Episode 1 recap: The Mundane Life of Ordinary People
Full-time mom Shen Lin wakes up early to take care of her husband Na Wei and their two children, rushing around to manage their meals and needs. She wakes her daughter and calls for her husband, while the baby cries in the background. The daughter envies Shen Lin for being able to stay at home and play all day. In response, Shen Lin mentions looking for a job, but Na Wei, accustomed to her saying this, brushes it off casually.
Civil servant Shen Lei rides his electric scooter to drop off his high-powered wife at her job in the central business district. However, he gets pulled over by traffic police on the way. Xie Mei Lan expresses a desire to buy a car, but Shen Lei lists various reasons against it. Frustrated with his excuses, Xie Mei Lan takes a taxi to work instead.
At the office, colleagues tease Na Wei about his old car, suggesting it's time for an upgrade, but he doesn’t take it to heart. Meanwhile, high-earning programmer Na Juan has been swamped with projects, working overtime for a month. His girlfriend, Li Xiao Yue, complains to him over the phone, but soon after, Na Juan has to dive back into work.
After settling the kids, Shen Lin meets up with her old classmate Yang Xue, who compliments her outfit. They get to the point of their conversation when Yang Xue offers Shen Lin a job that her husband can provide, with a pre-tax salary of 10,000 yuan but no benefits. Shen Lin politely declines, mentioning that five years ago, her salary was already 20,000 yuan after tax, and the job location is too far.
Na Wei's company is undergoing layoffs, and the management is determined to make significant changes. When Na Wei shares his thoughts, HR manager Qin counters him, and eventually, CEO Wang makes some vague statements that solidify the layoffs. At home, Shen Lin vents to Na Wei, feeling that Yang Xue isn't genuinely trying to help her find a job; rather, she just wants to recruit her into selling health products under the guise of entrepreneurship.
Shen Lin's family home in Shenjia Village is nearly finished renovation, with just the bedroom lights and curtains left to install. Shen Lei, who works in the archives at his office, offers to help with some simple repairs while a colleague is on leave.
Xie Mei Lan believes that the安心家政 (Anxin Housekeeping) company is worth investing in and is instructed to report directly to Manager Lu. Initially skeptical, Lu is persuaded by Xie Mei Lan and decides to review the report closely. Shen Lin calls Shen Lei to ask if Xie Mei Lan is satisfied with the curtains she chose, and Shen Lei assures her that everything is fine.
Zhou Hui from the marketing department, having worked at the company for eight years, is resentful about the layoffs and refuses to listen to Na Wei. In a fit of anger, he publicly strikes Na Wei, causing a nosebleed. Na Wei, not wanting to escalate the situation, refrains from calling the police. Later that evening, he joins Wang to entertain Manager Xu, and after a night of heavy drinking, he ends up sick by a tree.
Li Xiao Yue’s plans for the evening fall through due to overtime at her job. With the project unfinished, Na Juan practically lives at the office, treating it like home. Shen Lei usually gets off work early, preparing meals for the family before picking up Xie Mei Lan.
One morning, Xie Mei Lan discovers she is pregnant but hides the pregnancy test from Shen Lei. Meanwhile, Na Wei oversleeps and realizes he has missed taking their daughter to school, but Shen Lin calmly reveals she has already taken care of it. As Na Wei heads to work, he overhears a colleague discussing the urgency of signing an options agreement, reflecting the tension in the workplace.
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