Ordinary Greatness Episode 32 Recap
> Ordinary Greatness Recap
Zhao Jiwei and Zhang Zhijie worked overnight to review surveillance footage. Zhao Jiwei theorized that criminals often leave distinctive marks and may carry their own weapons, rather than using those found at the crime scene. Their investigation led them to identify the suspect's car, which they tracked as it drove onto the south highway and then into Liuhang Town. They immediately headed to Liuhang Town.
Once there, Zhao Jiwei claimed to have a stomachache and remained at the local police station's monitoring room to continue searching for clues. Meanwhile, Zhang Zhijie joined the local officers for an on-the-ground investigation. The chief of the Liuhang Police Station, Chief Zhang, engaged Zhang Zhijie in a friendly debate about which jurisdiction would get credit for the arrest, but they agreed to prioritize catching the suspect first.
In their own station, Xia Jie was informed about 76-year-old Mrs. Zhang, a childless woman who relies on a subsistence allowance and scavenging. Six years ago, Mrs. Zhang found an abandoned infant, Bao, by a garbage bin and has raised her since. With Bao now approaching school age in September, Mrs. Zhang desperately sought to register her household. However, Bao lacked a birth certificate, Mrs. Zhang had no formal adoption papers, and their 70-year age difference violated adoption policies.
Xia Jie showed her empathy by giving Bao a candy. Mrs. Zhang revealed they had even tried to get Bao to call her "Mom" to meet adoption criteria. Seeing Mrs. Zhang's struggles, Xia Jie promised to find a proper solution and urged her not to repeatedly visit the police station. As Mrs. Zhang left, she placed a bag of plastic bottles at the station, which an officer later brought inside, finding the act unusual.
Xia Jie reported Mrs. Zhang's case to Wang Shouyi and Ye Wei. Ye Wei confirmed their previous efforts to help, reiterating that household registration was impossible under current policies. Wang Shouyi emphasized the long-term concerns, particularly Mrs. Zhang's advanced age, and what would happen to Bao if Mrs. Zhang could no longer care for her. Both agreed that sending Bao to a social welfare center was the most beneficial option for the child's health and education in the long run.
They decided to visit a welfare center after an upcoming meeting. While Zhang Zhijie's ground investigation in Liuhang Town yielded no immediate results, Zhao Jiwei had a breakthrough back at the monitoring room. He realized the suspect wore a hoodie during the crime but not on the return journey, and a distinct crack on the car's windshield created a recognizable reflection under streetlights, allowing his face to be captured on camera.
Zhao Jiwei explained his reverse reasoning, concluding that the suspect had used Liuhang as a deceptive maneuver before changing license plates in a blind spot and heading north towards Qibei. Zhang Zhijie praised Zhao Jiwei, acknowledging his talent as a top detective from the police academy. Xia Jie later visited a local social welfare center and found its conditions to be excellent, with children appearing happy and even calling adult women "Mom" out of a longing for maternal love.
The director, President Xu, agreed to accept Bao and register her household at the center. However, when Xia Jie went to Mrs. Zhang's home with a schoolbag, fruits, and snacks, Mrs. Zhang eagerly anticipated news of Bao's household registration. Seeing the grandmother and child's deep bond and hopeful eyes, Xia Jie couldn't bring herself to deliver the news about the welfare center.
Instead, she vaguely reassured Mrs. Zhang that they were consulting with superiors and there would "definitely be a good result," urging them to wait. Later, Xia Jie returned to her station and sought help from Wang Shouyi regarding Mrs. Zhang and Bao. Wang Shouyi, finding no immediate solution, advised her to consult Ye Wei. Xia Jie then revisited the social welfare center, where she serendipitously learned about their "foster mother" policy.
With this new information, Xia Jie and the welfare center's director then went to Mrs. Zhang's home, where the director agreed to process the foster mother application for Bao. Back at the station, Zhang Zhijie and Zhao Jiwei reported their findings: the suspect, who had stolen over 80,000 yuan in goods, was likely a Qibei local and would stay there for the New Year. Wang Shouyi summoned Captain Luo of the criminal police team for a discussion.
Captain Luo, however, dismissed the case as not a "major" one for his unit and explained his team was overwhelmed with two unsolved robbery and murder cases, with officers having worked 48 hours straight. He suggested either coordinating with the Qibei police or postponing action until after the Spring Festival due to manpower shortages. Cheng Hao, however, argued passionately that they couldn't wait.
He insisted on catching the suspect before the New Year to provide a sense of security and a "good omen" for the coming year. Convinced, Wang Shouyi agreed to proceed with the arrest before the holiday. Meanwhile, Chen Xincheng approached Wang Shouyi to request leave to investigate Yue Wei's background in his hometown in Northeast China with Li Dawei.
Chen Xincheng explained that constant surveillance of Yue Wei had yielded no results, and he felt compelled to check Yue Wei's former workplace for new leads. Wang Shouyi approved, suggesting it be classified as a business trip, but Chen Xincheng insisted on it being personal leave. Later, Chen Xincheng expressed concern for his daughter Jia, who was packing his belongings. Li Dawei suggested Jia spend the New Year with Xia Jie and her mother, a proposal Jia happily accepted.
Chen Xincheng and Li Dawei journeyed to Yue Wei's snowy, cold hometown in the Northeast. At the local police station, Deputy Chief Niu greeted them. He explained the station's severe personnel turnover due to harsh winters and the region's transition from a bustling logging area to a quiet forest protection zone. Most current officers had no knowledge of Yue Wei, who had worked as an assistant policeman there fifteen or sixteen years prior.
Chief Niu, however, suggested they seek out the retired Chief Zhou, who might vaguely remember Yue Wei. Concurrently, Zhang Zhijie and Zhao Jiwei led their team to the Qibei Police Station. The local chief there was reluctant to cooperate, explaining that the suspect's residential area was a converted community of rural-to-urban migrants, prone to tensions, with two recent armed conflicts.
He feared a police presence during the sensitive New Year period would cause unnecessary misunderstandings and advised them to return after the holiday. Zhang Zhijie proposed they go in plain clothes, but the Qibei chief still deemed it too risky. Undeterred, Zhang Zhijie decided his team would stay and pursue the lead independently. That evening, Zhang Zhijie’s team ate a simple meal, expressing homesickness but resolved to catch the suspect so they could return home for the New Year.
Separately, Chen Xincheng and Li Dawei visited retired Chief Zhou at his home, bringing gifts. Li Dawei noted the early darkness and the warmth of the traditional heated "kang" bed. Chen Xincheng inquired why Yue Wei, with such a promising future, left the police force. Chief Zhou described Yue Wei as an enigmatic individual, speculating that exposure to the outside world during various cases might have made him restless, leading him to seek new ventures.
Chief Zhou also revealed he had retired early due to "something" that happened at the station, which Chen Xincheng pointed out was unusual given his age at the time. However, Chief Zhou did not elaborate further on the incident.
