Episode Summary
Yu Leshan plans to take over the hardware factory. On Sheng Xuezhu's birthday, tensions with her stepmother, Bai Yufei, are high, but Xuezhu also learns the village's water is contaminated. To help, Bai Yufei organizes a charity opera performance. She pushes herself to exhaustion and collapses, requiring surgery. With no family present, Xuezhu signs the consent form. At the hospital, the two women finally reconcile, and Xuezhu lets go of her long-held resentment.
Spoiler Alert
Birthdays, Bad Water, and Big Plans
Yu Leshan Eyes a New Project
Yu Leshan is back in the village. He doesn't waste any time. He first takes a tour of the Qiaotou Hardware Factory. Later, he has dinner with Uncle Ma's family and gets a little tipsy. The alcohol loosens his tongue. He admits he's seriously interested in taking over the factory. He sees potential there.
A Tense Birthday Celebration
It's Sheng Xuezhu's birthday, but the celebration is anything but relaxed. She's at her father's house with her family. She brings up a major issue she discovered during a medical visit. The local villagers are drinking water with high levels of heavy metals. This is a huge shock to her father, Sheng Bijie.
The awkwardness doesn't stop there. Xuezhu's daughter, Nuan Nuan, accidentally breaks a vase. Xuezhu goes into the bedroom and finds it has been redecorated. It's filled with photos of her late mother and old family pictures. Her sister, Sheng Bailing, explains that their stepmother, Bai Yufei, did it all for her. Bailing uses the moment to suggest Xuezhu and Nuan Nuan move back home. Xuezhu immediately shuts that down and changes the subject.
Back at her own place, her suitor Wang Xiao is waiting. He has a birthday gift for her. She politely refuses it. He tells her he's not giving up. He'll wait as long as it takes for her to accept him.
An Olive Branch Through Opera
A Performance for a Cause
Bai Yufei is trying hard. She cooked a huge birthday meal for Xuezhu. But she made herself scarce to avoid making things uncomfortable. Later, Sheng Bijie finds her at the theater and thanks her for the effort. He also tells her about the village's contaminated water problem.
Bai Yufei sees a way to help. She decides her Beijing opera troupe will put on a charity performance in the village. Xuezhu hears about this and confirms it by looking at a poster. It seems Bai Yufei is trying to do something genuinely good for the community Xuezhu cares about.
Side Plots and New Crushes
While this is going on, Yu Leshan is moving forward with his factory idea. He shows his sister, Yu Leying, some of the factory's products. She's sharp. She immediately sees they're defective items made from high-quality steel. It's a waste. This makes Leshan even more determined to fix the place. He gets to work writing a formal proposal to take over the factory.
His sister, Yu Leying, is also going through a transformation. She's suddenly putting on nice makeup and picking out stylish clothes. Her family thinks she has a secret boyfriend. The truth is she has a huge crush on her night school teacher, Xie Jingsi.
A Collapse and a Breakthrough
The Show Takes Its Toll
Bai Yufei performs for several days straight. She is clearly exhausted. Her final performance is a demanding one with many fight scenes. Sheng Bijie begs her not to push herself so hard, but she's determined. She says she is doing it to help Xuezhu.
Xuezhu ends up going to the show with Yu Leshan. She watches from the audience. You can see Bai Yufei is physically struggling on stage. She's pushing through the pain and exhaustion. For the first time, Xuezhu looks genuinely worried about her. The performance finishes, and the audience erupts in applause.
Forgiveness in a Hospital Room
After the show, Yu Leshan practically drags a hesitant Xuezhu backstage to give Bai Yufei flowers. When they get there, they find a horrifying scene. Bai Yufei has collapsed from her injuries and exhaustion.
They rush her to the hospital. The doctors say she needs immediate surgery. The problem is, her husband Sheng Bijie is on a business trip, and her daughter Sheng Bailing is also away. There's no one to sign the consent form. In a powerful moment, Sheng Xuezhu steps forward and signs for her.
The surgery is a success. Xuezhu stays by Bai Yufei's bedside. When Bai Yufei wakes up, she's groggy and asks for water. Xuezhu helps her. Bai Yufei sees who is caring for her and starts to cry. She finally apologizes for the past. She admits she was foolish and made a mistake that caused Xuezhu immense pain as a child.
Xuezhu listens. Then she tells Bai Yufei that she knows she is a good person. She's seen how selflessly she has cared for her father and sister all these years. Xuezhu decides, right there, to let go of her hatred. They hold hands, both in tears. It's the breakthrough we've been waiting for. Outside the room, Yu Leshan watches them and smiles, relieved.
