The Knockout Episode 30 Recap
> The Knockout Recap
An Xin brought Lu Peng, the director of Pingkang Police Station, and all his officers to the criminal investigation team for interrogation. Seeing his colleagues being questioned, Lu Peng realized escape was futile. He confessed to having accepted bribes from Wang Shuai in 2015 to reduce Wang Shuai's felony punishment to a misdemeanor.
However, Lu Peng maintained that as a small property manager for Qiangsheng Group, Wang Shuai was his only contact, and he had no knowledge of Gao Qiqiang's criminal activities. Xu Zhong commented that the public feared Gao Qiqiang, who harbored a cruel heart beneath his gentle demeanor, not petty criminals like Wang Shuai, whose domineering attitude was backed by the Qiangsheng Group. Sun Xu reported that Lu Peng had received over four million yuan in bribes.
Xu Zhong was astonished by the audacity of a mere police station director and concluded that Lu Peng must have powerful backing. Colleagues at the police station confirmed that Lu Peng had a patron high up in the political system, but Lu Peng remained tight-lipped, never revealing the leader's name, even when intoxicated. Gao Qiqiang met with Tang Xiaohu, expressing concern that Wang Shuai might confess to the special investigation team if held for too long.
Tang Xiaohu reassured Gao Qiqiang, stating that Wang Shuai would never betray them, adhering to their "family rules." However, Gao Qiqiang decided to make an example, asserting that Jinghai residents needed to understand the severe consequences of offending the Gao family. He instructed Tang Xiaohu to burn Wang Shuai's house to make a big fuss, but specifically warned against causing any fatalities.
Fortunately, An Xin had already arranged for Wang Shuai's wife and child to return to her mother's house, so they escaped harm when the house was set on fire that night. Investigators confirmed the fire was arson. Subsequently, Gao Qiqiang escalated his provocation by having Qiangsheng Group business cards inserted into the special investigation team's lunchboxes, a direct challenge to the team. An Xin reported Gao Qiqiang's actions and his prior dinner invitation to Xu Zhong and Ji Ze.
Xu Zhong interpreted Gao Qiqiang's eagerness to meet as a potential attempt to intimidate them into retreating. He decided to meet Gao Qiqiang outside, rather than for dinner, choosing to "try peaceful means first." Xu Zhong instructed Ji Ze to handle the security arrangements for the meeting. Gao Qiqiang took Xu Zhong on a tour, starting at Couple Street, which was a newly renovated area transformed from Old Factory Street by Qiangsheng Group.
Gao Qiqiang claimed the renovation project actually resulted in losses for the company due to their use of the best materials for the benefit of the old residents. He then led Xu Zhong to a kindergarten he had donated. Gao Qiqiang proudly explained the kindergarten's low tuition fees, free three meals a day, and complimentary school bus service, highlighting how these provisions alleviated burdens for young working parents who lacked childcare support.
He presented these endeavors as a personal commitment to social welfare rather than a business interest. Xu Zhong then expressed interest in visiting the nursing home that Gao Qiqiang also supported. Gao Qiqiang explained that he established the nursing home out of a personal fear of old age and loneliness, having lost his parents early and having no children of his own. He found fulfillment in volunteering there, which helped him overcome his fears.
Upon arriving at the nursing home, the director mentioned that an old resident, Mr. Huang, had been asking for Gao Qiqiang's help with his gardening. Xu Zhong was surprised to discover that Mr. Huang was his former teacher from Party School. Mr. Huang lavished praise on Gao Qiqiang, recounting how Gao Qiqiang had genuinely cared for him for eight years without seeking anything in return, unlike other officials who only made superficial visits for photo opportunities.
Mr. Huang then presented Xu Zhong with a stack of letters from his former students, who were now grassroots cadres across Jinghai. These letters contained glowing appraisals of Gao Qiqiang, dismissing any negative rumors about him as unfounded and highlighting Qiangsheng Group's significant tax contributions. Xu Zhong subtly corrected Mr. Huang's interpretation of a Chairman Mao quote, emphasizing that doing good deeds also meant "doing no bad deeds."
Mr. Huang acknowledged that he was aware of Xu Zhong's mission in Jinghai to continue the "education and rectification" and "wiping out the underworld" efforts, but reiterated that his comments about Gao Qiqiang were merely a "private chat" between teacher and student, unrelated to work. Upon returning, Fang Ning's investigation into the kindergarten and nursing home confirmed Xu Zhong's suspicions.
The kindergarten had an unwritten admission rule: one parent of each child had to be a grassroots public servant in Jinghai City. Similarly, eighty percent of the nursing home residents were retired old cadres, with the remaining twenty percent being their relatives and friends. Xu Zhong realized the depth of Gao Qiqiang's strategy: he had cultivated influence by supporting grassroots public servants through the kindergarten and appeasing retired cadres through the nursing home.
This intricate network allowed Gao Qiqiang to easily control the flow of information and opinion, effectively "pulling the strings" in Jinghai. The tour was a blatant display of his power, intended to intimidate the investigation team into retreating. Considering the security breach with the business cards in their lunchboxes, Xu Zhong decided to immediately relocate the special investigation team's office for safety.
Despite the challenges, the arrest of Wang Shuai had emboldened the citizens of Jinghai, leading to a surge in valuable tips and reports through the political and legal police reporting platform and the 110 hotline, indicating that the situation was developing favorably for the investigation. Meanwhile, Tang Xiaolong operated an illegal gambling den in Shi Lei's seed company warehouse. Shi Lei, heavily indebted to Tang Xiaolong due to high-interest loans, was accused by Tang Xiaolong of embezzling gambling funds.
Shi Lei vehemently denied this, stating that Tang Xiaolong's own associates managed the money and chips. Due to the general tightening of the situation following the guidance group's arrival, Tang Xiaolong instructed Shi Lei to close the gambling operation for two months and focus on seed sales. Shi Lei protested, desperate to generate income to repay his debts, but dared not defy Tang Xiaolong.
Later, Tang Xiaolong received a sudden alert that the police were coming to inspect the warehouse, and he immediately told Shi Lei to quickly restore it to its original state. Zhang Biao, acting on a public tip, led a police raid on the warehouse. However, Tang Xiaolong had been forewarned, and by the time the police arrived, the gambling setup had been swiftly dismantled.
Tang Xiaolong himself was present, feigning to be a seed buyer and calmly practicing "Iron Palm" in a grain barrel. Police officers conducted a thorough search and found some gambling chips and cash. Shi Lei claimed complete ignorance, prompting Zhang Biao to take him into custody for questioning. Lacking concrete evidence directly linking Shi Lei to the gambling activities, Zhang Biao was compelled to release him. Outside the police station, Tang Xiaolong intercepted Shi Lei.
He reiterated his accusations of embezzlement and demanded repayment of the month's interest, as well as the money seized by the police. Shi Lei pleaded his innocence, emphasizing that he could not possibly cover such losses. Tang Xiaolong then mockingly offered to let Shi Lei perform "good deeds" instead of paying. He drove Shi Lei to a blood donation vehicle and forced him to donate blood, threatening his parents, his divorced wife, and his children. Shi Lei complied.
After the first donation, Tang Xiaolong produced another ID card, identical to Shi Lei’s, and forced him to donate blood again, despite Shi Lei's protests and the doctor's information that a person could only donate blood once every six months. Tang Xiaolong brushed off Shi Lei's concerns, suggesting it would be beneficial for his fatty liver.
