Episode 13 recap: Xian Gives Birth to a Child Named Zhi
In Episode 13, Yao believes that if Meng Yu Nong truly wanted a child, it wouldn’t be necessary for Xian to get pregnant. Xian suspects that Yao is retaliating against her, but Yao insists she simply didn’t expect Xian would actually go through with the pregnancy. She feels she hasn’t wronged herself, so there’s no question of revenge.
At that moment, Yao’s Japanese friend, Shibata, urges her to leave, and Yao mentions her work in the special operations department before departing.
Meanwhile, the photo studio is struggling, prompting Hui to rent it out. She, along with Yao and Old Wang, is living upstairs. They had initially agreed on a year’s rent, but the tenant can only provide six months’ worth due to financial constraints. They open a pastry shop, and as Hui watches the sign being changed, she feels a pang of regret. Old Wang helps buy supplies and looks after Hui and her daughter. He even offers to do Xian's hair to please her, but Xian declines, responding rudely. This angers Hui, leading to another argument between mother and daughter. Old Wang, unwilling to stay in the midst of their conflict, decides to leave. To keep him around, Hui carelessly tells Xian to leave, prompting a defiant Xian to pack her things and go. Old Wang advises Hui to find Xian quickly, especially since the outside world is chaotic.
When Hui and Old Wang go out, they fail to find Xian. Hui is heartbroken and regrets telling Xian to leave, especially considering Xian is pregnant and not in good health. Observing Hui's tears, Old Wang comforts her, promising to search for Xian. At that moment, Xian is staying in a small motel, where the thin walls allow her to hear couples in the hallway. Disturbed, she quickly shuts her door, feeling disgusted by her surroundings.
Unable to locate Xian, Old Wang accompanies Hui to the police station to report her missing, fearing that Xian might be taken by the Japanese. Hui can’t help but cry in distress. That night, scared, Hui insists Old Wang stay with her, and she experiences a nightmare about Xian getting into trouble. Startled awake, she hears a knock at the door. When Old Wang opens it, he finds Xian has returned.
Hui apologizes to Xian, who grudgingly acknowledges her mistakes, stating that she should have died long ago but can’t bear to leave her unborn child. Hui takes Xian to the hospital for a check-up, where they are told that Xian is in poor health due to malnutrition, leaving Hui worried for her daughter’s well-being.
A loan shark came to the house to demand money from Old Wang, suspecting that Xian was his mistress. Angered, Xian grabbed something and chased the intruder away. This outburst led to Xian blaming Hui for choosing an unreliable man who not only borrowed money at high interest but also attracted trouble to their home.
While Xian was venting her frustration, Old Wang returned. Xian, annoyed, went straight to her room. Old Wang explained to Hui that he had invested in stocks, thinking it would be profitable, but ended up losing money. He even suggested moving out to avoid burdening Xian and her mother, but Hui insisted on providing him with some money. Xian, who overheard this conversation from the doorway, became furious, resulting in another heated argument between mother and daughter the next day.
As Old Wang busied himself with cooking and cleaning up, Hui watched him from the doorway, feeling uneasy. She wished Xian could be as considerate as Old Wang. Hui felt that he was suffering in the household and believed that Xian didn’t truly understand him but simply looked down on him. Seeing Xian sitting by the window, Old Wang thoughtfully draped a blanket over her and offered her a silk scarf, both of which Xian rejected, holding a deep-seated contempt for him.
That night, Xian went into labor. Old Wang rushed her to the hospital, but the place was surrounded by soldiers, preventing them from entering. With no other option, they returned home, and Hui prepared to assist Xian with the delivery. During childbirth, Xian seemed to see Meng Yu Nong, who cruelly slapped her, causing Xian to slip into unconsciousness. Hui anxiously called Xian back to consciousness, but at that moment, Xian wished to die and sincerely apologized to her mother, acknowledging that she had ruined Hui’s life without properly showing her gratitude.
Hui expressed her true feelings, saying the luckiest thing in her life was giving birth to Xian. Encouraged by her mother, Xian finally delivered a baby girl. Old Wang made a special trip to the black market to buy some imported baby formula, believing that while adults could save money, the child shouldn’t be deprived; good nutrition was essential for healthy growth. Xian decided to name the baby Zhi.
Xian handed her mother the remittance slip sent by Meng Yu Nong, asking her to exchange it for cash.
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