Episode Summary
Wen Pu learns more about Zhaoyuan's respectable past and defends Yi Yi from a political accusation orchestrated by her own sister-in-law. Yi Yi struggles with her harsh new living conditions and health problems but remains determined to wait for her husband in Shanghai.
Spoiler Alert
A Surprising Connection
Wen Pu goes to see the clothing company boss. He's there to smooth things over after Yang Xue'an went on a tirade against capitalists. The visit takes an interesting turn. It turns out the boss knew Zhaoyuan. He tells Wen Pu that Zhaoyuan was a good man. He was cultured, patriotic, and didn't have the usual airs of an official. The boss even says that Wen Pu and Zhaoyuan seem to have some things in common.
Yi Yi Hits Rock Bottom
Yi Yi is forced out of her company dorm. She moves into a tiny room in a crowded building. It's incredibly basic. There's barely enough space for a bed. Even in this grim environment, she keeps up with her passion. She continues to draw her designs and cut fabric.
Her old boss, knowing she has no money, helps her out. He sends some clients her way. They see the clothes she makes and are impressed. They all ask her to make outfits for them.
A Visit and a Scolding
Wen Pu visits Yi Yi. It's part of his official duty to check on "reformed bourgeois elements." He sees her cramped little home. He notices she doesn't even have a proper chair. On her table, he spots some books and coffee.
Another woman there, Zhou Yunqing, immediately lays into Yi Yi. She scolds her for still drinking coffee. She claims it shows her lifestyle hasn't improved. Wen Pu steps in to cut the tension. He says he drinks coffee too. Zhou Yunqing quickly changes her tune. She says it's fine for a hard-working leader like Wen Pu to drink it to fight fatigue.
The Diary Problem
After a polite check-in, Wen Pu leaves. But the trouble isn't over for Yi Yi. We learn that Zhou Yunqing is actually Zhaoyuan's younger sister. They were once close, but his disappearance and bad reputation have made her desperate to cut ties. She's even hostile toward her own sister-in-law.
Zhou Yunqing secretly reads Yi Yi's private diary. She finds entries where Yi Yi expresses her sadness and misses her husband. She accuses Yi Yi of having problematic thoughts. She threatens to report her unless Yi Yi turns herself in. Scared of what her sister-in-law might do, Yi Yi takes the diary to the authorities herself.
The diary is seen as a problem. Some officials think it's full of bourgeois sentiment and want to punish her. Wen Pu, however, sees it differently. He argues that it's just a private journal. It's natural for it to contain some complaints. He says there's no need to blow it out of proportion. Because of his defense, others are forced to back down. Yi Yi gets off with a light punishment. She only has to write a letter of self-criticism.
Later, Yi Yi's stomach condition flares up. She's weak and curled up on her bed in the cold, damp room. A friend suggests she should just go back to her hometown or stay with relatives. Yi Yi refuses. She is determined to wait in Shanghai for the man she loves to return.
A Bad Blind Date
Wen Pu's friend thinks he's been single for too long. The friend sets him up on a blind date. The woman is decent-looking, but that's about it. During their meal, Wen Pu realizes she is vain and shallow. They have nothing to talk about. He is not interested in her at all.
