The Knockout Episode 32 Recap
> The Knockout Recap
Xu Zhong and Ji Ze established a command center, comprehensively deploying for the capture of Tang Xiaolong. An Xin led public security officers to Shi Lei Seed Company. He had identified Tang Xiaolong's bodyguards, Ai Xi, Lin Bei, and Xu Tailai, as Class A fugitives wanted by the Public Security Bureau for major murder and gun-related crimes, all considered extremely dangerous.
Over the walkie-talkie, Xu Zhong warned all units that their targets were highly dangerous and instructed them to act decisively to incapacitate the suspects immediately. Under the cover of darkness, officers scaled the walls of the seed company, cut through the barbed wire, and silently opened the main gate. As officers streamed in, a startled guard was swiftly subdued. The police then stormed the underground casino, which was cleverly disguised within a warehouse.
Gamblers scattered in a panic, fleeing for their lives. Tang Xiaolong quickly hid his ledgers, retrieved a pistol from a grain jar, and made his escape through a secret room. Officers quickly located and pursued Tang Xiaolong. He was cornered on a rooftop, where, suffering from acrophobia, he trembled and threatened to jump. An Xin arrived and urged Tang Xiaolong to surrender and expose Gao Qiqiang's crimes.
Tang Xiaolong, however, defiantly refused to betray Gao Qiqiang, reiterating that he would rather jump. An Xin, disregarding his own safety, lunged forward and grabbed Tang Xiaolong's hand, saving him from a fatal fall. Tang Xiaolong, seeing An Xin's hand again, made a remark alluding to past rescues. He then recalled An Xin's disdain for him twenty years ago in the Old Factory Street market and how his life had become "wonderful" since he started working for Brother Qiang.
Meanwhile, members of the guidance team launched simultaneous raids across Jinghai. Fang Ning led a team to a nursing home to apprehend Chen Feng, the former President of the Jinghai City Court. Chen Feng had been complaining to Huang Lao about the guidance team's disruption in Jinghai, feeling overlooked in his retirement. Fang Ning confronted Chen Feng, accusing him of illegally reducing sentences during his tenure, specifically mentioning Tang Xiaolong's case.
Chen Feng initially insisted his actions were legal, but Fang Ning presented irrefutable evidence of multiple illegal sentence reductions since 2006, all aiding Tang Xiaolong in evading justice. Overwhelmed by the evidence, Chen Feng was arrested. In another location, Ji Ze's team found Zhai Zhengqi, who had already prepared a full confession, expressing his relief at finally being unburdened.
Ji Ze commended the team's relentless efforts, acknowledging the initial success in dismantling Tang Xiaolong's criminal organization and apprehending several implicated officials, marking a significant milestone in the crackdown on gang crimes. Zhao Lidong hosted a banquet for the guidance team, offering a lavish spread of local delicacies, which Xu Zhong noted was excessively opulent.
Zhao Lidong framed the event as a gesture of gratitude from the people of Jinghai for the team's work in eradicating criminal elements and rectifying the political and legal system, proclaiming that Jinghai had "re-emerged into daylight." Xu Zhong, however, calmly countered, stating that the "evil forces" had not been fully eradicated and that such deeply entrenched criminal networks must have powerful "protection umbrellas" beyond lower-level police officers.
He firmly declared that the guidance team would remain in Jinghai to continue their investigations, emphasizing that to genuinely address problems, one must tackle their root causes for lasting peace. He urged the local leaders to be prepared for long-term cooperation. To prevent any impropriety, Ji Ze personally offered to pay for the meal, leaving Zhao Lidong with no choice but to accept. Soon after, a deluge of complaints against Xu Zhong began arriving at the provincial level.
Zhou Zhihe, the Provincial Political and Legal Committee Secretary, called Xu Zhong, acknowledging his achievements but expressing concern over the mounting grievances. He advised Xu Zhong to exercise more caution, particularly when dealing with long-standing cadres, and suggested he return to the provincial capital for a face-to-face briefing. Xu Zhong, however, explained that he could not leave Jinghai at such a critical juncture of the investigation, offering to bear the pressure.
Zhou Zhihe, while accepting, warned Xu Zhong that he was not invulnerable. Despite the internal pressure, a crowd of Jinghai citizens gathered outside the guidance team's office to express their support. Shi Lei's parents approached Xu Zhong, tearfully thanking him for rescuing their son from Tang Xiaolong's destructive influence.
Xu Zhong publicly apologized for the shortcomings that allowed such criminal forces to flourish and solemnly vowed not to leave Jinghai until all remaining criminal elements and corrupt officials were purged, promising to restore a clear and just environment to the city. The crowd erupted in cheers. Later, Jiang Tian arrived with a decorative wooden carving, a "small gift" symbolizing good luck, on behalf of Shahai Group.
Xu Zhong politely declined, emphasizing the guidance team's commitment to being incorruptible and adhering to strict regulations. Ji Ze reiterated that as members of the Discipline Inspection Commission, they could not accept any gifts, and Jiang Tian eventually took his offering back. During interrogation, Tang Xiaolong remained uncooperative, refusing to disclose any information about Gao Qiqiang. Officers pressed him, stating they had ample evidence and that Gao Qiqiang and Tang Xiaohu were under surveillance.
Suddenly, the interrogation room lights went out. In the ensuing darkness, Tang Xiaolong attempted to bite off his tongue but was quickly subdued by the officers. While initial checks found no signs of sabotage to the lighting equipment, Xu Zhong suspected the outage was deliberately caused. Fang Ning later reported that the power outage was orchestrated by individuals from the Power Supply Bureau who had coerced a guesthouse waitress into planting "warning" cards in the guidance team's meal boxes.
They threatened to cut off her family's electricity, which would jeopardize her diabetic elder's insulin supply stored in the refrigerator, an act Xu Zhong condemned as potentially life-threatening. In the detention center, Tang Xiaolong found a hidden note that read, "Everything is fine, we are figuring out a way," but it was intercepted by guards before he could finish reading. Tang Xiaolong feigned ignorance about the note's origin.
The officers then presented him with video evidence: a confession from the detention center warden. The warden admitted to accepting bribes and helping to relay messages to Tang Xiaolong due to financial hardship, with promises of increased business for his wife's restaurant. He even detailed the exact location where he hid the note. Faced with this irrefutable evidence and the officers' assertion that no one could save him now, Tang Xiaolong still refused to confess.
Learning that his inside contact was compromised, Gao Qiqiang, pressured by his brother Tang Xiaohu to seek help, tried to contact Zhao Lidong. However, Zhao Lidong, through his Secretary Wang, deftly avoided Gao Qiqiang's calls, claiming to be too busy with the "light engineering project" on Guanghan Street and stating that it wasn't his direct responsibility. Secretary Wang advised Gao Qiqiang to delegate more and take time for himself, then ended the call, citing another incoming call.
Gao Qiqiang was left frustrated and desperate. Meanwhile, Xu Zhong and Ji Ze, though noting Tang Xiaolong's continued silence, believed he would eventually confess, now that all his external lifelines were severed. Feeling cornered, Gao Qiqiang sought help from Huang Lao. Huang Lao observed Gao Qiqiang's long absence and saw through his fabricated excuses about being busy with the Guanghan Street project.
Gao Qiqiang then confessed that his manager, Tang Xiaolong, had caused him considerable trouble, implicating others, and leaving him feeling helpless. Huang Lao subtly reminded Gao Qiqiang of his origins and the "bad friends" he likely made, but Gao Qiqiang emphasized his decades-long, familial bond with Tang Xiaolong. Huang Lao, citing the law's impartiality, advised Gao Qiqiang not to get involved.
Gao Qiqiang, feigning deference, brought up the guidance team's extensive investigations, even in nursing homes, and their recent arrests, praising Huang Lao's integrity. Huang Lao, however, saw that Gao Qiqiang was indeed seeking his help, and implied he would consider it, stating he wished to "go out and clear his head." Later, Yang Jian picked up Meng Dehai from the hospital.
Meng Dehai, having just visited his unwell wife, commented on how busy everyone had become and that he needed to care for his wife personally, rather than relying solely on the live-in nurse. When Yang Jian offered him a ride in his luxury car, Meng Dehai politely declined, and Yang Jian did not insist.
Yang Jian then offered to replace the old house lock with a smart one, but Meng Dehai again declined, remarking that he wasn't yet "old enough to forget the key," perhaps hinting at a preference for tradition or a subtle distrust. Back home, An Xin and Meng Yu were already in the midst of making dumplings. Meng Dehai and Yang Jian joined them in the kitchen.
Meng Dehai lamented that Yang Jian and Meng Yu had not brought their child, who, according to Yang Jian, was busy with homework. Meng Dehai criticized them for leaving the child's upbringing entirely to the nanny and then commented on Meng Yu's stubbornness. An Xin asked about Meng Dehai's wife, Cui, learning she was stable but still unconscious.
An Xin offered to visit and speak with her, but Meng Dehai questioned if An Xin, now seconded to the provincial guidance team, would have the time. Back at the guidance team's headquarters, Xu Zhong inquired about the reliability of the new guesthouse staff, who were now provincially vetted and screened. Ji Ze assured him of their integrity, taking personal responsibility for any issues.
Realizing they couldn't rely on Tang Xiaolong for a breakthrough, Xu Zhong and Ji Ze decided to shift their focus. Playing a game to test their synchronized thinking, they both wrote "Power Supply Bureau" on their notepads, confirming their shared intuition. Xu Zhong remarked on Ji Ze's keen attention to public welfare, connecting the Power Supply Bureau's coercion of the waitress to its illicit ties with Gao Qiqiang.
They recalled An Changlin's earlier observations about Jinghai's deeply corrupted and interconnected power system, concluding that problems in the Electric Power Industrial Company certainly indicated deeper issues within the Power Supply Bureau. The guidance team subsequently received numerous public complaints about the electricity system. Citizens reported frequent power outages without prior notice, often due to their neighborhoods being supplied with "temporary electricity" that couldn't handle peak demand. Their attempts to report these issues to authorities were met with bureaucratic stonewalling.
Businesses suffered from the Electric Power Industrial Company's monopoly, which provided substandard services at inflated prices. Witnesses recounted how Ma Tao, the company's general manager, would physically intimidate and assault those who dared to complain, even terrorizing their children to prevent them from attending school. This led locals to believe that Ma Tao, backed by Yang Jian, the Deputy Director of the Power Supply Bureau, was part of an untouchable criminal enterprise.
Recognizing that these issues impacted both public well-being and the business environment, Xu Zhong underscored the importance of comprehensive investigations adhering to the "five chains and one map" principle (time, character, authority, interest, and evidence chains). After thorough investigation and confirmation of severe problems within the Jinghai Electric Power Industrial Company, the guidance team delved deeper.
They discovered that Ma Tao, the general manager, was a former informant for Yang Jian during Yang Jian's time as the Chief of the Anti-drug Detachment. Now, with Yang Jian serving as the Deputy Director of the Power Supply Bureau, he remained Ma Tao's superior and facilitated Ma Tao's illicit operations by providing "green lights." The guidance team suspected extensive bribery and a clear conflict of interest.
Given An Xin's personal relationship with both Meng Dehai (Yang Jian's father-in-law) and Yang Jian, the team decided to assign him to investigate the matter, seeing it as a crucial test of his integrity. An Xin invited Yang Jian to dinner. Yang Jian, initially joking about An Xin deleting his number, soon tried to recruit him to the Power Bureau, touting its profitability.
An Xin declined, stating he didn't desire such wealth and then revealed he had been seconded to the provincial special investigation team focused on cracking down on gang crimes, which visibly startled Yang Jian. Meng Yu arrived late, mentioning a personnel meeting at the TV station. Yang Jian lightheartedly suggested she was due for a promotion, and Meng Yu mentioned her father, Meng Dehai, often asked about An Xin. An Xin offered to visit Meng Dehai soon.
Yang Jian then raised a toast (with tea), awkwardly wishing An Xin and Meng Yu a "long and happy marriage," a remark made all the more uncomfortable by the fact that he was Meng Yu's husband. An Xin then directly asked Meng Yu to publicize Tang Xiaolong's arrest through her program. Meng Yu, guessing his intention, readily agreed, stating her superiors had already made arrangements for it. Later, Yang Jian expressed his concerns to Meng Yu.
He admitted he knew An Xin had come for her, dismissing her teasing about jealousy by saying An Xin's directness showed no ulterior motives. However, his true worry was An Xin's new role in the anti-gang special investigation team. Yang Jian believed An Xin was using Tang Xiaolong's case as a proxy to target Gao Qiqiang, disregarding the potential repercussions for others. He described An Xin as someone whose judgment was not based on "normal standards" of pros and cons.
Yang Jian pleaded with Meng Yu to keep their family out of the conflict, warning that challenging Gao Qiqiang could once again destabilize Jinghai. Meng Yu, however, firmly reiterated her commitment to the news report, having already given her word.
She reminded Yang Jian of their long-standing agreement not to interfere in each other's professional lives, an implicit reference to their past marital difficulties that led to their reconciliation and marriage after An Xin had famously told Meng Yu he didn't love her and she should marry someone who did. Meng Yu worked late into the weekend editing the footage. As she was finishing, a security guard, seeing her office lights on, startled her while checking the premises.
Frightened, Meng Yu instinctively called An Xin, but only after the guard reassured her did she calm down, falsely claiming she had pressed the wrong button and was talking to a colleague. An Xin, sensing her underlying distress, offered to have Yang Jian pick her up, but Meng Yu declined, insisting she could contact him herself.
