Episode 18 recap: Fang Li kidnapped Xie Jia Ming.
Chen Ke Hai and Fang Li represented Division One and Division Two in a skills competition. The results of the first round were the same, so they decided to have a tiebreaker to determine the winner and double the prize money. Xing Han Zhu was unhappy because Director Li was protecting Fang Li. Even though Fang Li was from the Military Statistics Bureau, Director Li claimed to have his own judgment and warned against involving the Japanese, as it would violate Rule 76.
Chen Ke Hai was ordered to conduct the search while Fang Li accused him of overstepping his authority. Xing Han Zhu deduced from their argument that the ambush on Xia Fei Road years ago was deliberately orchestrated by the Military Statistics Bureau. Fang Li intentionally switched sides and betrayed Rule 76. However, Li Shi Qun believed that there was currently no evidence, and capturing the Director of Rule 76 was not an easy task. He reminded Xing Han Zhu to exercise restraint.
Chen Ke Hai joined a department and had to adapt to their ways. Lao Jin wanted to remove Luo Bing, but Fang Li argued that she was not important, and Xie Zi Feng was the key. Luo Bing had prepared a lot for Chen Ke Hai's arrival, but he claimed to have an upset stomach and went straight to the study.
Late at night, Luo Bing fell asleep in the kitchen while cooking porridge and ended up sleeping in Chen Ke Hai's arms when he came to check on her. The next day, Luo Bing woke up suddenly and found that the porridge was cooked perfectly. Chen Ke Hai's desk was moved into the inner room, and at that moment, Xing Han Zhu announced that Chen Ke Hai had joined the Counterintelligence Division as the section chief.
Fang Li planned to target Xie Zi Feng's son. Chen Ke Hai went to a prison cell but was denied entry because he didn't have Xing Han Zhu's authorization. Xie Zi Feng's son was a true playboy, and Chen Ke Hai planned to kidnap him to blackmail Xie Zi Feng.
In the skills competition between Division One and Division Two, Xing Han Zhu slightly lost in the first round. In order to turn the situation around, Chen Ke Hai volunteered to participate. In the past, during their training sessions, Fang Li often defeated Chen Ke Hai, but now he had made remarkable progress, hitting the bullseye with every shot. In the second round, they had to prevent the installation of firearms, but Fang Li pointed to Chen Ke Hai after finishing, claiming that he had one bullet less, resulting in Fang Li losing the round.
At night, Luo Bing massaged Chen Ke Hai, who told her she didn't have to wake up early to cook porridge anymore and that rice porridge was delicious too. The results of the ballistic test came out, confirming that the bullet came from within the division, but it was uncertain whether it belonged to Fang Li. Xing Han Zhu called Chen Ke Hai and showed him the report. Chen Ke Hai proposed that they could only have conclusive evidence by obtaining Fang Li's assigned firearm for a direct comparison.
Li Liqun vetoed Xing Han Zhu's request, and the two of them parted unhappily. Chen Ke Hai expressed his grievances with Fang Li and went to seize his assigned firearm in his own name. If Director Li were to bring charges against him, he hoped to be imprisoned so that he could attend Fang Li's hearing alive.
Chen Ke Hai led his men to surround Fang Li at Division Two and was ordered to retrieve his assigned firearm. Fang Li accused him of overstepping his authority, but Chen Ke Hai, seeing Fang Li's lack of cooperation, forcefully took his gun and had someone immediately deliver it to the Japanese research institute. Fang Li cursed him for being used as a pawn by Xing Han Zhu, which alerted Li Liqun. Xing Han Zhu's mismanagement resulted in a three-month pay cut, while Chen Ke Hai was dismissed and sent to a military court.
Xing Han Zhu pleaded with Director Li on behalf of Chen Ke Hai and managed to secure him a place in a solitary cell. Chen Ke Hai was taken to the cell, and he noticed a communist prisoner in each cell. In the cell, Chen Ke Hai would have freedom of movement and would attend Fang Li's hearing as a witness. As long as Fang Li was imprisoned, Chen Ke Hai would be reinstated.
Xie Zi Feng gave a box of gold to Ying Zuo, hoping that he would eliminate Fang Li. Luo Bing prepared dinner and wine as usual but Chen Ke Hai did not return. Chen Ke Hai deliberately wandered out of the cell and arrived at the cell where the communist prisoners were held.
Li Liqun instructed Fang Li to prepare for the hearing the next day because Xie Zi Feng was determined to eliminate him. Li Liqun hoped that Fang Li would come out of it unscathed and did not want any scandal involving Rule 76 assassinating high-ranking officials of the new government. Xie Zi Feng's son, Jia Ming, did not care about spending a large sum of money to have Fang Li killed. He didn't even pay attention to Li Shi Qun, let alone Fang Li. While they were mocking them, Lao Jin directly kidnapped Jia Ming and killed his friends who were with him. This scene was captured by a hidden journalist.
The police chief handed the photos to Fang Li, saying that he had been tracking Jia Ming but unintentionally took these photos. Fang Li said there was no evidence to prove that Chen Bin was acting on his instructions. However, the police chief's implicit meaning was that after receiving some money, he advised Fang Li to release Jia Ming. Moreover, the hearing the next day was already arranged in advance. To satisfy both sides, as long as the perpetrator was handed over, the case would be closed.
Fang Li drank with Chen Bin that night, and Chen Bin said he had no lofty ambitions. His wish was to have some money, go home, and open a clinic to live a peaceful life in his later years. Chen Bin looked at the photos in front of him, knowing that he couldn't escape. He hoped that Fang Li would save him, but Fang Li, considering their camaraderie, asked him to sacrifice himself for the sake of everyone.
Chen Bin followed Fang Li for so many years only to end up in this situation. He wanted to tell Chen Ke Hai about Fang Li's actions, but Fang Li said he had no chance anymore. Chen Bin was dragged into the car, and Li Tang hesitated but eventually left.
Xie Jia Ming was bound and desperately begged for mercy. When he learned that the person behind it was Fang Li, he became defiant and insulted Fang Li and Lao Jin. Fang Li gave Jia Ming a box of gold as an apology, but Jia Ming found his apology lacking. Fang Li had no choice but to hold the gold and bow to Jia Ming, apologizing, and preparing a vehicle to send Jia Ming away.
Chen Ke Hai, in order to obtain that list, didn't hesitate to betray Fang Li. Honestly, even though Fang Li had Luo Bing surveilling him at his house, he treated Chen Ke Hai fairly well.
He genuinely saw him as a brother. It really saddens me to see Chen Ke Hai act this way! Even during the period of cooperation between the Nationalists and the Communists, it shouldn't have come to using such methods, right?