The Knockout Episode 16 Recap
> The Knockout Recap
Officer Lu discovered that the killer's ID was forged. He then tracked down five individuals who manufactured fake IDs. Officer Lu confronted one of them, accusing him of making the specific fake ID. The man initially feigned ignorance but eventually admitted to producing numerous fake IDs monthly, pleading for another chance. Officer Lu then offered him a chance to redeem himself, instructing him to contact the police immediately if he recognized the suspect or if the suspect returned.
An Xin, overseeing the operation, reiterated that they had conveyed the necessary information, and the next step depended on the man's cooperation. Meanwhile, surveillance cameras were installed at all five fake ID locations and around the man's home, with police monitoring them. Shortly after, Zhang Biao and his team arrived with snacks for An Xin's unit.
Despite some initial skepticism from An Xin's officers, Zhang Biao sincerely expressed his regret for their past attitude and pledged full cooperation, handing over his team's comprehensive investigation findings. He advised An Xin's team to prepare for a prolonged effort, confident that the killer would need another fake ID and would eventually resurface. True to this prediction, a suspicious man, heavily disguised, was seen loitering outside one of the printing shops on camera.
An Xin immediately dispatched Mobile Team 2 to investigate while he and his team headed to the location. The man, Chen Jinmo, entered the shop, requesting a new ID card. The owner, recognizing an opportunity, tried to significantly overcharge him. Chen Jinmo noticed the newly installed surveillance cameras, realizing the police had been there, and concluded the owner had likely revealed information. Without hesitation, Chen Jinmo attacked and killed the owner.
By the time An Xin arrived, having identified Chen Jinmo from the surveillance footage as Li Shun's killer, the owner was already dead, and Chen Jinmo had fled. Meanwhile, tormented by guilt, Li Xiang visited Cao Chuang's grave in the pouring rain. He confessed his regret for not revealing the truth years ago, admitting he feared losing everything he had worked for and being unable to contend with Zhao Lidong.
He expressed his deep wish to be an upright police officer but felt trapped. Desperate for guidance, he wished Cao Chuang could show him the way again. He decided to leave his fate to a coin toss: heads, he would surrender; tails, he would continue as a police officer and atone in his own way. He flipped the coin before leaving the grave.
In Mang Village, Li Hongwei, with two accomplices, plied Li Qing with alcohol, praising him as a "real man" while subtly instigating him to avenge his father. Li Hongwei then drove a heavily inebriated Li Qing to Xiaochen's school. While Xiaochen was distracted buying food, Li Qing, acting under Li Hongwei's direction, abducted him and drove away in a grey van.
School surveillance cameras failed to capture the incident, but a witness confirmed the van's last license plate digit was '5'. An Xin received the kidnapping report and rushed to the school. A frantic Shuting begged An Xin to save Xiaochen, heartbroken that her son was once again suffering due to Gao Qiqiang.
Just as Shuting was about to name her suspect, Lu called An Xin to report that the grey van, license plate HaiB 27665, had been located in Mang Village. An Xin and his officers quickly descended upon Mang Village amidst a torrential downpour. They found Li Qing, holding a knife, frantically running with Xiaochen. The officers tried to persuade him to release the boy, but Li Qing defiantly demanded Gao Qiqiang pay for his father's death.
Li Xiang arrived, having grown up with Li Qing and knowing his volatile nature well. He offered to negotiate, explaining to An Xin that he understood Li Qing's psyche, despite others describing Li Qing as having been "insane since he was young." Li Xiang handed An Xin his pistol, instructing him to be prepared to shoot Li Qing if necessary to ensure the hostage's safety, a task An Xin reluctantly accepted due to their shared history.
Gao Qiqiang and Shuting arrived at Mang Village, only to find the entrance blocked by villagers, preventing police access. A distraught Shuting confronted Gao Qiqiang, threatening to "definitely die with him" if anything happened to Xiaochen, which he tried desperately to calm. Meanwhile, Gong Kaijiang reported the escalating situation in Mang Village to Secretary Meng Dehai of Qinghua District.
Meng Dehai, wanting the village chairman to resolve the issue, was frustrated to find Li Youtian waiting to report on unrelated work. Meng Dehai sternly sent Li Youtian back to Mang Village to handle the crisis, reminding him that a Construction Engineering Group leader's child had been kidnapped and the villagers were obstructing police. Li Youtian reluctantly agreed, secretly pleased as this was all part of his scheme.
Meng Dehai, however, recognized Li Youtian's cunning, suspecting he was intentionally causing trouble. Li Xiang confronted Li Qing, with An Xin positioned to shoot if necessary. Li Xiang calmly tried to reason with him, reminding him of a job offer arranged by An Xin and even offering to swap places with Xiaochen. However, Li Hongwei and other villagers began to incite Li Qing, shouting for Gao Qiqiang to pay with his life.
Li Xiang then appealed to their shared childhood, recounting a specific memory to calm Li Qing. Li Qing seemed to soften, almost handing over the knife, but the villagers' renewed shouts of "Avenge your father!" reignited his fury. As Li Qing's grip on the knife tightened, threatening Xiaochen, Li Xiang frantically signaled An Xin to shoot. An Xin hesitated, unable to fire on someone he had known since childhood.
At that critical moment, a police sniper intervened, firing a shot that killed Li Qing, saving Xiaochen. Gao Qiqiang and Shuting were shaken by the gunshot but relieved to learn Li Qing was dead and Xiaochen rescued. An Xin immediately tried to arrest Li Hongwei, who had been inciting the villagers, but Li Hongwei arrogantly resisted. Li Xiang, intervening, ordered his colleagues to release Li Hongwei and his cohorts, explaining that An Xin was too emotional.
An Xin, furious at Li Xiang's interference, accused him of obstructing his view during the critical moment, implying Li Xiang prevented him from making a decisive shot. Li Xiang brushed off An Xin's anger. Gao Qiqiang and Shuting then collected a shaken Xiaochen, thanking An Xin. Gao Qiqiang subtly prevented Shuting from shaking An Xin's hand, instead offering his own curt thanks.
On the way to the hospital, Gao Qiqiang coached Xiaochen to lie to the police, insisting he tell them only Li Qing was involved in the kidnapping. Shuting was angered by Gao Qiqiang's manipulation of Xiaochen, accusing him of using the boy as a pawn because he wasn't his biological son. Gao Qiqiang denied this, claiming his actions were to gain favor with Li Youtian, which would help secure the Mang Village project.
He promised Shuting that he would avenge Xiaochen and her in his own way, without involving the police. At the police station, Xiaochen stated that only Li Qing was present during the kidnapping. An Xin, however, found this hard to believe, given Li Qing's mental state and lack of a driver's license. Officer Lu confirmed that while Li Qing might not have a license, he could still drive.
Li Xiang, feeling remorseful for his earlier actions, informed An Xin that surveillance camera footage from Mang Village junctions had been deleted, strengthening their suspicion that Li Qing was coerced and not acting alone. An Xin speculated that Li Youtian and Li Hongwei were behind it, believing they were foolishly digging their own graves by angering both Gao Qiqiang and the police. Soon after, an article about the Mang Village demolition appeared online, generating significant public backlash.
An Xin's team discovered comments accusing the police of being "protective umbrellas" for Gao Qiqiang, a "gangster," and included a picture of An Xin with Shuting, implying police complicity. An Xin recognized the article's author as Meng Yu. He immediately called her, hoping to meet for dinner. However, Meng Yu, having seen the inflammatory comments and realizing her article had inadvertently put An Xin in a difficult position, politely declined his invitation, saying she was too busy.
Li Hongwei confirmed to Li Youtian that the accomplices had been sent away and the grey van destroyed, much to Li Youtian's relief. Li Youtian praised Li Hongwei for successfully maneuvering public opinion online against Gao Qiqiang, a plan Li Hongwei readily took credit for. Li Hongwei then urged his father to swiftly agree to any terms offered by Construction Engineering Group for the Mang Village project, but Li Youtian wanted to hold out for a higher price.
Li Hongwei suggested negotiating a low public price while securing a secret kickback for their family, which Li Youtian rejected, unwilling to face the villagers' scorn. Annoyed, Li Hongwei declared he would move out of the village as soon as the land was sold. Unbeknownst to them, the two accomplices Li Hongwei had dispatched were already disgruntled, planning to return and expose him.
The next morning, Li Hongwei led a group of villagers in a demonstration outside the Construction Engineering Group building, protesting Gao Qiqiang and demanding an investigation into his "protective umbrella." The widespread negative publicity enraged Uncle Tai, who became ill with stress. He chastised Gao Qiqiang, not for being a "gangster," but for the damaging public perception that was alienating their allies.
Despite Gao Qiqiang's protests that he was on the verge of securing the Mang Village project, Uncle Tai ordered him to take Shuting and Xiaochen on a long vacation to escape the scrutiny. He then instructed Gao Qiqiang to transfer all current work, including the Mang Village project, to Chengcheng, who, while secretly delighted, feigned reluctance and humility.
