Episode Summary
The Xie family struggles to pay the large compensation, relying on neighbors and even a loan shark. Ma Siyi discovers Grandma Ma has passed away after contributing money and rushing to help. Xie Wanghe is released from detention and learns about the sacrifices made, including Ma Siyi's contribution and loss. Grief-stricken, he vows to protect Ma Siyi. The community rallies around Ma Siyi, promising to support her future. Siyi's mother returns, showing little compassion and planning to take Ge Siwei away, while the neighbors commit to covering Ma Siyi's expenses.
Spoiler Alert
Even though Liang Haihong agreed to pay the 100,000 yuan compensation, it was a huge sum for the Xie family, and they struggled to gather the funds. Li Yan and Zhou Yanlin both came forward with money to help, especially Li Yan, who felt guilty knowing her daughter, Xia Fenghua, was at the root of the problem.
Similarly, Grandma Ma, despite her own family's financial difficulties, gave Ma Siyi 2,000 yuan to contribute. However, Liang Haihong didn't accept this money. The neighbors in the courtyard all pitched in, but it still wasn't enough. After much thought, Liang Haihong borrowed some money from a loan shark, pawning her gold jewelry as collateral.
While cooking, Grandma Ma felt unwell and went to her room to lie down. Ma Siyi overheard Li Yan and Liu Yuling talking in the kitchen and learned that Liang Haihong had taken out a high-interest loan. She temporarily left her younger brother, Ge Siwei, with Xia Fenghua and went to borrow 20,000 yuan from Chen Rui, who readily gave her the money.
That evening, Ma Siyi gave the 20,000 yuan to Liang Haihong, urging her to use it to get Xie Wanghe out of detention so he wouldn't miss school or the college entrance exams. However, when Ma Siyi returned home and asked if Grandma Ma had eaten, she discovered that Grandma Ma had passed away in her bed.
The next morning, Shen Yong picked up Xie Wanghe from the detention center, telling him not to worry about the photo incident as the police station had resolved it. Xie Wanghe and Liang Haihong had ordered some dishes at a restaurant. While both concerned and angry at her son, she reminded him not to be so impulsive. Xie Wanghe was shocked to learn they had paid 100,000 yuan for him, believing they shouldn't have given in to such people. This angered Liang Haihong, who slapped him.
Xie Wanghe sat alone by the river, lost in thought. His father, Xie Tiancheng, brought him some food and remarked that his temperament was just like his own, always standing up for others since he was a child. Xie Tiancheng told Xie Wanghe that the 100,000 yuan came from neighbors and others, including 20,000 yuan from Ma Siyi. By the time Ma Siyi returned, Grandma Ma was already gone.
Xie Wanghe rushed back to the courtyard and, seeing Grandma Ma's memorial portrait, was overcome with grief. He knelt and cried bitterly. Ma Siyi regretted not taking better care of her grandmother, feeling she had lost the person who loved her most just by stepping out for a bit. Xia Fenghua watched this scene, feeling deeply troubled.
Later, Xie Wanghe returned home and knelt before Liang Haihong, admitting he was wrong. Liang Haihong told him that he must do everything he could to protect Ma Siyi for the rest of his life because he owed it to the Ma family. Meanwhile, Xia Fenghua was also consumed by guilt, having failed to notice Grandma Ma's distress while she was busy taking Ge Siwei to the movies. Li Yan tearfully comforted her daughter.
Ma Siyi knelt before the memorial portrait all night. Zhou Yipu came to visit Ma Siyi and sat beside her, talking about Grandma Ma. Zhou Yipu revealed that Grandma Ma had suddenly come to see him last month and written a letter of entrustment, stating that if the family didn't have enough money, they should sell the house to ensure Ma Siyi could finish university. Grandma Ma's greatest concern in life was Ma Siyi.
Zhou Yipu said that it didn't matter whether the house was sold or not; he was mainly there to represent everyone and assure her that they would all take care of her from now on, as she was their shared child. Hearing Zhou Yipu's words, Ma Siyi burst into tears and cried in his arms. The neighbors helped with the funeral arrangements, worried that this incident would affect Ma Siyi's studies. Zhou Yanlin and others thought it best to contact Siyi's mother first to see what her plans were. Xie Wanghe and the others chatted on the rooftop, still unable to come to terms with Grandma Ma's passing.
Soon, Siyi's mother returned on the day of the memorial service, blaming her daughter for not taking care of Grandma Ma. Zhou Yanlin and Li Yan approached Siyi's mother to find out her plans. Siyi's mother said she would take Ge Siwei with her but let Ma Siyi stay to focus on her college entrance exams. Zhou Yanlin assured Siyi's mother not to worry about Ma Siyi's living expenses, as their families had decided to cover all her costs, including her future university fees. Siyi's mother was delighted. After Zhou Yanlin and the others left, Siyi's mother continued to speak ill of them behind their backs, further irritating Ma Siyi.
