Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Deng Lijun, Supervisor at Qiongya No.5 Mine]

[Cao Dalong (Young), Then Excavate Team Leader at Qiongya No.5 Mine]

[Chasing the Undercurrent]

[Punish those who commit crimes and make mistakes so as to discipline them, and execute those who violate the prohibitions so as to terrify would-be violators. -Guanzi, Ban Fa]

[Episode 19]

It's been so many years.

Why are you bringing it up again?

Do you think I want to?

There's a cop around me

who keeps trying to open an old case.

Now,

he's already closing on me.

What do you want to know?

I want to know

who did it.

An old employee from the mine.

Is he still alive?

Not only is he alive,

but he's also one of your employees.

Do you mean...

[Zheng Guangtian (Retired), Former Vice Chairman of Binjiang Provincial CPPCC]

It's Cao Dalong.

Cao Dalong?

I see.

So it's Cao Dalong.

I should've known it was him.

Dad.

You must tell me what happened

and everything that you remember

that year.

I remember the things I was involved in.

When the mining accident happened,

I was the head of security.

[No Fire]

[This mining accident]

[caused]

[the death of 11 miners.]

[Deng Lijun was the supervisor at the time.]

[During the inspection,]

[he found out]

[the mine's safety structure]

[was a downright shoddy project,]

[which was also the real reason for the mining accident.]

[Therefore,]

[his report]

[was a disaster]

[Mine's Manager Office]

[to the top management.]

[If]

[this report was submitted,]

[Zheng Guangtian (Young), Then Mine Manager at Qiongya No.5 Mine]

[all these people would be thrown into prison.]

[So the Mine Manager of that time,]

[Zheng Guangtian]

[secretly gave his instruction]

[to the head supervisor,]

[Qing Chenglin]

[to tell him]

[that he must cover up the truth.]

[Qing Chenglin (Young), Then Head Supervisor at Qiongya No.5 Mine]

[So]

[Qing Chenglin met Deng Lijun]

[and pleaded with him to amend the report.]

[Unexpectedly,]

[Deng Lijun]

[refused to listen]

[and intended to handle the matter impartially.]

[In the meantime,]

[the security office]

[also received orders from the higher-ups]

[Zhao Xiaosheng (Young), Then Head Security at Qiongya No.5 Mine]

[to intervene in the investigation.]

[Zheng Guangtian was stunned.]

[He got anxious.]

[So that night,]

[Zheng Guangtian]

[came to the house with Qing Chenglin.]

[To be honest,]

[I could have guessed]

[the consequences]

[they had to face.]

But I was]

[unexpectedly stumped]

[when they reveal their purpose]

[at my place.]

There's a saying in capitalism.

The general idea

is someone will take the risk

if the profit is 50%.

If the profit reaches 100%,

it'll lead people

to disregard the law.

If

it can reach 300% of profit,

someone would take the risk of facing capital punishment.

So

when I saw the money,

I understood

the meaning behind this saying at that moment.

And I made up my mind.

So you took the money.

But

I told Zheng Guangtian

that they must

take care of Deng Lijun,

only then can I submit the report

according to their requirements.

Reasonable.

So they sent someone

to kill Deng Lijun.

That's right.

I supposed

Zheng Guangtian and Qing Chenglin's cards are here too.

I'll show you.

Zheng Guangtian is only a Joker here.

Then who's the King?

You must not be hasty in everything.

You'll know

when the time comes.

Mentor,

I found Cao Dalong.

He's now

the Manager of the Security Department

of Mingdu Entertainment and Leisure Center

under the Four Seas Group.

I'm keeping an eye on him.

I'll be right there. Keep an eye on him.

Yes, Sir.

[Cao Dalong, Security Manager at Mingdu Entertainment and Leisure Center]

Pengchao,

do you know why

I reveal my secrets to you?

It means

the fate

of the Zhao family

will be under your responsibility.

I understand.

I need to remind you of one more thing.

If

Deng Xiaojun

did tell Chang Zheng

that Deng Lijun

was murdered by Cao Dalong,

then the trouble for our Zhao family

has just begun.

So who is this Cao Dalong?

He was the team leader of the excavation team.

Now, he's working under Zhao Pengxiang as the security manager.

So what did you guys talk about

over the phone just now?

He was telling me

some details of Cao Dalong killing Deng Lijun.

Hey, Lijun!

Wait up!

I was on my way to your house to see you.

What do you want?

It's

about the investigation report of the mine accident.

You mentioned several issues in your report.

Mr. Qing wants both of us to go to the site

to verify it again.

I submitted the report a week ago.

Why is he only verifying it now?

How would I know

what he wants?

It's my day off today.

I'm in a rush to visit my dad at the hospital now.

How about this?

We'll talk about this at work tomorrow.

Okay?

No.

Mr. Qing is anxious to report this to the superior.

We must complete this today.

Just go with me to the site.

Don't worry.

It won't take too much time.

Fine.

Let's go now.

Okay.

So we can't

let Cao Dalong live.

That's your problem now.

Yes, Heitou.

Just keep quiet and listen to me.

The cop will reach you soon.

I want you to get out from the north exit

and walk 100m towards the east.

There's a bus stop there.

Wait for me there.

I'll come and pick you up.

Okay.

I'll be there.

Mr. Cao, where are you going?

The toilet and I'll come back.

I'm sorry about that.

The target is along the corridor in the east.

He's running away towards the north.

Stop right there!

Stop!

Stop right there!

Don't move!

Get down here!

Get down!

Let me go!

Stop shouting.

Behave!

Why are you arresting me?

Don't you know why?

So?

Cao Dalong was arrested.

Tell Zhao Pengzhan and Zhao Pengxiang

to come over.

Okay.

[Why are you arresting me?]

[I want to make a call!]

[I want a lawyer!]

[Release me!]

Mentor,

we only have 24 hours.

Are we going to interrogate Cao Dalong all night?

Just ignore him.

Let him be.

At this moment,

he's being highly resistant now.

He won't say anything even if we question him now.

[I want to make a call!]

[Let me out!]

I want to make a call

to find a lawyer!

Let me out!

But I really want to see

the Zhao family's response to this matter.

Chang Zheng

is a troublemaker.

He keeps making trouble for us

over and over again.

If you ask me,

we should just

kill him.

That'll be the end of it.

What do you think?

But he's a cop.

So what?

Then what do you think we should do?

The problem is

that Cao Dalong is in Chang Zheng's hands now.

He knows too many things about the Zhao family.

How to get him out

is the main problem.

Pengchao,

you're a lawyer.

Is it against the law

for them to arrest Cao Dalong

without any ground?

Then can we confront

them positively

and ask them to release him?

That's why I ask you to come here

so I can remind you

not to do anything hastily.

We still don't know

how much the police know about Cao Dalong.

He only got arrested.

If we show up right away,

that'll only make Chang Zheng more convinced

that Cao Dalong

is holding important secrets.

What do we do now?

We just do nothing

and just wait?

Cao is a useless thrash.

He won't hold it.

We'll do something, all right.

But we'll take a different approach.

What do you have in mind?

Tell us.

Pengzhan, you said

we could question

if the arrest is constitutional.

But what if his superior

questions him,

won't it be more effective?

Also,

we've invested

a lot of money in Chang Shi.

It's time to collect the returns now.

I know what to do now.

No matter how stupid Cao Dalong is,

he won't confess that easily.

Then we'll give more pressure on Chang Zheng.

As long as Cao

can hold on for more than 24 hours,

Chang Zheng will have to release him.

Deputy Chief Li,

sorry to call you

at this late hour.

What time is it now?

Don't you know I'm already asleep?

Did anything happen?

Cao Dalong was arrested.

I did remind you, didn't I?

I told you to be cautious

because things are getting pretty tense lately.

But it had already happened.

So we should solve it first.

All right, then.

Tell me

how I can help you.

Chang Zheng arrested Cao Dalong

because Deng Xiaojun told him, right?

But Deng Xiaojun is already dead.

So there's no witness or proof.

That means Chang Zheng arrest him

without evidence at hand.

I don't think

this is according to the procedure of an investigation, right?

Also,

the investigation of the bones

should have already been closed, right?

Okay.

I understand.

I'll take care of this.

Jin Yan.

We've searched all night.

How about taking a break?

Thanks for your hard work.

I'll buy you some breakfast.

You can get some rest for now.

We'll continue after this, okay?

Wait.

Can you

go back for a bit?

Yes, zoom in.

Yu,

come to the technology department.

Come and take a look

to see if this is the guy.

Yes, that's him.

Are you certain?

Yes.

Deputy Chief Chang.

We found Deng Xiaojun's murderer

from the surveillance footage.

After making a comparison in the database,

we found out that he's Xia Zongtao.

The one who went missing from Xinye Wharf.

Xia Zongtao?

Why do you look surprised?

Xia Zonghai disappeared the night

he was shot.

The suspect

in the case

is Zhao Pengxiang.

Xia Zongtao is famous

for being vengeful.

Logically speaking, these two families

should hate each other

that's beyond reconciliation.

Now you're saying Xia Zongtao kills

for the Zhao family.

It's not logical at all.

I'll report to Chief Xiao

about interrogating Cao Dalong.

Okay.

[Deputy Director's Office]

Deng Xiaojun told you

that Cao Dalong killed his dad

before he died.

Yes.

Did he have any proof?

He died right after

he said that.

So I don't know

if he had any proof.

But this at least proved

that what he knew

had caused some people to panic,

which led

Xia Zongtao to kill him.

I do agree with your deductions.

But you can't arrest Cao Dalong

because of what Deng Xiaojun alone

had said.

Yes.

We have no way to prove

that Cao Dalong had killed Deng Lijun

twenty-eight years ago.

But I have reasons to believe

that Cao Dalong

is related to Deng Xiaojun's death.

I thought you said Xia Zongtao

was the one who killed Deng Xiaojun.

Yes, it was Xiao Zongtao.

But Xiao Zongtao

has no direct relationship with Deng Xiaojun.

He was ordered

to kill Deng Xiaojun.

But since Deng Xiaojun

mentioned Cao Dalong's name before he died,

so I have reasons to believe

that Cao Dalong ordered Xia Zongtao

to kill Deng Xiaojun.

So I'm arresting him based on this reason.

I see.

I don't think that's your main purpose.

You're using Deng Xiaojun's murder case

to arrest Cao Dalong.

Your purpose is to get Cao Dalong to confess

the truth behind Deng Lijun's death that year.

Am I right?

Yes.

You're becoming

more and more cunning now.

That's because you taught me well.

I just circled around.

You can't keep him for more than 24 hours.

You have less than 14 hours now.

Are you sure

you can persuade Cao Dalong to confess?

I'll do my best.

How about this?

I'll take care

of Xia Zongtao's arrest.

You'll focus on Cao Dalong.

You must get to the bottom of it.

Yes, Sir.

Check this list.

Be quick about it.

I need it for the meeting this afternoon.

Yes, Sir.

Come in.

Chief Xiao,

I heard Chang Zheng

arrested Cao Dalong,

the security manager of Mingdu

without any evidence.

He behaves so recklessly

without regard to the actual situation.

You can't let him do as he pleases.

You have to stop him.

Bodong,

I think you don't know what's going on.

I just asked Chang Zheng.

He arrested Cao Dalong

because he was suspected of ordering

Xia Zongtao to kill Deng Xiaojun.

Before Deng Xiaojun died,

Chang Zheng heard him mention Cao Dalong's name.

I see.

You're here at the right time.

I have a task for you.

The murderer of Deng Xiaojun,

Xia Zongtao

is currently on the run.

I want you to gather the men

to search for him

throughout the city immediately.

Yes, Sir.

Do you know why we arrest you?

How would I know?

You don't know?

Why did you run when you saw the cops?

I had a fight last week

and I injured his head.

I thought

it was because of this matter.

Cao Dalong,

so you're just spouting nonsense now?

[If it's not about the fight,]

[I don't know]

[why you arrest me, then.]

[Do you know Deng Xiaojun?]

Deng Xiaojun?

Never heard of him.

Does the name

Deng Lijun sound familiar to you?

[Thursday]

[Answer me.]

[I'm trying to remember here.]

I know him.

He died 28 years ago.

Why do you remember so clearly

what happened 28 years ago?

Life is nothing but death.

Of course, I remember it.

[Then tell me]

[how did he die.]

I think

he was buried by the second collapse

when he was inspecting the site

of the mining accident.

Are you involved in this?

What kind of question is that?

Why would I be involved in it?

Don't try to pin me on anything.

Why are you anxious when you were not involved?

Am I?

[Why would I be anxious?]

[Then do you know]

[the relationship between Deng Xiaojun and Deng Lijun?]

No.

Are you trying to do tongue twisters

because their names sound similar?

Deng Xiaojun is Deng Lijun's son.

He was killed

yesterday.

What are you trying to say here?

Did you arrest me without any reason

just to ask me

about things that aren't related to me?

Do you think it's not related to you?

Stop beating around the bushes.

If you think I'm guilty,

show me your evidence.

Stop wasting time.

Cao Dalong,

you better watch your manners.

If you're not suspicious,

you wouldn't be here.

This is how I am.

I know the law too.

You can only detain me

for 24 hours.

When the time is up,

you still have to release me.

By the way,

I'm going to sue you for defamation too.

[Chang Zheng. Stop the questioning.]

Cao Dalong,

don't be so cocky.

The police follow a strict procedure for questioning.

We'd never bring you here

for no reason at all.

We're talking to you

just to give you a chance.

So I want you to think carefully about it.

It's me.

Before Deng Xiaojun died,

he mentioned Cao Dalong's name.

Now, the police

are using investigating Deng Xiaojun's murder

to bring in Cao Dalong.

It's a legit procedure.

I have no reason to stop it.

How's Cao Dalong doing now?

At the moment,

he hasn't said anything.

You must take him out as soon as possible.

Okay.

One more thing,

the police are now making an all-out search

for Deng Xiaojun's murderer.

You must hide him well.

Make sure nothing goes wrong.

[No Fire]

Mao.

Come here.

You're not at the office

and not answering my call.

What do you mean by that?

Mao,

let me explain.

I've been doing sales these days.

I really am.

Mao,

can you ask Pengxiang

to give me another month?

I'll definitely pay it back.

I'm serious.

You can tell him yourself.

Come.

Mao, let me explain.

Move it!

Pengxiang.

Chang Shi,

I'm sorry.

I have problems

with cash flow on my side.

That's why I came to you anxiously

to know what's going on.

I get it.

Pengxiang, I get it.

Give me one more month.

No,

half a month.

Pengxiang,

one week?

I'll pay in a week.

I'm sure you know

the speed of selling goods

on live broadcast can be

as fast as a night.

How about this?

I'll pawn all my goods to you.

Can we do that?

Chang Shi,

your goods are fake.

You faked

all your live broadcast platform data,

and the traffic volume,

and you even made up

the background.

Do you really think I don't know that?

Pengxiang,

I was also tricked.

I've really been trying

to find a way

to sell this batch of goods

and give you the money back.

That's your problem.

I only want my money.

You have one day.

I want my money

tomorrow at this time.

Understand?

Yes.

I understand.

Shanmao.

Call the police.

Okay.

Hello,

is this 110?

I want to file a report.

[Chang Shi]

Yes, Shitou.

Niannian,

you must help me.

Calm down, take your time.

What happened?

Sir,

throughout the incident,

my client had no prior knowledge

that the health care products he purchased were fake.

That's why he sold the products to other consumers

through live streaming platforms.

We already know

the overall situation.

Next,

we'll investigate further into this.

After you sign this statement,

you can take him home.

But you can't leave

the city temporarily.

You must come in for investigation when needed.

Okay.

Deputy Director Xu,

do you know him?

Give it to me.

Let me see.

You can get back to work.

Yes, Sir.

You're back.

Hi, there.

Hello?

Yes, Deputy Director Xu.

What's the matter?

Are you free now?

Let's meet.

Now?

Yes.

What's so urgent?

It's about your son,

Chang Shi.

Chang Shi?

Where's Chang Shi now?

We've released him.

But I'm afraid

this matter is not that simple.

From our preliminary investigation,

many consumers are complaining

that Chang Shi's live broadcasting platform

is selling fake goods.

We all know

the dangers of fake health care products.

If we don't stop the sales,

this matter will become more serious.

That's a lot of goods.

Where did Chang Shi get the money to purchase them?

As far as we know,

his fund comes from private lending.

The creditor's background is not simple too.

He's from the Four Seas Group of the Zhao family.

The Zhao family lend him the money?

Why is it the Zhao family again?

You better tell me the truth.

What exactly happened?

Mom,

I told you

Zhao Pengxiang lent me the money

because he thought

selling on live broadcast could make money.

But who would've thought

I'd be so unlucky

that he wants out?

Now, he's making me return the money.

Come on.

Why would he think highly of your business?

Did he make any terms

when he lent you the money?

No.

I swear he didn't.

Mom.

Don't you believe me?

Did you breach any contract?

Well, the payment

is indeed overdue.

So you did breach the contract.

But I've talked to Zhao Pengxiang.

He also agreed

to let me

pay it back after a while.

I didn't expect he would change his mind.

Don't tell me

it's because of Zheng.

Zheng?

What does Zheng have to do with this matter?

Zheng has been investigating the Zhao family

and causing them trouble.

It was just yesterday

he arrested their security manager.

He did that?

Yes.

I'm sure of it.

I'm sure Zhao Pengxiang had a fallout with me

because of this matter.

Call your brother

and tell him to come home.

I want to ask what happened.

I'm not calling.

You can call him if you want.

Mom, I'll get going now.

When he comes back, you should talk to him.

Come back here!

-Don't tell him about my stuff. -Come back!

Bye, Mom.

[Chang Zheng]

[Contacts]

[Han Ya]

Han Ya, it's me.

Can you come to my house?

Officer,

can I have more?

Are you here to eat?

Can I have more?

Wait here.

Thanks.

Fill your stomach first.

Yu, how's Cao Dalong doing?

He has a very good appetite.

And

he's still hungry.

Take mine.

Yu,

come back.

You guys can eat. I'll send the food to him.

I can talk to him while at it.

Eat.

Come on, eat.

[Integrity and Ethical. Fair Justice]

Mentor!

What's the matter?

Let me record the statement for you.

[Interrogation Room]

No need to record any statement.

I just want to talk to him.

You can go back for lunch.

What's there to talk about?

Just a casual conversation.

You don't know, right?

Sometimes a random conversation

is more useful than the interrogation you do.

As he feels relaxed while talking,

he wouldn't even know what he had said.

Since you're here,

why don't you watch him?

Okay.

From now on,

don't let anyone

enter this room.

[Interrogation Room]

What if they're our superiors?

No one is an exception.

Okay.

I promise

I won't let even a fly enter.

Okay.

Give it to me.

[Interrogation Room]

Thanks.

Say,

the food here sure is delicious.

Shitou told me

Zheng arrested

one of the Zhao family's security managers yesterday.

Then the Zhao family came to demand payments today.

I was wondering

if they're actually targeting Zheng.

Lin Bai,

calm down first.

Let me take care

of Shitou's matter.

Would it affect you?

After all, it's related to the Zhao family.

I can't be worried about that now.

I must get involved in this no matter what.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

I shouldn't have troubled you.

But

I was too anxious.

Lin Bai,

I'm going to get angry if you say that again.

Why are you trying to draw a line here?

Enough already.

Calm down and don't worry.

I...

I'll ask Pengchao

what exactly happened before doing anything.

Thank you.

Thank you, Han Ya.

It must have been hard on you these days.

Tell me

when I can leave.

If you're willing, you can stay.

It's safe here.

Are you thinking about the past?

You should let the past go.

Let it go?

How can I?

He was my brother!

He was my brother too.

You guys blew him up.

When he was celebrating his mother's 50th birthday,

you guys delivered a box with an explosive

and blew his mother up.

Also, my sister-in-law.

My sister-in-law was pregnant at the time.

That's two lives there.

You did it behind your brother, right?

Your brother had so many enemies.

Anyone could have done it.

Why are you trying to pin it on me?

Would I talk to you about this

if I haven't gotten to the bottom of fit?

I have a huge business

so I don't lack many things.

I only lack manpower.

Stay and help me out.

Forget it.

You saved my life

and treated me well.

I can forget

about taking revenge.

But I'll never work

for the Zhao family.

Fair enough.

I won't force you if you don't want to.

After everything subsides,

I'll find a way to send you out of the country.

Watch him closely.

Make sure he's comfortable.

Okay.

Yes, Mom?

Okay.

I'll see you later.