Episode Summary
The episode opens with a flashback to 1998, establishing Wang Zhihui's long-standing methods of control. In the present, Wang Zhihui, acting on behalf of "Mr. Jiang," gives the Xiatong market to San Ma Hu but forbids him from harming Tu Hongjiang. Han Xin discovers her late father's secret charitable works and is forced to join the family company after finding it deep in debt. New and old rivals emerge as Sun Bojun blackmails Wang Zhihui, forcing a competition for the market against an already ambitious San Ma Hu. Han Xin resigns from the police, convinced her father was murdered, and begins her own investigation. She breaks into Wang Zhihui's safe and finds a secret ledger linked to her father, just as Mr. Jiang gives San Ma Hu permission to finally move against Tu Hongjiang.
Spoiler Alert
Power Plays and Secret Ledgers
This episode really starts to connect the dots. We get a glimpse into the past and see how deep these relationships and rivalries go. At the same time, new players enter the game, and Han Xin finally goes on the offensive.
A Blast From the Past
The episode kicks off with a flashback to 1998. We see a guy named Ping Tou getting beaten down by some street thugs. Just in time, Wang Zhihui rolls up. He drops a big name to scare the thugs off and then hands them a box of cash for their trouble. It’s a quick scene. But it shows you Wang Zhihui has been handling problems this way for a long time.
Back in the present, Wang Zhihui sits down with San Ma Hu. He’s acting like a messenger for the mysterious Mr. Jiang. He tells San Ma Hu that the Xiatong market is all his. There’s just one rule. He is not allowed to touch Tu Hongjiang. San Ma Hu isn't happy about it, but he's too scared of Mr. Jiang to argue. He agrees, but you can tell he’s holding a grudge.
The Han Family in Crisis
Han Xin is going through her late father's belongings. She finds a recorder with a final message from him. She also discovers records of his charity work. It seems like he was trying to make up for past mistakes.
Things get worse when a bunch of debt collectors show up at the Han Corporation. Han Xin steps up. She promises to pay her father's debts. She asks Wang Zhihui if they can use company property to get a loan. He tells her everything is already mortgaged. With no other options, Han Xin decides she has to join the company and figure things out from the inside.
Shifting Alliances
Everyone is making moves this episode. Loyalties are tested, and new threats pop up out of nowhere.
New and Old Enemies
San Ma Hu is furious that Tu Hongjiang is off-limits. He starts telling people he’s going to take over from Wang Zhihui. Ping Tou, who Wang Zhihui saved all those years ago, hears this. He goes straight to Wang Zhihui and warns him about San Ma Hu's ambition. He even suggests it might be time to get rid of him for good.
Then, another problem walks in. A man named Sun Bojun is back in Xiatong. He wants to continue managing the market like he did for Han Xin's father. Wang Zhihui tells him he's getting out of the Xiatong market. But Sun Bojun has dirt on him. He threatens to expose Wang Zhihui’s crimes from the past few years. This forces Wang Zhihui to make a deal. He sets up a competition. Whoever wins, Sun Bojun or San Ma Hu, gets control of the market.
An Informant's Farewell
There's a quiet, sad scene with Tu Hongjiang and his informant, Guang Tou. Guang Tou says he wants to go home. He's been an informant since he was a teenager and hasn't been back since. Tu Hongjiang is reluctant but agrees it's time for him to retire and live a peaceful life.
The Hunt for the Truth
Han Xin's investigation finally begins. She's not a cop anymore, and she's diving headfirst into the corporate mess her father left behind.
Han Xin's Undercover Mission
Han Xin officially resigns from the police force. Before she leaves, she tells her former partner, Zhan Peng, that she doesn't believe her father's death was a suicide. She’s joining the company to find clues about what really happened.
Her first stop is her father's old office. She wants to look at the financial books, but the main ledger is missing. She has to ask Wang Zhihui for the backup copy.
Later that night, she sneaks into Wang Zhihui's office. She had watched him open his safe earlier and memorized the combination. Inside a hidden compartment, she finds a secret ledger. It’s filled with accounts connected to her father.
A Trap Is Set
Just as Han Xin finds her first real lead, the mysterious Mr. Jiang gives San Ma Hu the green light. He can finally make his move on Tu Hongjiang. He just has to get it right on the first try. At the same time, Zhan Peng invites Tu Hongjiang out to dinner, supposedly to ask for advice on dealing with San Ma Hu. It feels like everyone is walking into a trap.
