Episode Summary
Sheng Xuezhu's attempt to register for the college entrance exam is blocked by an official who believes Nuan Nuan is her child. This forces her to seek out Yu Leshan for an adoption document, but he is in hiding as a wanted man. The truth is revealed through Qu Fangfei's diary: Nuan Nuan is actually Qiao Zhengjun's daughter. Yu Leshan sacrifices himself by appearing in public to sign the papers for Xuezhu, leading to his dramatic arrest. Xuezhu finally learns the whole story, confronts a cowardly Qiao Zhengjun, and takes full responsibility for Nuan Nuan.
Spoiler Alert
The Exam Hits a Major Snag
Bureaucracy and a Missing Father
Sheng Xuezhu is burning the candle at both ends. She's working, taking care of Nuan Nuan, and cramming for the big college entrance exam. It's finally time to register. But of course, it can't be that simple. Someone reports her for submitting fake documents.
The admissions officer is a real piece of work. He sees her with Nuan Nuan and assumes the baby is hers. He refuses to believe her when she says Nuan Nuan isn't her child. Xuezhu is desperate. She can't miss this chance to take the exam. The officer gives her an ultimatum. Get Nuan Nuan's father to sign official adoption papers, and then he'll give her the exam ticket.
So, Xuezhu goes looking for Yu Leshan. He's nowhere to be found. After asking around, she learns the truth. Yu Leshan is a wanted man. He was caught illegally selling ration tickets and is now in hiding. Xuezhu is at her wit's end. She even snaps at Wang Xiao when he tries to help. Wang Xiao, ever the good guy, decides to go back to the village. He wants to get written statements from the villagers to prove Xuezhu's story.
A Trip Back Home and a Huge Revelation
Xuezhu leaves Nuan Nuan with Grandma Shi and heads back to the village herself. She needs to get her own proof. There, she runs into Wang Xiao. She also has an unpleasant run-in with Xiao Shude, who is just as awful as ever.
But the real drama happens with Chen Zhiqiang. He is furious that Xuezhu might miss the exam because of this mess. He goes to find Yu Leshan in the little cabin where he's hiding. Yu Leshan finally decides to reveal the whole story. He pulls out Qu Fangfei's diary.
Chen Zhiqiang reads it and learns the bombshell truth. Nuan Nuan is not Yu Leshan's daughter. She is the child of Qiao Zhengjun and Qu Fangfei. Yu Leshan just married Fangfei to protect her reputation. Chen Zhiqiang feels terrible for misjudging him, and the two men share a drink.
A Sacrifice and a Confrontation
Yu Leshan's Gamble
Back in the city of Zhongzhou, Xuezhu and Wang Xiao have gathered some documents. They have a birth certificate and other papers. They go back to the admissions officer. He's still being difficult. He insists on the adoption agreement signed by the father. They plead with him, and he finally, reluctantly, agrees to ask his boss about it.
At the same time, Yu Leshan sneaks into Zhongzhou. He sees wanted posters with his face on them all over the streets. He goes straight to Qiao Zhengjun. He tells him to man up and go to the Education Bureau to clear Xuezhu's name. Qiao Zhengjun panics. He says it will ruin his career and refuses. He tells Yu Leshan to do it, knowing full well Yu Leshan can't show his face in public.
Xuezhu and Wang Xiao try the admissions office one last time. The officer keeps giving them the runaround. Wang Xiao argues with him, but it's no use. Xuezhu is completely fed up. She declares she's just not going to take the exam.
Right at that moment, Yu Leshan walks in. He signs the adoption papers right there on the spot. Xuezhu finally gets her exam ticket. As he leaves, Yu Leshan hands her Qu Fangfei's diary.
The Arrest and the Truth
This heroic act comes at a huge cost. The admissions officer recognizes Yu Leshan from the wanted posters. He immediately calls the police. As Yu Leshan leaves the building, the police are waiting. He makes a run for it. They chase him down a dead-end alley. He fights back during the arrest and pushes an officer, who falls and hits his head badly on a pile of bricks. Seeing the blood, Yu Leshan gives up and is taken into custody.
Xuezhu and Wang Xiao see the whole thing. They are horrified. Later, Xuezhu reads the entire diary. She finally understands everything. She learns that Nuan Nuan is Qiao Zhengjun's child and that Yu Leshan was just trying to protect Fangfei. She feels incredibly guilty for how she treated him. Wang Xiao comforts her. He reminds her that Yu Leshan was arrested for his own crimes, not for helping her. They decide the best thing they can do is help his family.
The Fallout
A Promise and an Interrogation
That night, Xuezhu goes to visit Yu Leshan's mother, with Wang Xiao right behind her. His mother is completely devastated. Xuezhu brings gifts and promises to care for her like she was her own mother.
Sheng Bijie, Xuezhu's brother, interrogates Yu Leshan. Yu Leshan is defiant. He doesn't think he did anything wrong by trying to earn extra money. Bijie thanks him for helping Xuezhu but tries to explain the law. Yu Leshan isn't having it. He tells Bijie he should use his power to actually help people. Bijie is left speechless.
The Final Showdown
Xuezhu takes Qiao Zhengjun to Qu Fangfei's grave. She confronts him directly. She asks him why he won't acknowledge his own daughter. He denies it. Xuezhu, seething, pulls out the diary.
Qiao Zhengjun is cornered. He immediately starts making excuses and blames his own mother for the situation. Xuezhu slaps him hard across the face. He completely breaks down. He falls to his knees, begging her not to expose him and ruin his future. He even starts slapping himself. He offers to pay child support if she will just adopt Nuan Nuan and keep quiet.
Xuezhu has had enough. She tells him that from this day forward, Nuan Nuan has absolutely no connection to him. She snatches the diary from his hands and walks away.
The episode ends with Sheng Bijie at the police station. He sees two small children crying for their mother, Lin Xiaocao. He learns she was arrested for selling ration tickets just to survive. He feels for them and gives them all the money he has so they can buy food.
