The Knockout Episode 12 Recap
> The Knockout Recap
Gao Qiqiang, accompanied by Tang Xiaohu, helped Chen Jinmo move into a small, inexpensive apartment in the old factory area, an old dormitory that had been vacant for years. Chen Jinmo was deeply grateful for the provided home and the job Gao Qiqiang had given him. Gao Qiqiang then inquired about Chen Jinmo's six-year-old daughter, Yao, asking to see her photo and wondering if he had offered incense to Yao's mother, Huang Cuicui.
Chen Jinmo, realizing Gao Qiqiang knew Huang Cuicui, pressed him to reveal how she died. Gao Qiqiang advised him against digging into the past, telling him to focus on earning money and bringing his daughter to live with him. Gao Qiqiang then feigned his departure, while secretly lingering outside to listen.
Chen Jinmo immediately confronted Tang Xiaohu, who, under pressure, reluctantly disclosed that Xu Jiang had brutally beaten Huang Cuicui to death for reasons unknown, a fact widely known in Old Factory Street. Overcome with grief and rage, Chen Jinmo vowed to kill Xu Jiang for revenge, a declaration Gao Qiqiang overheard, and then left, satisfied. Meanwhile, Xu Jiang, a fugitive, was desperately hiding under a bridge, pursued relentlessly by the police. He called Zhao Lidong, begging for help.
Zhao Lidong promised to arrange his escape on Friday, coinciding with An Xin's city-wide commendation conference, a time when police patrols would be sparse. After the call, Zhao Lidong summoned Chen, instructing him to step out so he could speak with Cao Chuang. Zhao Lidong tasked Cao Chuang with picking up Xu Jiang and "sending him away," implying his death, as Xu Jiang "knew too much." In exchange, Cao Chuang was offered the position of Deputy Director.
Following his call to Zhao Lidong, Xu Jiang contacted Uncle Tai, leveraging their nearly two-decade-long acquaintance to request a meeting with the Gao brothers at the Old Steel Factory on Friday at 10:30 a. m. , intending to "settle their grievances" before fleeing Jinghai. Uncle Tai, though having a complex history with Xu Jiang, agreed to arrange the meeting but warned that the two parties would be on their own once they met.
An Changlin expressed concern to An Xin about the grand commendation conference, believing Zhao Lidong was deliberately putting An Xin "in the fire pit" and advising him to be vigilant. An Xin, however, was dismissive of his uncle's warnings. Later that evening, during a shift with Meng Dehai, Cao Chuang voiced his long-standing frustrations about his stagnant career, feeling overlooked due to his educational background.
Meng Dehai, regretting his lack of attention, promised to support Cao Chuang, who then expressed his dedication to mentoring new talent. On Friday, at the commendation conference, An Xin remained uneasy about the large turnout, suspecting Zhao Lidong's ulterior motives, particularly noting the absence of An Changlin and Meng Dehai. He instructed Li Xiang to monitor the area outside the municipal bureau.
Li Xiang soon spotted a police car speeding away and, despite being unable to identify the occupants, reported it to An Xin, who ordered him to follow closely. Simultaneously, Gao Qiqiang received a call from Uncle Tai, asking him and Gao Qisheng to meet at the Old Steel Factory at 10:00 a. m. to collect an item from Chen Shuting. Gao Qiqiang initially agreed but, sensing danger, told Gao Qisheng to remain at the shop while he went alone.
Li Xiang tracked the police car to the Old Steel Factory, where he witnessed Cao Chuang getting out. When An Xin called for an update, Li Xiang, conflicted, falsely claimed he had lost the car. At the Old Steel Factory, Gao Qiqiang found only Xu Jiang, who mockingly revealed he had orchestrated the meeting to settle their score. As Xu Jiang produced a gun, Cao Chuang suddenly appeared, having been dispatched by Zhao Lidong.
Xu Jiang commanded Cao Chuang to kill Gao Qiqiang, invoking Zhao Lidong's authority as a threat. Meanwhile, An Xin was called to the stage to accept his award from Meng Dehai and An Changlin, who explained that Cao Chuang was absent due to a sudden family emergency.
During his emotional acceptance speech about the duty of a police officer to offer redemption and second chances, An Xin deliberately placed his phone, with Li Xiang still connected and on speaker, near the microphone. Moved by An Xin's words, Li Xiang, from the Old Steel Factory, loudly broadcasted the location of Xu Jiang and Cao Chuang: National Highway G302, Li Zhuang Road Section, Old Steel Factory. The entire audience, including the gathered police force, heard his urgent alert.
An Xin immediately requested police intervention, and Meng Dehai swiftly dispatched the criminal investigation unit to the scene. Cao Chuang hesitated, caught between orders and conscience, but Xu Jiang intensified his threats, invoking Zhao Lidong's name once more. Suddenly, Cao Chuang turned his gun on Xu Jiang and fired. Xu Jiang returned fire, missing Cao Chuang. At that precise moment, Chen Jinmo, whom Gao Qiqiang had secretly brought with him, shot Cao Chuang, causing him to collapse.
Gao Qiqiang then seized Cao Chuang's weapon and approached an unconscious Xu Jiang. Chen Jinmo quickly finished Xu Jiang, placing his own pistol in Xu Jiang's hand, and together, he and Gao Qiqiang meticulously cleaned up the crime scene before departing. Li Xiang rushed into the factory to find his dying mentor, Cao Chuang.
With his last breaths, Cao Chuang confessed that Zhao Lidong had ordered him to kill Xu Jiang in exchange for the deputy director position, urging Li Xiang to use this situation to advance his own career. He then succumbed to his injuries.
Overwhelmed with grief and loyalty, Li Xiang chose to protect his mentor's reputation and conceal the true circumstances of his death, including Cao Chuang's criminal actions and the fact that Xu Jiang had ordered Cao Chuang to kill Gao Qiqiang. He reported that Cao Chuang had acted on a private tip about Xu Jiang's location, fearing inaccurate information and not wanting to overshadow An Xin's commendation, and tragically died in the line of duty while attempting to apprehend Xu Jiang.
Although An Xin's testimony contradicted Li Xiang's account, Li Xiang insisted his version was based on his direct observation. Concurrently, Zhao Lidong's aide presented him with an anonymous recording linked to Huang Cuicui, found in the Public Complaints Office. Discovering Li Xiang's narrative, which diverged from An Xin's, Zhao Lidong saw an opportunity to cultivate Li Xiang.
Despite Li Xiang's limited experience, Zhao Lidong advocated for his appointment as acting Chief of the Criminal Investigation Unit, suggesting a "democratic election" to legitimize the promotion. An Changlin and Meng Dehai harbored suspicions about Cao Chuang's death but, lacking concrete evidence to challenge Li Xiang's testimony and facing pressure to close the case, reluctantly accepted his account. Gao Qiqiang and Gao Qisheng met Chen Shuting and her son, Xiaochen, at an amusement park.
Gao Qiqiang expressed his desire to meet Uncle Tai. Tang Xiaohu mentioned to Chen Shuting that Gao Qiqiang had never been in a romantic relationship, which seemed to pique her interest. She then took Gao Qiqiang to a construction site to meet Uncle Tai. In front of onlookers, Gao Qiqiang knelt, humbly declaring his wish to become Uncle Tai's adopted son and care for him in his old age, offering a significant gift. Deeply moved, Uncle Tai accepted.
He promised to acquire Platinum Palace, a nightclub from Xu Jiang's confiscated assets, after the legal proceedings and auction, estimated to take six months, and gift it to Gao Qiqiang. Gao Qiqiang expressed profound gratitude. At Cao Chuang's funeral, An Xin confronted Li Xiang, demanding the full truth about the events at the Old Steel Factory. Li Xiang, distraught, angrily told An Xin to consider Cao Chuang's family and his reputation. An Xin, frustrated and disheartened, walked away.
Following the conclusion of Xu Jiang's case, An Changlin was transferred to Bobei City as the Director of Public Security, and Meng Dehai was moved out of the Public Security Bureau to become the District Mayor. As An Xin bid farewell to his mentors, they both offered solemn advice: to exercise caution, protect himself, and thoughtfully consider his actions, reminding him that a police officer's integrity and badge were paramount to effectively combating crime. Watching them leave, An Xin felt a profound sense of isolation, like an orphan left behind.
