Episode Summary
Tian Xiaogui returns home a broken man and hides his trauma from his father. Lao Shandong helps Tie Liang with a painful recovery before deciding he must return to the fight, sharing an emotional goodbye with his wife and Tie Liang. While some find moments of peace, the group's unity frays as Tang Deyuan hides from the cause and Fuqing argues with Gao Yunhu.
Spoiler Alert
The Aftermath of Survival
Tian Xiaogui's Rocky Homecoming
So, Tian Xiaogui finally makes it home. The first thing he does is eat. He eats for days, like he's been starved, which he probably was. It's a tough scene to watch. His father is heartbroken just seeing him like this.
Tian Xiaogui breaks down completely. He hugs his dad and just sobs, thinking he was never going to make it back alive. But when his father asks what happened out there, he clams up. He doesn't want to worry his dad, so he hides the truth about his experiences. His father just wants him to stay home for good, and after some thought, Tian Xiaogui agrees. For now, anyway. Later, the local bailiff even stops by to reinforce the point. He tells Tian Xiaogui to stay put, be a good son, and think about getting married.
Tie Liang's Painful Recovery
Lao Shandong is trying his best to help Tie Liang. He's got him practicing on a wooden prosthetic leg. It's brutal. Tie Liang tries to walk without his crutch, but he just falls.
When Lao Shandong checks the prosthetic, he sees it's rubbed Tie Liang's leg raw with blisters. He throws the fake leg away in frustration. You can see the memory is eating him alive. He can't forget that the Japanese soldiers cut off Tie Liang's leg and fed it to their dogs. His wife tries to comfort him, but that's a horror you don't just get over.
Love and War
A Moment of Peace for Hua'er and Xiao Baima
On a lighter note, Hua'er and Xiao Baima are making a life together. They're in love, and it shows. She's taking care of him and all his brothers. She even sews thick socks for all of them, and they're thrilled.
Xiao Baima sees all of this. He knows he's lucky to have found her. He even goes to the kitchen to cook for her, which makes her heart melt. It's a small, warm moment in the middle of all this chaos.
Lao Shandong's Heartbreaking Goodbye
The peace doesn't last for Lao Shandong. He decides he has to go back and fight. He's clearing land and trying to act normal, but his wife knows what's coming. She doesn't want him to go, but she understands he can't rest until the enemy is gone. She knows she can't stop him.
So, she prepares a bunch of socks for his journey. It’s a small gesture, but it moves him to tears. As he leaves early in the morning, his wife watches him go, crying silently. Then, Tie Liang comes out to see him off. He calls out "Dad." It's the first time. Lao Shandong is overwhelmed with emotion, but he turns and walks away, back to the war.
The Squad Is Scattered
A Coward's Welcome for Lao Shandong
Lao Shandong's first stop is to find Tang Deyuan. He wants them to rejoin the army together. But when he gets to the house, Tang Deyuan's parents lie straight to his face. They claim their son isn't back yet and that he's just a businessman, nothing to do with the resistance.
Lao Shandong can tell they're lying, but he doesn't push it. Tang Deyuan is hiding in the other room the whole time, listening. You can tell he feels terrible about it. After drinking a bowl of porridge, Lao Shandong leaves. He asks the parents to tell Tang Deyuan he's heading for Yuanbao Town.
Cracks in the Ranks
Elsewhere, the remaining guys are getting restless. Fuqing is desperate to find their comrades and regroup. Gao Yunhu, however, thinks they should wait for Lao Shandong to find them.
Fuqing isn't having it. He accuses Gao Yunhu of making excuses and being a coward. After trading some harsh words, Fuqing decides he's going to find Lao Shandong by himself. The group is clearly starting to fracture under the pressure.
