Episode 23 recap: Jia Bao Shan and Xiao Fang Celebrate the New Year Together
In Episode 23, set in the autumn of 1980, Grandpa finds a crying baby abandoned by the bridge and decides to take him in. Now, he has two grandsons who are both very filial. This year, the Cheng family is bustling with excitement; Grandma and Grandpa have come to visit, and Yuan Shan Qing has brought Xiao Zi along. As soon as Jia Bao Shan is mentioned, Xiao Fang appears, and Jia Dai Yu and Cheng Peng Fei quickly greet her, while Grandma and Grandpa are also very warm and welcoming. Xiao Fang feels quite shy in front of everyone.
Li Da Hai has to work on New Year's Eve, so the dinner is a bit simpler this year. Li Si complains, insisting on having pig knuckles. At Hu Qiu Min and Yang Tao's home, Yang Tao is polite and considerate, while Yang Song Bai focuses on making sure Hu Yue and her daughter feel comfortable.
At the dinner table, Grandma takes charge, serving everyone a piece of fish, and the lively New Year celebration passes joyfully. The next day, Qiang Xiao Wa comes over with her own New Year treats to wish Cheng Miao Miao well, bringing along some homemade wild vegetable dumplings. Li Si arrives soon after, mentioning she wants to visit the old principal and doesn't stay long.
Li Si confidently brings her New Year gifts to Grandma and Grandpa, remembering to include Yuan Shan Qing and Xiao Zi. Her kind words make the elderly couple very happy. Cheng Miao Miao and Hu Qiu Min whisper to each other, suggesting that Li Si should become a factory manager someday.
Jia Dai Yu hands out red envelopes and playfully teases Yang Tao when she sees him. Hu Yue tries on a cashmere sweater that Yang Tao bought and realizes it’s not pure cashmere but doesn’t think much of it, knowing that Yang Tao doesn’t have much money. Yang Song Bai mentions that he works outside and is doing well financially.
Out of nowhere, Hu Yue gets upset and starts arguing with Yang Song Bai, even saying that Yang Tao is his son, not hers. Coincidentally, Yang Tao and Hu Qiu Min return home and overhear this. Hu Qiu Min, angered, runs out, and Yang Tao chases after her, only to learn about her previous attempt to jump into the river.
Cheng Miao Miao and Li Si decide to visit Qiang Xiao Wa’s house for New Year greetings. Grandpa is out, but the older brother is there, while Cheng Ya Ya and Yuan Shan Qing take Xiao Zi to the market for some fun, creating a warm and cheerful atmosphere.
Xiao Fang specially brought New Year gifts to wish Grandma and Grandpa well today. Grandma also took the opportunity to play matchmaker for Jia Bao Shan and Xiao Fang. Although Jia Bao Shan is her son, she didn't shy away from praising him; after all, marriage has to be right for both parties. The two enjoyed a lively conversation.
Grandpa also liked Xiao Fang and asked Jia Bao Shan if they could become a couple. Jia Bao Shan confessed that he hadn't thought about it at first, but now he felt a bit flustered about it. Grandma made little vests for the children; Cheng Ya Ya, Cheng Miao Miao, Yuan Shan Qing, and Xiao Zi each received one, as did Jia Dai Yu, Jia Bao Shan, and Cheng Peng Fei, all stitched with Grandma's warm blessings.
Yang Tao waited downstairs for Hu Yue to return from grocery shopping. When Hu Yue saw him, she felt a bit nervous and quickly explained what she had said the day before. Yang Tao knew that their lives had been rocky. After starting college, he had said he was busy and rarely went home during breaks, mainly to escape the family situation. However, he felt guilty for leaving everything for Hu Qiu Min to handle.
It was only after leaving that Yang Tao truly understood the taste of freedom. During a trip to Guangzhou with his classmates, he encountered a family at the train station. They didn’t argue over trivial matters; instead, they were warm and harmonious. He realized that a cordial attitude between parents could help children feel less fearful. But he also remembered everything Hu Yue had done for the family over the years, and he would never forget that living together as a family isn’t about competition.
Hu Yue couldn’t hold back her tears upon hearing this; she felt it was her fault. Jia Dai Yu and Cheng Peng Fei, wearing the vests Grandma made, felt especially warm inside. As long as they had their mother, life was good. Yuan Shan Qing and Xiao Zi also donned their little vests, knowing they were cared for.
On an ordinary afternoon, Xiao Zi suddenly called out "Sister," surprising Yuan Shan Qing and Cheng Ya Ya. The New Year had passed, and family members hurried back, only to soon leave again. Qiang Xiao Wa’s older brother bowed to Grandpa before stepping onto the path of hard work.
Comments(Episode 23)