The Knockout Episode 31 Recap
> The Knockout Recap
Tang Xiaolong pressured Shi Lei to donate blood for a third time, but Shi Lei, already severely weakened from previous donations, pleaded that he couldn't. Tang Xiaolong, undeterred, pulled out a dagger and threatened to take his blood directly. Terrified, Shi Lei begged for mercy and agreed to have his father sell their ancestral home to repay Tang Xiaolong's debt. Tang Xiaolong made Shi Lei call his father on the spot, who reluctantly agreed.
Satisfied, Tang Xiaolong then had Shi Lei sign an IOU before leaving. Overwhelmed by fear and excessive blood loss, Shi Lei fainted immediately. A nearby shop owner called an ambulance. At the hospital, Shi Lei woke to find An Xin, Sun Xu, and Fang Ning from the special investigation team wanting to question him. Initially resistant, Shi Lei refused to cooperate, declaring his life wasn't worth saving.
An Xin then reminded him of his past good deeds, highlighting how his seed company had improved crops for five villages and lifted 20,000 villagers out of poverty, earning him "advanced individual" recognition. He then explained that the team was there to help people like him who were being victimized. Convinced, Shi Lei began to tell his story.
Five years prior, Shi Lei's company faced a cash flow crisis, and a bank loan he applied for took over half a year to process. He sought help from Loan Manager Cai at Jinghai Bank. Cai, citing long queues and the bank's preference for larger, more reputable businesses, told Shi Lei his loan wouldn't be approved that quarter. Cai then suggested he borrow from Tang Xiaolong for a month to tide him over.
When Shi Lei met Tang Xiaolong, he was informed that the minimum loan term was six months, with an additional ten percent interest. Tang Xiaolong's subordinate warned Shi Lei that "Dao Ge" was influential in Jinghai and could even get away with murder, but Tang Xiaolong quickly dismissed the comment, claiming they operated in a lawful society based on contracts. With no other options, Shi Lei signed the loan agreement. However, the bank loan remained unapproved for three months.
Shi Lei confronted Cai, who vaguely cited credit tightening and disavowed responsibility for the high interest rates Shi Lei was paying. Realizing Cai and Tang Xiaolong were working together, Shi Lei accused them. Cai defiantly told Shi Lei to bring his friends. Shi Lei recounted how he sought justice from various friends, but the police refused to file a case due to "insufficient evidence."
He explained Tang Xiaolong's clever scheme: they acquired a failing winery, rebranded its four-yuan bottles of liquor, and then listed them online for 2,990 yuan. Debtors like Shi Lei were forced to "buy" these overpriced bottles, disguised as company procurement, effectively legalizing the exorbitant interest rates. When Shi Lei tried to escape by hiding out of town, Tang Xiaolong sent his men to live at Shi Lei's parents' house, forcing them to call him back.
After the police briefly intervened following a report, Tang Xiaolong intensified his actions, forcing Shi Lei to open an underground casino in his company's warehouse. Tang Xiaolong defiantly vowed to return, threatening that all of Shi Lei's assets—money, land, company, and even his blood—would eventually belong to him, as he relentlessly piled on new debts. Sun Xu encouraged Shi Lei to testify against Tang Xiaolong to bring him to justice, and Shi Lei agreed.
Shi Lei also shared his fear that Tang Xiaolong had deep connections within Jinghai's public security, procuratorate, and courts. Meanwhile, Fang Ning's investigation revealed that Tang Xiaolong was indeed using Manager Cai to secure bank loans, which he then re-lent at usurious rates. Beyond loan sharking and illegal gambling dens, Tang Xiaolong also ran a sex trade, coercing young women who couldn't repay their cosmetic surgery debts into prostitution.
Xu Zhong found that multiple whistleblowers from within the Jinghai political system had filed real-name reports against Tang Xiaolong, indicating deep-rooted corruption. An Xin also detected a leak within their own ranks, tipping off Tang Xiaolong, and Xu Zhong urged him to quickly identify the mole. During a discussion, Tang Xiaolong shared details of his wine-based lending scheme with Gao Qiqiang, stating he loved the business and believed the era of violence was over.
Their conversation was interrupted by a call from Captain Lin of the traffic police, regarding Bai Xiaochen. Gao Qiqiang took the phone. Although he initially suggested simply sentencing Bai Xiaochen, he ultimately agreed to pick him up. At the police station, Bai Xiaochen was visibly upset, questioning why Gao Qiqiang hadn't come inside to get him and drove a mere "scooter" instead of his usual luxury car, complaining about the embarrassment.
Gao Qiqiang retorted that he had no "face" to go in. He then took Bai Xiaochen to Bai Jiangbo's grave, pointing out that Xiaochen hadn't visited his father in a long time and expressing his doubt that Xiaochen would ever visit his own grave in the future. Bai Xiaochen lamented that Gao Qiqiang refused to teach him how to do business.
Gao Qiqiang firmly reiterated that Bai Xiaochen should never get involved in the Qiangsheng Group's affairs, stating, "That's not something you can do well," for his own good. He criticized Bai Xiaochen's reckless motorcycle racing, comparing him to a hooligan. Bai Xiaochen retorted, questioning Gao Qiqiang's care for him and accusing him of acting. Gao Qiqiang admitted he had never cared for or loved Bai Xiaochen, but passionately declared his profound love for Bai Xiaochen's mother, Shuting.
He confessed that only when he disciplined Bai Xiaochen did he feel Shuting was still with him. Gao Qiqiang then reminisced about Shuting, wondering if she would still be alive if he hadn't brought her back from Hong Kong. A flashback showed Gao Qiqiang calling Shuting in Hong Kong, claiming he was diagnosed with an incurable disease (which he later revealed was dry eye disease, exaggerated as terminal) and had run out of money.
He dramatically said he would pick up trash if she didn't come back. He pleaded with her to return with Bai Xiaochen, saying he was lost without them. Shuting agreed but laid down three conditions: first, he must legitimize all his businesses; second, no more killing; and third, he must never involve Bai Xiaochen in his business. Gao Qiqiang tearfully promised to abide by all conditions, revealing that Shuting was his first and only love.
Back at the grave, Gao Qiqiang challenged Bai Xiaochen to a motorcycle race. Bai Xiaochen agreed, proposing a high-stakes deal: if he won, he would join Qiangsheng and learn the business; if he lost, he would give up motorcycles forever and obey Gao Qiqiang. Gao Qiqiang, riding his "scooter" against Bai Xiaochen's powerful 1200cc motorcycle, let Bai Xiaochen start first. During the race, Bai Xiaochen warned Gao Qiqiang about a dangerous hairpin turn, urging him to brake.
Gao Qiqiang ignored the warning, accelerating through the bend without braking, taking a dangerous lead and ultimately winning. Bai Xiaochen, shaken by Gao Qiqiang's recklessness, scolded him for risking his life. Gao Qiqiang countered that Bai Xiaochen lost because he was "too afraid of death" and advised him not to "court death" in the future. Defeated, Bai Xiaochen promised to sell his motorcycle the next day.
An Xin approached Zhang Biao, asking for his cooperation with the investigation team, acknowledging Zhang Biao's resentment over being investigated while simultaneously being asked for help. An Xin mentioned the massive bribes, tens of millions found at Pingkang Police Station Chief Lu Peng's home, questioning if all Jinghai police were corrupt. Zhang Biao vehemently defended his unit, asserting their integrity despite admitting to sometimes "turning a blind eye" due to Qiangsheng Group's growing influence, but denying any corruption.
An Xin emphasized that their participation in the operation was a sign of trust. Zhang Biao eventually agreed to select trustworthy officers for the mission. An Xin and Zhang Biao then led a raid on a hotel suspected of being Tang Xiaolong's prostitution den, where they expected him to be collecting money. Despite deploying officers at all exits, they found only prostitutes inside. Tang Xiaolong had escaped.
An Xin immediately suspected a leak and confronted Zhang Biao, demanding his phone, and then "the other phone" he used to tip off Tang Xiaolong. Zhang Biao initially tried to deflect suspicion, suggesting the mole could be among the new officers he brought or even within the special investigation team. An Xin then revealed that he had only informed Zhang Biao of the specific target, exposing the operation as a test.
Zhang Biao realized he had been caught when An Xin revealed he possessed records of Tang Xiaolong's financial transfers to Zhang Biao's wife over the past five years. Defeated, Zhang Biao handed over the second phone. He then asked An Xin about his likely punishment—demotion, dismissal, or imprisonment. An Xin stated that wasn't his decision and he was merely there to facilitate the investigation.
Zhang Biao made one last request: to visit his master Cao Chuang's grave before his inevitable sentencing. He reflected on the thankless nature of being a captain, making enemies, losing family, and ultimately feeling unworthy and having failed himself. He confessed that he had only been able to protect himself and his family.
An Xin inquired if Tang Xiaolong had threatened his family, but Zhang Biao dismissed it as an excuse, admitting he had personally "failed to uphold his bottom line" and could never truly cleanse his conscience. Based on Zhang Biao's confession and the existing evidence, Tang Xiaolong's crimes were confirmed. Xu Zhong decided to proceed with Tang Xiaolong's arrest first, aiming to cripple Gao Qiqiang's operations and expose his powerful "protective umbrella."
To prevent any further leaks, Xu Zhong requested the deployment of 1,200 armed police and special police officers from outside Jinghai. These officers were to arrive in batches and launch simultaneous raids on all identified high-interest loan platforms, prostitution dens, gambling venues, and other related criminal enterprises.
