Episode Summary
Xie Wanghe saves Xia Fenghua from a dangerous situation involving a shady photography studio. He then travels to Beijing to pursue his startup dreams, finding the tech scene overwhelming. Meanwhile, Grandma Ma suffers a health crisis, prompting the Canal Family community to rally together to support her and Ma Siyi. Xie Wanghe seeks advice from an internet expert.
Spoiler Alert
Worried about Xia Fenghua, Xie Wanghe enlists Zhou Haikuo to investigate Brother Hai's studio. Zhou Haikuo hacks into the studio's website and discovers that, while they ostensibly take photos for Taobao (a Chinese e-commerce platform), they're actually making money from lingerie and pornographic photos. Xie Wanghe, realizing Xia Fenghua has gone to the city, rushes to find her, thankfully arriving in time to prevent anything bad from happening.
Xie Wanghe takes Xia Fenghua to a food stall to celebrate her escape, but he also scolds her for being naive and falling for get-rich-quick schemes. Although Xia Fenghua acts tough and pretends she didn't need Xie Wanghe's help, she's secretly deeply touched. Xie Wanghe even buys her medicine for her injuries.
The next morning, Xie Wanghe takes Xia Fenghua back to Flower Street. Xia Fenghua is hesitant to report Brother Hai to the police, as Xie Wanghe points out that the photos are mostly lingerie shots, making it difficult to prove a crime, and reporting it could damage her reputation. Xie Wanghe tells Xia Fenghua to go back to the courtyard while he heads to Beijing. Xia Fenghua watches him leave, a sense of unease settling in. When Xie Tiancheng and his wife find out, they're furious and summon Shao Xingchi and Zhou Haikuo. The two friends, under pressure, declare their support for Xie Wanghe, only to be scolded by their respective parents.
Meanwhile, Xie Wanghe, full of confidence, takes a bus to Beijing. He's like a kid in a candy store, marveling at the bustling metropolis. However, his small-scale project is met with disdain. He's eventually offered a used, domestically-made server, and he realizes his startup is a tiny drop in the ocean compared to the massive tech projects in Beijing.
Xia Fenghua and others go to school to ask for leave for Xie Wanghe. Mr. Xu agrees to cover for him and urges Xia Fenghua to have her parents write a leave request, making sure not to mention the Beijing startup. The classmates brainstorm excuses in class, and Sun Sanliang joins the conversation. After school, Xia Fenghua convinces Liang Haihong to write the leave request, repeatedly stating that Xie Wanghe's entrepreneurial endeavor is a good thing, though Liang Haihong doesn't believe his son can succeed.
Gu Alian visits the hospital and sees Ma Siyi and Chen Rui discussing their homework. She invites Ma Siyi to study with Chen Rui at their home over the weekend. Ma Siyi initially wants to decline, but Chen Rui convinces her to agree. Meanwhile, the mothers notice Grandma Ma's absence from their usual street stall. Liang Haihong, worried, returns home to find Grandma Ma lying weakly on the floor. Everyone rushes to call Zhou Yanlin for help, and together they take Grandma Ma to the hospital.
Liang Haihong runs into Ma Siyi at the hospital and brings her to the ward. Only then does Ma Siyi learn that Grandma Ma has suffered a cerebral thrombosis, and she breaks down in tears at her bedside. Grandma Ma gently comforts Ma Siyi, telling her not to worry. Li Yan and Liang Haihong, watching from the doorway, lament that the Ma family, already struggling, is now facing even harder times.
That night, Ma Siyi returns home heartbroken. Xia Fenghua takes her home for soup, hoping to keep her from dwelling on her worries. Zhou Yanlin gathers the neighbors to discuss how to care for Grandma Ma, suggesting they collectively apply for low-income subsidies or contribute money and effort. Since Gu Alian handles matters similar to Grandma Ma's situation, Zhou Yanlin asks Shao Bingyi for help. Shao Bingyi thinks of Chen Bo, but he's too embarrassed to ask and stubbornly refuses. However, the next day, he buys a gift and goes to reconcile with Chen Bo.
After school, Xia Fenghua and the others immediately visit Grandma Ma at the hospital. The neighbors have installed a phone for Grandma Ma's family, and Zhou Yanlin also takes Gu Alian to see Grandma Ma's stall. Gu Alian explains that she can't directly intervene but advises them to write a report for the community to submit to higher authorities, striving to resolve the issue. In this critical moment, everyone in the Canal Family community contributes what they can, creating a warm and supportive atmosphere. Meanwhile, Xie Wanghe, at an internet cafe, tells Zhou Haikuo that he's secured a server. He overhears a man named Qiang Ge talking about his extensive experience in the internet industry and eagerly seeks his advice.
