Always on the Move Episode 9 Recap
> Always on the Move Recap
Wang Sufang was suffering from a relapse of emphysema. Her daughter, Ma Yan, returned and helped her with the cooking and chores. Ma Kui joined them, and the three shared a happy moment, appreciating being reunited as a family. Wang Sufang expressed her wish for Ma Kui to have a good life after enduring hardship for ten years. A group of men aggressively sold roasted chicken on a train traveling from Ningyang.
They forced passengers to eat a piece and then demanded money, behaving like robbers. Wang Xin and Ma Kui confronted them. Ma Kui warned them to put away their knives. The leader of the group challenged Ma Kui, asking what he could do. When Wang Xin drew his gun and warned them to back off or he would shoot, the leader became more defiant, questioning if Wang Xin's gun had bullets and daring him to fire.
The leader then whistled, signaling his men, who pulled out their knives and prepared to attack Wang Xin and Ma Kui. Ma Kui quickly ordered his men to back off. The leader dismissed the police as people who deserved to be beaten up. As the train neared Ningdian, Ma Kui used criminal slang to negotiate with the leader. He explained that the train was full of poor people and wasn't worth the effort of extorting money.
He proposed a compromise: they would let the two subdued robbers go, and the gang would put away their knives and get off the train at Ningdian. He assured the leader they could still make some money. The leader agreed, acknowledging that Ma Kui understood the rules and would do him a favor by putting the knives away. Ma Kui then subtly signaled Conductor Lu about the situation in the back coach.
When the train surprisingly stopped at Ningdian, the gang was confused. Officers from the Ningdian Railway Public Security Bureau stormed the train and arrested them. Captain Guo arrived, and Ma Kui commented that banditry was a thing of the past in this era of reform. The leader, being taken away, told Ma Kui he would remember him. Passengers applauded the police. After the incident, Ma Kui reprimanded Wang Xin severely.
He questioned why Wang Xin resorted to physical force and drew his gun when there were so many of them, and what would have happened if passengers were injured. Wang Xin argued that the men were arrogant and they, as police officers, couldn't tolerate it. Ma Kui explained that the leader was likely an old-time bandit.
He stressed that the successful arrest was due to careful strategy and his colleagues understanding his signal to inform Conductor Lu, who alerted the Ningdian police. He said that if the gang had gotten off at a busy station, catching them would have been difficult. He told Wang Xin he needed to use his brain and not just resort to force.
He also questioned Wang Xin's readiness to use the gun and the potential consequences, calling him useless for being unable to handle the situation without escalating it. Wang Xin admitted he was convinced by Ma Kui's reasoning. Later, Yao Yuling was seen helping clean Wang Xin's house. Wang Yongge came home and advised her not to do such chores, suggesting she focus on reading and studying instead, implying that her frequent visits might cause misunderstandings among neighbors. Yao Yuling left.
Wang Yongge then spoke to Wang Xin about how clean the house was after Yao Yuling's visit. He expressed concern about Wang Xin's relationship with Yao Yuling, advising him to be cautious about marriage. He implied that while Yao Yuling might be good at cleaning, she might not be suitable for the long term, warning that choosing the wrong person could lead to chaos. Wang Xin seemed dismissive, wanting to eat instead of discussing it.
Wang Yongge urged him to be clear with Yao Yuling if he didn't have feelings for her to avoid misunderstanding. Hou Sanjin, who had received a reduced sentence for cooperating and was released early, was also on a train. Ma Kui encountered him and called him aside. Hou Sanjin claimed he had turned over a new leaf, comparing his previous life of quick but dangerous money to his current legitimate work which was tiring but brought him peace.
Ma Kui encouraged him to live a good life. As Ma Kui turned away, Hou Sanjin quickly went into the toilet. Suspicious, Ma Kui followed and found Hou Sanjin trying to hide something in his pants. After being pressed by Ma Kui, Hou Sanjin revealed electronic watches. He explained he brought them from the south, where people were focused on making money.
He even tried to offer one to Ma Kui, stating their low cost in the south and high selling price locally. Ma Kui refused the offer. Hou Sanjin muttered that Ma Kui was stubborn. Ma Kui found nothing else on him and left, telling Hou Sanjin to close the door. Wang Xin, still trying to understand Ma Kui, asked his father, Wang Yongge, about his mentor. Wang Yongge asked if he was still thinking about changing mentors.
Wang Xin admitted he used to feel that way but now felt secure with Ma Kui and found his approach to cases insightful, saying he didn't want to change mentors anymore. Wang Yongge simply told him to figure it out himself. Wang Sufang's health was deteriorating, yet she was dedicated to caring for the abandoned baby she had taken in. The baby developed a fever, and Ma Kui and Wang Sufang took him to the hospital.
Later, with the baby sleeping soundly at home, a worried Ma Kui suggested sending the child to an orphanage. Wang Sufang was strongly against it, having grown attached to the baby. Ma Kui argued that caring for the child would be too much for her health, suggesting they could find the child a place and visit him, perhaps taking him back later. Wang Sufang insisted she could handle it.
She expressed her fear that her illness meant she would likely die before Ma Kui and wished for the child to stay with them and help Ma Kui after she was gone, and to also be a strong figure for Ma Yan. Ma Kui dismissed her concerns, saying he only needed her, but Wang Sufang remained firm on keeping the child. Ma Kui spoke to Captain Guo about his living situation and the child.
Captain Guo inquired about Wang Sufang's health and offered support. Ma Kui explained that his house was old and in poor condition, and he wished for Wang Sufang to be more comfortable, but he didn't want to burden the organization. Captain Guo immediately offered to report the situation and try to get him a new house. Captain Guo then suggested sending the baby to the orphanage to reduce their burden.
Ma Kui explained Wang Sufang's deep attachment and fear that she wouldn't cope if the child were suddenly taken away. Since the child's parents hadn't appeared, he planned to raise him but needed help with the legal adoption procedures to get a household registration. Captain Guo readily agreed to handle the adoption paperwork immediately. Soon after, Ma Kui's family moved into a larger railway staff dormitory, which included an attic.
Neighbors gathered to help them move and celebrated their new home, setting off firecrackers. Wang Yongge and Wang Xin came to help and brought a new thermos as a gift. Wang Yongge mentioned his long work history with Ma Kui and Wang Xin being his apprentice, while Ma Yan was Wang Xin's old classmate, making them closer.
After thanking everyone for helping, Ma Kui curtly dismissed Wang Yongge and Wang Xin, saying he was busy organizing the house and couldn't chat. He returned the thermos to Wang Yongge, claiming he had plenty and didn't need it. Wang Yongge was taken aback but took it back. Ma Kui told Wang Xin to leave. Later, inside the new house, Wang Sufang remarked on how nice but large and empty the house felt, needing more furniture.
She asked if Ma Kui had requested it from the leader, implying he wouldn't usually do so unless pushed. Ma Kui denied it, but Wang Sufang suggested he must have asked for her sake. Ma Kui brushed off her comments. Wang Sufang asked about the child's household registration. Ma Kui said they could do it anytime, but needed to name him. Wang Sufang suggested "Ma Jian," meaning "healthy," wishing for the child to grow up strong.
Ma Kui agreed to the name. Wang Sufang asked him to bring Ma Jian down and suggested he sleep with Ma Yan that night. As Ma Kui went upstairs, Ma Yan came down, but Ma Kui told her to go back up, and she said she just came down for some air. At the train station, Wang Xin was seeing Ma Yan off. Ma Yan mentioned that she was with someone new.
She told Wang Xin to leave, asking him to inform her next time he planned to visit. As the train prepared to depart and the platform grew crowded, they said their goodbyes.
