Episode Summary
The He sisters are fractured after Liu Xiaoling's wedding. He Jiaxi and Yan Hongyu buy a new apartment using money borrowed under false pretenses. Liu Meixin's old friend, Aunt Liu, is revealed to have Alzheimer's. He Jiaxi moves out, taking all the new furniture. A fight erupts between He Jiaxi and Liu Xiaoling over the house. Liu Meixin runs away, and He Jiaxi searches for a valuable pickle recipe. The sisters, except He Jiaxi, reunite with Liu Meixin.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with Liu Meixin's daughters buzzing about the property deed transfer after overhearing He Jiawen. Liu Meixin, annoyed that they're always focused on her house, quickly brushes the topic aside. Unable to stand the conversation any longer, He Jiawen drags He Jiali away. He Jiaxi then angrily confronts He Jiali, reminding her of the 20,000 yuan she owes and criticizing her for raising a "good-for-nothing" son.
Later, Liu Xiaoling and He Qiqing hold their wedding at the Jinmantang Grand Hotel. The event seems lively, but the He sisters are deeply divided. He Jiali and He Jiawen sit together, while He Jiahuan and He Jiayi are grouped with He Jiaxi, making any friendly conversation impossible. Yan Hongyu, recognizing the issues with He Jiaxi, takes the initiative to toast He Jiali and He Jiawen, hoping they won't hold He Jiaxi's behavior against her.
He Jiaxi, envious of Liu Xiaoling's new apartment after marrying He Qiqing, feels that Yan Hongyu is unambitious. She visits a new housing development but realizes she can't afford it. Yan Hongyu suggests they live within their means and abandon the idea of buying a new place.
At He Jiaxi's suggestion, Yan Hongyu asks Wang Huaimin for a loan, falsely claiming that He Jiaxi is seriously ill. Wang Huaimin, believing the lie, reluctantly lends his son 80,000 yuan. He Jiaxi also hints to Liu Meixin about buying a house, and Liu Meixin gives her some money.
With the funds from both mothers, He Jiaxi and Yan Hongyu buy a bare-bones apartment. To avoid exposing their lie about her illness, He Jiaxi doesn't bring Liu Meixin home for the Mid-Autumn Festival, leaving her alone. Liu Meixin suddenly thinks of her eldest daughter but is too proud to call her.
Suddenly, Liu's mother (Aunt Liu) appears, not recognizing Liu Meixin at all. Zhang Qiufang arrives and explains that Aunt Liu has Alzheimer's, and her condition is worsening. Liu Meixin is deeply saddened to see her old friend in this state.
Once the new apartment is renovated, He Jiaxi organizes the move, taking all the new furniture without considering Liu Meixin's feelings. He Jiahuan, thinking about the upcoming Spring Festival, visits He Jiaxi to suggest a family gathering and asks her to apologize to the eldest sister. He Jiaxi refuses and even suspects He Jiahuan of siding with the eldest sister to get her husband to help her son find a job.
Liu Xiaoling has a baby, and the eldest sister and her husband visit. They don't say much about the New Year's reunion. Later, Liu Xiaoling and He Qiqing visit Liu Meixin to discuss registering the child's household registration at her address for better schooling options. Liu Xiaoling promises not to have any designs on the house, but Liu Meixin insists on talking to He Jiaxi.
However, Liu Xiaoling believes He Jiaxi is taking advantage of the situation, and Liu Meixin is overly indulgent. He Jiaxi returns and overhears the conversation, leading to a fierce argument and physical altercation with Liu Xiaoling. Liu Meixin, in a fit of anger, smashes a lunchbox and throws them both out.
On the way home, He Jiaxi experiences nausea and retching, leading He Jiayi to suspect she's pregnant. The couple is secretly delighted. He Jiahuan calls to inform the sisters that Liu Meixin has run away from home. He Jiaxi believes Liu Meixin is intentionally hiding and that searching is useless, she will come out on her own. At that moment, Gao Zhiyong, the vice general manager of Shunde Tianyuan Food, shows up, offering a high price to buy the secret recipe for their pickles. He Jiaxi, intrigued, starts rummaging through the house looking for it.
Meanwhile, He Jiali and the other sisters find their mother at their old residence. The sisters try to persuade her, but it's He Jiali's heartfelt words that finally convince Liu Meixin to open the door. Seeing all five daughters present, except for He Jiaxi, Liu Meixin finally realizes who is truly good and who is not. Because He Jiali was hurt so badly in the past, she asks He Jiayi and He Jiahuan to accompany Liu Meixin back home, while He Jiawen and Liu Xiaoling stay with He Jiali outside.
