Episode Summary
Cheng Hui officially retakes leadership of the Shanhai Gang but announces plans to legitimize it by moving younger members out and starting Shanhai Construction Company, effectively dissolving its old structure. He appoints Hei Hu as his successor. Xiao Weiba is sent away for studies. Four years later, Shanhai Company is successful. On the wedding day of Huang Zhongxin and Cheng Nanping (after A'Rong's passing), Cheng Hui spots a suspicious man, Liu Zhendong returns unexpectedly, and Cheng Nanping mysteriously disappears. Meanwhile, a new British-born Chinese Chief Inspector, James, plans to confront Cheng Hui.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicked off with a major press event: the Shanhai Gang was all set to announce its new leader. Naturally, every reporter in Shicheng, including our very own Cheng Nanping, was there, buzzing with anticipation. Cheng Hui took center stage, announcing the appointment of four new hall masters and a finance chief. He then put on his best PR smile, urging the press to highlight the positive contributions of Chinese associations and, you know, say nice things about them. But Cheng Nanping, ever the intrepid journalist, wasn't about to let him off easy. She publicly confronted Cheng Hui, reminding himof his previous declarations that he was done with being the gang's head honcho. Cheng Hui’s comeback? A classic "Shanhai needs me, it's my duty." Real smooth, Cheng Hui.
Later, while everyone was trying to console Cheng Hui about Cheng Nanping’s pointed questions, he made it clear he had bigger plans. He announced that Hei Hu was, effective immediately, his "Er Lu Yuanshuai"– basically, his second-in-command and the designated successor should anything happen to him. Then came the real shocker: Cheng Hui decreed that no one under the age of thirty would be allowed to join the Shanhai Gang. His plan? To gradually move the existing younger members into legitimate companies. She Yan and the others weren't fooled; they quickly realized Cheng Hui's endgame was to essentially dissolve the Shanhai Gang as they knew it.
Cheng Hui then had a heart-to-heart with She Yan, explaining his rationale: if the Shanhai Gang continued to be branded as a "black gang" or triad, it was only a matter of time before the government cracked down on them or they became completely ostracized. The only way forward was to clean up their act. He ordered She Yan, Hei Hu, and the others to shut down their less-than-legitimate operations – think gambling dens and loan sharking – and to start gearing up for a new venture: the Shanhai Construction Company. Understandably, not everyone was thrilled with this new direction, lamenting the end of the Shanhai Gang that Cheng Hui himself had built. But Cheng Hui, ever the philosopher, insisted, "As long as the people are still here, it will exist in another form." Pretty deep stuff.
That very night, in a more personal turn of events, Cheng Hui arranged for Xiao Weiba to be sent away to pursue her studies. It was an emotional farewell, with Xiao Weiba shouting from the departing car, "Shanhai has heart, may it last forever!" . Cue the waterworks! Meanwhile, Zheng Qiu had a meeting with the new Chief Inspector, James. This new guy was a far cry from Steven; James is a British-born Chinese who fancies himself an expert on Chinese culture and people. His first move? He wants to "spar" with Cheng Hui to size him up before deciding on his next course of action. Definitely sounds like trouble on the horizon.
Flash forward four years! The Shanhai Company is thriving, a legitimate success story. On a more personal note, Huang Zhongxin had been devotedly caring for A'Rong, who was gravely ill. This led him to postpone his marriage for a year. After A'Rong's unfortunate passing, he and Cheng Nanping finally began to prepare for their wedding.
Wedding day arrives! Cheng Hui is observing the festivities from his car, perhaps a little wistfully, when he spots a suspicious-looking man dressed in plain clothes lurking nearby. The moment the man realizes he's been seen, he makes a hasty escape. Adding to the day's unfolding drama, Liu Zhendong makes an unexpected return from abroad, much to everyone's delight. But the joy is short-lived because, in a shocking twist, Cheng Nanping, the bride, suddenly goes missing.
Talk about a cliffhanger! Where on earth did Cheng Nanping disappear to? Who was that shady character Cheng Hui spotted? And what’s the real story behind Liu Zhendong’s sudden reappearance? Episode 34 certainly left us with a mountain of questions. Can't wait to see how this all unravels!
