Episode Summary
The changing times and the rise of modern transportation have left the Grand Canal families struggling. Economic hardship strains relationships, while the younger generation grapples with their futures, contrasting academic paths, and entrepreneurial dreams. A family secret involving Ma Siyi's past resurfaces, leading to a desperate plan to solve a financial crisis.
Spoiler Alert
Seven years ago, The Beijing-Shanghai Expressway, a major artery spanning the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, was completed. It boosted the economy along its route, and the speed of life on land. But it left the river transport industry in its wake. The once-proud boatmen found their livelihoods dwindling, their sense of purpose fading as the world sped by, seemingly leaving the Grand Canal and its traditions behind.
Now, Shao Xingchi's culinary skills are reaching new heights, captivating his courtyard friends with just a bowl of eel noodles (Changyu Mian). While everyone gathers around the table, Ma Siyi is still shaken by a recent suicide attempt in the river. Xie Wanghe and the others express a stoic, almost harsh view of such acts, believing that a man should shoulder any burden, no matter how heavy. Xia Fenghua, however, calls them out for their bravado, sparking some playful banter.
After the meal, the group heads to school as usual, their academic paths diverging. The academically gifted Ma Siyi and Chen Rui attend the prestigious No. 1 High School, a breeding ground for top students. In stark contrast, the rest of the gang goes to No. 7 High School, right across the street, known for its mediocre performance and unruly students.
The four friends first drop off Ma Siyi, where they encounter Sun Sanliang. Sun Sanliang, ever the troublemaker, is still trying to befriend Ma Siyi, only to be thwarted (and chased off) by the protective Xia Fenghua. As graduation approaches, the principal of No. 1 High School gives a rousing speech about changing one's destiny through hard work, met with enthusiastic cheers. The scene at No. 7 High School, however, is far less disciplined.
During class, Xie Wanghe gets caught daydreaming, but instead of showing remorse, he argues with the teacher, Mr. Xu. Xie Wanghe believes that university isn't the only path to success. He then launches into an impromptu business plan, outlining how Mr. Xu could create a lucrative "cram school" empire focused on test preparation, even sketching out the potential profits on the blackboard. His entrepreneurial spirit shocks everyone, and Mr. Xu, caught up in the fantasy, starts calculating the potential earnings with a calligraphy brush.
Later, Sun Sanliang ambushes Xie Wanghe and his friends, claiming Xia Fenghua damaged his shoes. But at the sight of Xia Fenghua, he flees on his bike. Xia Fenghua, dreaming of attending her idol's concert, is willing to spend big money, but her fantasies are interrupted by her parents' heated argument.
The changing times have hit the canal families hard. Xia Maotian's family has repeatedly borrowed money, and his wife, Li Yan, is at her wit's end. She's tired of supporting her husband's money-grubbing, traditionalist mother, especially now that their own finances are strained. Xia Fenghua overhears the fight, a silent witness to her family's struggles.
Similarly, Xie Tiancheng, once a respected boat captain, is now struggling, especially compared to Sun Sanliang's father, who has become a wealthy businessman. The Sun family still owes the Xie family money, but Xie Tiancheng is reluctant to bring it up, as his business now depends on the elder Sun. This infuriates Xie Tiancheng's wife, Liang Haihong.
Xie Wanghe, troubled by his family's situation, seeks solace on the rooftop, where he finds Xia Fenghua, also burdened by financial worries. They share their dreams for the future. Meanwhile, Shao Bingyi, a writer, finds his traditional subject matter out of touch with modern trends. His son, Shao Xingchi, suggests he try writing a popular tomb-raiding novel like "Ghost Blows Out the Light," but Shao Bingyi refuses, clinging to his literary integrity.
Luo Zhimei, feeling stifled as a housewife and frustrated with her stalled acting career, decides to head to Hengdian, a major film production center, to pursue her dreams. Zhou Haikuo, her husband, finds himself on the rooftop, where he joins the other four friends. The five of them share their hopes and anxieties about life after graduation, finding a moment of escape from the courtyard's troubles.
Later that night, Ma Siyi returns home to a shocking scene: her long-absent mother is begging her grandmother for money. Years ago, Siyi's mother married her second husband, Lao Ge, but after discovering that Lao Ge was inappropriately touching Ma Siyi during bath time, she sent her daughter to live with her grandmother for protection.
Now, Lao Ge's business has failed, and Siyi's mother needs money for her other child's education. She's desperate to make a fresh start in the South. Ma Siyi and Chen Rui are caught passing notes using Morse code in class. Later, Ma Siyi confronts her mother, who is hiding in a corner, tearfully demanding to know how much money she owes. Xie Wanghe and the others, wanting to help Ma Siyi, hatch a plan to steal diesel fuel in the dead of night, and Xia Fenghua insists on joining them.
