Episode Summary
This is the series finale. All major conflicts are resolved. Yue Xiue and Yu Jingxiang reconcile, officially uniting the two families. Shen Mingzhu is scouted by a major hotel CEO and gets a fantastic new job, securing her future. The entire extended family gathers for a Mid-Autumn Festival dinner, celebrating their bonds and ending the story on a happy and hopeful note.
Spoiler Alert
A Fresh Start for Mingzhu
The episode kicks off with Shen Mingzhu. She's put a lot of work into renovating her restaurant's banquet hall. It looks great. Her connection, Mr. Zhao, brings in a newlywed couple. They're looking for a place to hold their wedding feast. Mingzhu gives them the full sales pitch. She walks them through all the different banquet options. They seem really impressed with her.
Later, we find out this whole meeting was not what it seemed. But we'll get to that.
Old Wounds and New Paths
A Factory Proposal
He Lihua shows up to see Mingzhu. She brings food, but she's really there to make a business proposition. Lihua wants Mingzhu to go in with her on building a new factory. Mingzhu is hesitant. She tells Lihua she can't afford to lose any more money. She's been through too much. Lihua promises that the factory will be a quick success. She says it will earn back Mingzhu's restaurant investment in no time.
Just then, Feng Meiqi arrives. She overhears the conversation and immediately pulls Mingzhu away. She's clearly worried about Mingzhu getting into another risky venture. After talking it over, Mingzhu decides to stick with her restaurant. She encourages Meiqi to take the chance and work with Lihua to rebuild their careers. While visiting the factory site, Lihua finds an old toy that belonged to Feng Jianqi. Mingzhu holds it and starts to cry. She says she will keep the toy for her own baby.
The Mothers Finally Make Peace
This was a long time coming. Yue Xiue goes to Yu Jingxiang's house. She wants to clear the air. Inside, she sees a memorial photo of Jingxiang's late mother. Xiue recognizes her instantly. This was the woman who brought baby Mingzhu to her all those years ago. Xiue immediately bows to the photo and apologizes.
Yu Jingxiang comes home to find her there. Yue Xiue pulls out the old, tattered note that came with Mingzhu. She apologizes over and over for the past. In a really powerful move, Jingxiang takes the note and burns it. The past is ash. They finally let go of all the old pain and agree to be a real family.
Tying Up Loose Ends
Family Forgiveness
A lot of other characters are also making amends. Xu Dacheng finds Shen Shengli. He apologizes for whipping out that DNA test at the wedding banquet and ruining the mood. Shengli tells him to forget about it.
We also check in with Zhang Hao and Xu Zhixia. Hao cooks a big dinner for his mom. He finally tells her that their child needed surgery and lost part of a finger. His mother doesn't hesitate. She offers the money she got from a property demolition to pay for any future medical bills. Zhixia is really moved by this. She apologizes to Hao for pushing him so hard to get a promotion at work. She just wants him to be happy. The three of them finally sit down and have a peaceful, happy meal together.
An Unexpected Job Offer
Remember that "newlywed couple" at Mingzhu's restaurant? They come back. The woman, Zhou Sha, reveals her true identity. She's the CEO of the MANTING Hotel group. She wasn't booking a wedding. She was scouting Mingzhu.
Her company has acquired the entire Nanxi Hotel. The only part they don't own is Mingzhu's independently contracted catering department. Zhou Sha offers Mingzhu a deal. She'll pay back Mingzhu's entire initial investment. She also offers her a high-level management job at the MANTING Hotel with a great salary. It's a massive opportunity. Mingzhu, of course, accepts.
The Final Family Gathering
With the Mid-Autumn Festival just a week away, Mingzhu decides to host a huge dinner for everyone. All the families. All together. Yue Xiue loves the idea. Mingzhu calls Xu Zhixia, who tells their mother, Yu Jingxiang. Jingxiang is overjoyed. Zhixia even sends her Mingzhu's WeChat contact. Jingxiang adds her right away, thrilled that she can finally talk to her daughter whenever she wants.
The night of the festival arrives. Everyone gathers at the Shen family restaurant, which Shen Minghui helped renovate. It's a full house. Yu Jingxiang and Xu Dacheng are there. Zhang Hao's family is there. Xu Zhidong and Bichen are there.
We learn Zhang Hao got the promotion to HR Director after all. Jingxiang is so proud she tries to give him her own gold ring as a gift, but Zhixia politely turns it down.
The dinner begins. Mingzhu stands up to give a speech. She thanks both sets of parents for everything. She announces her new job at the MANTING Hotel. Then, she gives a beautiful bracelet to her sister-in-law, Bichen. It's a gesture of welcome. Xu Zhidong tries to refuse, but Mingzhu puts it on Bichen's wrist herself. Their parents are moved to tears.
Next, Mingzhu thanks Shen Shengli and Yue Xiue for raising her for thirty years. She reveals their gift. She bought them plane tickets to go back to their old hometown in the Northeast.
Shengli gives his own emotional speech. He says that everyone in this room is more than family. They are chosen family. He wishes them all health and happiness. Then, he starts singing a song, and the whole room joins in.
As everyone celebrates, Mingzhu slips away to a quiet corner. She speaks to her late husband, Feng Jianqi, as if he's there. She tells him how happy everyone is and how everything turned out okay.
