Always on the Move Episode 20 Recap
> Always on the Move Recap
Niu Dali enthusiastically brought home a high-priced secondhand television, but it wouldn't turn on. He took it for repair and learned that except for the shell, all the internal parts were broken and it couldn't be fixed. Devastated, Niu Dali explained that the TV cost him a year's salary and sought help from Wang Xin. Wang Xin posed as a buyer and approached the fraudulent seller. He then revealed his identity and arrested the person on the spot.
Meanwhile, the railway police were dealing with frequent thefts of railway fasteners. During a meeting, the commanding officer emphasized the need to quickly solve the case, noting the thief operated after dark, covering long distances, making investigation difficult. Ma Kui suggested that since the motive was likely financial, they should secretly visit local waste acquisition stations to see if anyone was buying the stolen parts, which could provide clues.
The strategy decided upon was for officers to patrol the railway in pairs across different sections. Wang Xin and Ma Kui were assigned together. In the evenings, neighbors in the courtyard gathered to watch the TV, creating a lively atmosphere, though Yao Yuling found the noise bothersome and preferred to stay inside. Ma Kui and Wang Xin began their stakeout along the railway line in Li Village at night. Wang Xin, not dressed warmly enough, shivered from the cold.
Ma Kui, prepared with a cotton quilt, shared it with him. Ma Kui criticized Wang Xin for being unprepared but acknowledged he would learn from the experience. They discussed the case, the thief's boldness, and their determination to catch him. After a long night with no sign of the thief, they headed home. Ma Yan had thoughtfully brought Wang Xin a water bottle, telling him it was for the cold nights. Wang Xin was touched by the gesture.
Cai Xiaonian announced his upcoming marriage, sharing that his fiancée's family had specific demands: the furniture betrothal gifts must amount to "forty-eight legs," interpreted as a collection of cabinets, dressers, beds, tables, chairs, and stools, and the wedding procession must include eight new Phoenix brand bicycles. Cai's father, Lao Cai, and the neighbors were concerned by the challenging requests, especially finding eight new Phoenix bikes.
The neighbors offered to pool their unused furniture to meet the "forty-eight legs" requirement and even hire a carpenter for new pieces. They advised Cai Xiaonian to speak with his future mother-in-law to see if the bicycle requirement could be negotiated, stressing that the marriage itself was more important than material possessions. Cai Xiaonian met with his future mother-in-law, but she was adamant about needing eight new Phoenix bikes, unfazed by the difficulty.
Feeling intimidated and unable to persuade her, Cai Xiaonian returned to the courtyard to update the neighbors. He expressed worry that failure to meet the demands would be a loss of face for the entire railway courtyard community. Wang Xin offered a blunt opinion, suggesting he would tell the family to "marry the bike" instead and that he would rather remain single than be forced into such demands. Ma Yan found Wang Xin's view impractical and argued with him.
Yao Yuling voiced support for Wang Xin's principle, stating that if she were getting married, she wouldn't ask for anything material as long as the man treated her well. Niu Dali agreed with Yao Yuling. Ma Yan responded with a pointed remark, suggesting Yao and Niu should "support each other in their room," which angered Yao, leading to a heated exchange between them. Yao and Niu abruptly left the conversation.
Following the neighbors' discussion, they began organizing contributions for the "forty-eight legs," with some offering furniture. Wang Xin's father, Wang Yongge, also offered to contribute a table and repaint it, telling Wang Xin that if he didn't have spare furniture for Cai Xiaonian, he would provide it on Wang Xin's behalf, which Ma Kui later dismissed. Ma Kui and Wang Xin continued their nighttime stakeouts for several more days at Li Village, but the thief was elusive.
Frustrated, Wang Xin suggested they try staking out during the day, but Ma Kui dismissed the idea as foolish, certain the thief would only operate under the cover of darkness for safety. Wang Xin went to stake out the tracks alone during the day, but Ma Kui found him and insisted they leave, reiterating that the thief wouldn't risk working in broad daylight.
Later that afternoon, around 2 PM, a villager discovered a young man acting suspiciously on the railway line. The man fled, and it was found that a railway fastener had been partially removed. Captain Jiang informed Ma Kui and Wang Xin about the incident, causing Ma Kui to realize his assumption about the thief only striking at night was incorrect. As Ma Kui prepared to return to the stakeout area, his old illness flared up, causing him severe abdominal pain.
Wang Xin rushed him to the hospital. Shen Xiuping attended to Ma Kui, diagnosing appendicitis. She advised him to rest calmly and patiently to avoid the need for surgery, noting the condition likely stemmed from an issue during his time in a labor camp. Though initially stubborn, Ma Kui agreed to follow the doctor's orders. Shen Xiuping instructed Wang Xin to take good care of his mentor.
After recovering and being discharged from the hospital, Ma Kui, despite Shen Xiuping's advice to rest further, insisted on returning to the stakeout with Wang Xin. They staked out the railway line and spotted a man on a motorcycle stealing fasteners. Wang Xin immediately rushed forward to confront the thief, who attempted to flee. Ma Kui quickly handed Wang Xin his bicycle so he could give chase. Wang Xin pursued the thief, who eventually fell off his motorcycle.
Wang Xin apprehended him. Ma Kui arrived and told Wang Xin to handcuff the thief, refusing to take sole credit for the capture. As Wang Xin secured the complaining thief, Ma Kui used a tool he had brought to re-tighten the fastener on the railway track.
