Episode Summary
In this episode, a flashback reveals the origins of a drug trafficking proposal between Meng Hanchu and the Jin brothers. In the present, multiple plotlines converge: Lu Shaohua is pressured by his brother's failed drug deal; Lin Qiangfeng navigates his new team while working a case at a dance hall; an investigation into a murder victim, Lao Gui, leads the police to his driver, Zhao Zhihai, who is unknowingly transporting drugs. Meanwhile, police teams from Xigang and Donggang clash over jurisdiction while tailing suspects Meng Hanchu and Liao Qiming. The episode ends with several personal and professional confrontations, including Lin Qiangfeng cornering the unfaithful Zhao Zhihai.
Spoiler Alert
The Narcotic Operation: Episode 5 Spoilers
The episode opens with a flashback to three years prior. Jin Yongxiang and his younger brother, Zhao Shuangxi (formerly Jin Shuangxi), are there to greet Meng Hanchu upon his release from prison. They propose a drug business venture to Meng Hanchu. Jin Yongxiang is aware of his brother's impulsive personality and his passion for hairdressing. To keep him out of the dangerous drug trade, Jin Yongxiang sets up a hair salon for him in Renbin.
In the present, Lu Shaodong's drug shipment is intercepted by customs, and he is arrested. The investors who funded him, having borrowed the money from a loan shark named Brother Bao, turn to Lu Shaodong's brother, Lu Shaohua, for repayment. Lu Shaohua guarantees he will pay back the principal and interest within two months, providing a written IOU as assurance. His wife offers him their entire family savings for the emergency. However, determined to handle the situation on his own and protect his family, Lu Shaohua sends his wife and their son, Sensen, to stay with her parents.
Meanwhile, Lin Qiangfeng is conducting surveillance at a song and dance hall where he is immediately recognized by a man known as Tuzi (Rabbit). Lin Qiangfeng spots his colleague, Li An, also at the hall tracking a drug dealer. To maintain his cover, Lin Qiangfeng gets on stage and performs a duet with the singer, Wang Qi. Their performance is a hit, even earning applause from Li An. When Li An questions his presence, Lin Qiangfeng claims he is there because he has a romantic interest in Wang Qi. Later, when Wang Qi approaches him, Lin Qiangfeng introduces himself with the alias Ban Dehai.
During a debrief with his superior, Chen Qingquan, Lin Qiangfeng complains about his new team, likening them to the characters from "Journey to the West": Ban Dehai as the simple Sha Wujing, Feng Hao as the gluttonous Zhu Bajie, and Yang Wei as the brawn-over-brains White Dragon Horse. Chen Qingquan advises him that he must learn to cooperate with his colleagues, unlike his lone-wolf days as an undercover agent. The conversation reminds Lin Qiangfeng of his former partner, Li Baichuan, who died in the line of duty. Chen offers words of comfort and suggests it's time for him to consider settling down.
At the forensic center, Fu Li is there to pick up test results. Her aunt, an employee there, tries to persuade her to leave the dangerous narcotics squad for a safer job at the center, but Fu Li is determined to stay. She runs into Yang Wei, a former university classmate, who is also waiting for test results. The analysis will take an hour.
Feng Hao is at the hospital questioning Qingqing, who has just regained consciousness. She confesses that she was in a kept relationship with a man called Lao Gui, who provided her with a house and money. He had recently reappeared and instructed her to page someone named Xu Desheng right before he was assassinated. Qingqing also reveals that her boyfriend, Zhao Zhihai, transports what he believes to be foreign wine for Lao Gui, both of them unaware that the bottles contain drugs. Feng Hao immediately relays this information, including Zhao Zhihai's license plate number and his planned route to Xigang, to Lin Qiangfeng.
While waiting for the forensic results, an exhausted Yang Wei dozes off and has a vivid nightmare about a shooting incident at a theater. He is startled awake by Fu Li, who has come to tell him the results are ready.
Li An's team has been staking out Meng Hanchu's residence for two days without any movement. Suddenly, Tuzi (Rabbit) arrives and picks Meng Hanchu up. Li An and his partner, Oufan, follow them to the bustling Xigang wholesale market, where they lose them in the crowd. Meng Hanchu and Tuzi proceed to a video store to meet with Liao Qiming, a drug dealer from Donggang. Meng Hanchu informs him that due to heightened police activity in Xigang, the deal must be postponed for a couple of days.
After getting the lab results, Yang Wei and Fu Li stop at a food stall to eat. Yang Wei receives a call from Lin Qiangfeng, who provides him with Zhao Zhihai's license plate number. In a stroke of coincidence, Yang Wei spots the very same vehicle parked nearby. He reports his location to Lin Qiangfeng, who is about to head over but is interrupted by an invitation for hotpot from Wang Hui, which he politely declines due to his busy schedule.
As Li An and Oufan search for Meng Hanchu, they see Tuzi escorting Liao Qiming out of the video store. Just as they are about to make an arrest, another vehicle swoops in and abducts Liao Qiming. Li An and Oufan give chase, forcing the car to stop. The occupants reveal themselves to be Donggang police conducting a cross-jurisdictional operation, which leads to a heated dispute between the two police forces.
Elsewhere, Lu Tianci visits his new father-in-law, Chief Huang, only to discover that he is also under investigation. Enraged, Chief Huang slaps Lu Tianci, throws him out, and smashes the bottles of wine he brought. In retaliation, Lu Tianci smashes Chief Huang's car window. When Lu Shaohua hears of his brother's antics, he rushes to the scene, disciplines Lu Tianci, and personally apologizes to Chief Huang. He then takes his brother to the hospital. To further make amends, Lu Shaohua's wife arranges a nursing job for Chief Huang's daughter, Huang Peiling.
The episode culminates with Lin Qiangfeng, Feng Hao, and Qingqing arriving at a hotel where Zhao Zhihai's car is parked. Lin and Feng Hao go up to the room and catch Zhao Zhihai with another woman, Chenchen. Terrified at the news that Qingqing is downstairs, Zhao Zhihai falls to his knees and begs for mercy.
