Episode Summary
Feng Qiulan secures financial support for Dong Xin's upbringing and gets Dong Erlin involved in Chen Ling's project. Dong Erlin's jealousy leads to Ma San's resignation, causing conflict with Chen Ling. A corn infestation threatens Dong Dalin's cooperative, forcing him to use pesticides against his principles. Dong Yan pressures Chen Ling for land, exploiting their shared interests.
Spoiler Alert
"Green Hills Are Home" Episode 18: Recap & Spoilers
So, Feng Qiulan takes the initiative and visits Chen Ling, making it clear she doesn't want any money. Dong Xin is family, after all, and she needs to be able to raise him right. Chen Ling is touched by Feng Qiulan's commitment to raising the kids well and agrees to let Dong Erlin handle the project's finances.
The next day, Dong Erlin drives Feng Qiulan and the kids to their new place in the city. Feng Qiulan is thrilled with the apartment, and Dong Xin is over the moon to be living with Dong Peng. He even turns into a little angel for his mom! Dong Dalin, however, is heartbroken and silently retreats back home.
Things aren't so rosy at the construction site. Dong Erlin is basically doing nothing, while Ma San is running around getting everything done. Chen Ling clearly values Ma San, which fuels Dong Erlin's insecurity and jealousy. He treats Ma San so badly that Ma San quits!
Chen Ling is furious and gives Dong Erlin a serious dressing-down. She chases after Ma San and convinces him to come back. On her way back, Dong Erlin confronts her, but she drives off, fed up with his stubbornness. Dong Erlin, full of anger, runs home to complain to his parents. Grandma and Grandpa Dong are tired of their kids' drama. Grandma Dong leaves to visit her kids.
Grandma Dong, worried about Dong Dalin's cooperative, offers him her savings. But Dong Dalin wants to start a shareholding system. He's confident that once the villagers see the profits from the upcoming corn harvest, they'll be lining up to join.
But here's where things get crazy. Chen Ling's project has its grand opening, but Grandpa Dong notices his second son isn't there. He sees Chen Ling laughing with the men and gets even more uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Dong Dalin discovers a massive insect infestation in his cornfield. He rushes home to warn everyone, and Grandma Dong tells him to spray pesticides.
Dong Dalin is hesitant because pesticides will ruin the quality. Wang Binzi and the others try to convince him. Finally, to save as much of the crop as possible, Dong Dalin reluctantly sprays the field. Chen Ling tells Dong Erlin about the situation, and he rushes back to help his brother.
Feng Qiulan wants to go home and be with her husband, but Dong Dalin tells her to stay in the city. So, she calls Grandma Dong, who assures her that everything will be okay and that there will be challenges. Dong Yan suddenly comes home and complains about her brothers' families. She thinks her sister-in-law is just a nanny, and the other doesn't care about the elders.
Grandma Dong says that they are doing well on their own, but then Lao He Tou calls. Lao He Tou's son and daughter-in-law are coming back to town, and they'll need the house that Grandma and Grandpa Dong are living in. Dong Yan sees this as an opportunity and goes to Chen Ling, demanding the ten acres of land she promised. Chen Ling is reluctant, but Dong Yan reminds her that they're in this together and that she has influence with the elders. Chen Ling has no choice but to agree.
