Episode Summary
Chen Hansheng and Lei Peng accept a post in the Operations Support Unit's Repair Squad to stay close to the Cheetah team. Their arrogance is immediately put to the test under their new, highly capable squad leader, Zhang Lan. During their first night on duty, they encounter poachers, leading to a chase where Chen Hansheng is tranquilized but spots a cheetah cub. Their squad leader captures the criminals, showing up the elite Cheetah team and its commander, Ling Zhengrong. Though they earned some credit, the two recruits are humbled when they fail at basic vehicle repair, requiring their boss to teach them step-by-step.
Spoiler Alert
A New Beginning in the Repair Squad
The Promise and the Plan
So, Qiu Tian sits down with Chen Hansheng and Lei Peng. She lays out the deal. They can join the Operations Support Unit. It’s not the elite Cheetah team, but it's a spot. They need to think about it.
After some talk, they decide to go for it. Chen Hansheng has his reasons. He thinks being in Operations Support keeps him close to Cheetah. He made a promise to his father that he would get into Cheetah. It's a deep-seated thing for him. We learn a little more about his backstory here. His dad died in the line of duty. His mom passed away from illness not long after. The old commanding officer basically raised him. This commander was also the boss of Chen Hansheng's dad and the current Chief of Staff. The old commander just wants Chen Hansheng to be safe. But the Chief of Staff argues that Chen Hansheng should get what he wants. If he wants to be in Cheetah, he has to earn it with his own skills.
Not Exactly a Warm Welcome
Chen Hansheng and Lei Peng report to their new unit. They get assigned to the Repair Squad. Their new boss is a woman named Zhang Lan. Qiu Tian is confused by this move. She asks the unit's captain, He Jialiang, what the deal is. He tells her the Repair Squad is full of hidden talent. It's also the perfect place to grind down some egos. He thinks Chen Hansheng and Lei Peng are way too arrogant. They need some humbling.
Apparently, the Cheetah commander, Ling Zhengrong, is always trying to recruit Zhang Lan for his own team. Qiu Tian has seen what Zhang Lan can do. She starts to believe Captain He. He even predicts that one day, Ling Zhengrong will be trying to poach Chen Hansheng and Lei Peng, too.
Ling Zhengrong happens to be there when they arrive. He brings his vehicles in for regular maintenance. He also uses it as an excuse to see Zhang Lan.
The First Real Test
Poachers in the Woods
The first night doesn't stay quiet for long. An emergency call comes in. Three poachers have entered the Zhongnan training base area. Zhang Lan's squad gets assigned blockade duty.
The conditions are terrible. It's dark. They're in a dense forest. Finding three people in this huge area is going to be tough. Ling Zhengrong makes a call. He thinks the criminals will run uphill. Qiu Tian disagrees with his assessment. She points out that running uphill is difficult. These poachers aren't special forces soldiers. They would choose the easier path. She suggests searching the opposite area.
A Major Screw-Up and a Lucky Break
It turns out Qiu Tian was right. Chen Hansheng and Lei Peng are out delivering food to other soldiers at the blockade points. They stumble right into the poachers. A chase starts. During the pursuit, Chen Hansheng gets shot in the arm with a tranquilizer dart. He collapses. Just before he blacks out, he sees a small cheetah cub crawl out of a sack the poachers dropped.
Later, Squad Leader Zhang Lan runs into the three poachers. They are no match for her. She takes them down fast. Chen Hansheng is carried back to the vehicles. Ling Zhengrong took a huge loss on this one. He is furious about his mistake. As punishment, he makes his Cheetah team run five kilometers in the rain. The big joint exercise is coming up. He wants Cheetah to earn back its reputation.
Back to the Grind
Humility and a Small Victory
Chen Hansheng and Lei Peng get credit for their role in the capture. They helped, no doubt. But when it comes to their actual job, they are completely lost. They try to do maintenance on Ling Zhengrong's vehicle. They end up with a pile of parts they can't put back.
Squad Leader Zhang Lan steps in. She personally walks them through the reassembly. They work late into the night to get it done. When they finally finish, she lets Chen Hansheng take the car for a drive. He is clearly happy about it. It’s a small win.
The joint exercise is getting closer. Chen Hansheng and Lei Peng have been training hard. They still feel unsure of themselves, though. They know the Cheetah team isn't just sitting around. They're training hard, too.
