The Bond Episode 12 Recap
> The Bond Recap
Qiao Yicheng confronted his father, Qiao Zuwang, about raising funds. Qiao Zuwang, however, dismissed his son's concerns, boasting about his own business experience and connections. He accused Qiao Yicheng of being jealous of his newfound wealth. Qiao Yicheng retorted that he only envied his father's heartless nature, reminding him that he had been deceived twice by the same person, losing not only money but also their mother's jade bracelet.
He further exposed that Qiao Zuwang had quickly squandered money given by Li Heman to Xu Funian, and had even "sold" one of his daughters for a plate of soup dumplings. Qiao Zuwang, taken aback that Qiao Yicheng knew these details, grew agitated. As the argument escalated, Qiao Zuwang cursed his son after he left, vowing to earn money that would make him envious. Qiao Sanli, realizing the truth of past events, broke down in tears.
To help her vent, Qiao Erqiang encouraged her to smash several plates. When Qiao Simei returned home and witnessed the scene, she mistakenly thought Qiao Erqiang was bullying Qiao Sanli. However, Qiao Sanli wiped away her tears and laughed. Qiao Erqiang then cleared the broken shards and recounted advice he once received from Ma Suqin: "Smile in front of people, but cry on the inside, because nobody cares if you cry. They'll only laugh at you.
Only those who truly cherish you will care." He playfully warned Qiao Sanli not to share this with Qiao Simei, fearing her mockery. Later, a troubled Qiao Yicheng found himself outside Ye Xiaolang's dormitory. Ye Xiaolang and her roommate, Xiaomeng, were just returning, loaded with bags. They explained that their unit was hosting a marathon the next day and they needed to be at a sports park in the outskirts early to set up.
Despite Qiao Yicheng's initial hesitation, they convinced him to come inside and then to join them for the event as a "free laborer." Inside the dorm, Ye Xiaolang noticed Qiao Yicheng's grim expression. He confessed to having a massive argument with his father. Ye Xiaolang empathized, sharing that she also often argued with her parents, which led her to move to Nanjing for peace.
She then used the analogy of a circus elephant to explain that true freedom comes from within, not from external circumstances. As they sat by her bed talking, she slowly fell asleep, leaving Qiao Yicheng to spend an awkward night in her room. The next morning, a sudden need for a substitute runner due to a staff member's illness led to Qiao Yicheng being hastily, and somewhat comically, thrown into the marathon.
He won the race, and an ecstatic Ye Xiaolang embraced him in celebration. Meanwhile, Qiao Sanli, still holding feelings for Wang Yiding despite their breakup, felt a pang of sadness seeing him eating alone in the cafeteria.
Later, as Qiao Yicheng and Ye Xiaolang strolled down the street sharing a roasted sweet potato, Qiao Yicheng reminisced about his siblings and their shared life, describing twenty years of simple living—cooking in a smoky shack, washing clothes under a communal tap, arguing with neighbors over clothesline space, and his sisters taking turns cleaning the toilet. Ye Xiaolang then unexpectedly proposed marriage.
Qiao Yicheng candidly laid out his family's difficult circumstances: his mother's death during the birth of his youngest brother, who was then fostered by his second aunt, his father's selfishness, their poor financial situation, his lack of a house, and his inability to provide a betrothal gift or host a wedding banquet. He concluded by asking if, knowing all this, she was still willing to marry him.
With tears in her eyes, Ye Xiaolang nodded and took a bite of the sweet potato. When Qiao Yicheng shared the news with Song Qingyuan, his friend, though unsurprised, advised him to learn more about Ye Xiaolang's family background. Qiao Yicheng, however, felt that for some people and things, a decision can be made at first glance. Qiao Yicheng gathered his family to announce his impending marriage.
Qiao Zuwang did not object but immediately clarified his own financial expectations, to which Qiao Yicheng responded that he would not use his father's money and planned to rent a place and live separately after marriage. He also confirmed he would continue to pay his share of the living expenses, dismissing Qiao Zuwang's suggestion that Ye Xiaolang should also contribute, and asserted he would continue to be involved in his siblings' lives.
Qiao Erqiang and Qiao Sanli were delighted for Qiao Yicheng. Qiao Simei also shared their happiness but admitted feeling a sense of loss and difficulty accepting the news, as she couldn't bear the thought of him leaving. Qiao Sanli, unlike the outspoken Qiao Simei, hid her sadness, reflecting on her own grief after their mother's passing.
She expressed sincere happiness for her eldest brother, recognizing his many years of looking after the family and his deservingness of a life of ease. She encouraged Qiao Yicheng to invite Wang Yiding to his wedding, hoping they could resolve their strained relationship. That evening, the four siblings conversed from behind a curtain, a rare moment of togetherness. Qiao Yicheng expressed concern for Qiao Sanli, not wanting her to be alone.
Qiao Simei then revealed that Qi Weimin and Chang Xinyu's wedding had been postponed because Wei Shufang, their second aunt, was getting married. The news of Wei Shufang's plan to marry Uncle Ma was met with fierce opposition from her son, Xiao Yi, who forcefully expelled Uncle Ma from their home and declared he would not return until his mother abandoned the idea. Xiaoya also disapproved.
Wei Shufang explained to Qi Weimin that she was neither confused nor crazy; she simply desired a different life and was not after Uncle Ma's money, praising him as a kind and well-educated man. Qi Weimin struggled to understand, recalling how well his mother and late father had gotten along, never having a single argument.
Qiao Yicheng advised Qi Weimin to consider his mother's perspective, emphasizing that at fifty, she still had many decades ahead and shouldn't have to live alone after her children had their own families. He assured him that local gossip would eventually fade. An older family member from the Qi side congratulated Qi Weimin on his mother's new chapter, using the idiom "new flowers bloom on an old tree," to which Qi Weimin politely responded.
Qiao Yicheng informed Qi Weimin that he and Ye Xiaolang would not hold a grand wedding banquet. Given Qiao Zuwang's stingy nature and Ye Xiaolang's refusal to accept money from her own family, they simply planned a dinner at a restaurant with both families. Qi Weimin remarked that it was merely a formality.
He playfully teased Qiao Yicheng about getting married before him, but Qiao Yicheng dismissed it as a childish competition, stating that true success lies in who has the last laugh. Ye Xiaolang confirmed that her parents were currently en route, having been picked up by Qiao Yicheng's friend.
