"In the Name of People"
Episode 1
(An unspecified district in Beijing)
Director Hou,
let's begin already. It's been almost 2 hours!
Yeah! What if his wife and kid stay home tonight?
They won't.
They usually go to after-school classes at 5pm.
Maybe they got stuff to do today. Just a bit longer.
A bit longer?
But director, you know it's strange times with the suicide wave these days.
A friendly reminder: this director Zhao lives on 4th floor.
4th floor... If he jumps down, he'd be crippled if not dead.
They say people with depression are prone to suicide.
What if this guy also got it? We must be careful.
(Hou Liangping, director of Investigative Division, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Supreme People's Procuratorate)
This guy has countless reasons to live on. (Hou Liangping, director of Investigative Division, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Supreme People's Procuratorate)
(Provincial Procuratorate, Handong Province)
Three, two, one...
It's time to go home!
Sit down, it's overtime today!
(Procuratorate section manager, Lin Huahua & Investigator, Zhou Zheng)
Again? (Procuratorate section manager, Lin Huahua & Investigator, Zhou Zheng)
We've stared at each other for more than an hour already!
Keep staring, we got mission tonight!
There can't be this many missions!
You've already sacrificed your best years. Please don't sacrifice ours!
Give us some time for dating!
Who's holding you up? You two can do it right here. It counts as working hours.
But director Lu, how can we possibly date with you watching?
(Lu Yike, 1st division director of Handong Procuratorate)
You keep saying I know nothing about dating. (Lu Yike, 1st division director of Handong Procuratorate)
Do it here and teach me, my two teachers.
Old Lu, are you setting us up so you can skip your blind dates?
I'm punishing traitors!
Let's go!
Who's that? - Maintenance!
Are you Zhao Dehan? - Yes?
Search warrant! - Search...
Follow me!
What are you doing? Isn't this trespassing? Why are you so many...
(Beijing, home of Zhao Dehan)
(Zhao Dehan, project director of an unspecified national department)
Search? But, what is there to search at my place? (Zhao Dehan, project director of an unspecified national department)
Where are you from?
You can't bully a commoner like me!
We actually don't dare to bully commoners!
We are from the Anti-corruption Bureau of Supreme People's Procuratorate.
Anti-corruption Bureau... - What? You never heard of?
We catch corrupt officials, so you must cooperate.
I did arrange with your mom, our judge Wu, and found you a new date.
I care about my superiors! I wish you'd marry and live happily ever after!
Cut the nonsense. You become happy as soon as you marry?
Lin Huahua, let me tell you this.
If I end up unhappy, I'll have you work to death!
Huahua, let it go.
Let's go easy on chief Lu. I'll treat you next time.
Zhou Zheng knows best when it matters.
You think? As long as he can save his money, he knows better than anyone!
Hello?
Yes sir!
Check your gears and prepare to depart!
Yes sir!
The Anti-corruption Bureau of Supreme People's Precurotorate received a report,
claiming a director of a national department in Bejing took huge amounts of bribes. (Chen Hai, chief of Anti-corruption Bureau, Handong Precuratorate)
A deputy mayor of Jingzhou municipality in Handong province is also implicated.
The investigative division director Hou Liangping demands the local bureau chief Chen Hai,
to immediately assist the investigations in Beijing.
Director Ji, what are you... (Ji Changming, provincial Procurator director)
Chen Hai, you got some guts! (Ji Changming, provincial Procurator director)
You wanna arrest a mayor-level official without informing the provincial committee?
The hell you want?
Director, didn't I explain already on the phone?
Besides, the order came from the Supreme Precuratorate.
Beijing already started and want us to catch the suspect.
If he escapes due to our inaction, we'd be in huge trouble!
You are in trouble now! What do you want?
Calling me right before heading out.
You wanna behead someone first then report? (Chinese idiom)
Put the operation on hold and report with me at the provincial committee.
We can't... - Why not? Get into my car right now!
Yike, get back and wait for my orders. Nobody leaves!
Yes sir!
Why would you come here to catch corrupt officials? Which corrupt official would live here?
This building is old, there's not even an elevator.
If corrupt officials do live in places like this, the people would celebrate with fireworks!
You really are clean and poor. Just a bowl of Zhajiangmian (fried sauce noodles) for dinner.
Don't the commoners of China all live like this?
Except you are not, you are a director.
And? If you toss a brick in Beijing, it will hit dozens of directors!
But you are different. You got power.
People told me you won't even swap your post with a minister! Right?
No matter how much power, it's to serve the people!
Does power allow you to be willful?
I'm not criticizing, but you comrade, need to improve your ideological perception!
Well said! Did you hear? Having power doesn't mean you can be willful!
But you can use it for personal gain, right?
(Handong)
Okay. Okay.
Party secretary Gao, Chen Hai is in my car.
We'll be there soon.
Okay see you soon!
What did Hou tell you?
Monkey (nickname) said the Beijing suspect's family is going abroad.
We must start earlier to prevent their escape.
He wants us to control the suspect here.
Is he, or the Supreme Precuratorate behind this?
I asked him, whether he represents his monkey hill or the Supreme Precuratorate, he said both.
The paperwork is underway and will arrive via special channels of the Precuratorate.
Has it arrived? - It's underway.
In other words, not yet? Then you can't follow his orders.
Who will be responsible if things go wrong?
In any case, anti-corruption must proceed under the Party's guidance.
Hou Liangping is just a division director, he's one level below you.
He cannot command you. - Procurator Ji, it's not like that.
Monkey got promoted. He is, in brackets, deputy bureau chief.
So the monkey boy is improving!
You suspect me, based on what?
So having power means you are corrupted? Frankly speaking,
lots of people are jealous about my post.
It's normal that some wanna see me fail.
You all see my situation today.
I advise you to save your energy.
Have you eaten yet? Go back and have some food.
Director Zhao.
As I see it, nobody can make you fail.
Those who failed, did it to themselves.
Since we don't want your kid to see this,
we waited for 2 hours downstairs!
What did your wife dilly-dally around with?
She'd have gone with the kid for after-school class any other Saturday!
You know even that.
We know you like we know ourselves.
Your kid has English class today, right? - Yeah.
If the teacher didn't have something coming up today, they'd have left long ago.
Parents always give their best for their children. All parents are similar.
Nobody wants their kids to lose from the starting line, right?
For my kid, we spend 40,000 per year only on after-school classes.
But you must spend it!
As such, we parents must take this burden.
Right, I almost forgot it.
No matter what you say, Hou is not our leader.
We are led by the Handong provincial committee.
To catch our deputy mayor we need the committee's approval.
But procurator Ji, the Supreme Procuratorate leads the procurators.
Hou is the investigative division director of the Supreme Precuratorate.
He demands us to assist and arrest suspects, we can't refuse.
I know we have dual-leadership.
The problem is, the papers haven't arrived.
That's why we make this emergency briefing at the provincial committee.
This is also dedicated assistance to their work. Don't you think so?
Chen Hai, whenever things happen, don't rush in so quickly. Use your head.
Handong is quite complicated.
Let's not mention Party secretary Gao.
Can we afford to upset even the Jingzhou Party secretary, Li Dakang?
You wanna arrest his deputy mayor without telling him,
If things go wrong, we'll end up in a bad position.
Don't forget Li is a standing provincial committee member!
I must give Monkey a call. He's waiting.
Director Hou.
Found some bankbooks in the bookshelf.
How much?
Altogether 125,630.
Euro or US dollars? - Chinese Yuan.
Comrade, am I not even allowed to have such little savings?
It's fine. Even I have more savings than this!
Anything else? - No. No.
Comrade, I think you must've mistaken.
To strike the iron, you must be strong yourself. (Chinese idiom)
The Party and the people entrusted me with this post.
Can I betray them? I can't!
Because I'm a man with strong principles, therefore...
I often get falsely accused like this! I'm used to it!
Did we really get it wrong, searching the home of a model public servant?
Enjoy your meal.
Chen Hai, are you kidding me? - I'm not.
I'm on my way to secretary Gao of the provincial committee with director Ji.
Let me talk to director Ji. - Just a sec, director Ji will tell you.
The great division director Hou! Any orders?
Director Ji, how dare I order you around?
Haven't you ordered me around all these years?
Chen Hai must've told you about the situation.
My paperwork here got delayed. Can't you help me?
I am helping you now! That's why we are reporting at the provincial committee!
When you are done, even the last dish will be cold! (Chinese idiom)
Can't you make an exception?
Don't worry if the dish is cold, how about I serve you some peaches (monkey food)?
I want nothing else than my dish!
Fine then, why don't you ask secretary Gao? You guys know each other.
Isn't he your mentor?
Secretary Gao, can he arrest people for me?
I still gotta come back to you in the end, the provincial procurator director of Handong!
If my dish is gone, I will come to Handong to ask for compensation!
Okay, I'll compensate you!
This Monkey is clinging onto me.
But director Ji, we gotta be careful.
Beijing has started after all.
True. If something happens and words get out,
we cannot explain ourselves to the Supreme Precuratorate.
Let's do this, tell Lu Yike to keep an eye on the suspect,
Don't let Ding Yizhen escape!
Lu Yike, bring the comrades of 1st division to the spot.
Keep an eye on him and wait for my orders. - Yes sir!
Director Lu, how come mayor Ding invited me and Lin Huahua, but not you guys?
Cut the crap. Whether you can scrounge this free meal or not depends on your skill.
If you fail, you won't even get a boxed lunch.
You think too little of us! There is no free meal that I, Lin Huahua, can't scrounge!
Where is Ding Yizhen?
Handong international hotel. - Why?
Guangmingfeng project conference is there.
(Handong International Hotel)
Good! Thanks! Thanks!
Here, please! Thanks for your effort!
Mayor Ding!
Little Li! Little Li!
CEO Li! - Mayor Ding! (Ding Yizhen, deputy mayor of Jingzhou municipality and secretary of Guangming district)
Thanks for your help to our Fang Group! (Ding Yizhen, deputy mayor of Jingzhou municipality and secretary of Guangming district)
I just said yesterday at our company meeting that,
without mayor Ding, our Fang Group wouldn't be here today!
Therefore I thank you, and here's a toast for you! - Come here!
It's alright. CEO Li, if you are grateful,
you need to thank Party secretary Li Dakang of the municipal committee.
I am actually, just a worker for our secretary Li!
You are too kind! A toast for you! - Okay!
Mister, and you two are?
Drivers, we came with our bosses. - This way please.
Land allocation and mining is a ripe field for corruption... (Li Dakang, member of Handong provincial committee, Party secretary of Jingzhou municipal committee)
That's where a deputy mayor of Jingzhou and a provincial committee member fell. (Li Dakang, member of Handong provincial committee, Party secretary of Jingzhou municipal committee)
That's where a deputy mayor of Jingzhou and a provincial committee member fell. (Gao Yuliang, deputy secretary of Handong provincial committee, secretary of political and legal affairs)
It seems this deputy mayor Ding is corrupted. (Gao Yuliang, deputy secretary of Handong provincial committee, secretary of political and legal affairs)
It seems this deputy mayor Ding is corrupted. (Qi Tongwei, Handong provincial chief of police and public security)
The Supreme Precuratorate has solid evidence showing this mayor Ding took bribes. (Qi Tongwei, Handong provincial chief of police and public security)
The Supreme Precuratorate has solid evidence showing this mayor Ding took bribes.
And the sum is large.
One mayor of our province took bribes.
How come they knew it before us?
Comrade Changming, what's going on?
Secretary Gao, secretary Li, it's like this.
An investor from Fujian bribed a director of the national department for mining permit.
He didn't get it. This director also got greedy.
He failed his briber but refused to return the money.
The investor then filed a report at the Anti-corruption Bureau of the Supreme Procuratorate.
This way, not only did that director get reported,
some dirt came out when pulling the carrot, our mayor Ding also got reported. (Chinese idiom)
(Beijing, home of Zhao Dehan)
Assemble!
Wait for me downstairs. Move out!
Take care everyone!
Director Zhao.
Are you really not gonna walk us out?
I gotta finish the noodle. The soup is already cold.
Drinking noodle soup to help digestion, what a foodie!
Okay, I'll wait for you to finish the noodle soup.
Why do you insist on having me walk you out?
I didn't find anything, so I'm in a bad mood.
Besides, it can't hurt, right?
Does your official post forbid it?
Okay, I'll walk you out.
Get a coat, it's cold outside. - Aye.
This way.
So this aforementioned mine is in Handong? - Yes.
It's right here in Jingzhou.
Secretary Yuliang didn't know that we are consolidating the mining resources in Jingzhou.
I'm in charge. Ding takes care of the details.
Therefore the investors would bribe deputy mayor Ding.
Secretary Yuliang, secretary Dakang,
Could you please consider that we suspend him first on behalf of the provincial committee?
I agree with chief Qi.
Old Ji, you are the procurator director. What's your opinion?
Secretary Gao, I respect the opinion of you and the committee.
Beijing sent us the files needed to investigate and arrest him.
But it's fine to suspend him first.
As long as we have him, we could do anything.
But...
From the procurator's perspective, following legal procedures is the safer approach.
I get your point.
You prefer to arrest, right? - Yes.
Chen Hai,
You are the Anti-corruption bureau chief. Tell us your opinion.
I prefer to let the procurators handle it. Arrest!
See you then!
Director Zhao, I really don't wanna leave you!
How about you follow us to the next spot?
What are you doing?
I... I tell you, I won't go anywhere!
You must come! We only played act one so far!
But... what do you mean?
What act one, act two?
The search warrant for act two!
Your office! - My office?
Now?
Have you considered the consequences of visiting my office at this hour?
You think my office is supermarket, with free entry?
I know the office of director Zhao has restrictions.
Even the deputy governor of other provinces must wait for one hour to meet you.
You comrade, really know stuff!
You even know these stories from our department!
If that's what you want, then let's speak candidly.
It didn't happen in our division 2, but division 6!
Fine, let's talk about what division 2 did.
The 16th last month, one of the girls at division 2,
had the deputy mayor Ding Yizhen of Jinzhou wait for 2 hours at the office door.
You know deputy mayor Ding? Ding Yizhen from Handong?
Quite well actually.
Ding complained that you are a bad friend. You never answer his calls or messages.
He went to your office 3 times and stood until his legs hurt before finally meeting you.
What friend? These are different things!
Comrade, I have professional ethics for my work.
Okay, so you are professional. Get in the car then.
What are you doing?
I'll call the police! I really suspect your true identity!
Come here and have a look.
You are Hou Liangping! - Yeah.
Director of the investigative division.
If you insist on calling the police, here's my phone.
Director Hou, I heard about you.
I think between us, there must be some misunderstandings. Big ones!
Mayor Ding, I must say that you are the embodiment of secretary Li Dakang!
Actually, you got a good point.
I really am an embodiment.
You all got good results and made huge money.
You must thank secretary Li! And the golden age of economic reforms!
Well said!
Let's give a toast to mayor Ding,
and a toast to the good policies of secretary Li!
as well as to this golden age! Right? -Yeah!
This mayor Ding has some charisma!
People are lining up to give him toast!
That's what you didn't get. Do you know his responsible area?
The allocation of land use and mining resources.
As well as the rebuilding of old town.
You think people toast him for his charisma? It's for his power!
He's also rebuilding the old town?
Isn't Li Dakang personally in charge?
Li Dakang is not personally in charge, he personally put his name there!
As chief political officer!
I get you now. Are we to assist the Anti-corruption Bureau in the arrest?
But transfer the investigative authority to the Procuratorate in Bejing?
And doing nothing else? Is it so?
Secretary Li, your understanding might a bit off.
This case belongs to the Supreme Procuratorate.
We are only to assist, we got nothing... - That's my point!
If Ding's case is ours to solve then we have the initiative.
If transferred to Beijing, we have no idea what happens next.
I'm not defending anyone,
these are merely professional concerns.
Old Ji, Chen Hai.
You two must follow the command of the Supremre Procuratorate,
as well as considering the special situation of our province.
Could the sudden arrest of Ding Yizhen by Beijing,
cause an exodus of business investors from our province?
How do we complete the Guangmingfeng project then?
We have lessons from the past. - Right.
Guangmingfeng is a 28-billion project.
Ding Yizhen is the main responsible person.
Secretary Yuliang, this is very important. We must be cautious!
There is something else that you all know.
Provincial party chief, comrade Sha Ruijin just arrived.
He's currently inspecting the cities and counties.
We can't give the new party chief this as a welcoming gift, can we?
Chen Hai realizes the complexity of this briefing.
What looks like routine procedure on the surface has a hidden interior,
and turbulent undercurrents.
I could follow you, but on one condition.
You got conditions? Okay please do tell.
I think, to avoid bad publicity for my reputation,
could the two us get there by bike?
One bike for you, one for me. Mine is right here.
Me and my wife usually bike to work...
No no... It's too dangerous!
Don't worry, I definitely won't run away!
As if you can!
But what if accidents happen on the way?
Alright stop the dilly-dally. Your kid is back soon.
It's sad if he sees this. Get in!
(Beijing)
Director Hou,
As soon as this van enters my department courtyard,
my political career will be over.
People will really believe I did something wrong.
Director Zhao, you still believe you didn't?
What could I possibly have done wrong?
Frankly speaking, my political awareness is not great.
Because I'm risk-averse. And all my colleagues know it.
I only know to work, I don't really have a life.
Yeah yeah. I know you like to work.
Didn't you get a prize for your performance last year?
Therefore I wanted to bike with you, to avoid bad publicity.
Don't mention the bike again. It's for your safety!
Fine just go ahead.
But I have a request: can we leave before dawn?
It won't hurt my reputation as much.
Secretary Gao, secretary Li,
since we are discussing, then I'll be frank.
Regardless of the impact of Ding's case to Handong province,
we are in no position to fight with the Supreme Procuratorate.
For our future considerations.
Comrade Changming, I disagree.
To suspend Ding is to investigate him.
But we have better control of the methods, with reduced negative impacts.
Old Ji, I think secretary Dakang's concern is very valid.
Let's arrest him first, time is running out. We must control him at least.
Sit down! What's the rush?
Sit down!
Since we are in disagreement, we must discuss thoroughly and be cautious.
I think this time we need to consult provincial party chief,
Comrade Sha Ruijin.
Chen Hai, what's your status?
We agreed on joint-operation, and you drop the ball on me?
And director Ji too. If he really wants to help then skip the briefing!
I already sent you the papers. Cut the meeting short.
I must catch Ding Yizhen! Arrest him now!
Be patient there and wait for our committee, okay?
Still? Lemme tell ya. If he gets away, don't blame me for getting mad at you!
Fine then. I'll wait for your good news!
(Beijing, an undisclosed national department)
Secretary Gao, I called provincial party chief Sha and explained the situation.
Chief Sha wants to speak to you.
Secretary Dakang, old Ji,
I'm back in a minute.
Comrade Ruijin, I'm Gao Yuliang.
Today you must be inspecting Yantai municipal.
(Sha Ruijin, Provincial Party Chief of Handong)
The provincial news is up-to-date! (Sha Ruijin, Provincial Party Chief of Handong)
You know everything before I even formally take office!
Chief Sha, your speech at the party panel discussion hit the nail on the head!
Yike, who's watching him right now? - Zhou Zheng and Huahua.
Good. Tell them to fix their eyes on him. We start anytime.
But boss, are you still not finished over there?
Secretary Gao is discussing with the new party chief Sha. Soon.
Chief Sha, I wanna put the political and legal committee to study your speech.
And have the comrades discuss your questions.
In the new era of economic reforms, how do we keep close relationship with the people?
This is a big question!
Enough secretary Yuliang. Save the debate for later. Let's talk about your thing first.
Is the Anti-corruption Bureau of the Supreme Procuratorate asking us to cooperate?
Yes. To help arrest a suspect.
The suspect is Ding Yizhen, the deputy mayor of Jingzhou.
Huahua, how's the target? - He keeps drinking.
And no sign of suspicion? - No, everything is normal.
Good, fix your eyes on them. Boss said we'll begin soon. - Understood!
Come here! Okay!
Mayor Ding, I'm at a loss of words.
My loyalty to you is all in this beer!
You drink as you please while I empty this bottle!
I wish you healthy mind and happy body!
And happy ever ever after!
Don't laugh! CEO Wang got some good points!
But to keep the body happy, he needs to figure this out with his wife at home!
That's why boss Wang's body is always happy, and happy ever after!
But does he have a healthy mind? That we don't know!
When has Wang ever had healthy mind? He's always dirty!
Jokes aside, I wish the minds of everybody here could stay clean! - Yeah!
They must stay healthy forever! - Yeah! Right!
No matter what we do,
we must stand with the party and the people!
Am I right? - Yeah, right!
Beautifully said! - Here!
(Zhao Dehan's office)
Director Zhao, I heard your department oversees all projects related to national resources?
I'd say we provide service to all projects related to national resources.
Supervision is service.
Therefore your department is a powerful service office, am I right?
What's in the shelves? Let me guess.
The project applications from all regional offices who need your service, right?
Chief Hou, now you know how much daily work we have.
Right. Even deputy governors must wait for one hour to meet you.
I can't help. I really can't.
We are understaffed, like doctors in hospitals.
Even so, people do not understand us.
Director Zhao, could you satisfy my curiosity?
What's your price?
Price? What price?
We serve the people!
Just checking.
I get emotional when I see you standing here.
Your predecessor was arrested by my colleagues in exactly this office.
He had a price list: one project for 0.5 to 1.5 million.
In just 4 years, he took 82 millions!
Isn't he greedy?
Director Hou, you are right. He's too greedy.
Basing on the facts of his crime, we made a documentary.
So all comrades of this department could learn from his harsh lesson.
By the way director Hou, if you are interested I can give you a copy!
Okay! Deal!
This happened very suddenly and I just arrived.
I don't know enough about Jingzhou's situation or Ding's background.
It's hard for me to judge.
Let's do this: as provincial secretary of the political and legal affairs,
you make the call on behalf of the provincial committee.
Okay. Since you want me to decide accordingly,
I'll do it on behalf of the provincial committee.
Pretty lady, have a drink with me!
I'll drink with you brother.
Cheers!
Let's toast for every entrepreneur here! - Thanks!
Mayor Ding, you got a call.
Hello? Yeah it's me.
I see I see. Okay.
Governor Liu is inspecting tomorrow. I must prepare some material.
Manager Wang will drink with you in my stead!
Comrades, I'm taking over!
Here's a toast to you, on behalf of mayor Ding!
Meet me at the west entrance. Hurry!
Sorry for keeping you waiting.
Secretary Gao, what did chief Sha say?
Where's secretary Dakang?
He was here just now. - Tongwei, go get him.
Chief Sha said,
that we should decide accordingly. - Then you must do it quickly.
Now you are impatient again.
I need to go home.
Secretary Yuliang, I'm back.
Secretary Dakang is back! We resume the meeting.
This is my opinion: first of all, we should NOT allow any bad guy to walk free.
When it comes to anti-corruption, we can't hesitate.
Therefore I think we must catch this Ding Yizhe.
Director Zhao,
Tell us about these. - Alright.
This card is for my salary.
This is for my work bonus.
This is for the holiday fee of Chinese New Year.
What holiday fee? - Everybody here gets 3000 per person.
Little Zhang, got the card reader? - Yes.
Bring it here. And check these cards. - Okay.