Jiang Fangting

After transferring from the U.S. to Shanghai, risk management investigator Xia Dong teams up with a former schoolmate to investigate corporate fraud while secretly seeking the truth behind the incident that once framed him—until their work exposes a conspiracy that puts their lives in danger.

At the turn of the 20th century in old Beijing, three young men—Fuhai, Liu Fangzi, and Zhao Er—train in the traditional funeral trade at Dacheng Workshop. Though not related by blood, they are as close as brothers, weathering hardship together. But as time passes, their paths diverge. Fuhai is the eldest and most upright of the three, Liu Fangzi is slick and opportunistic, thriving in the chaos of the times by chasing power and wealth. Zhao Er, the youngest, is lazy and self-indulgent, always dreaming of getting rich without working for it. As the tides of history shift and the city falls under new powers, Fuhai is forced to abandon his trade and join Zhao Er as a patrolman. He later finds some solace in marrying the kind-hearted Miss Rui (Deng Jie). But in such a turbulent era, is there truly any refuge for a decent, honest man? Based on the novella by renowned author Lao She.

In the early 1950s, with the newly established People's Republic of China facing both internal and external challenges, the Korean War rages on. To break the imperialist economic blockade, nearly 10,000 people in the northwestern military region of southern Shaanxi embark on a mission ordered by Chairman Mao to find vital resources, becoming the lifeblood the Republic urgently needs.

In the dead of night, actress Zhou Yunqi is brutally murdered in her home. Investigator Zhao Shang uncovers a complex web of relationships involving six key suspects—each with a deep connection to Zhou Yunqi. As the investigation unfolds, the intricate dynamics of obsession, jealousy, and hidden motives among them come to light, revealing the darker sides of human nature.