Episode Summary
Tingting finds the perfect shop for her nail salon, not realizing her father, Lao Yang, secretly arranged it through his son, Shiwu. Meanwhile, Dai Jing's family vacation falls apart as everyone is preoccupied. Her anger leads to a family meeting, but the trip is cut short anyway. The episode ends with Liu Xiangshang realizing he forgot his wedding anniversary and rushing back to celebrate with Dai Jing.
Spoiler Alert
Growing Together S2E22: Bad Vacations and Secret Plans
This episode splits its time between two messes. One is a family vacation gone wrong. The other is a classic case of a dad trying to "help" without actually talking to his son. It gets complicated.
Lao Yang's Sneaky Shop Scheme
A Father's Meddling
Tingting is trying to pick a shop for her new nail salon. She has trouble making decisions, so she's stuck. She asks her dad, Lao Yang, for his opinion. He's scared to give it. He doesn't want her to doubt him again if things go south.
So, he comes up with a very roundabout plan. He asks a friend for help finding a good shop. But he doesn't want to be the one to present it. Instead, he gets his son, Shiwu, to do it. Lao Yang knows that Shiwu heard from Chu Yi about Tingting's nail salon idea. This makes Shiwu's involvement seem natural. It's a clever move, especially since Lao Yang and Shiwu are currently fighting.
Shiwu Steps Up
Shiwu, despite the fight with his dad, agrees to help Tingting. He shows her the shop, and she loves it instantly. She's ready to sign the contract right away. Later, they run into Enran and her mother. Tingting learns that Shiwu has been working as a tutor to earn money.
Over a meal, she asks him about it. He tells her he's saving up to go study abroad. Tingting goes home happy and tells Lao Yang she found a shop. She also tells him to stop fighting with Shiwu. She warns him that he'll regret it if something happens. Lao Yang doesn't seem to grasp the seriousness of the situation. He just assumes Shiwu will come begging for money once he runs out.
A Few Other Problems
Ma Yingjie tries to patch things up with Tang Xiaowei. He makes dinner and beer, hoping to convince her to remarry. She shuts him down. She says he's still not mature enough. She remembers how their family had to rely on his mother and sister for money. It was humiliating for her. Now, even though running her own business is hard, she finally feels at peace.
Dai Jing's Disastrous Family Trip
The Un-Vacation
Dai Jing's planned family vacation is a complete failure. She wanted everyone to spend quality time together. But everyone is in their own world. Liu Xiangshang works constantly. Her son, Liu Guoning, is obsessed with his video games. Her brother, Dai Bing, can only think about Teacher Wang. The only person who gives her any attention is the youngest, Liu Guobao, and only when he's not watching cartoons.
The Breakdown
Dai Jing finally has enough. She gets angry, unplugs the internet, and calls a family meeting. She tells them she arranged the trip so they could be together before the kids grow up and don't need them anymore. Later, Liu Xiangshang goes to comfort her. She says she understands they're all busy and books a family BBQ.
Just after she makes the reservation, the plans fall apart. Dai Bing announces he's going back to Beijing to find Teacher Wang. Dai Jing lets him go, hoping he'll finally grow up. Then, Liu Guoning tries to bargain. He'll go to the BBQ, but only after he finishes his gaming match. Dai Jing is furious. She tells him to just go back to Beijing with Dai Bing. To top it all off, Liu Xiangshang's script needs urgent revisions. Dai Jing tells him to leave, too. She decides she and Liu Guobao will have the BBQ by themselves.
At the restaurant, Liu Guobao learns that it's their "family's birthday." Dai Jing explains it's really her and Liu Xiangshang's wedding anniversary. She ordered way too much food and tries to cancel some of it. Just then, Liu Xiangshang video calls. Dai Jing hands the phone to her son. Liu Guobao tells his dad what his mom said about the family birthday. Liu Xiangshang finally remembers the date. He feels terrible and decides to bring Liu Guoning back to the BBQ. Dai Bing is left to find his own ride to the airport.
