Episode 17 recap: Li Tianzhu and Wang Xianming got into a fight and were put in solitary confinement.
Wang Lanzhi's child came over to see Shakai eating, but Shakai impatiently pushed the child to the ground. Zhang Biao, upon witnessing this, approached and reprimanded Shakai. However, Shakai responded by jokingly suggesting that Zhang Biao should marry Wang Lanzhi and become a father to her child. This angered Zhang Biao, and he wanted to hit Shakai, but other soldiers intervened and stopped him.
Zhang Biao then went to find Wang Lanzhi, and they met in a small grove. Wang Lanzhi expressed regret for reporting Zhang Biao in the past. Zhang Biao, on the other hand, had escaped and returned to seek revenge, only to discover that Wang Lanzhi had already married someone else. He abandoned his revengeful thoughts. Wang Lanzhi informed Zhang Biao that the person he sought revenge on had been suppressed as a counterrevolutionary after the liberation, and she had no choice but to beg for food with her child.
Zhang Biao advised Wang Lanzhi not to mention their relationship to anyone in the future and to pretend they didn't know each other. Wang Lanzhi agreed, understanding that Zhang Biao was now an official and she didn't want to hinder his progress. Zhang Biao returned to his residence, unable to sleep and tossing and turning. Luo Xiangqian accidentally bumped his head on the table while searching for a safety pin. He asked Zhang Biao to go to the town and buy a newspaper to learn about the news of the Korean War. Zhang Biao understood that Luo Xiangqian was thinking about the commander. Luo Xiangqian mentioned that when they left, they were only wearing thin clothes, and now they were in the cold of Korea, wondering about the current situation. When Zhang Biao brought back the newspaper, it reported the news of the decisive battle between the Ninth Corps of the Volunteers and the elite American forces, greatly inspiring the cadres and soldiers of the road construction team.
They decided to provide practical support to the frontline of the Korean War. In order to complete the leveling work of the roadbed as soon as possible, Ye Lan decided to form an inspection team to conduct further surveys of the bridges and tunnels along the railway line. Luo Xiangqian then discussed the detailed work plan with Ye Lan. When Shakai saw this from outside the door, he angrily wiped his nose to express his frustration. The higher-ups sent a group of students to the First Road Construction Team to participate in the railway construction. Zhang Biao represented the road construction team and welcomed them back. Upon seeing the difficult living conditions at the base, the students, led by Wang Xianming, expressed their grievances and got into a verbal altercation with Li Tianzhu and others. It seemed like they were about to fight, but Zhang Biao quickly intervened and stopped them.
Zhang Biao returned to report to Luo Xiangqian, expressing his concern that these students were more difficult to handle than Li Tianzhu's group. He worried that the two groups might clash and create conflicts in the future. Luo Xiangqian also felt troubled and said that it would be better if the commander were present, as this wouldn't be an issue. Luo Xiangqian brought the students to the construction site and assigned them to Chen Daman's First Platoon. The attitude of the students displeased Li Tianzhu and the others, and it seemed like the two groups were about to come to blows.
Chen Daman quickly intervened to stop them. Zhang Biao's feet had developed sores from being soaked in water for too long, and Wang Lanzhi felt sorry for him. When they returned to their residence, she tore off a piece of her own clothing to make shoes for Zhang Biao. Kumei believed that Wang Lanzhi meeting the assistant platoon leader at the construction site was fate, but Wang Lanzhi sighed and said they were destined to be unable to be together.
Wang Xianming took out the grass mats they slept on to dry, but Li Tianzhu couldn't stand it and brought cows to eat them all. Wang Xianming believed that Li Tianzhu was responsible and challenged him to a fight after work. Luo Xiangqian, Ye Lan, and Zhang Biao were in a meeting discussing work when they learned about the fight. They quickly rushed to the scene to stop it. Luo Xiangqian, Ye Lan, and Zhang Biao criticized both of them severely and put them in solitary confinement together. That night, Luo Xiangqian only gave them one blanket and asked them to help each other. However, Li Tianzhu snatched the blanket and Wang Xianming couldn't win the struggle, bitterly saying he should just freeze to death. Ye Lan admired Luo Xiangqian for coming up with the idea of putting two fighters together.
Luo Xiangqian was surprised to learn that Ye Lan had ended her engagement with Shakai. Ye Lan said it was her private matter and she would handle it herself. In the middle of the night, Li Tianzhu saw Wang Xianming shivering from the cold, and he couldn't help but feel compassion. He called Wang Xianming to share his bed, and they both used one blanket. As they talked about their past lives, they regretted their fight that led to being put in solitary confinement. They realized they were getting along well and promised not to fight again. However, neither of them understood why Luo Xiangqian and the others were so enthusiastic and energetic every day. Wang Lanzhi made a pair of shoes for Zhang Biao overnight, and Kumei praised her excellent craftsmanship.
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