Episode Summary
Zheng Hao and Li Dongjie solve a case, while Xiong Yi faces workplace challenges. A medical crisis arises when Zhao Wan'er is diagnosed with a rare disease, prompting a desperate search for funds. Business conflicts escalate with Xiao Si and Zhan Yi, and a suicidal business owner is rescued from the tax bureau roof. Li Dongjie expresses hidden resentments toward Zheng Hao. Gao Shubo offers Liang Jinqiu a job.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with Zheng Hao and Li Dongjie successfully wrapping up the Yu Hui Coffee case, a testament to their team's relentless efforts. Back at the office, Xiao Yilin and Song Minhong celebrate Zheng Hao's return and formally announce his new position.
Meanwhile, the results of the tax bureau's internal competition are in. Xiong Yi takes first place, with Li Xinxin and Gao Peng coming in second and third, respectively. Gao Peng is visibly unhappy with the results, but Li Xinxin convinces him to accompany her to the tax bureau to move some things and check in on Xiong Yi. Gao Peng is reluctant but gives in.
At the tax bureau, an elderly man struggles to collect invoices from a machine using a stack of IDs. Xiong Yi, suspecting fraud and misuse of IDs, tries to verify the IDs, but the old man refuses to cooperate and attempts to leave. Xiong Yi tries to stop him. Director Yan arrives, and after hearing Xiong Yi's explanation, which includes a condescending remark about the man being a farmer, he scolds Xiong Yi and assigns him to half a month of tax guidance duty. Li Xinxin and Gao Peng witness the whole scene. Xiong Yi, embarrassed, quickly leaves with them for lunch.
Li Xinxin congratulates Xiong Yi, but he's in no mood to celebrate. He vents his frustrations to them, and Li Xinxin advises him to be patient, assuring him he'll soon be transferred back to the inspection bureau. After lunch, as a heavy rain starts, Xiong Yi returns to the office and sees the same elderly man with a group of construction workers. Xiong Yi learns they're trying to get paid by their boss, who told them to get invoices from the tax bureau. They're soaked and worried about making a mess in the tax hall.
Xiong Yi, unable to understand their Sichuan dialect, gets Gao Peng to translate. They didn't have a contract with their boss. Xiong Yi, without hesitation, leads them inside to help with their paperwork.
In a separate storyline, Feng Dakai, reeling from the setbacks caused by Guo Ziqiang and Zhang Shaocheng, sends Xiao Si and Zhan Yi to Linzhou to develop new business. He's aiming to leverage Limin Furniture, a listed company, to expand his operations. While driving to Limin Furniture, Xiao Si slows down to avoid hitting two students, causing a rear-end collision with the car behind him. The other car belongs to Manager Zhao, the distribution manager of Xindongmei Furniture City. Zhao is aggressive and starts a physical altercation, but Xiao Si quickly subdues him and drives off.
In a dramatic turn of events, Chen Xiaoxing and Zhao Wan'er are practicing sports when Zhao Wan'er experiences sudden, intense leg pain. Chen Xiaoxing calls Liang Jinqiu for help, who rushes Zhao Wan'er to the hospital. Zhao Mingda and his wife, along with Zheng Hao, arrive soon after. The doctor diagnoses Zhao Wan'er with a rare and incurable condition: Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a recessive genetic disorder caused by a gene mutation. There's no known cure, and the only treatment to stabilize the condition is an injection that costs a staggering 700,000 RMB per dose. Zhao Mingda immediately decides to proceed with the injections.
Zhao Mingda, his wife, Zheng Hao, and Liang Jinqiu visit Zhao Wan'er, who is chatting and laughing with Chen Xiaoxing. The adults are deeply saddened by the situation. Chen Xiaoxing inquires about Zhao Wan'er's condition, but Zheng Hao and Liang Jinqiu downplay it, claiming it's just low blood sugar. Xiao Si and Zhan Yi arrive at the furniture factory, only to find Manager Zhao already there. Zhao recognizes Xiao Si's car and calls in some of his men to get revenge. Zhan Yi easily defeats them all.
The factory director arrives to break up the fight. Recognizing that Manager Zhao is their biggest customer, the director urges them to reconcile. Zhao refuses and is verbally abusive. Zhan Yi offers Zhao tea as a gesture of peace, but Zhao ignores him, demanding the director issue the invoice immediately. The director complies, sends Zhao away, and then hands Zhan Yi the pre-prepared invoice.
Zhao Mingda's wife urges him to borrow money from Feng Dakai for Zhao Wan'er's treatment. Zhao Mingda is worried about repaying the loan, and his wife, in frustration, threatens to go to Feng Dakai herself. Zhao Mingda desperately tries to calm her down. Zheng Hao and Liang Jinqiu witness this scene and feel helpless. Liang Jinqiu wants to help raise money, but Zheng Hao knows Liang Jinqiu doesn't have the funds. Zheng Hao offers all his savings to Zhao Mingda, and Liang Jinqiu plans to contact friends abroad to inquire about better treatment options.
Back at the tax bureau, Shi Haifeng is punished by Zheng Hao for being late, doing push-ups while his colleagues sympathize. Two elderly women struggle to operate the tax machine, and Xiong Yi offers assistance. One of the women is unappreciative and makes sarcastic remarks, leaving Xiong Yi frustrated and upset.
A struggling electronics company owner sells his business for a mere 50,000 RMB, only to have the intermediary abscond with the tax and official seals. The next day, a fraudulent 5 million RMB VAT invoice is issued, leaving the owner facing hundreds of thousands in fines. Desperate, he goes to the roof of the tax bureau, contemplating suicide.
Li Dongjie tries to talk him down, but it's ineffective. Zheng Hao is about to intervene, but Li Dongjie starts sharing his own frustrations with life and work, even comparing himself unfavorably to Zheng Hao. This resonates with the owner, who lowers his guard, allowing firefighters to rescue him. Zheng Hao realizes Li Dongjie harbors resentment towards him, but Li Dongjie brushes it off as a tactic used during the rescue. Zheng Hao, however, takes it as Li Dongjie's true feelings.
Finally, Gao Shubo invites Liang Jinqiu to tour his company. Liang Jinqiu accepts, and Gao Shubo proudly showcases the company's newly developed robots and elaborates on his ambitious dreams. Gao Shubo offers Liang Jinqiu a position as the company's tax consultant, which Liang Jinqiu readily accepts, requesting the company's relevant documents.
