Episode 8 recap: Investigating the Spy: Following the Clues
On the first day of reporting, Lin Shaobai and another newcomer, Cen Xiaoman, both arrive late. However, Lu Zhengyang excuses Cen Xiaoman for her tardiness, citing her unfamiliarity as a new recruit, while Lin Shaobai, being a former "veteran," is required to write a detailed reflection of over a thousand words.
Xu Wei is working under a false identity at the dock, secretly gathering information about the Hand Hook Gang and Dai Yueqing from the workers. Unfortunately, the workers are tight-lipped, and Xu Wei is unable to obtain any substantial leads.
Eagle has given him an ultimatum: if he doesn't gather more information in two days, they will cut off Xu Wei's hands. Lu Zhengyang provides both Cen Xiaoman and Lin Shaobai with confidentiality agreements, insisting they memorize and strictly adhere to them. Additionally, Cen Xiaoman receives a police uniform, while Lin Shaobai, being an external hire, must wait until he officially starts to get one.
Meanwhile, Jin Yan, busy in the police station, receives a call from Old Zhou, learning that her father has had an incident at the dock. She rushes to the scene.
Jin Maochang is actually unharmed and uses this as an excuse to call his daughter to the dock, hoping to get her on a boat to safety. The threat from Eagle still looms large in his mind. However, before Jin Yan can board the boat, Eagle arrives, warning her that they have many people abroad and can easily target her. Terrified, Jin Maochang abandons the idea of sending his daughter away.
Oblivious to the danger, Jin Yan mistakenly believes her father is feeling better and insists he get a check-up at the hospital. In the car, Jin Maochang, now aware that his daughter is a forensic expert with the police, no longer opposes her career choice. Instead, he hands her a gun for protection, which she accepts without hesitation. Jin Maochang agrees to cooperate, but his condition is that they ruin his powerful rival, Wang Xisheng.
Eagle is highly efficient, and soon after, a scandal involving Wang Xisheng breaks in the newspapers, ensuring Jin Maochang's ascension to the presidency of the Military Affairs Chamber.
At the social department, colleagues review case files. Lin Shaobai thinks this is a foolish approach, yet the simplest methods often prove most effective. Cen Xiaoman, skilled in shorthand and speed reading, reviews all the files and discovers that spies began using false identities when the Japanese occupied Shanghai.
Under pressure, Jin Maochang establishes a sugar research institute within a cotton mill, ostensibly to provide a venue and equipment for Zheng Lanting's research. Subsequently, he hires a hitman named Jiang Yang, who is known to be motivated solely by money, to find an opportunity to eliminate Eagle and his superiors.
Xu Wei, under the alias Wei Shan, receives his wages and is bullied but fights back, easily defeating ten attackers. His skills catch the attention of a gang leader, who agrees to bring him to a conflict with the Water River Gang in two days, where he can join if he kills someone.
Later, Xu Wei learns that the Hand Hook Gang's leader enjoys dancing and has a private box at the Xianyuemen club. Li Qian, who had previously bailed out Chen Ying, is arrested by Lu Zhengyang's team. Lin Shaobai prepares a plan, alerting a pork chop vendor to be ready. When Li Qian attempts to flee to a car, Lin Shaobai throws hot oil on him, leading to his capture. Li Qian spills information about Chen Ying, whose real name is revealed to be Wang Liqun, a spy for the Kuomintang.
Lin Shaobai deduces that Wang Liqun likely resides near Xinma Road, and suggests a search within a five-kilometer radius. Xu Wei reports back to Eagle, but Eagle's dismissive attitude frustrates him, leaving Xu Wei feeling helpless. After investigating a Turkish bath, Lin Shaobai concludes that Wang Liqun is quite the womanizer.
Cen Xiaoman raises an awkward question that neither Lu Zhengyang nor Lin Shaobai can easily answer. Lu Zhengyang's explanation turns out to be quite uncomfortable. Two mothers express a desire to see "The White Haired Girl" and initially consider asking Lin Shaobai for help but hesitate. Lin Shaobai overhears them and feels relieved. The next day at work, he asks Lu Zhengyang for assistance in getting tickets to the show, providing a clear rationale for his request.
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