The Bond Episode 22 Recap
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Song Qingyuan delivered good news to Qiao Yicheng one morning: they had both won the annual China News Award. Qiao Yicheng’s celebratory mood was cut short when Qi Weimin abruptly dragged him away, accusing him of harming Qiao Qiqi by pushing him into marriage. Qi Weimin asserted that any decision could have been discussed, but Qiao Yicheng’s actions had instead hurt Qiao Qiqi. Qiao Yicheng responded with sarcasm, which pushed Qi Weimin to his limit.
Qi Weimin retorted that Qiao Yicheng was becoming the very person he used to despise, and declared that from then on, they should go their separate ways, with Qiao Yicheng handling his own family matters. Later, Song Qingyuan, curious about the argument, tried to prod Qiao Yicheng for details. Qiao Yicheng explained that his family's affairs were too complicated to explain quickly and then asked Song Qingyuan for help in inquiring about Qi Chenggang in Tibet.
Meanwhile, Qiao Zuwang woke up and immediately ate the noodles Qiao Simei had prepared, mistakenly believing they were for him, while Qiao Simei fretted that they were for her boyfriend. Upon hearing that Qiao Simei’s boyfriend had returned, Qiao Zuwang’s thoughts immediately turned to Qi Chenggang's severance pay, advising Qiao Simei to make sure she secured the money.
When Qi Chenggang returned from showering, Qiao Simei introduced him to her father and asked Qiao Zuwang to lend Qi Chenggang his silhouette jacket, as Qi Chenggang had no clean clothes. As Qiao Zuwang went to fetch the jacket, Qi Chenggang fell asleep on the sofa. Qiao Zuwang then left for a bath, and Qiao Simei was about to kiss Qi Chenggang when Aunt Wu arrived with stewed chicken gizzards, interrupting the moment.
While Qi Chenggang ate the noodles, Qiao Simei cautiously asked if he had returned early, noting her careful calculation of the days. Qi Chenggang stopped eating, tears welling up, and confessed that he had been discharged from the army. He admitted his fault, explaining he had dozed off while driving on the high plains, causing an accident. He expressed fear of telling his parents and pleaded with Qiao Simei not to leave him, emphasizing his newfound lack of prospects.
Qiao Simei, unfazed by the news, comforted him and proposed they get their marriage certificate as soon as possible if he was willing. Qiao Qiqi was living at Yang Lingzi's home, learning to manage household chores and care for the pregnant Yang Lingzi at a young and impressionable age. Qi Weimin visited, finding Qiao Qiqi silent and withdrawn. Qiao Qiqi eventually broke down, asking Qi Weimin to hit or scold him, acknowledging his mistakes.
Qi Weimin, despite his initial anger and helplessness, assured Qiao Qiqi he didn't blame him, reminding him that young people are given chances to make mistakes, especially a brother. When Qiao Yicheng returned home, he found Qi Chenggang waiting outside the door while Qiao Simei and Qiao Zuwang were arguing inside. Qiao Zuwang vehemently opposed Qi Chenggang staying in their home, as he had been discharged from the military but refused to go home.
Qiao Zuwang insisted that their unmarried cohabitation would make them a laughingstock and threatened to charge rent. Qiao Yicheng sided with Qiao Zuwang. Angered, Qiao Simei left the house with Qi Chenggang. Outside, Qi Chenggang repeatedly sought reassurance from Qiao Simei that she wouldn't leave him, lamenting that he had nothing left. Unable to bear it, Qiao Yicheng brought them back inside. He then arranged for Qi Chenggang and himself to sleep outside, while Qiao Simei slept in the bedroom.
Later, while Wang Yiding was selling goods at his street stall, he got into a heated argument and fight with a difficult woman who accused him of encroaching on her business. Qiao Sanli was shocked to see Wang Yiding return home with injuries. He initially tried to lie, claiming a work-related accident, but Qiao Sanli saw through his excuses and threatened to inquire at his company. He then reluctantly confessed that he was fighting at his stall.
Qiao Sanli pressured him further, making him admit that he was trying to earn money to help Wang Yining buy a house for his marriage. Elsewhere, Qiao Yicheng questioned Qi Chenggang about his early discharge. Qiao Simei, eavesdropping from the doorway, quickly fabricated a story: Qi Chenggang had performed excellently on a mission in Tibet but suffered a lung injury, leading to an early discharge with full benefits and a new job as an officer at a public transportation company.
Qi Chenggang went along with the lie, adding that he wanted to earn more money while young to plan for marriage. Hearing the word "marriage," Qiao Simei excitedly rushed out and hugged him. Separately, Xiao Mo, embracing Qiao Erqiang, asked if he loved her and how deep his feelings were.
Qiao Erqiang responded that he was grateful for her not disliking him, for finding him a job, and for agreeing to marry him, but he did not explicitly say he loved her. The next morning, Qiao Yicheng woke to find Qiao Simei and Qi Chenggang gone, leaving only a letter. In it, Qiao Simei explained that they were going to her old house to retrieve her household registration card, then to Qi Chenggang's parents to obtain his, before getting married.
After that, they planned to travel to the "ends of the earth" to let nature witness their love, asking Qiao Yicheng not to pursue them, as she feared nothing with her beloved by her side. That same morning, Xiao Mo began cooking, as it was Qiao Erqiang’s birthday and she had the day off. She planned to cook dinner to celebrate.
Qiao Erqiang tried to decline, stating he never celebrated birthdays and that Xiao Mo, being tired from work, shouldn't bother. However, Xiao Mo insisted on celebrating his birthday and asked him to return home early after work. Meanwhile, Wang's mother demanded rent from Qiao Sanli first thing in the morning, citing it as an old family rule. Qiao Sanli calmly produced a savings book containing six months' worth of rent.
She explained that while she and Wang Yiding were willing to help Wang Yining buy a house for his marriage, Wang Yining was perfectly capable and shouldn't rely solely on his older brother and sister-in-law. She also asserted that with her and Wang Yiding's own growing family, their household was no longer solely a "Wang" family matter, emphasizing their shared responsibility. Xiao Mo specifically went to Qiao Erqiang's favorite tofu shop, only to coincidentally encounter him there.
She saw Qiao Erqiang giving Ma Suqin skating rink tickets as a birthday gift, saying he wanted to skate with her again, just once. Xiao Mo, witnessing this from outside, left angrily. Later, at dinner, Xiao Mo remained strangely quiet but eventually presented Qiao Erqiang with an expensive watch as his birthday gift, remarking that a good watch helps a man live more decently and holds its value.
Qiao Erqiang expressed self-reproach, regretting his inability to provide Xiao Mo with a more dignified life or better things. Xiao Mo's mother made a cutting remark about his lack of concrete actions, but Xiao Mo stated that she didn't care for material possessions, only that Qiao Erqiang cooked for her every day and treated her well. Eventually, Qiao Yicheng, Qiao Erqiang, and Qiao Sanli all received letters from Qiao Simei, each containing a blank postcard and a note.
The notes, though sent from different addresses, all asked them to write a message of blessing on the postcard, warning that otherwise, Qiao Simei and Qi Chenggang would never return. Qi Weimin and Qiao Qiqi also received these postcards. Despite his initial dismissal of it as "formalism" and "petite bourgeoisie romance," Qiao Zuwang eventually wrote a blessing.
Qiao Qiqi, along with Yang Lingzi, wrote a message, with Yang Lingzi making lighthearted remarks about her pregnancy and comparing Qi Chenggang’s looks to Qiao Qiqi’s. Qi Weimin penned a heartfelt wish for eternal love. Qiao Erqiang contributed a brief but loving message. Qiao Sanli wrote a practical message, urging Qiao Simei to return and clarify things with Qiao Yicheng, and to build a good life if her love for Qi Chenggang was true. In the end, even the reluctant Qiao Yicheng contributed his own blessings to the postcard.
