Episode Summary
Zheng Hao and Li Dongjie suspect Zhao Mingda is the mastermind behind a complex scheme involving illegal phone exports and tax evasion, using Baifuda Company as a front. Their investigation intensifies as they uncover connections between various companies and a missing couple, Li Yong and his wife, who may have been involved in packaging the illegal goods. Zhao Mingda, playing a deceptive game, attempts to stall the investigation while ensuring his daughter, Zhao Wan'er, receives medical treatment in Switzerland. The episode culminates with Zheng Hao and Li Dongjie seizing Baifuda's financial records, determined to find concrete evidence despite Zhao Mingda's meticulous efforts to cover his tracks.
Spoiler Alert
The investigation intensifies as Li Dongjie and Zheng Hao meticulously connect the dots between Limin Furniture, Donghe Industries, and Qike Company, all leading back to the shady Feng Dakai. However, they hit a snag: Zhao Jingyi's accusations alone aren't enough to convict him. In a surprising twist, Zhan Si turns himself in, providing damning evidence of Feng Dakai's invoice fraud and involvement in Chen Dajun's murder. While Feng Dakai's guilt seems cemented, Zheng Hao and Li Dongjie sense something is amiss, suspecting someone deliberately pushed Zhan Si forward as a scapegoat, leaving them baffled about the mastermind's true motive.
Li Dongjie's investigation uncovers a freight company importing 150 boxes of mobile phones from Southeast Asia at a low price each month. One hundred of those boxes were ordered by Qike through Muyun Factory, while the destination of the remaining 50 boxes is unknown. Captain Pan's team faces obstacles as the recipient used fake IDs and fragmented shipments to obscure the logistics. Zheng Hao suspects these 50 boxes also ended up in Xindong, and he dispatches his team to investigate newly registered companies in Xindong over the past two years, focusing on those exporting phones to Southeast Asia.
It's revealed that Zhao Mingda ordered those 50 boxes of phones. He partnered with Zhao Jingyi to establish Baifuda Company, exploiting Qike's export tax rebates for significant profit. Sensing the heat from the Tax Bureau's investigation into Qike, Zhao Mingda sent Shen Yue and Zhao Wan'er to Switzerland for safety. He then convinced Zhao Jingyi to take the fall and expose Feng Dakai. Zhao Mingda's plan is to make one last deal while the authorities are distracted with Feng Dakai, then shift the export rebate operation to a new company.
Zhao Mingda masterfully creates diversions to stall Zheng Hao and Li Dongjie's investigation. Zheng Hao, piecing together all the clues, realizes Zhao Mingda is orchestrating everything. He asks Li Dongjie to discreetly investigate Zhao Mingda. Meanwhile, Zhao Wan'er is receiving excellent treatment in Switzerland, her condition stabilizing. Zhao Mingda is relieved seeing her happy and talkative in a video call. Shen Yue, wanting to ease Zhao Mingda's burden, suggests bringing Zhao Wan'er back home, but Zhao Mingda urges her not to overthink.
Li Dongjie and Zheng Hao, along with their team, work tirelessly, investigating companies linked to Qike. Shi Haifeng returns after his mother's funeral and immediately joins the intense investigation. Zheng Hao discovers Zhao Mingda recently transferred 14 million abroad. Li Dongjie's thorough investigation reveals a connection between Baifuda and Qike. Zheng Hao immediately leads Li Xinxin, Gao Peng, and Xiong Yi to investigate Baifuda, but finds nothing unusual. However, Zheng Hao notices a Lanjiang phone number posted on a computer in the office. Li Dongjie interviews locals, learning that large trucks regularly pass by on the only road near the remote factory.
Zheng Hao has Li Xinxin call the Lanjiang number, but there's no answer. Li Xinxin finds the phone owner's WeChat ID is "Brave Heart." Zheng Hao carefully examines his WeChat Moments and discovers a Qike Company phone. Li Dongjie locates the truck driver, who admits to delivering phones to Baifuda.
Zheng Hao returns home to find Zhao Mingda having dinner with his family. Zheng Tianchou expresses concern for Zhao Mingda, who claims to be running a small business. Chen Xiaoxing misses Zhao Wan'er, but their schedules never align. Zheng Hao coldly tells Chen Xiaoxing to contact Zhao Wan'er more often, showing a distant attitude towards Zhao Mingda. After dinner, Zhao Mingda leaves, with Zheng Hao pointedly ignoring him.
Li Dongjie reports the findings on Baifuda to his superiors, who authorize him and Zheng Hao to continue the investigation. Li Xinxin discovers the Lanjiang phone number belongs to Li Yong, who, along with his wife, has disappeared. Three years ago, Li Yong's wife opened a processing factory that struggled, but suddenly became busy with workers working overtime, only to abruptly shut down half a month ago. Li Dongjie suspects the factory was packaging phones for Baifuda, and he and Zheng Hao plan to examine Baifuda's accounts.
Zheng Hao and Li Dongjie arrive at Baifuda to audit the books, but the staff claims the financial manager is absent and the door can't be opened. Zheng Hao demands to see the company's legal representative. Zhao Mingda rushes in, claiming to be Baifuda's financial consultant. This confirms Zheng Hao's suspicion that Zhao Mingda is the mastermind. Zhao Mingda opens the door to the finance room and lets Zheng Hao and Li Dongjie take the ledgers.
Li Dongjie takes all of Baifuda's ledgers back for a thorough examination. They work overtime, knowing Zhao Mingda's strong counter-reconnaissance skills likely mean the books are flawless. However, Li Dongjie refuses to give up, believing they can find some clues. He instructs Xiong Yi, Li Xinxin, and others to check carefully.
Zheng Hao is deeply saddened by Zhao Mingda's actions. He confides in Liang Jinqiu, reflecting on their 20-year friendship with Zhao Mingda and how he took a wrong turn to pay for Zhao Wan'er's medical treatment. Liang Jinqiu empathizes, recalling her own struggles after her father, Liang Zhongwei, was arrested. She encourages Zheng Hao to stay true to himself.
