, reminding Qizi that he had halted the initial investigation. Ye Wei urged them to stop arguing, emphasizing that the bureau would make the final decision and they should focus on compiling an honest report.
Qizi, expressing his disillusionment, announced his intention to resign from the police force, claiming he couldn't even get a leave of absence and this incident might be his chance to leave. Gao Chao also tried to leave, but Ye Wei insisted they needed to discuss it. Meanwhile, Gao Chao was intensely interrogating the owner of the convenience store, who was discovered to have embezzled company funds and filed a false police report.
Gao Chao meticulously explained the gravity of her actions, clarifying that the store's earnings were company assets, not personal, and her false report was a criminal offense punishable by detention. He informed her that due to the substantial amount, she would be handed over to the Economic Investigation Brigade. The owner tearfully protested, claiming she had built the business from scratch, handling everything, and felt wronged that she couldn't use the money she believed she earned alone.
Amidst the mounting pressure, Wang Shouyi made an unexpected return to the station, instantly easing the tension. He addressed Qizi, revealing his medical report, which showed he suffered from minor depression. Wang Shouyi acknowledged that the station had been negligent in not noticing Qizi's condition, attributing it to the irregular hours, lack of rest, and immense stress faced by frontline officers.
He stressed the importance of mental and physical health and granted Qizi several days of leave to rest and seek psychological help, assuring him there was no shame in his illness. Wang Shouyi then took charge of the explosion incident, framing it as a demonstration of their joint enforcement preventing a greater disaster, while also acknowledging flaws in their work that required self-reflection.
He firmly stated that the Municipal Bureau considered it an isolated incident and, regardless of the consequences, he would personally bear full responsibility. When Gao Chao and others tried to take the blame, Wang Shouyi asserted his authority, stating that he would take responsibility for any issues arising during his absence. He then assigned Gao Chao to continue overseeing community and criminal investigation work, and Cheng Hao to manage security, encouraging them to be bold, knowing he had their back.
Ye Wei, relieved, praised Wang Shouyi as the station's mainstay. Before commencing further discussions with his leadership team, Wang Shouyi ensured Qizi left for his much-needed break. After a late night at work, Xia Jie approached Cheng Hao, asking about his visit to her mother. Cheng Hao confirmed his visit, reiterating his confession of fear during Xia Junxiong's death and his responsibility.
Xia Jie, however, comforted him, reminding him that fear is a natural human emotion and questioning if he could have saved her father even if he had rushed in. Cheng Hao insisted he should have tried. Xia Jie urged him not to be hard on himself, acknowledging that no one is perfect. Cheng Hao agreed, emphasizing his desire to be honest and accountable. Xia Jie, taking his words to heart, said she would remember this.
She also shared her recent realization that being consistently heroic wasn't necessary; performing everyday tasks diligently was equally challenging. Xia Jie then confided that her mother seemed to have changed; she no longer pressed about the job transfer, avoided discussing Cheng Hao's visit, and didn't pressure her about work that morning. Cheng Hao was pleased, advising patience, as such deep-seated changes take time. Xia Jie agreed, finding that psychologically accepting her mother had significantly reduced her own anxiety.
Meanwhile, Xu Cuiping, also known as Dawei's mom, continued to encourage Xia Mother to engage in social activities. Initially resistant to square dancing, Xia Mother eventually showcased her elegant moves, reminding everyone of her youthful days winning dance awards with Xia Junxiong. Xu Cuiping later arranged a coffee shop meeting between Xia Mother and Liang Wei, her old flame. Both had mistakenly believed the other had moved on, leading to initial awkwardness.
Liang Wei, breaking the silence, expressed his enduring affection for Xia Mother. Xu Cuiping, sensing their need for privacy, feigned a work emergency and departed. With misunderstandings resolved, Xia Mother and Liang Wei decided to take a trip. Xia Mother took a taxi to meet him, explaining to Liang Wei that Xia Jie was busy, and her personal travel did not warrant involving the bureau.
Liang Wei mentioned booking economy class tickets, and Xia Mother readily agreed, expressing her willingness to follow him anywhere as he planned to ease out of frontline work and travel the world. Back at the station, Wang Shouyi held a meeting, urging his team to maintain vigilance for the final stretch of the "100 Days Without Burglary" campaign, promising rewards for their success. Just then, Zhao Jiwei received a report of multiple burglaries in the Xiaoxinjia Community.
With Zhang Zhijie out on another call, Zhao Jiwei took an assistant policeman to investigate. At one victim's home, they found nothing missing, but a kitchen knife was inexplicably placed on the living room coffee table. Investigating the community, Zhao Jiwei discovered the building's surveillance cameras were non-functional. Zhang Zhijie, investigating other affected homes, confirmed the consistent modus operandi: kitchen knives on coffee tables, with cash and jewelry stolen, but no signs of forced entry.
Reviewing remaining surveillance footage, Zhang Zhijie and Zhao Jiwei identified a suspect, with Zhang Zhijie even noting a distinct crack on the suspect's windshield. They decided to pursue the lead further using more surveillance. Separately, Wang Shouyi decided to transfer Xia Jie to the Household Registration Department to temporarily replace Officer Wang, who was about to go on maternity leave.
Despite Xia Jie's earlier efforts to convince her mother (and herself) not to transfer, Wang Shouyi informed her this was an organizational decision, which her master, Cheng Hao, also agreed to. Xia Jie accepted the assignment. Soon after, while Xia Jie was being introduced to her new role by Officer Wang, Officer Wang's water unexpectedly broke, leading to her immediate transfer to the hospital. With Officer Wang officially on leave, Xia Jie quickly took over the Household Registration Department.
In her new role, Xia Jie was faced with a resident who had bought a house last year and sought to register. Auxiliary Police Chen explained that while the resident met last year's criteria, the policy had changed this year, requiring a college degree or above. New to the role, Xia Jie discreetly called Officer Wang, who had just given birth, for advice.
Guided by Wang, Xia Jie instructed Auxiliary Police Chen to process the registration, applying the principle of "old problems, old solutions" to old issues. She took full responsibility for the decision, asserting it aligned with the city's goal of expanding its population and enhancing its competitiveness. The grateful resident's registration was quickly processed.
