The Knockout Episode 19 Recap
> The Knockout Recap
Secretary Wang, reporting to Zhao Lidong, convened a meeting that included District Mayor Gong Kaijiang, Li Youtian, and Chief Li Xiang. Secretary Wang pressed Li Xiang to release Li Hongwei, Li Youtian's son, who was detained. Although Chief Li acknowledged that Li Hongwei was involved in drug trafficking, harboring, and destroying evidence related to a kidnapping case, Secretary Wang insisted that the drug was not found on Li Hongwei and emphasized that Mayor Zhao was also concerned.
Reluctantly, Chief Li agreed to try. As he left, Secretary Wang, learning that Li Xiang didn't own a car, handed him a card and told him to pick out any car from their dealership. Li Xiang found Mang Village's affairs deeply entangled, with multiple murders and a kidnapping, but Secretary Wang dismissed his concerns, advising that "nothing ventured, nothing gained" applied to the lucrative demolition projects.
The next morning, An Xin confronted Li Xiang, questioning his decision to release Li Hongwei, especially since Li Hongwei's associates, Zhang Daqing and Zhang Xiaoqing, were now one dead and one missing. Li Xiang maintained that no criminal evidence was found against Li Hongwei and that he was merely a first-time drug offender who had lent his car to the Zhang brothers without knowing their intentions.
He argued that Li Hongwei hiding his car after Li Qing's death was a natural reaction. Their argument was cut short by a call reporting a major incident, with Director Guo already on site. At a construction site for laying fiber optic cables, chaos erupted after the Construction Engineering Group's work allegedly cut off power to nearby neighborhoods. Chengcheng, the person in charge, insisted to Director Guo that the repeated power outages were deliberate sabotage, not their team's fault.
Director Guo ordered her to restore power immediately. However, a mob, led by Baldy Yong, disrupted the work, escalating the situation into a brawl. Director Guo was injured, suffering a fractured arm. At the hospital, Secretary Meng Dehai visited Director Guo, suggesting that releasing Gao Qiqiang might help stabilize chaotic municipal projects, acknowledging it wasn't a perfect solution but a necessary step given the complex situation.
Meng Dehai also revealed he had been sidelined by Zhao Lidong and that District Mayor Gong Kaijiang had been summoned by Zhao Lidong for questioning. Director Guo initially hesitated. Police investigation revealed that many of the rioters were not local residents but idle people, clearly instigated. Baldy Yong, the ringleader, was known to be close to Tang Xiaohu, suggesting an attempt to pressure the police into releasing Gao Qiqiang.
Li Xiang, however, doubted Tang Xiaohu's organizational capabilities for such a large-scale disturbance. Baldy Yong threatened to sue the police for alleged brutality, claiming he had many witnesses. Secretary Meng Dehai warned Director Guo about the negative public opinion if the police were perceived as "bureaucrats shielding one another." Considering the pressure, Director Guo eventually agreed to release Gao Qiqiang, whose bail application had already been submitted by Chen Shuting. Meanwhile, Chengcheng's cousin, Lu, delivered some chilies from their hometown.
Chengcheng sternly warned him to avoid contact, revealing that she had already covered their aunt's third phase chemotherapy costs. Gao Qiqiang was released and met by Chen Shuting and Gao Qisheng. He promised Chen Shuting a trip to Disneyland to make up for the trouble. Gao Qisheng asked about their next move, and Gao Qiqiang declared his intention to "fight everyone" until they submitted, which worried Chen Shuting.
Gao Qiqiang then convened a meeting with three veteran Construction Engineering Group executives: Mr. Xiao, Mr. Du, and Mr. Wang. He pressured them to align with him against Chengcheng. He exposed Mr. Xiao's accumulated tens of millions in kickbacks despite a high annual salary. He revealed and resolved Mr. Du's affair, where a woman was demanding a 30-million yuan settlement.
He acknowledged Mr. Wang's integrity, stating he feared such incorruptible individuals, subtly implying that he would still find a way to make him comply. All three agreed to support Gao Qiqiang. Later, Gao Qiqiang ordered his car to be searched. A tapping device was found under the passenger seat, but its battery was dead. Gao Qiqiang deduced that someone who didn't have regular access to his car must have planted it, which cleared Lu of suspicion.
Gao Qiqiang then addressed the local residents, offering gifts and apologizing for the construction disturbances, promising three ping-pong tables for their community after the project, and ensuring the cables would be repaired. Chen Tai learned that Gao Qiqiang had quickly resolved all the troubles since his release, making him feel a little uneasy, but Chengcheng kindly reassured him.
Chengcheng received a report from Lu, who confirmed that Gao Qiqiang no longer suspected him after finding the unpowered tapping device that Chengcheng had instructed Lu to plant. Lu also relayed Gao Qiqiang's declaration to "fight to the end," to which Chengcheng responded that neither of them had a way out of the conflict. Meanwhile, An Xin and Li Jian identified Zhang Daqing from surveillance footage linked to a drug dealer.
They visited Zhang Daqing's last known residence, guided by a local shopkeeper. The apartment had a rancid, unventilated smell, common in places used by drug addicts. They found gambling chips, Zhang Xiaoqing's phone, watch, and clothes, leading them to believe Zhang Daqing was the primary suspect in his brother's death and a gambler. An Xin's subsequent raids on several underground casinos, however, yielded no matching chips. Li Jian, still smitten with Meng Yu, asked An Xin for her contact information.
An Xin mischievously gave him Meng Dehai's number instead. Li Jian immediately called, only to be met with Meng Dehai's confused voice, much to Li Jian's chagrin. Gao Qiqiang contacted An Xin, claiming to have a lead on Zhang Daqing. He brought Han Fei, a casino owner, to meet An Xin. Han Fei confirmed Zhang Daqing was a regular at his now-closed casino and admitted Gao Qiqiang had brought him there.
Han Fei, under duress, stated he did not know Zhang Daqing's current whereabouts but hinted that Zhang Daqing, desperate and facing a city-wide manhunt, would likely try to return to Jinghai to settle something before attempting to flee. An Xin pondered this new clue. In a secluded, rundown room, Chengcheng confronted Zhang Daqing, chastising him for gambling publicly despite her efforts to hide him, calling it a ruined plan. Zhang Daqing pleaded for mercy, promising not to go out again.
Chengcheng told him she would arrange for him to leave Jinghai in a few days. When Zhang Daqing worried about the demolition compensation, Chengcheng slapped him, reminding him that his life was more important than money. Zhang Daqing, fearing for his life, asked if Chengcheng intended to kill him, but she denied being an "outlaw like Gao Qiqiang." Later, Meng Yu met An Xin, annoyed by his perpetually somber expression. She playfully snatched his phone and saw Zhang Daqing's photo.
Meng Yu was surprised, recalling that during her interviews in Mang Village, residents spoke highly of Zhang Daqing as a kind and warm-hearted person. An Xin informed her that Zhang Daqing's brother, Zhang Xiaoqing, was reportedly the opposite, frequently involved in fights and petty theft, and had been closer to Li Youtian's family. Meng Yu, feeling cold, urged An Xin to go inside.
