Episode Summary
Sheng Xuezhu marries a recovering Wang Xiao and dedicates herself to his physical therapy. A heartbroken Yu Leshan abandons his plan to marry her and moves to Shenzhen with Guo Hongqi to start a new factory. After a time jump to 1991, Wang Xiao is fully healed but struggling at work, while Leshan has become a successful businessman who clashes with an old rival, Qiao Zhengjun.
Spoiler Alert
Xuezhu and Wang Xiao's New Life
A Marriage and a Long Road to Recovery
So, Sheng Xuezhu and Wang Xiao are officially married. They got the certificate. Her life is now basically work and taking care of him. She spends her free time massaging his legs.
There’s just one problem. His legs aren't getting any better. They have no feeling at all. Wang Xiao is starting to lose his mind with frustration. Xuezhu refuses to give up, though. She keeps comforting him and pushing forward with his physical therapy.
Yu Leshan's Next Move
A New Plan in Shenzhen
Yu Leshan is back after bailing Guo Hongqi out in Guangdong. While he was there, he saw how fast Shenzhen was developing. He got an idea. He wanted to come back, marry Xuezhu, and then open a branch factory in Shenzhen.
That plan goes right out the window. He gets home and learns Xuezhu already married Wang Xiao. So, Leshan buries himself in his work. He decides to open the factory anyway, under the Liangchuan Hardware company name. He goes to Manager Shen, who demands a five-thousand-yuan management fee. He wants the money today. Leshan agrees without even blinking.
A Second Chance and a Final Goodbye
Leshan also has to deal with Guo Hongqi. After Leshan saved him, his wife Zhang Yadan filed for divorce. Hongqi is a wreck. He just drinks all day. Leshan tells him to pull himself together. He says Hongqi should focus on succeeding, then try to win Yadan back. Hongqi promises to change his ways. Leshan gives him one more chance and brings him along to Shenzhen.
Later, Xuezhu is visiting Qu Fangfei's grave. She tells her late friend that she married Wang Xiao. She says she’s happy he loves Nuan Nuan and promises to give her daughter a good home.
Then Leshan shows up. They run into each other right there at the cemetery. He asks her if she’s happy. She says her life is stable. He pushes a little harder. He wants to know if she actually loves Wang Xiao. She avoids the question completely. She just says she wants to live a good life with him.
She doesn't get why he's moving to Shenzhen. The Qiaotou Hardware Factory is a top company in the city. He doesn't need to go so far away to start over. Leshan explains his vision. He believes Shenzhen is the future. He thinks it will become a huge, modern city. Xuezhu supports his decision. She tells him to go for it. They share a tearful goodbye. It feels very final.
A Big Time Jump
Life in 1991
A few things happen quickly. Leshan's sister, Yu Leying, marries Xie Jingsi. Leshan opens his Shanhe Hardware Factory in Shenzhen. And Xuezhu keeps working with Wang Xiao. Eventually, he can walk again with crutches.
Then we jump forward to 1991.
Wang Xiao’s legs are completely healed. He’s back to work at the newspaper. Nuan Nuan is a young teenager now. She complains about their small apartment and wishes they had a big house like her friends. Wang Xiao promises they'll get a new house after he finishes his novel. Nuan Nuan doesn't believe him.
Trouble at Work and an Old Rival
Things aren't great for Wang Xiao at his job. He gets passed over for a promotion again. He confronts his editor, who tells him the promotions were focused on the news department. As an editor for the literary supplement, he wasn't a priority. Wang Xiao is crushed. On the bright side, a new college graduate named Tao Xiyun joins the department. She happens to be a huge fan of a book Wang Xiao wrote. She's thrilled to meet him and asks for an autograph. He impresses her by explaining the classical poetry behind her name.
Meanwhile, Leshan is thriving. His factory in Shenzhen is a huge success. He and Hongqi are incredibly busy. He attends a business party and runs into Qiao Zhengjun. Zhengjun is now representing the Liangchuan government, trying to get businesses to invest back home. Leshan wants nothing to do with him. Zhengjun tries to persuade him, even bringing up Xuezhu's name. This just makes Leshan angry, and he walks out.
The episode ends back at home. The ultrasound machine in Xuezhu's department is broken. The hospital won't replace it. But the administration office just bought a brand-new car. She's furious and complains about it to Wang Xiao. He just tells her to mind her own business.
