The Knockout Episode 6 Recap
> The Knockout Recap
Uncle Tai mediated a meeting between Xu Jiang and Bai Jiangbo, urging them to make peace. Xu Jiang, not wanting to disrespect Uncle Tai, reluctantly agreed and shook hands with Bai Jiangbo. However, as Bai Jiangbo’s car departed, it was intercepted by Xu Jiang’s men. Xu Jiang confronted Bai Jiangbo, revealing that his son, Lei, frequently appeared in his dreams, begging him not to spare Bai Jiangbo.
He declared that he only had one child and had to listen to him, dismissing Uncle Tai’s influence, stating he respected the elder only when it suited him. Despite Bai Jiangbo’s pleas for his wife and children to be spared, and his claim that Lei’s death was an accident, Xu Jiang pretended to agree, allowing Bai Jiangbo to make a phone call.
As Bai Jiangbo spoke into the phone, Xu Jiang kicked him into a large pit, knocked him unconscious with an iron rod, and buried him alive. Back at home, Xu Jiang reflected on his son's image. His subordinates informed him that they had located the Tang brothers, providing him with their pictures. Xu Jiang then ordered the kidnapping of Tang Xiaohu. Meanwhile, Gao Qiqiang, working at his mobile phone store, received a worried call from Tang Xiaolong.
Tang Xiaolong reported that Tang Xiaohu had been missing for several days, an unusual occurrence as Xiaohu always kept him informed, even about his relationships. He then revealed that the deceased Xu Lei was Xu Jiang’s son, the notorious gangster boss of the Platinum Palace. Gao Qiqiang downplayed Xu Lei’s death as an accident, promising to handle the situation.
Gao Qiqiang then sought out An Xin and Li Xiang, stating he was there to inquire about a neighbor, Tang Xiaohu, who had been missing for three days. An Xin advised him to report the disappearance to the police station, as criminal investigation was not their purview, and warned him to distance himself from criminal elements. Xu Jiang, accompanied by his men, stormed into Tang Xiaolong’s home.
He accused Tang Xiaolong of being involved in Xu Lei’s death, pointing to his new plasma TV as ill-gotten gains. Xu Jiang taunted Tang Xiaolong, saying he looked visibly guilty. He then revealed that he had been beating Tang Xiaohu for two days and threatened to dismember Tang Xiaohu, sending a body part each day, if Tang Xiaolong didn't name his accomplices. Tang Xiaolong, fearing for their lives if he revealed the truth, divulged that an accomplice had police backing.
Xu Jiang immediately suspected An Xin, recalling the officer's relentless pursuit of him. Tang Xiaolong then pleaded with Xu Jiang to spare his brother, promising to do anything. Xu Jiang demanded that Tang Xiaolong bring his accomplice to him. Before leaving, Xu Jiang ordered his men to smash Tang Xiaolong’s TV, disdainfully stating it was the same model as his own. Separately, An Xin and Li Xiang visited Chen Jinmo in prison.
An Xin presented Chen Jinmo with a paternity test report confirming a 99. 9999% probability that he was the biological father of a six-year-old daughter named Yao, and that Huang Cuicui had not aborted the child. Chen Jinmo was deeply moved, vowing to reform his behavior in prison, obey regulations, and strive for early release to be with his daughter. Li Xiang also informed Chen Jinmo that An Xin had personally funded the costly DNA test.
An Xin, while unable to show Chen Jinmo a photo of Yao for procedural reasons, emphasized that in return for his help, Chen Jinmo should diligently work towards rehabilitation. Chen Jinmo then recalled that Feng Dazhuang, also known as Crazy Donkey, had also known Huang Cuicui and that Feng Dazhuang had been close to another inmate named Pock, who was due for release the following month.
An Xin and Li Xiang later sought out Pock in prison, persuading him to cooperate with the police to redeem himself. An Changlin approved their request for Pock's early release, noting the opportunity to try and gather intelligence. Upon his release, Pock went to find Feng Dazhuang (Crazy Donkey), who had been in hiding. Feng Dazhuang expressed relief at seeing Pock, though he looked thin. He explained he was hiding from the police due to being betrayed by a "snitch."
Pock, eager to avenge his sworn brother, demanded to know who it was. Feng Dazhuang calmed him down, reminding him to follow the rules outside prison. To celebrate Pock's release, Feng Dazhuang took him to the Platinum Palace nightclub, which Pock heard was very popular. Before joining Pock in revelry, Feng Dazhuang secretly entered the club through the basement to meet Xu Jiang. From his office, Xu Jiang observed police surveillance outside the club.
He realized Feng Dazhuang had inadvertently brought the police with him and, enraged, declared his intent to "deal with" An Xin. That same day, a real-name report accusing An Xin of improper dealings with Xu Jiang at the Platinum Palace reached the Procuratorate. The Procuratorate immediately ordered An Xin to withdraw from the special investigation team to face investigation.
An Xin scoffed at the accusation, saying the only "benefit" Xu Jiang could offer was a third-class merit, which he might not even want. Meng Dehai attempted to intervene on An Xin’s behalf, but An Changlin informed him that the city committee leaders had personally ordered the investigation, making it impossible to stop. Meng Yu, overhearing the conversation, sarcastically quoted a poem about not bowing to power.
Cao Chuang expressed concern to An Changlin that Pock might lose trust and their work would be jeopardized without An Xin, but An Changlin urged patience for the Procuratorate's findings. Forced to withdraw from the task force, An Xin found himself by the river. Meng Yu joined him, offering a sweet drink from a local shop, recalling their childhood memories of the river.
She informed him this was her last vacation before an internship in Beijing, where she planned to settle down and bring her parents after their retirement. An Xin expressed his sadness at her departure and revealed a long-held secret: after his father's death, Meng Dehai had also wanted to adopt him, but he refused because he didn't want to spend his life merely as siblings with Meng Yu.
Meng Yu, sensing the depth of his feelings, suggested he join her in Beijing for a new life, but An Xin, a Jinghai native, felt a deep-seated commitment to being a police officer in his hometown, partly influenced by his father. Meng Yu stated she didn't want to repeat her mother's life of separation. Their conversation was interrupted by a call from Pock. An Xin promised Meng Yu he would see her off on Sunday before rushing to meet Pock.
Under duress, Tang Xiaolong lured Gao Qiqiang to a secluded location, intending to hand him over to Xu Jiang in exchange for Tang Xiaohu’s freedom. Gao Qiqiang realized the trap and fought back, overpowering Tang Xiaolong. Tang Xiaolong tearfully confessed that he had no other choice to save his only brother, Xiaohu, from being killed by Xu Jiang. As they spoke, Xu Jiang called Tang Xiaolong, demanding an update on the accomplice.
Gao Qiqiang overheard and quickly warned Tang Xiaolong not to reveal his name to Xu Jiang. Gao Qiqiang then assured Tang Xiaolong he could save Xiaohu by leveraging their current advantageous position while Xu Jiang was in the open. Meanwhile, Feng Dazhuang (Crazy Donkey) had tasked Pock with guarding Tang Xiaohu. Tang Xiaohu desperately offered Pock a large sum of money to be released and send a message to his brother, Tang Xiaolong, in Old Factory Street.
Pock, while guarding Tang Xiaohu, secretly tried to send a text message to An Xin. Feng Dazhuang caught him in the act. Pock quickly lied, claiming he was texting his girlfriend, Ying Zi, to see if her phone number was still active. Feng Dazhuang, not detecting the deception, warned Pock against such behavior and urged him to focus on making quick money. An Xin received Pock’s message, which contained the crucial information "Tang Xiaohu, Old Factory Street."
An Xin immediately informed Cao Chuang and Li Xiang, connecting it to Gao Qiqiang’s earlier visit about Tang Xiaohu’s disappearance. Cao Chuang decided to accompany Li Xiang to question Tang Xiaolong, leaving An Xin to await the Procuratorate’s investigation results. At Tang Xiaolong’s house, they found Gao Qiqiang already there, comforting Tang Xiaolong. Cao Chuang noted their surprisingly good relationship and the injuries on Tang Xiaolong’s face, which Gao Qiqiang quickly attributed to a market fall while drunk.
Cao Chuang questioned Tang Xiaolong about why he hadn't reported his brother’s five-day disappearance. Gao Qiqiang interjected, explaining that he had initially sought private help from An Xin and Li Xiang because Xiaohu had a gambling problem and they feared police involvement would worsen things. Tang Xiaolong corroborated this. When asked to call Tang Xiaohu, his phone was off. Tang Xiaolong then denied knowing Xu Jiang, and Gao Qiqiang feigned ignorance.
Cao Chuang, suspecting they were lying but lacking concrete evidence, left with Li Xiang. On the way, Cao Chuang told Li Xiang that Gao Qiqiang was not as simple as he appeared. Back at Tang Xiaolong's house, Gao Qiqiang, while seemingly drinking coffee powder straight from the packet, analyzed the situation. He concluded that the police were now focused on Xu Jiang but lacked sufficient evidence for an arrest.
He also deduced that Huang Cuicui, a prostitute who worked at Xu Jiang's Platinum Palace, might have held crucial evidence against him before her death. Gao Qiqiang proposed a plan to Tang Xiaolong, a "bluff and deception" strategy, to save Tang Xiaohu and simultaneously dismantle Xu Jiang’s power, claiming he learned these tactics from the books An Xin had recommended.
