Stealth Walker Episode 12 Recap
> Stealth Walker Recap
Lin Qiang photographed the chemical formulas from the wall where Fang Lin was held, and these images were submitted to the technical department. Initial analysis of the chemical equations confirmed that Fang Lin is likely a drug manufacturer. Cao Yongming recalled that during a previous reconnaissance around Yangqi Village, where Chu Jiaojiao had been active, he and Li Yan had discovered abnormal river water quality.
Tests revealed the presence of organic solvents such as acetone, toluene, and ethane, all components used to make methyl ethyl ketone. The team had initially believed that after Ma Hongtao cut off his heroin supply, Qiu Hu would search for new sources. However, this new evidence suggested that Qiu Hu had instead shifted his focus to meth production, a drug that is cheaper and easier to mass-produce.
Qiu Hu assembled his main dealers, including Hong, Wang Ziyou (also known as Scar King), and Qin Jianguo. Wang Ziyou, 36 years old, operated a bathhouse as a front for his drug dealing activities and was one of Qiu Hu's Lingnan dealers. Hong, whose full name is Wu Hong, had worked as a factory girl in Lingnan and after her release from prison, she met Qiu Hu and became his heroin distributor.
Qin Jianguo, a wanted criminal from 1997 for organized crime, also fled to Lingnan and became part of Qiu Hu's drug network. The police had obtained these details about Qiu Hu’s network from Hong’s intercepted phone contacts, which allowed them to identify and arrest several low-level members without alerting the core group. The dealers expressed their frustration over the lack of product and income.
Qiu Hu presented them with his newly manufactured meth, proposing they join him in this new business. However, Hong and the others were hesitant, citing their unfamiliarity with meth and uncertainty about its market. Qiu Hu grew suspicious, believing their hesitation indicated they had found another supplier. Acting on his suspicions, Qiu Hu and his men stormed Hong's mahjong parlor. Hong confronted him, demanding to know if he was not ashamed of bullying a woman.
Qiu Hu ignored her and demanded to know Zhang Xianhe’s whereabouts. Seeing that Qiu Hu had already figured it out, Hong led him to Zhang Xianhe, who was playing mahjong with Delta and Chen Zhiyong. Qiu Hu immediately pointed a gun at Zhang Xianhe, but Delta warned him not to act rashly. Hong intervened, stating that Zhang Xianhe was merely playing cards with friends, and if Qiu Hu could not tolerate his presence, their old relationships would be severed.
She firmly declared that Zhang Xianhe’s establishment in Lingnan was inevitable. Shortly after, other dealers, including Wang Ziyou, arrived. Recognizing the shift in allegiances, Qiu Hu asked Wang Ziyou to take Zhang Xianhe’s place at the mahjong table and requested a private conversation with Zhang Xianhe. During their private discussion, Qiu Hu acknowledged Zhang Xianhe's success in consolidating his former dealers and offered to resume their partnership.
He stipulated that Zhang Xianhe could only invest capital, must not interfere in other matters, and would not be informed of Fang Lin's location. Zhang Xianhe, however, scoffed at the terms, explaining that the situation had changed. He asserted his independent wealth and network of dealers, and crucially, confirmed that while Ma Hongtao had cut off Qiu Hu's supply from Hongwa, his own supply remained intact.
Zhang Xianhe warned that if Qiu Hu tried to eliminate him as he did Chen Zhiyong, Hong and the other dealers would not stand by. He also revealed that he was responsible for keeping Ma Hongtao’s enforcer, Liu Bing, from causing trouble for Qiu Hu. Zhang Xianhe reminded Qiu Hu that his patience was limited, having been threatened twice with a gun, and advised him to consider his options carefully before proposing a genuine partnership.
Their meeting was observed and photographed by surveillance police. Cao Yongming, noting Zhang Xianhe’s sudden close association with drug traffickers, suspected Ma Hongtao's backing and ordered his team to keep a close watch on Zhang Xianhe. Commissioner Gao arrived at the task force, highlighting the police bureau's strong stance against the new meth, which is easy to produce, low-cost, and highly addictive.
He issued a strict directive for Cao Yongming to locate Qiu Hu’s meth production site and initiate arrests within two weeks, emphasizing that any delay would allow the drug to spread further, making cross-regional efforts more difficult. Cao Yongming suggested that their water sample analysis pointed to Yangqi Village as a likely location but noted its complex environment and requested a month for the operation. Commissioner Gao dismissed the request, reaffirming the two-week deadline.
Meanwhile, Cheng Jingsong informed Lin Qiang that Zhang Xianhe had moved back into the apartment next door to her. He reminded her of Zhang Xianhe's criminal background and the police's two-week deadline, to which Lin Qiang responded that she knew her duty. Lin Qiang returned home feeling conflicted. Coco enthusiastically greeted her, and Zhang Xianhe invited Lin Qiang to dinner. While Zhang Xianhe cooked, they chatted.
During dinner, Coco complained that Zhang Xianhe was cooking all of Lin Qiang's favorite dishes, and asked Lin Qiang to attend her parent-teacher conferences. When Coco jokingly declared she'd rather live with Lin Qiang and eat takeout for life, Zhang Xianhe playfully renamed her "Coco Wang". Coco then asked Lin Qiang to play her harmonica. After Lin Qiang played a blues piece, Zhang Xianhe requested "La Partida," describing it as her signature song.
Lin Qiang, startled, claimed she did not know the piece, immediately sensing that Zhang Xianhe suspected her. Zhang Xianhe brushed off her denial, stating he thought all blues players knew the famous song, a world-famous piece. Later, Delta called Zhang Xianhe, expressing suspicion about his smooth return to Lingnan without police interference, suggesting there might be an undercover agent among them.
Zhang Xianhe reassured Delta, vowing ruthless action against any mole, similar to how Sun Dapeng was dealt with, should one be found. Separately, Qiu Hu was facing a severe cash shortage. His subordinates reported that potential investors like Mr. Jiang and Hu Bingchang were avoiding him, and the deposit for a shipment of ephedra, a precursor for meth, would deplete their remaining funds. Desperate but still mistrustful of Zhang Xianhe, Qiu Hu summoned Lin Qiang.
Lin Qiang maintained her cover, describing her relationship with Zhang Xianhe as a casual fling for his money and claiming she hadn't seen him since their fallout. Qiu Hu offered her a significant opportunity, explaining his need for Zhang Xianhe's investment but also his desire to control him. He then handed Lin Qiang a bag of meth, instructing her to find a way to get Zhang Xianhe addicted, convinced this was the only path to his compliance.
Shortly after leaving Qiu Hu’s office, Lin Qiang encountered Zhang Xianhe, who pointedly asked if she had recently learned the Blues harmonica and directly questioned her true identity. Alarmed, Lin Qiang returned to her apartment, confirming there were no immediate surveillance devices. She then called Cheng Jingsong, informing him of Zhang Xianhe's suspicions.
Cheng Jingsong reassured her that Cao Yongming had established a dual identity for her, ensuring that even if Zhang Xianhe discovered she wasn't Wang Qian, he could not uncover her police background. He advised her to stick to her story of being a small-time criminal who impersonated Wang Qian to get involved in Qiu Hu's drug business.
Lin Qiang, however, worried that if Zhang Xianhe doubted her, Qiu Hu would soon follow, jeopardizing her mission at a critical stage, especially with the meth lab discovery so close. Cheng Jingsong urged her to remain calm and strategize on how to dispel Zhang Xianhe's suspicions.
