The Knockout Episode 4 Recap
> The Knockout Recap
Feng Dazhuang's subordinates are apprehended for selling circuit boards, prompting Camel to suggest they lay low. Feng Dazhuang vehemently refuses, citing an upcoming "going up the hill" event that cannot be missed to avoid disappointing their mastermind. Facing a manpower shortage, he grudgingly instructs An Xin to join them. An Xin, to appear cooperative, asks about payment and agrees to go.
Meanwhile, Gao Qisheng, leveraging his university classmate Cao Bin, learns that Gong Kaijiang, the vice-general manager of the Telecommunications Company, is responsible for launching the PHS (Personal Handy-phone System) business. Gao Qiqiang and Gao Qisheng arrange a dinner with Gong Kaijiang to secure a PHS business agency. During the meal, Gong Kaijiang orders the most expensive dishes, including Australian Lobsters Cooked in Three Ways and individual sea cucumbers from Liaodong Bay, along with Cordon Bleu Cognac.
Gao Qiqiang inwardly cringes at the cost but maintains a polite facade, while Gao Qisheng attempts to subtly reduce the order. Gong Kaijiang corrects Gao Qisheng when he refers to the "Telecom Bureau," stating it's now called the "Telecommunications Company." An Xin accompanies Feng Dazhuang to the pier, where he discovers "going up the hill" actually means boarding luxurious yachts for a party at sea.
Feng Dazhuang confiscates An Xin's new mobile phone, tossing it into the water and warning him about bringing recording devices, mentioning that a previous woman who brought a recorder to threaten them was dealt with by their "big brother." The party, An Xin realizes, is a gathering to entertain and corrupt government officials, with a dozen women also brought along as escorts. From their command center, An Changlin, Meng Dehai, and Cao Chuang monitor the situation.
Upon seeing high-ranking city officials boarding the yachts, An Changlin expresses concern about the scale of the operation, wondering if their "net is big enough to catch them." Meng Dehai advocates for immediate action to capture everyone, but An Changlin, cautious about Meng Dehai's upcoming transfer to the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, urges him to seek explicit approval from the Municipal Party Committee in person to avoid appearing arrogant or risking their careers.
Meng Dehai initially worries about information leaks but ultimately complies. Cao Chuang is instructed to wait for An Xin's signal before deploying units. Soon after, Feng Dazhuang receives a phone call confirming An Xin is an undercover police officer. He promptly orders the yacht to sail towards international waters, then has An Xin drugged and tied to a small boat with heavy stones, intending to throw him overboard.
Feng Dazhuang tells the semiconscious An Xin that while he saved his life once, An Xin "must die" for the comfort of others. However, An Xin, remembering his master Cao Chuang's advice, uses a hidden blade sewn into the sleeve of his camouflage uniform to cut his ropes. He fights off Feng Dazhuang's men but eventually collapses due to the drug's effects. An Xin awakens in the hospital, where An Changlin and Meng Dehai are by his side.
He learns that the operation failed; the high-ranking officials escaped on speedboats, and only the yacht's crew and hostesses were apprehended. An Xin blames himself for not sending the signal in time. Meng Dehai angrily confronts An Changlin, criticizing the decision to seek approval, arguing that direct action would have prevented An Xin's injury. An Changlin defends his cautious approach, emphasizing the need to protect their positions to effectively serve Jinghai.
Meng Yu visits An Xin, jokingly recounting Cao Chuang's dramatic phone call about An Xin's injuries. She encourages him to recover quickly so he can take her out for a meal. Later, An Xin, still recovering, shares his analysis of Feng Dazhuang's mastermind with Li Xiang.
He identifies four key aspects: the mastermind's high social status, a long-standing grudge against Bai Jiangbo of the Xiawan sand quarry, a business requiring dealings with government departments (explaining the sea parties and bribery), and a possible ownership stake or private room at the Platinum Palace nightclub. Li Xiang adds a fifth point, suggesting an even "bigger backer" is involved, which prevents subordinates from revealing information. An Xin and Li Xiang then visit Gao Qiqiang at the market.
Gao Qiqiang, basking in the attention, explains he almost quit but Tang Xiaolong convinced him to stay, calling him the market's "backbone." An Xin inquires about any new information regarding Huang Cuicui's death. Gao Qiqiang claims his contacts among the stall owners are diligently looking for clues. They then stop at a food stall for a meal, where Tang Xiaolong busies himself with preparations, but An Xin's open disdain for him prompts Tang Xiaolong to reluctantly leave.
Before leaving the market, An Xin offers Gao Qiqiang advice on self-improvement, recommending books like "Reference News" and "The Art of War" for business strategy, impressing the surrounding vendors. Next, An Xin and Li Xiang head to the Platinum Palace. They attempt to access a private room Feng Dazhuang was seen entering, but the manager initially refuses. After a phone call to the owner, the manager reluctantly opens the room and even brings in hostesses, which Li Xiang promptly dismisses.
In a move to pressure the establishment, An Xin and Li Xiang don their police uniforms and stand conspicuously at the nightclub's entrance, effectively deterring customers. An infuriated An Changlin calls Li Xiang, ordering them back and scolding An Xin for his unauthorized actions. An Xin passionately defends his actions, citing his eyewitness account of Feng Dazhuang reporting to Platinum Palace after the sand quarry robbery, convinced that the mastermind operates from there.
Meng Dehai arrives, and An Xin leaves, while An Changlin reflects on An Xin's stubbornness, comparing it to his own past experiences and the dangers of acting impulsively. Meanwhile, Cao Bin calls Gao Qisheng, demanding a 25,000 yuan introduction fee for the PHS business, threatening to sever their connection with the Telecommunications Company otherwise. Gao Qisheng, short on funds, turns to Tang Xiaolong for help.
Tang Xiaolong offers Gao Qiqiang 20,000 yuan to retrieve a debt from Xu Lei for Bai Jiangbo by assaulting him. Gao Qiqiang initially refuses, confronting Gao Qisheng at home. Gao Qisheng explains the significant investments already made in the PHS business—gifts, dinners, and a store deposit—arguing that abandoning it now would result in total loss. He emphasizes the potential future success of PHS. Faced with this dilemma, Gao Qiqiang reluctantly agrees to help collect the debt.
Tang Xiaolong, Tang Xiaohu, and Gao Qiqiang track Xu Lei and his friend Yan Jin to a river where they are illegally electrofishing. Gao Qiqiang expresses his desire to talk to Xu Lei first, hoping to recover the money peacefully. However, Tang Xiaolong dismisses this, stating that previous attempts at dialogue only resulted in violence, and urges direct action. Gao Qiqiang insists he wants to try reasoning with Xu Lei.
