The Knockout Episode 28 Recap
> The Knockout Recap
Gao Qiqiang was furious upon learning that the provincial guidance team had dispatched personnel to Conch Village to investigate the old city renovation project. He reflected that he had intentionally offered minor issues when the team first arrived in Jinghai, but they had dismissed these and continued their probe, now threatening his core interests. Gao Qiqiang instructed Tang Xiaohu to create a significant disturbance, aiming to demonstrate to the people of Jinghai who truly held power.
Tang Xiaohu promptly assembled his men to carry out the order. Meanwhile, An Xin was enjoying rice noodle rolls at a roadside stall when Xu Zhong and Ji Ze, having heard of the stall's fame, unexpectedly joined him. Xu Zhong seized the opportunity to consult An Xin on their investigative priorities.
An Xin, cynical from past experiences, advised them against wasting their efforts, stating that even if they suppressed one group of criminal elements, new ones would quickly emerge, likening it to "bamboo shoots in spring after rain," a pattern observed in previous investigations. Ji Ze perceived An Xin's lingering distrust, but Xu Zhong firmly declared that this time, they were determined to eradicate the problem at its root.
An Xin subtly warned them about extensive surveillance, noting an unusual increase in street vendors around their guesthouse, clearly monitoring their every move. He also mentioned that he had previously interacted with the Conch Village Party Secretary and found him to be a decent person. Following An Xin's lead, Xu Zhong arranged for the Conch Village Secretary to rally the villagers. Liu Jinsheng, a villager, came forward with a crucial lead.
He recounted how Tang Xiaohu and his men had previously terrorized his home, smashing belongings, and then offered a payoff, threatening him against speaking truthfully to the guidance team. Liu Jinsheng added that Tang Xiaohu had similarly intimidated other villagers who had previously offended him, before finally claiming he had evidence of Tang Xiaohu committing murder.
Liu Jinsheng alleged that two months prior, after a wedding banquet, he had witnessed Tang Xiaohu's men burying someone alive in a forest and had filmed the event. Concerned that Gao Qiqiang might act first, Xu Zhong decided to proceed with digging up the body that very night, while simultaneously ordering surveillance on both Tang Xiaohu and Gao Qiqiang.
However, Liu Jinsheng's memory of the exact burial spot was vague, citing drunkenness and darkness, forcing officers to dig across a wide area of the forest all night long without success. Xu Zhong, who had also stayed up all night coordinating, received news that Tang Xiaohu had booked a one-way flight to Hainan and was due at Jinghai Airport in 15 minutes. He ordered the anti-gang office to apprehend Tang Xiaohu immediately.
To their surprise, Tang Xiaohu was not in the car they intercepted; he had escaped on Xiaochen's motorcycle. Xu Zhong commanded a lockdown of all highway exits and instructed Ji Ze to secure the digging site, emphasizing the critical need to locate the buried body. Ji Ze suspected that someone from Conch Village had tipped off Gao Qiqiang's group.
At the same time, Gao Qiqiang was attending a municipal economic forum where Zhao Lidong proposed him as the business community representative. However, Jiang Tian, the chairman of Shahai Group, publicly objected, leading to abstentions from all other business leaders. Gao Qiqiang calmly disavowed any connection to Tang Xiaohu, but Jiang Tian retorted, accusing Gao Qiqiang's subordinates of tainting his reputation. Meanwhile, Tang Xiaohu was apprehended at the train station while attempting to buy a ticket.
He refused to cooperate during interrogation, confidently declaring that he would be released before nightfall. Ji Ze's team continued their relentless digging for over a day and a night, yet found no meaningful evidence. As dusk approached and a thunderstorm was forecast, exasperated villagers began to protest. Ji Ze dispatched officers to calm them. Finally, after sustained effort, they unearthed a large sack, only to find it contained not a body, but a sheep.
Upon further questioning, Liu Jinsheng confessed that he had deliberately fabricated the story to frame Tang Xiaohu. The guidance team members realized they had fallen into Gao Qiqiang's elaborate trap. Seizing the opportune moment, Gao Qiqiang instructed Tang Xiaolong to mobilize media reporters at the Public Security Bureau entrance, intending for them to broadcast Tang Xiaohu's release and assert his dominance in Jinghai.
An Xin, receiving a call from a reporter who had been alerted by Gao Qiqiang about Tang Xiaohu's "wrongful arrest," immediately reported this development to Xu Zhong at the guesthouse. Gao Qiqiang and Tang Xiaolong arrived to meet Tang Xiaohu, publicly portraying Tang Xiaohu as a victim of false accusation. An Xin, quickly devising a counter-strategy, informed Xu Zhong about a six-year-old assault case involving Tang Xiaohu and a victim named Jiang Peng, who had been continuously petitioning for justice.
An Xin proposed using this old case as grounds to re-summon Tang Xiaohu, and Xu Zhong approved Zhang Biao's issuance of a new summons. An Xin returned to the bureau that night, observing Gao Qiqiang and numerous media reporters awaiting Tang Xiaohu's release. As Tang Xiaohu completed his release formalities and began speaking to the swarming reporters, Zhang Biao abruptly intervened, re-arresting Tang Xiaohu based on the old assault charge.
Zhang Biao expressed concern to An Xin that this aggressive move might backfire, as they had failed to convict Tang Xiaohu for the Jiang Peng case six years prior and likely couldn't now. An Xin acknowledged the risks, explaining that his primary goal was to detain Tang Xiaohu for the night, buying crucial time for the guidance team to strategize.
He believed that making Jinghai a better place was worth any personal cost, even if it meant confronting colleagues he had known for decades. Later, Gao Qiqiang, searching for hot water in the post room, unexpectedly encountered An Xin. Gao Qiqiang invited An Xin to dinner at Song Guang's restaurant, where he had already arranged for the place to be cleared of other customers.
During their meal, Gao Qiqiang casually inquired about An Xin's relationship with Gao Qilan, revealing that Gao Qilan had been infatuated with An Xin for 21 years, ever since he had shown her kindness during a difficult New Year's Eve. Gao Qiqiang then suggested that An Xin marry Gao Qilan and settle anywhere in the world, assuring him that money would not be an issue.
An Xin praised Gao Qilan but stated he had grown accustomed to living alone and had no intention of leaving Jinghai, particularly as he was nearing a promotion. Gao Qiqiang expressed understanding, admitting that after Chen Shutting's death, he too had struggled with the idea of companionship, but he then revealed his suspicion that An Xin was secretly advising the guidance team.
He expressed concern for Gao Qilan's future, entrusting her care to An Xin should "anything unexpected happen" to him, hinting that their opportunities to dine together like this might soon end. An Xin pressed him on his true desire to eat with him, to which Gao Qiqiang simply replied, "Yes." Later, An Xin sought out Gao Qilan for his recurring back pain.
Gao Qilan, diagnosing his severe lumbar disc herniation, advised surgery, but An Xin, skeptical of doctors and influenced by online information, preferred traction for temporary relief. An Xin invited her to dinner, where Gao Qilan remarked that though she didn't usually like dumplings, none compared to the ones An Xin had given her on that memorable New Year's Eve 21 years ago.
An Xin subtly probed her about Gao Qiqiang's activities, but Gao Qilan asserted that her brother protected her by keeping her completely out of his business affairs. An Xin then gently suggested that Gao Qilan consider maintaining a distance from her brother's increasingly complicated business and perhaps move to another hospital outside of Jinghai, or even leave the province entirely.
