The Knockout Episode 21 Recap
> The Knockout Recap
An Xin continued to interrogate Chengcheng, pressing her to confess her crimes. Chengcheng, however, insisted she was merely recounting a rumor, claiming it wasn't about Zhang Daqing. She then implicated Meng Dehai, alleging he used Gao Qiqiang to counterbalance Li Youtian. As An Xin prepared to seek confirmation from Meng Dehai, he learned that Zhang Daqing had suddenly recanted his confession.
Subsequently, Xiao Lu confessed to taking sole responsibility for all the crimes, including assisting in the transfer of the body and hiding the murder weapon at Gao Qiqiang's home. An Xin suspected foul play and confronted Zhang Biao, who had been interrogating Zhang Daqing with Xiao Lu. Xiao Lu confirmed that he and Zhang Biao were together when Zhang Daqing changed his statement, exonerating Zhang Biao.
Convinced that Zhang Daqing would not change his confession without coercion, An Xin inquired who else had access to him and discovered that Li Xiang had met with Zhang Daqing privately. An Xin then sought out Li Xiang and saw him accompanying Zhao Lidong, who appeared slightly intoxicated, out of a hotel after drinks.
After Li Xiang saw Zhao Lidong off, An Xin angrily confronted him, accusing him of being a "dog" for associating with Zhao Lidong and for influencing Zhang Daqing's changed statement. Li Xiang, however, revealed that he was intentionally getting close to Zhao Lidong to gather criminal evidence using his police identity.
He admitted he was too deeply entrenched to turn back, but An Xin offered to testify on his behalf to clear his name, an offer Li Xiang believed was futile. Meanwhile, Li Hongwei, seeking revenge on Meng Yu, learned she was Meng Dehai's daughter, forcing him to temporarily suppress his anger. Meng Dehai summoned Li Youtian and Gong Kaijiang to his office, instructing Li Youtian to halt the Mang Village resort project and prioritize the highway construction.
Li Youtian expressed concerns about villagers' dissent, noting that the resort project had been approved before the highway announcement and involved significant investment from the community, causing considerable financial loss if only land compensation was provided. Meng Dehai offered an alternative: a new plot of land north of Mang Village for the resort and factory, which would become valuable after the highway's completion. With Gong Kaijiang's persuasion, Li Youtian reluctantly agreed to try to persuade the villagers, requesting more time.
Meng Dehai, however, insisted on a one-week deadline. After Li Youtian left, Gong Kaijiang suggested involving Gao Qiqiang, but Meng Dehai hesitated, acknowledging that the project hadn't gone through public bidding, making Gao Qiqiang's involvement seem irregular. Tang Xiaolong was released after serving six years. Tang Xiaohu picked him up and took him to Platinum Palace, where Gao Qiqiang had arranged stylists and tailors for him. Gao Qiqiang also enrolled Tang Xiaolong in a business management advanced training course.
When Gao Qiqiang arrived, Tang Xiaolong was overcome with emotion. Gao Qiqiang then gifted Tang Xiaolong a game arcade, which secretly housed an underground casino generating a monthly net profit of over 400,000 yuan. Tang Xiaolong was to keep 80% of the profits, with 20% going to Chen Shuting to cover initial costs. Tang Xiaolong was deeply grateful.
Gao Qiqiang casually asked everyone to look into a new type of colorful drug pill that Yang Jian from the Narcotics Control Unit had mentioned was circulating in Jinghai. Gao Qisheng's expression immediately changed, and he remained silent. Chen Shuting, noticing Gao Qisheng's discomfort, reiterated a strict rule in the Gao family: no one was allowed to deal in drugs, subtly directing the warning at Gao Qisheng. Gao Qisheng tried to cover up, but Gao Qiqiang sensed the truth.
After sending Tang Xiaolong and Tang Xiaohu away, Gao Qiqiang pressed Gao Qisheng, who eventually confessed to selling "Magu" to compensate for the financial losses of his Xiaolingtong stores. Gao Qiqiang was furious but confirmed that Gao Qisheng was not using the drugs himself. He ordered him to sell off the remaining stock quickly to cover his losses and strictly forbade him from ever touching drugs again.
Meng Dehai tried to get Director Guo to accompany him to meet investors, who specifically requested police presence to ensure a secure investment environment. Director Guo, however, made excuses, claiming a wrist injury that flared up in bad weather and stating he had an expert appointment for acupuncture. An Xin also joined Director Guo at the hospital for his shoulder pain treatment. Coincidentally, Gao Qiqiang appeared at the hospital, claiming he was there for a friend's recommendation for Dr. Guan.
He used this opportunity to "report" to Director Guo about the Mang Village incident, stating he had spoken to the disgruntled villagers and resolved their issues regarding pursuing legal action against the police. He also feigned a back injury to get acupuncture, creating an alibi with Director Guo and An Xin. While waiting outside the treatment room, Gao Qiqiang sat in the courtyard. A young boy named Fang Donghai had his kite stuck in a tree.
Gao Qiqiang helped him retrieve it, bought him hamburgers, and advised him on the importance of making money so he could afford as many hamburgers as he wanted. An Xin overheard this and sarcastically remarked that Gao Qiqiang was instigating greed in a child. Just then, Director Guo received a call about a riot at the Mang Village construction site.
An Xin immediately realized that Gao Qiqiang's presence at the hospital was a deliberate act to establish an alibi for himself and implicate the police as his witnesses. Director Guo later reviewed the situation, noting that all the injured workers had only minor wounds, concluding that the incident was a calculated move to draw attention from the city authorities.
However, Director Guo also mused that the incident, despite its disruptive nature, could be beneficial for the city by expediting demolition work and preventing villagers from unfairly demanding higher compensation. Secretary Li, however, strongly condemned the "forced demolition" as an egregious act that tarnished Jinghai's image, disrupted reform and opening-up, hindered investment attraction, and obstructed economic development, demanding severe punishment for those responsible.
