Episode Summary
Qi Dacang, outsmarting his old rival Wu Zhichuan, captures three tomb raiders who confess to working for a mysterious figure called "Datou" and reveal details about the Yin Cun tomb raid. Meanwhile, Xing Zhaohu struggles to offload stolen porcelain as buyers get spooked by a new joint task force cracking down on artifact theft. A separate investigation into the Lu family tomb robbery leads Qi Dacang to Lu Fugui's cousin, Wang Taiping. Wang Taiping, under pressure, confesses his involvement with Xing Zhaohu and leads police to a stash of bronze artifacts, though valuable Song porcelain remains missing.
Spoiler Alert
"The Lost National Treasure" Episode 14 Recap & Spoilers: Old Scores and New Leads
The episode opens with Qi Dacang and his two subordinates pleasantly surprised by the upscale hotel accommodations arranged by Wu Zhichuan, complete with a fruit basket. However, Qi Dacang couldn't help but privately grumble about Wu Zhichuan's notorious stinginess. He recalled an incident from their police academy days when Wu Zhichuan treated him to a single meal, which somehow ended up costing Qi Dacang his bicycle. When his curious subordinates pressed for details, Qi Dacang waved them off, promising to elaborate later.
Meanwhile, Wu Zhichuan had been tenaciously tracking a group of tomb raiders who had eluded capture due to their nomadic methods. A new lead from Qi Dacang concerning a fertilizer plant prompted Wu Zhichuan to personally lead a stakeout. Sure enough, late at night, three suspects returned to the fertilizer plant in a van. Wu Zhichuan immediately ordered their arrest. In the ensuing chaos, one suspect attempted to flee but was intercepted by Qi Dacang, who had been lying in wait. It turned out Qi Dacang and his team hadn't been resting at the hotel but had set up their own ambush. Qi Dacang, seizing the moral high ground, insisted on taking the three suspects into his custody, laughingly claiming it was payback for the old bicycle incident. Ultimately, Wu Zhichuan couldn't win the argument, and Qi Dacang successfully escorted the three suspects back.
During the return journey, a cheerful Qi Dacang recounted his history with Wu Zhichuan to his subordinates. He explained that they were both close friends and fierce competitors, often neck-and-neck in various skill competitions. On one occasion, just before a technical skills competition at the police academy, Wu Zhichuan uncharacteristically treated Qi Dacang to drinks and skewers. As a result, Qi Dacang got drunk and missed the competition, allowing Wu Zhichuan to seize the top spot and win a bicycle. This incident had always irked Qi Dacang. Later, when both men pursued the same woman, Qi Dacang refused to back down and eventually won her heart; she is now his wife. His subordinates were deeply impressed by this story.
In an effort to curb the escalating problem of cultural relic theft, Qinchuan City officially established a joint task force. This initiative brought together the Cultural Relics Inspection Team and the public security department to crack down on crimes related to cultural artifacts, heralding a new era in heritage protection. Following Qi Dacang's interrogation, the three apprehended suspects revealed that their operation was masterminded by a local man known only by the nickname "Datou" (Big Head); they were unaware of his true identity. However, they did confess to their involvement in the unsuccessful tomb raid at Yin Cun, including the details of using Liu Chunhua to deceive Yan Shoucun and poisoning Heizui (Black Mouth).
Elsewhere, potential buyers, wary of the joint investigation by various departments, began to back out of deals with Xing Zhaohu. This left him with a collection of porcelain that was quickly becoming a liability. Anxious, Xing Zhaohu urgently called Mu Jianhui to inquire about the progress of raising funds. Mu Jianhui, feigning difficulty, skillfully manipulated Xing Zhaohu's desperation. Meanwhile, Fang Kun bid farewell to Luo Qing and returned to Yusai. Although he suggested they remain just friends, Luo Qing felt a pang of reluctance as she watched him leave.
Lu Fugui, a man with a profound sense of duty, was particularly diligent in patrolling the Lu family tomb, the resting place of his ancestors. He was devastated and felt deeply responsible when the tomb was robbed under his watch. Qi Dacang patiently questioned him about any suspicious individuals who might have appeared recently. Lu Fugui suddenly recalled a visit from his cousin, Wang Taiping. Qi Dacang, sensing something amiss, arranged for Lu Fugui to visit Wang Taiping under the pretext of a family visit to probe for information.
Wang Taiping, who was at home recovering from an illness, panicked upon hearing that the police had mentioned him. After Lu Fugui departed, Wang Taiping hastily rushed to the village's small convenience store to make a phone call, but no one answered. He then proceeded directly to an abandoned junkyard, apparently waiting for someone. Unbeknownst to him, Qi Dacang and his team were covertly observing his every move.
The following morning, a van drove into the junkyard. Wang Taiping immediately approached the vehicle, demanding money, which led to a confrontation. Qi Dacang and his team swiftly intervened, apprehending both Wang Taiping and the individual from the van on the spot. Facing interrogation, Wang Taiping realized he could no longer hide the truth. He confessed to being coerced and bribed by Xing Zhaohu into revealing information about the Lu family tomb. This confession also linked back to the case of the black pottery figurines. Based on Wang Taiping's information, the police were able to locate and seize a cache of bronze artifacts, but the whereabouts of the Song porcelain remain unknown.
