Episode Summary
Ma Weiguo creates tension by buying Tong Qiu a villa and paying him to quit his job, alienating Tong Qiu's friends and family. Wang Chunsheng hits his son after learning the boy reported the tutoring class, though Ma Weiguo later steps in to "mentor" the boy with luxury gifts. Meanwhile, Tong Qiu faces punishment at work and avoids discussing Zhang Xiaoshi's potential move to Xi'an.
Spoiler Alert
Money Talks, Friends Walk
Ma Weiguo decides he has had enough of Li Lianbao and Wang Chunsheng’s antics. He thinks they are just trying to stir the pot. So, he makes a massive power move. He buys a villa for Tong Qiu. It is a huge financial flex. Everyone is shocked. But Ma Weiguo doesn't stop there. He offers Tong Qiu a stack of cash to quit his job. The condition is simple. Tong Qiu must stay home and take care of the "Little Aunt."
Wang Chunsheng and Li Lianbao are furious. They see this as a direct insult. They think Ma Weiguo is using money to humiliate their friend. But Tong Qiu sees it differently. He is broke. He needs the cash. He accepts the offer. This causes a major rift. His friends are disgusted by his choice.
Things don't go better at home for Tong Qiu. He tells his parents and girlfriend about the villa. He expects excitement. He gets judgment instead. They don't care about the free house. They hate how Tong Qiu looks right now. He looks like a suck-up trying to please a rich man. The vibe is incredibly awkward.
Domestic Disturbances
The women have their own gathering. Zhang Xiaoshi brings gifts for Li Jing and Jin Tong. She bought them some nice clothes. Li Jing loves the new outfit. She puts it on immediately. She wants to show it off to her husband, Wang Chunsheng. She hopes for a compliment. She doesn't get one. Wang Chunsheng ignores her completely. His brain is entirely focused on his son. Li Jing is left standing there, looking good but feeling invisible.
The Father-Son Breaking Point
Wang Chunsheng picks up his son, Wang Fei, from school. He pushes the kid to exercise. Wang Fei snaps. The pressure is too much. He drops a truth bomb. He admits he was the one who reported the coffee shop tutoring class to the authorities. This revelation sparks a screaming match. Wang Chunsheng loses his temper. He hits his son.
Guilt sets in later that night. Wang Chunsheng creeps into Wang Fei’s room. The boy looks asleep. Wang Chunsheng apologizes to the silent room. He feels terrible about the physical altercation. But Wang Fei isn't asleep. He hears every word. He just chooses to stay silent.
Corporate Sabotage and Avoidance
Tong Qiu’s work life implodes. His boss tells him bad news. He has to transfer his long-term clients to someone else. His bonus for the second half of the year is gone. It turns out President Qiu filed a complaint. Tong Qiu ignored the guy, and the guy got petty. The company values the client over the employee. They punish Tong Qiu to save face.
He goes home miserable. But there is no peace there either. Zhang Xiaoshi needs an answer about the move to Xi'an. She can't wait any longer. Tong Qiu doesn't want her to leave. But he also doesn't want to deal with the conversation. He pretends to be tired. He uses sleep as a shield to avoid the question.
The Luxury "Cure"
Wang Fei has a theory. He thinks his dad is mentally unstable because of prison. He blames Ma Weiguo for that prison time. He decides to get revenge. He makes noise outside Ma Weiguo’s room at night to ruin his sleep. Jin Tong sees him do it. Ma Weiguo comes out and catches him too.
Ma Weiguo sees an opportunity. He offers to help fix the relationship between father and son. He wants to take Wang Fei under his wing. Wang Chunsheng hates the idea. Wang Fei loves it. The kid insists. The dad eventually caves.
The next day, Ma Weiguo picks the kid up in a car. His mentorship style is questionable. He just throws money at the boy. They go to high-end places. He buys Wang Fei luxury goods. He even tells the kid to hand out expensive gifts to his classmates. The other students go crazy for the free stuff. Wang Chunsheng and Li Lianbao watch from the sidelines. They are baffled. Li Lianbao points out the obvious. The kid is partying, not studying.
