Episode Summary
Flashbacks reveal Liu Tian's refusal to leave his village for college. In the present, debt collection turns violent as Su Hongbao and He Biao pressure Qiao Defu. A staged confrontation with the police allows Qin Feng to infiltrate the Changwu Brothers' circle, leading to a clue that links Liu Tian to the criminal element.
Spoiler Alert
A Blast from the Past
We jump back to the summer of 1990. Wen Qin is in high spirits. Her son, Liu Tian, has excellent grades. She cooks a massive feast to celebrate. She thinks he is her ticket to a better life. Liu Tian crushes that dream immediately. He refuses to take the college entrance exam. He wants to stay in the village and farm. Wen Qin explodes. She scolds him harshly and makes him face the wall as punishment. Little Qin Feng sneaks in with food for his brother. He tells Liu Tian he wants to be a police officer one day.
Collection Day
Flash forward to the present. Su Hongbao gets creative. He pretends to be a relative of Qiao Defu to bypass security. He walks right into the office. He demands the money Qiao owes He Biao. Qiao admits the debt exists. However, he refuses to pay the insane interest rates. He kicks Su Hongbao out. Su loses his temper. He threatens to hurt Qiao. Qiao is terrified. Later, he finds his car vandalized. Someone spray-painted money symbols all over it.
Drawing Lines
Liu Tian visits Su Hongbao under the cover of night. He claims he is done with He Biao. He wants Su to join his side instead. The next day, things get tense. He Biao and He Gang show up at Leopard Brother's house. They use this location to threaten Su Hongbao. They warn him not to play both sides. He Biao then suggests a new plan. He wants to kidnap Qiao Defu's son. Su Hongbao shuts this down instantly. He refuses to involve family members.
The Bidding War
The Changwu Brothers make a bold move. They hold He Gang hostage and confront He Biao. They deliver a message from Qiao Defu. Qiao will not pay a dime. He Biao swears he will get that money regardless. The brothers also deliver a warning to Zhang Xin. Su Hongbao and Mai Hongchao try to intervene. They offer the Changwu Brothers thirty thousand in cash to leave town. The brothers are greedy. They call Qiao Defu instead. Qiao offers double the money. A brawl breaks out immediately. Police arrive and arrest the whole group. Ye Tianyou is furious. He scolds his apprentice, Mai Hongchao, for hanging out with criminals. Mai argues back. He is still bitter about the deaths of Xu Li and Hu Xiaoyue.
The Sting
He Biao tries to recruit Zhang Xin. He promises to take down Qiao Defu for her. Meanwhile, Qin Feng and Mai Hongchao take the Changwu Brothers out on the town. They hit a bathhouse and get dinner. Wen Bo enters the restaurant in full police uniform. He demands to check IDs. Qin Feng starts a loud argument with him. He acts tough and defends the criminals. It is a performance. Qin Feng and Wen Bo staged the whole thing to earn the brothers' trust. It works. The brothers open up about He Biao's plans. On the way home, Qin Feng notices a lighter. It matches one Liu Tianfei has. He realizes it belongs to Su Hongbao. This triggers a suspicion. He thinks Liu Tian is secretly connected to He Biao.
