Episode Summary
He Changsheng and Liu Meixin relocate to Huainan, leaving their family behind. When He Changsheng's mother and daughter arrive, the family is reunited, but faces challenges with food scarcity, traditional gender roles, and neighborhood conflicts. He Jiali, the eldest daughter, strives to prove her worth and protect her family.
Spoiler Alert
Following the establishment of the People's Republic of China, many young people answered the call to support national development. He Changsheng and his wife, Liu Meixin, left their hometown of Jiangdu, Yangzhou, to settle in Huainan, Anhui province, establishing their roots by the Huai River. After the Great Chinese Famine, the He family finally had a chance to reunite. Grandmother He Wen and the eldest granddaughter, He Jiali, traveled by boat to join them.
The year is 1962. The Tianjia'an wharf is bustling with activity. Passengers disembark, and the scene is a mix of hurried travelers and curious onlookers. However, He Changsheng, who was supposed to meet them, is absent. Liu Meixin unexpectedly went into labor, and a neighbor's young daughter, Zhang Qiufang, guides the grandmother and granddaughter to the health clinic.
This reunion introduces He Jiali to her father, who is both familiar and changed, and to her younger sister, He Jiawen, a complete stranger. He Changsheng, influenced by traditional patriarchal views, had hoped for a son to carry on the family line. His coworker, Zhu Deqi, had even predicted that Liu Meixin's third child would be a boy. The arrival of another daughter is a disappointment to him.
Big Bro Tang, who has always been at odds with He Changsheng, is certain that He Changsheng is simply destined not to have a son. He Changsheng, unable to accept this, vents his frustrations to Zhu Deqi's brother. Zhu's brother, who has experienced loss and hardship, advises He Changsheng to accept his fate.
Grandmother He Wen, a wise and understanding woman, comforts Liu Meixin and personally prepares a nourishing brown sugar drink for her. Later that night, He Changsheng has a change of heart. He returns home quietly and reconciles with his wife. They agree to prioritize their children's education and not rush into having another child, knowing they still have time.
Big Bro Tang, upon learning about He Changsheng's third daughter, is smug and makes snide remarks at the factory. Meanwhile, He Jiali starts at her new school. During class, she demonstrates a set of military-style exercises, catching the attention of Tang Weimin. After school, Tang Weimin and a group of boys try to bully her, but He Jiali quickly subdues Tang Weimin, causing the others to scatter.
Food scarcity is a common problem, and meat is a rare luxury. He Wen, wanting to treat her daughter-in-law after childbirth, prepares some pork cracklings, only to find that He Jiali has eaten them. While He Jiali feels guilty, her grandmother's gentle teachings help her understand the importance of family and sacrifice.
Matriarch Tang, Tang Weimin's mother, arrives at the He household, furious that her son was pushed by He Jiali. She creates a scene, demanding an apology. He Jiali stands her ground, but her father, wanting to avoid trouble, forces her to apologize. The family even gives the Tang family some precious lard, further straining their limited resources.
The next morning, He Wen takes He Jiali to forage for wild vegetables, which they make into pancakes to supplement their meager diet. He Changsheng, realizing the family's struggles, asks Zhu Deqi's brother to help him exchange his leather jacket for meat ration tickets. Zhu's brother generously gives He Changsheng his last pound of meat ration tickets.
He Jiali is tasked with getting the meat, but pork is in short supply and rationed. Matriarch Tang once again uses her aggressive tactics to cut in line, leaving no pork for He Jiali. Luckily, He Jiali is resourceful and manages to convince the butcher to sell her a pig's tail. He Changsheng, seeing this, remarks that a daughter can't compare to a son, unintentionally hurting He Jiali's feelings. She runs off to confront Matriarch Tang but gains nothing.
Determined to prove her worth and protect her family, He Jiali cuts her hair short, vowing to show that she is just as capable as a boy. He Changsheng, touched by his daughter's determination, takes her to Zhu's brother's boat for a treat of sanzi (a type of fried dough). That evening, father and daughter return home happy, and He Wen is deeply moved by He Jiali's actions.
The story jumps to early 1965. He Jiali, wanting to provide a treat for her family, goes to the river early in the morning to catch turtles. Tang Weimin happens to see her and enthusiastically helps. They catch two turtles, sharing one each. However, Tang Weimin's younger brother is bitten by a turtle, and his cries attract Matriarch Tang. She exposes their turtle-catching activity, reporting the He family to the market management office for having a "bourgeois lifestyle."
