Episode 7 recap: # Wang Xiao Qing Wants to Divorce Du Man Tang
In this episode, Du Man Tang puts in a lot of effort to prepare a lavish meal, but Wang Xiao Qing doesn’t touch her food. When he urges her to eat, she questions their current living situation, mentioning leaks on rainy days, the cold in winter, and the constant disturbances from their neighbors.
She especially highlights their daughter, Du Li, who has grown up without even a proper window. This raises the unspoken question: is this really the life they had dreamed of? Wang Xiao Qing also points out that her father-in-law has been using an old basin for a long time, which reflects their poor quality of life. Du Man Tang responds nonchalantly, saying, "That's just how life is."
Wang Xiao Qing then shifts the conversation, asking Du Man Tang if he would follow her if she decided to live elsewhere. He thinks she’s joking since moving away isn’t that simple. To his shock, she pulls out a housing contract, which makes him both surprised and angry. He scolds her for making such a big decision without discussing it with him.
Feeling wronged, Wang Xiao Qing explains that she has tried calling him multiple times, but he never answers, leaving no room for discussion. She decides to move with Du Li to a new house in Hebei. Du Man Tang opposes this, but Wang Xiao Qing is resolute.
That night, Wang Xiao Qing posts on social media to declare the start of her new life. Meanwhile, Du Man Tang is frustrated with the neighborhood issues and decides to stop acting as the local caretaker. When he comes home to find the untouched meal, he assumes Wang Xiao Qing has calmed down and begins to express his own grievances.
However, Wang Xiao Qing raises deeper issues, revealing that the emotional distance between them seems insurmountable. She even presents a divorce agreement, stating she has already signed it and hopes Du Man Tang will make a quick decision as well. He believes she’s overreacting, but she lists her long-standing frustrations, including the broken water heater that hasn’t been fixed in three years, reflecting her disappointment with their life quality and his disregard for her feelings.
This tense moment is interrupted by Du Li, who tries to stop her mother from leaving. Nevertheless, Wang Xiao Qing exits with her luggage, leaving behind only her ring and a heavy silence.
Du Man Tang gazes at the ring, recalling the moment he proposed, contrasting Wang Xiao Qing’s hopeful anticipation with her current resolve. Sitting on a bench in the alley, memories of their time together flood his mind, especially her sacrifices for the family and care for her father-in-law, leaving him with mixed emotions.
Meanwhile, Zhang Ze Zhong faces embarrassment at school, enduring ridicule from the principal and a group of peers he once spoke about behind their backs, making him realize the complexities of relationships and the importance of his actions.
Du Man Tang’s troubles seem to reflect the trivial yet challenging nature of their lives. As he contemplates how to restore warmth and harmony to his family, a pressing question looms in his mind.
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