Episode Summary
In this episode, family tensions rise over a hefty dowry demand for Zhidong's wedding. Zhixia faces a humiliating professional rejection but turns it around with a bold counter-offer. While dealing with her own struggles, she forms an unexpected bond with Mingzhu during a prenatal yoga class. Mingzhu, facing the reality of single motherhood, returns to work and starts a secret savings plan by selling expensive gifts to buy gold for her baby.
Spoiler Alert
The 200,000 Dowry Problem
A Mother's Desperation
The episode kicks off with some classic family drama. Yu Jingxiang wants her daughter, Xu Zhixia, to buy expensive health supplements for Shen Mingzhu. Zhixia is not having it and shuts her down. The two have a pretty nasty argument.
So, Jingxiang does what any mother does. She complains to her other kid, Xu Zhidong. Zhidong, ever the opportunist, sees his opening. He swears his loyalty to his mom. This convinces Jingxiang that she should treat his girlfriend, Bichen, like her own daughter. Zhidong immediately uses this moment. He suggests it's time for the parents to meet and talk about wedding plans. Jingxiang gets nervous. She worries Bichen's family will ask for too much. She tells Zhidong to have Bichen figure out what her parents are expecting.
The Price of a Wedding
Bichen goes and talks to her parents. Her dad is cool with everything. He just wants Zhidong to be a good husband. Her mom, however, is a different story. She insists on a huge, proper wedding. She doesn't want her daughter to have any regrets. Then she drops the bomb. She wants a dowry of 200,000.
Jingxiang absolutely does not have that kind of money. Her husband, Xu Dacheng, tells her to just borrow it from Zhixia. But Jingxiang's pride is still wounded from their earlier fight. She refuses to ask Zhixia for anything. She's stuck.
Zhixia's Grind Never Stops
The Lipstick Pitch from Hell
Zhixia is trying to land a big deal for Cadillia lipstick. She dresses up for her meeting with the manager, a guy named Sam. This includes a pair of very painful high heels. Of course, the shoes start rubbing her feet raw. Sam walks by just as she's taking them off in the lobby. It's not a great look.
The meeting is a disaster. Zhixia gives a great pitch. But Sam is completely unprofessional and rude. He says he has another meeting and dismisses her. Then, we see him literally throw her proposal right into the trash can.
A Second Chance
You know Zhixia isn't going to let that go. She goes right back to Sam's office another day. He tries to duck her, but she sees his car outside and decides to wait. This time, she's smart. She's wearing a pair of comfortable flat shoes.
Sam finally agrees to see her. He tells her she has bad taste and can't possibly promote a high-end brand like Cadillia. Zhixia is ready for this. She pulls out every single shade of Cadillia lipstick. She breaks down the pros and cons of each one. She clearly knows her stuff. Then she makes a bold promise. She guarantees she can sell 10,000 lipsticks in one month on her public account. All she wants is a 30 percent commission. Sam, probably shocked, agrees to the deal.
An Unlikely Friendship Forms
Bonding at Yoga
Zhixia and Mingzhu are in the same prenatal yoga class. This is getting interesting. Zhixia is still hustling, trying to unload that Rufen wine. She asks Mingzhu if she can help get it into the Nanxi Hotel where she works. Mingzhu says she's on leave and doesn't really know the right people.
Later, during a break, Zhixia is so exhausted she just passes out. Mingzhu kindly covers her with a jacket. When Zhixia wakes up, they finally have a real conversation. Mingzhu asks for parenting advice. They actually start to connect.
A Moment of Support
The yoga instructor plans an activity for the expectant mothers and their partners. This is obviously super awkward for Mingzhu, who is there alone. Zhixia feels terrible for her and tries to get them both out of there. But Mingzhu wants to stay. So Zhixia does something simple. She just reaches out and holds her hand. It's a small, quiet moment of real support.
Later, Zhixia's own daughter, Jiaojiao, is very sweet when she sees her mom's bleeding feet. Between Jiaojiao's kindness and that moment with Mingzhu, something clicks for Zhixia. She finally starts to understand the intense motherly love her own mom feels for Mingzhu.
Mingzhu's New Reality
Back to Work
That awkward yoga class really got to Mingzhu. She's stressed about money. She's worried about her kid growing up without a dad. So she makes a decision. She's going back to work at the hotel.
Her boss wants to move her to a less stressful department. This was arranged by her father-in-law. But Mingzhu refuses the special treatment. She insists on returning to her demanding job as the lobby manager. She even uses the opportunity to pitch Zhixia's Rufen wine to her boss.
Gold Bars Over Gifts
Everyone is showering Mingzhu with attention. Jingxiang shows up at the hotel with homemade food, worried she's overworking herself. Then Mingzhu's own mother, He Lihua, has her over for dinner. She calls Jingxiang's food "junk" and gives Mingzhu another pair of ridiculously expensive flat shoes.
Mingzhu has her own plan, though. She takes the new shoes and sells them to her friend Ni Dani for a discount. She immediately takes that cash and buys a small gold bar. This is her new strategy. She's going to save for her child's future by stacking gold. It's a pretty solid plan.
