Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

Pengchao?

Mom.

Why are you coming so late?

I want some dumplings.

What happened?

Nothing.

Before I leave,

I should have some dumplings.

When I was abroad over the years,

I was alone for all festivals.

I remember on New Year's Eve,

I wanted some dumplings.

I drove quite a long way

and finally found a Chinese restaurant.

But the owner was having a family reunion dinner

and didn't sell me dumplings.

When I stood outside the window,

I wish you could boil dumplings for me.

Mom,

boil some for me.

OK.

Right away.

Hello.

Vice-Mayor Han,

an urgent message.

Be prepared for it.

Zhao Pengchao

killed someone.

The police are hunting him.

You knew it?

[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 40]

Who did you kill?

Mom,

call the police for me.

Buy me some time

until I can leave Changwu.

Do you think

you can leave?

Pengchao,

listen to me.

Turn yourself in to the police, OK?

I'll go with you.

Her son killed someone by provocation.

Vice-Mayor Han

took him to the police

with tears.

How touching!

Great news!

No, no.

I don't mean I take you there.

I will

turn myself in, too.

OK?

Mom,

why haven't you recognized yourself yet?

Whatever you do, you only care about yourself.

Your future.

Your career.

And your reputation.

Have you ever thought about me?

Wrong.

You never care about yourself, either.

All you care about is

the reputation of Vice-Mayor Han.

You're a weird woman.

A cold-blooded weird woman.

Over all these years,

how did I grow up?

Every step of my growth...

Were you ever interested?

I'm confused about something, though.

I'm your son.

But why do you never know

what kind of man I am?

You know nothing about me.

How did you do that?

Do you remember when I first opened a law firm?

Life was hard and tiring.

And I had no money.

My father refused to subsidize you.

I had to turn to you.

At that time, you said,

"Son,

tell me if you're in trouble.

Mom fails to accompany you.

I feel sorry.

Let me make it up to you."

I was so moved.

But what could you make up to me?

If you had been braver

and stayed with Dad,

Chang Zheng and I might be brothers now.

We may fight for fun,

and we wouldn't destroy each other.

What...

What did you do to Chang Zheng?

You're not heartless.

You just don't like me,

right?

Is it right?

What...

What did you do to him?

He did something to me!

He wants to screw me!

Over all these years,

I've been waiting until you say,

"Son,

go with Mom.

Mom misses you."

But you never said it.

Son,

it's my fault.

I'm sorry.

Tell me

what I can do for you now.

Tell me.

I'll do anything for you.

OK?

Mom,

don't cry.

Stop crying.

Crying helps with nothing.

I never cry.

I never cry.

Get Chang Zheng here

and kill him.

Today, either he

or I will die.

Who do you pick?

I would rather

kill myself.

Too bad.

Still no dumplings.

Three years ago, I had a plan

to clean up my family.

I would get rid of Pengcheng,

deal with Pengzhan and Pengxiang,

and consolidate my family properties.

Inform all units

that we've got full evidence

of the Zhaos' crimes.

It turns out

that Zhao Pengchao is

behind all the crimes.

He should be arrested

right away.

Check the time.

It's 6:25

in the morning.

In five minutes,

the Final Arrest

officially starts.

-Yes. -Yes.

[Police]

[Changwu City PSB Binxi Branch]

[MCO KTV]

[Zhao, Four Seas Group]

[Pengtai Ecological Orchard]

[Zhao, Four Seas Group]

[Welcome to Zhaojiawei]

What are you doing?

Freeze!

Zhao Xiaosheng,

you're under arrest.

Well, my two sons.

Neither of them

gives me a peaceful life.

What goes around

comes around.

You can't blame anyone else.

You're fierce, though.

You take after me.

I take after Chang Fei.

To arrest bad guys,

I never show any mercy.

Take him away.

Get up!

Send this to the archive.

OK, Deputy Chief Li.

Go.

Put it down.

Mr. Yan.

I remember back in the police school,

you were an excellent student.

I know this day would come.

The sooner, the better.

Some people

can stand up to fierce fights.

But to money, they can't.

You forgot

why you became

a policeman, huh?

You forgot your oath for that.

You let me down.

Take him away.

Go.

Zhao Pengzhan,

you're under arrest.

We're right after Sangniu.

Block the junctions ahead.

Never let her enter the downtown.

Put down your gun!

Put it down!

Have you found Zhao Pengchao?

Not yet.

Not yet.

Not yet.

Mr. Yan,

everyone has been arrested,

but Zhao Pengchao.

Airport,

harbor,

train station,

and expressways.

All transit systems

must be blocked.

Zhao Pengchao

can't leave Changwu.

Throughout the city,

search for Zhao Pengchao.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

I know where he is.

Get in the car.

Go!

[Changwu No.1 Detention House]

Chang Zheng,

Zhao Pengchao wants to see you.

Since he was arrested,

he hasn't confessed anything useful.

He won't say anything

until he sees you.

Thanks for coming.

It's my duty.

I could have left, actually.

Forget it.

It's too late to surrender, anyway.

I feel the worst for Ji Nian.

I love her

more than you do.

What do you want to see me for?

Nothing.

I just want a word with you.

You and I

have never talked like this before.

Pity.

Tell me

about your life in Chang Fei's family.

What's special about them

that makes you

reject your real family?

I'm quite curious.

How about you satisfy my curiosity?

Sorry, but I can't.

Because even if I tell you,

you can't feel it.

Understand?

Just some

warm stories

from a common family.

I'm jealous.

Brothers like us hurt each other.

Pathetic.

If someone can be blamed,

it must be our mother.

She is

an extreme egoist.

She gave birth to us but didn't raise us.

So,

we ended up like this.

Have you thought about

exchanging your life with me?

If I grew up

in Chang Fei's family,

I wouldn't have been left

with a host family in Australia.

Have you experienced

a gun to your head as you walked?

I was very little at that time.

Now, I had to come back

and outwit our elder brothers.

If you were in my position,

you might not do better.

But you're lucky.

Your childhood

heals your whole life.

But I spend my whole life healing my childhood.

You think I'm...

In our family,

I'm just Zhao Xiaosheng's tool.

I was forced

to grow up in a world with jungle law.

You stayed away from trouble

and grew up healthily.

Now you come to me

and show off your justice.

Have you thought about

my life over the past twenty years or so?

Your life?

It seems to be better than Zhao Xiaosheng's.

I earned it!

No one but me could reform the Zhaos.

I just cleaned up the mess.

I endowed it with Four Seas Group.

I made it.

But you destroyed it.

Zhao Pengchao,

you are...

Hopeless.

The Zhaos

rotted from the root.

However hard you whitewash it,

you can't turn the bad into the good

or turn the evil into the kind.

Got it?

Indeed.

We used some

illegal methods.

But I meant well.

You think you can

do illegal things for your family?

Wake up.

Your family collapsed.

Don't forget.

You're one of the family.

Pengzheng,

when you overturn the Zhaos,

it's like you kill your father and brothers.

Don't feel so proud.

Can your sense of justice

make you sleep?

Don't you feel guilty?

Zhao Pengchao,

sometimes,

you make me really confused.

Over all these years,

have you ever felt guilty?

Your family did evil things for over 30 years.

With the power you had,

you did all kinds of evil

and committed crimes.

You harassed people,

killed people,

and discredited people.

You totally ignored

laws and consciences.

How could you not feel guilty?

You know what?

In this world,

what goes around comes around.

You should reflect on yourselves.

Maybe I am

the retribution to your family.

Who knows?

I have to admit it.

Speaking of blood lineage,

you're my brother

and Zhao Xiaosheng is my father.

But when I look at you,

I feel like

I'm looking in the mirror.

A negative mirror.

You always warn me

that I should never,

never give in to the dark side of human nature.

Now that I'm the chosen one to overturn you,

I must do my duty

and never step back.

You just wonder

if our blood lineage

will break me down

and make me restless for the rest of my life.

Here's my point.

Actually, God showed you compassion.

The Zhaos

are sinful.

God gave them a chance.

I mean Zhao Pengcheng

and me.

We took the right side

and did the right things.

Zhao Pengchao,

blood's thicker than water.

But law is greater than anything else.

Han Ya killed herself.

I know you went to her the night before.

What did you say to her?

Nothing.

I just asked her

to boil some dumplings for me.

Do you want to know

what she said?

She left a letter of confession.

Most of it

is about you.

She said,

Zhao Pengchao did crimes

with a wrong thought.

But she did

a life-long sin.

She said Zhao Pengchao did crimes

because she

failed to be

a good mother.

She wished

you could get a lesser sentence

when you were penalized.

And she was ready

to kill herself for her sin.

You said

I should be guilty forever

for killing my father and brothers.

What about you?

You not only did that,

but also committed crimes.

You even got your mother involved.

You wasted her effort

to keep you safe.

Before your doom,

you forced her to kill herself.

What an animal you are!

You don't deserve to be a human.

I'm Han Ya.

I am

the Executive Vice-Mayor of Changwu City.

With regret and guilt,

I have to confront the mistake I've made

[Letter of Confession]

and write

a letter of confession.

I'm Zhao Pengchao's mother.

When he served

as the legal counsel in Four Seas Group,

to defend his interests,

I used my power

to decide and handle related issues

without authority.

Instead of restraining his illegal acts,

I indulged him.

It led to irretrievable consequences.

During the investigation by the police,

I used my power again

to hold up relevant units.

Indirectly, I defended Zhao Xiaosheng

and his criminal gang.

I assisted the evildoers.

♫Listen quietly to the dream♫

Zhao Pengchao committed serious crimes

♫It seldom responds♫

mostly because

♫It's only clear occasionally♫

I neglected him

and didn't instruct him.

He had the wrong thought.

♫Listen quietly to the night♫

But I had a life-long sin.

♫Find a guide♫

I decide

to kill myself.

♫And keep it in mind♫

♫When we swore a young oath we gazed steadily♫

[Changwu Bridge]

♫Accumulated dreams grow mature♫

Chang Zheng is my little son.

To him,

I did a worse job as a mother.

♫I keep my sincere heart forever♫

I want to tell him

that he's right to be righteous and brave.

♫The light afar frequently lights up as I wake up♫

For better or for worse,

he doesn't need to suspect that.

♫In the dark I walk against the wind but never stop♫

Son,

you swore to overturn the Zhaos.

Not everyone can do that.

♫Day and night I suffered and hurt♫

But you

will make it.

♫Under the sky I run and never regret♫

If...

I once hurt you

when you grew up,

♫Day and night I laughed and cried♫

please forgive me.

If my final decision

hurts you again,

♫I never shrink♫

don't be sad.

♫With the heat♫

I deserve all this.

♫The light of hope♫

It has nothing

♫Always glimmers♫

to do with you

or Pengchao.

Time to

put an end.

[One month later]

Be careful. Be careful.

Don't fall.

Be careful, too, Chief Zhang.

Why do you run with them?

Watch out.

We're supposed to visit you at home.

Why do we end up

on the beach?

Ask Deputy Chief Chang.

Chief Zhang,

let me remind you.

My mentor is

no longer the Deputy Chief.

I told you we should have come here.

Can Chief Zhang handle this?

Besides, we've got a lot of work.

Why can we have fun here?

Stop nagging.

We know as the temporary chief,

you're quite busy.

But ignorant guys may think

you're a lady from the neighborhood committee.

What are you talking about?

Mentor.

Chang Zheng.

Coming.

Hurry.

Tell me.

When I'm away,

are you making a mess

in our detachment?

Rest assured, Chief Zhang.

In his eyes,

our detachment matters more than his life.

He keeps telling us

to pay attention to every detail

and not to disgrace you.

Now I finally realize

that Chief Zhang took care

of annoying trifles.

You have to do my job, anyway.

Now you feel annoyed, huh?

You used to be the most annoying guy.

Take Chief Zhang to see the sea. Hurry.

OK.

Go ahead.

Chief Zhang, let's go see the sea.

What a nice day!

All right. Let's go.

Look at the blue sky.

Yes, yes.

Umm...

The Special Task Force was dissolved a few days ago.

In this case,

I should return to Maritime Port Bureau Branch.

Right.

The other day, I told them

to have a farewell dinner

for you.

Come on, Chang Zheng.

We worked together for such a long time.

Don't you urge me to stay?

Why would I?

It feels great to work alone.

Work alone?

Fine,

go work alone.

Wait, wait.

Jin Yan.

Decided by our superiors,

you will stay

in Binxi Criminal

Investigation Detachment.

What does it mean?

We thought about it.

It's quite troublesome

to hire a new member.

We will have to adjust.

If you stay,

we can make do with it.

Chang Zheng,

you know what?

You're born to be beaten.

What?

If you don't want to stay,

you can leave.

I will stay.

I won't leave.

I'll drive you crazy.

Chief Zhang!

Mentor, Mentor.

Stop, stop.

Cut it out.

Take a rest.

Are you happy?

When you're out for a walk,

it feels different, huh?

Yeah.

I was kept indoors for over a month.

Chief Zhang,

a memorial meeting

is being prepared

for Qiu Tao, the martyr.

OK, I see.

My father

will be buried, too.

♫If I take this step♫

♫Will everything ahead be clear♫

The Zhaos collapsed.

Time for your father

to rest in peace.

♫How much do I have to go through♫

♫At the next crossroad♫

What's on your mind?

♫If I take this route♫

Before,

in the dark,

I could only see the slightest glimmer.

♫Will the cold wind be less piercing♫

I thought I should hold on.

As I held on,

♫Make regretless sacrifices♫

the day would break

and I would see better scenery.

Now,

the day is breaking.

♫Or give in to destiny♫

And the scenery is indeed terrific.

♫Mist is along the way♫

Dad.

♫Having blocked the sunrise♫

Dad, come and look.

Dad, come and look.

♫Victory may be at the finish line♫

What?

♫Right or wrong To like or to hate♫

Something you made of sand?

♫To resist or to conquer♫

OK.

Let me have a look.

♫Turning around will I be♫

OK. Come on.

Let's check it out.

Go.

♫On the way home♫

[The End]