Episode Summary
Sheng Xuezhu confesses her feelings to Qiao Zhengjun before leaving for medical school, but he secretly starts a relationship with her best friend, Qu Fangfei. We learn that Xuezhu and Fangfei were raised as sisters after Xuezhu's family fell apart. While Xuezhu starts her new life, other characters pursue their own goals. Yu Leshan starts a risky but profitable herb-selling business, and Wang Xiao gives up on Xuezhu and leaves. The episode ends with trouble brewing for everyone. Zhengjun's boss is under investigation, and Xuezhu's godmother disappears during a black market raid.
Spoiler Alert
The Love Triangle Gets Complicated
Xuezhu Makes Her Move
Sheng Xuezhu gets a huge opportunity. The local brigade recommends her for medical school. This is her ticket to a new life. But she has one last thing to do before she leaves. She decides to finally tell Qiao Zhengjun how she feels. She packs her bags and marches right into his office at the county youth office. She lays it all out for him.
Zhengjun is completely blindsided. He admits he has a good impression of her. But he also says marriage is a serious commitment. He can't just jump into it. For Xuezhu, this is basically a win. She hears that he isn't interested in anyone else. So she tells him she'll finish school and then come back for him. This is not going to end well.
But Zhengjun Has Other Plans
Here's the part Xuezhu doesn't know. Zhengjun and Qu Fangfei have a secret spot. It’s a little cabin in the woods. They meet there to read books together. Lately, Fangfei has missed their last two meetings. Zhengjun calls to ask why. She can't give him a real answer over the phone.
Later, Fangfei goes to the cabin to return a book. Zhengjun is already there waiting. She tries to leave immediately. He stops her and demands to know what’s going on. Then he just blurts it out. He confesses his feelings for her. Fangfei knows Xuezhu is in love with him. She feels terrible about it. But Zhengjun insists he fell for Fangfei the moment he saw her. He says his heart belongs only to her. They both start crying and end up in each other's arms. They agree to keep their relationship a secret for now. He wants to focus on his career first and wait until he gets a post in the city.
A Look into the Past
We get a lot of important backstory in this episode. It explains a lot about our main characters.
Xuezhu Starts a New Chapter
Xuezhu arrives at the medical university in Zhongzhou. The place feels familiar to her. She sees a stone carving from her childhood. It says, "Heal the sick and save the dying." A woman named Professor Tang walks by and recognizes her. It's a happy reunion after many years.
The Sisterly Bond Explained
Professor Tang was old friends with Xuezhu's mother. We learn what happened to Xuezhu's family. Her father was politically condemned as a "rightist." Her mother died in an accident. At the time, Professor Tang was away working in Qinghai. Qu Fangfei's mother was the one who took in Xuezhu and her sister, Bailing. Xuezhu's mother had once cured Fangfei's mother of an illness. So, she raised the two girls as her own to repay that kindness. That’s why Xuezhu and Fangfei are as close as real sisters. This makes the whole love triangle even more painful.
Side Hustles and Goodbyes
Not everyone is caught up in romance drama. Some people are just trying to get by.
Leshan's Risky Business
Yu Leshan convinces Uncle Ma Si to take him along to gather medicinal herbs. It’s a tough job in the mountains. One of their group, Old Qi, slips and falls down a cliff. Leshan and Uncle Ma Si manage to rescue him. He has a broken leg. They get him to a hospital for a cast. Old Qi refuses to stay, so Leshan finds a flatbed cart to take him home.
Later, Leshan realizes the local herb business doesn't pay well. He has a new idea. He tells Uncle Ma Si and Old Qiao they should sell the herbs in the south. They could make three times the money. The three of them team up. They gather the herbs, take a train, and sell them. The trip is a success. They come back to Liangchuan with cash and go out to celebrate.
Wang Xiao Bows Out
Poor Wang Xiao. He finds out that Xuezhu is in love with Zhengjun. He finally accepts that he doesn't have a chance. He decides to give up and follow his parents' wishes to go back to his hometown, Heshan. He stops by the university to say a final goodbye to Xuezhu. She feels guilty when she learns he had feelings for her. But Wang Xiao tells her he has moved on. He just wishes her happiness. A genuinely decent guy.
Trouble on the Horizon
The episode ends with a couple of cliffhangers. Things are about to get complicated for everyone.
Office Politics Heat Up
Zhengjun is getting some heat at work. His boss, Director Liu, pulls him aside. Someone filed a complaint about his "improper conduct." The issue is that two different young women have been visiting him. Zhengjun explains it was all official business. Director Liu tells him to get married soon. It would stop the gossip. Then, we learn Director Liu himself is under investigation for political issues. Zhengjun starts to worry that he'll be dragged down too. Fangfei promises she will stand by him.
The Black Market Bust
Xuezhu's godmother is still trading goods on the black market. She ignores Xuezhu's warnings completely. While she's at the market, inspectors show up to raid the place. Everyone scatters. The godmother makes a run for it. The episode ends with Xuezhu at home. She has cooked dinner. But her godmother never comes back.
