Episode Summary
Dong Dalin and his wife face transportation troubles while Chen Ling becomes increasingly determined to stop them from getting family money. Dong Erlin returns home injured after an affair scandal, and tensions rise between him and Chen Ling. Despite family celebrations over Dong Peng's university acceptance and a government reward, conflicts deepen when Chen Ling discovers Erlin's continued infidelity. After a failed attempt at reconciliation, Chen Ling demands a divorce and one million yuan, forcing Grandpa Dong to call the family together again.
Spoiler Alert
Episode 16 of Green Hills Are Home is full of emotional whiplash, family drama, and some seriously bad timing. Buckle up — there's a lot going down in this one.
A Rocky Start for the Dalin Couple
Originally, Dong Dalin and his wife planned to head into town with Ma San, but Ma San ended up tagging along with Chen Ling instead. With no other options, the couple borrowed a motorcycle. Classic rural workaround.
Meanwhile, Chen Ling is stressing over money. Ma San tries to comfort her, saying it’s not just about her — folks like Township Chief Wang played a big part in blocking her access to the old man's cash. But Chen Ling is laser-focused: whatever happens, she’s not letting Dalin’s family get their hands on that money.
A Beaten Brother and a Family Embarrassment
Dalin and his wife track down Dalin’s younger brother, Dong Erlin, who’s sporting a face full of bruises after getting jumped by Yang Daguo and his crew. Turns out Erlin got involved with a married woman, and no one’s proud of that — least of all himself.
When Grandpa Dong calls to check in, Erlin’s too ashamed to even pick up. Dalin drags him home, but Erlin is worried Chen Ling will find out about the beating and the affair, so he hides out at a friend’s place for a couple of days. Dalin fills in their parents on the chaos.
No Bees, Some Wins, and One Big Loss
Back on the farm, Dalin discovers that all his hornets are dead thanks to excessive pesticide use — a major setback. But the family gets a much-needed win: Dong Peng, Dalin’s son, gets his acceptance letter from Yanhua University! The whole house erupts in celebration.
That is, until news comes in that Dong Xin, the other son, just got expelled for fighting. Chen Ling is furious.
Dinner Diplomacy & A Temporary Peace
In a rare moment of unity, the Dong family preps a big dinner. Grandpa Dong asks Feng Qiulan to invite Chen Ling — part peace offering, part guilt trip, since his son (Erlin) did her dirty. Grandpa Dong even calls Erlin and orders him to come home and help sort things out, especially regarding Dong Xin’s schooling.
During the dinner, Grandpa Dong thanks Chen Ling for all she’s done and tries to mend fences. The whole family showers her with praise, and she’s visibly moved. She promises that once her current construction project wraps, she’ll follow the example of her sister-in-law and focus on being a good wife and mom.
But something feels... off. Chen Ling notices that Grandpa Dong, who used to be firmly against her working, suddenly did a full 180. Erlin tries to downplay her suspicions, admitting he hasn’t supported her enough and feels guilty. His words touch her, and she assures him she doesn't care who earns the money — she’s just happy he loves her.
A Million-Yuan Decision... and a Sudden Tragedy
The next morning, Dalin calls Jiang Menglian to share some big news: Grandpa Dong has agreed to put up one million yuan for the project. He’s worried something might go wrong and wants her to speed things up with the head office. Jiang suggests he just move the money into an account ASAP. Dalin agrees.
But before noon hits, tragedy strikes — Feng Qiulan’s father passes away. She breaks down, and Dalin is also visibly shaken.
The Calm Before Another Storm
Just when things seemed to be smoothing out, Chen Ling finds flirty texts from Hua’er on Erlin’s phone. She snaps and confronts him. Erlin panics, denies everything, and tries to gaslight his way out of it.
Chen Ling isn’t buying it. She storms off with the phone to show his parents, hoping for justice. But Grandpa and Grandma Dong play dumb, pretending they don’t know what’s going on. That’s the final straw for Chen Ling — her heart breaks all over again.
Back at home, she announces she’s divorcing Erlin and plans to confront Yang Daguo for the truth. Terrified, Erlin gives in to her every demand and even begs his parents in the middle of the night to lend her the one million yuan. Left with no choice, Grandpa Dong calls Dalin and his wife in for an emergency family meeting.
Final Thoughts
Episode 16 is a wild ride of emotional highs and lows. From family reunions and heartbreaking betrayals to academic triumphs and sudden death, the Dong family can’t seem to catch a break. And now, with a million yuan hanging in the balance and a marriage on the brink of collapse, it seems like the worst may still be ahead.
