Episode Summary
The episode spans from a chaotic 2002 to a prosperous but corrupt 2010. In the past, Liu Tianye covers up Ma Jin's death and strikes a deal with the Xinrui Group, while the police suffer heavy losses. By 2010, Liu Tianye runs a smuggling operation under the guise of a logistics company, but his anxiety spikes when his son shows an affinity for police toys. Meanwhile, Ma Jin's old enforcer gets out of prison and prepares for revenge.
Spoiler Alert
2002 Was a Messy Year
We start back in Hanzhou City in 2002. It’s chaotic. Ye Tianyou leads his apprentices, Qin Feng and Hu Xiaoyue, on a raid. They want to bust some drug dealers. Things go sideways immediately. Wang Tao messes up and arrests an undercover cop named Mai Hongchao. It’s embarrassing. But they smooth it over. Mai Hongchao actually helps them crack a tough case with his intel.
Then things get dark. Really dark. Three men bury Ma Jin’s body in the middle of the night. They drive off and get into a bad car wreck. They wake up in a nightmare scenario. The Xinrui Holding Group has them. Chairman Zhang Xin looks terrifying. He holds Ma Jin’s notebook. He asks if they read it.
Liu Tianye steps up. He stays calm. He admits he read it. He promises that Longwan Village will be more loyal than Ma Jin ever was. He Biao backs him up. Zhang Xin buys it. He lets them go.
Promises and Heartbreak
Liu Tianye goes to Zhao Ziyi’s house. It’s pouring rain. He feels guilty. But he’s also determined. He promises her the life she always wanted.
The police force isn't doing as well. A month passes. They are still hunting Ma Jin. They don't know he is dead. We see Wang Tao’s wife. She holds a medal and some consolation money. She looks at her young daughter. It’s a gut punch. Wang Tao is gone.
Ji Zhujiang drops some heavy info. Ma Jin had a backer. Everyone calls him "The Boss." Ye Tianyou connects the dots. He thinks this "Boss" is tied to the old Xu Li case. Ye Tianyou is angry. He vows to catch this guy before he retires. He needs to avenge his apprentice, Hu Xiaoyue.
New Faces and Old Grudges
A new guy joins the crime squad. His name is Ye Siyuan. But that’s not his real name. He is actually Liu Ruyi. He used aliases like Zeng Xu before. He’s smart and brave. Everyone likes him immediately.
Well, almost everyone. Bian Jing looks uncomfortable. She remembers him. He flirted with her at a nightclub recently. It makes for a very awkward welcome.
Back in the village, Liu Tianye makes moves. He asks Wen Qin’s mother for permission to marry. She agrees. She tells him running a family is like running a village. You have to work hard.
Longwan Village launches a logistics company. Liu Tianye gives a big speech. He promises prosperity. But the heat is still on. Wen Jiangyan wants to go on a trip. Qin Feng shuts it down. He says he has to stay and investigate Ma Jin. Liu Tianye panics internally. He knows too much.
2010: Gold Bars and Chickens
We jump forward eight years. It is 2010. Longwan Village is booming. But Liu Tianye is dirty. He uses the village's frozen chickens to smuggle gold bars. He also moves stuff for He Biao. The prosperity is built on crime.
It’s a big day for Liu Tianye. His son is one month old. Family comes from all over. Qin Feng brings a gift. He puts a toy police car in a pile of objects for the baby to choose from. The baby grabs the police car. Liu Tianye freezes. He hates it. He tries to laugh it off.
Wen Jiangyan brings a boyfriend home. He is a reporter named Xu. Liu Tianye and Qin Feng go into bad cop mode. They grill the guy. The reporter is terrified. He stammers but promises to treat her well.
The Axe Man Cometh
The prison gates open. Su Hongbao walks out. He used to work for Ma Jin. He doesn't go home. He goes to a hardware store. He buys an axe. He looks ready to kill someone.
Meanwhile, He Gang’s goons are causing trouble. They harass women at a restaurant. The owner tries to stop them. The goons beat him up. The owner finds out they work for He Gang. He swallows his anger. He can't fight them.
But someone else is watching. This mystery man attacks He Gang’s men later. He beats them down. He asks who runs Ma Jin’s old turf. They tell him it’s He Biao and He Gang. This man wants revenge for Ma Jin.
Su Hongbao visits an old friend, Brother Bao. It’s sad. Brother Bao had a stroke and is paralyzed. Old Four is there. He wants to join Su Hongbao’s crew. But Old Nine is done. He has a normal life now. He wants out. The police are watching, though. They spot Su Hongbao. Trouble is coming.
