Episode Summary
Faced with her family's poverty and her mother's declining health, Yinzi makes a devastating sacrifice. She agrees to marry the wealthy, elderly Ning Xuexiang in exchange for money and security for her family. This decision shatters her relationship with Tie Tou, who is unaware of her motivations. Despite last-minute efforts from their friends to help them elope, Yinzi stands by her choice, accepting a miserable future to save her loved ones.
Spoiler Alert
The whole mess starts because Big Belly Fei's wife is getting sicker, and he's broke. He goes to Ning Xuexiang to borrow money, but Ning Xuexiang is a total jerk about it and refuses. At the same time, Tie Tou is in his own world of trouble. He's been falsely accused by Sha Tao's parents, and he's so ashamed he decides to just skip town, leaving Yinzi behind.
Luckily, Ning Xiuxiu and Big Foot Feng catch him before he can leave. They talk some sense into him, saying the best way to shut down the rumors is to stay and marry Yinzi. He agrees to go home. But while this is happening, Yinzi is looking for him everywhere. When she can't find him, she goes home, only to walk in on her mother trying to hang herself. It's a horrible scene. Yinzi is completely devastated and blames herself. She swears she'll do whatever it takes to get money for her mom's medicine. The very next day, she goes to Ning Xuexiang for help.
This is where it gets really bad. Yinzi makes a deal with the devil. She asks Ning Xuexiang for twenty silver dollars. In exchange, she promises to marry him, send his family food every month, and have him pay for her brother and sister's schooling. Ning Xuexiang, being the creep he is, is ecstatic and immediately agrees. Yinzi takes the medicine and food home, and for a brief moment, her family is happy, not knowing the price she paid.
Meanwhile, Tie Tou has no idea this has happened. He's just waiting for his mom to borrow some money so he can send Sha Tao away and then officially propose to Yinzi. Before he can, Yinzi shows up at his shack with food she made for him. She throws herself into his arms, and he promises he'll give her a good life. They end up sleeping together, both of them completely unaware of how tragic their timing is.
The news breaks when a matchmaker shows up at Yinzi's house with a huge dowry from Ning Xuexiang. Everyone is shocked. Yinzi's mom is horrified at the thought of her daughter marrying an old man like him. The matchmaker then twists the knife by saying Tie Tou got Sha Tao pregnant. When her mom still refuses, the matchmaker drops the final bomb: Yinzi went to Ning Xuexiang and offered herself.
Word gets to Ning Susu and Ning Xiuxiu, who are both floored. They try to intervene, confronting Ning Xuexiang and his son Ning Kejin, but both men are cold and tell them to accept it. Ning Xuexiang claims he's a hero for "saving" Yinzi's family. Tie Tou hears the news and runs to Yinzi, but she coldly tells him to stay away from her forever. He's completely crushed.
In a last-ditch effort, Ning Xiuxiu, Ning Susu, and Big Foot Feng find Tie Tou and urge him to run away with Yinzi, even offering to take care of his farm. He agrees and rushes off to find her.
The episode ends on the morning of the wedding. Ning Xuexiang has sent a carriage to pick up his new bride. Ning Xiuxiu intercepts them on the road, trying to convince Yinzi to go to the Women's Association for help. But Yinzi refuses. She says she is marrying him willingly because it's the only way to give her family a better life.
