Episode Summary
Jiaxi joins Xiaoling in singing at a nightclub, angering their grandmother-in-law. Xiaoling faces criticism and quits the nightclub. Jiawen struggles with her husband's illness. Jiaxi and Hongyu move out. Xiaoling is caught stealing and quits her job.
Spoiler Alert
The drama continues as He Jiaxi, following Liu Xiaoling's lead, also starts singing at the Crown Nightclub. The sisters' impressive vocal talents quickly make them a hit with both the customers and the club's manager, Li. However, their traditionalist grandmother-in-law, Wang Huaimin, soon discovers their new profession and is furious. She storms into the nightclub and drags Jiaxi home.
Wang Huaimin then confronts Liu Meixin and He Jiali, blaming Xiaoling for leading Jiaxi astray and accusing her of lacking morals. Because Xiaoling is indeed at fault, her mother and sister can only endure Huaimin's scolding. Jiali subsequently criticizes Xiaoling, pointing out that she has never done anything right in her life, and tells her not to drag Jiaxi down with her changes.
Xiaoling, completely unrepentant, buys some late-night snacks and heads home, where Yangyang pleads with her to stop singing at the nightclub. Xiaoling gives up singing and tells Zhang Qiufang that she will take good care of Yangyang, much to Zhang Qiufang's relief.
Meanwhile, He Jiawen orders a cake for her husband Chen Weiguo's upcoming birthday, but she's heartbroken that she can't celebrate with him as they used to. She ends up sitting alone on the stairs, weeping.
Jiaxi, having left the nightclub, takes her older sister's advice and starts selling tea eggs on the street. She returns home frustrated and is further annoyed by Wang Huaimin's behind-the-back criticisms. Yan Hongyu, trying to please Jiaxi, buys her an orange woolen coat, but she's in no mood for it.
Jiaxi brings the unsold tea eggs home to Xiaoling, and the two discuss going to the South to seek their fortunes. However, Hongyu strongly opposes the idea, deeming it unrealistic. Jiaxi, fed up with Hongyu's lack of ambition, gives him an ultimatum: either join her in starting a business or move out.
In another storyline, Fang Tao and He Jiahuan run into Zhang Qiulin. Qiulin's obvious interest in Jiahuan irks Fang Tao, who pointedly holds Jiahuan's hand in front of everyone. Jiahuan is displeased by this display and later rebukes Fang Tao for his insecurity, leading to a heated argument.
Chen Weiguo, aware that his days are numbered, insists on leaving the hospital and returning home, not wanting to waste any more money. Jiawen refuses to give up, but she can't persuade him. She takes him home, hiding the truth from the family and claiming that a combination of Chinese and Western medicine offers hope. Liu Meixin, believing her, gives Jiawen some precious ginseng to nourish Weiguo. During a family meal, Weiguo, despite his failing health, tries to comfort his wife, which only adds to Jiawen's distress.
Xiaoling tells her mother and grandmother about her plan to start a business, but Meixin tries to push her towards marriage, stating that she only wants a man with ambition and loyalty. Jiaxi and Jiahuan return to their parents' home, and Meixin, hearing about her second son-in-law's deteriorating condition, worries that her daughter will end up widowed like herself.
At that moment, Liu's mother arrives with her son, Zhang Qiulin. Meixin, aware that Qiulin is single, tries to introduce him to Xiaoling, but Xiaoling shows no interest, as Qiulin is clearly interested in Jiahuan. Sensing the awkwardness, Liu's mother quickly leaves with Qiulin.
Finally, Xiaoling is caught stealing sheepskin at work. The manager reports her to the director, and Xiaoling promptly quits, leaving Meixin on the verge of collapse. Jiawen is reassigned from the capsule workshop to the gardening department, a less profitable but more flexible role, due to her frequent leave requests. Meanwhile, Hongyu finally rents an apartment, and he and Jiaxi move out to live on their own.
