The Bond Episode 28 Recap
> The Bond Recap
Qiao Yicheng distributed red eggs to his colleagues, celebrating the birth of his younger sister Qiao Simei's daughter, Qiao Qiao. While discussing Qiao Simei's difficult confinement, Ma Suqin offered to help Qiao Erqiang with cooking if he was busy, and she also presented him with a soft, handmade outfit for the baby. Qiao Simei was delighted with the outfit, praising Ma Suqin's skillful hands, and asked Qiao Erqiang to invite Ma Suqin to Qiao Qiao's one-month-old celebration.
Meanwhile, Qiao Zuwang, overhearing this, was visibly displeased. Qiao Simei called Qi Chenggang to hurry him home. Qi Chenggang, who was with his mistress, received the call and, after hanging up, abruptly ended their affair, leaving her by the roadside. Xiang Nanfang's brother, Xiang Beifang, sought out Song Qingyuan to gather information about Qiao Yicheng.
Song Qingyuan defended Qiao Yicheng, highlighting his backbone, his status as a senior reporter, and a pillar of their news center, arguing that "heroes don't ask about their origins" and even reminding Xiang Beifang of their own father's humble beginnings. Xiang Beifang, however, dismissed this, stating that their potential relationship was still uncertain and he was merely inquiring. Qiao Yicheng overheard this conversation.
Later, Song Qingyuan found Qiao Yicheng, reassuring him that the Xiang family, including Xiang Nanfang's kind parents and modest older sister, were wonderful people. He clarified that only Xiang Beifang, who had a TV University diploma and married a cadre's daughter, was pretentious and overly proud. Song Qingyuan urged Qiao Yicheng not to overthink the social differences, as long as Xiang Nanfang herself didn't mind, calling him "not a man" if he continued to hesitate.
Qiao Simei called Qiao Sanli to invite her to Qiao Qiao's one-month celebration, and Qiao Sanli agreed to come. Qiao Simei also called Qiao Yicheng, but he hung up on her. Separately, Xiang Nanfang's family discussed her relationship. While Xiang Beifang expressed reservations about Qiao Yicheng's modest family background and his previous divorce, Xiang Nanfang confirmed she was serious about him, a journalist whom she described as a "very good person" with excellent character and education.
Her mother concurred that good character was paramount, and economic differences were minor, ultimately trusting Xiang Nanfang's judgment despite initial qualms about the divorce. On the day of Qiao Qiao's one-month celebration, Qiao Sanli and Qiao Simei waited anxiously for Qiao Yicheng, who eventually arrived with a "little tiger" gift for the baby. After the meal, Qiao Yicheng pulled Qi Chenggang aside for a private conversation, which made Qiao Simei very uneasy.
Qiao Yicheng asked Qi Chenggang what he thought of him, to which Qi Chenggang responded that Qiao Yicheng was an intellectual who always looked out for them. Qiao Yicheng acknowledged this but emphasized that he grew up in the alleys and, as a reporter, had encountered "unreasonable people." He issued a stern warning: if Qi Chenggang didn't settle down and treat Qiao Simei well, he would arrange for people to break his legs. Qi Chenggang stammered out an agreement.
Qiao Yicheng then pointed out that Qi Chenggang's daughter was crying and told him to go to her. Soon after, Wang mother passed away. Wang Yiding proposed buying a double burial plot for her and their father, but Wang Yining and his wife, Xiao Min, citing financial concerns, deemed it unnecessary, suggesting the crematorium or a tree burial instead. Wang Yiding insisted on honoring his promise to their mother for a proper burial.
Wang Yining then asked if their mother left any belongings, as she had been living with Wang Yiding and Qiao Sanli. Qiao Sanli presented a box of their mother's packed items, which contained a tape recorder.
They played a recording of Chen Guilan's will, stating that her 20,000 yuan in savings and her property at 382 Shuiximen Street were to be left entirely to her eldest son, Wang Yiding, and his wife, Qiao Sanli, with the property deed held by her cousin, Jiang Lihua, for transfer.
Upon hearing this, Wang Yining and Xiao Min flew into a rage, accusing Wang Yiding and Qiao Sanli of caring for their mother with ulterior motives and calling the will a "trick" lacking legal validity without witnesses. Qiao Sanli calmly retorted that neither she nor Wang Yiding had any prior knowledge of the tape. She firmly declared that what was rightfully theirs, no one would be able to seize, and she welcomed a lawsuit if necessary to clarify everything.
Qiao Yicheng cooked a meal for Xiang Nanfang, including spare ribs stewed with pickled vegetables he had prepared himself. Xiang Nanfang praised the soup, saying she could drink three bowls of it. Qiao Yicheng then looked at her and asked, "Would you be willing to drink this for the rest of your life?" Xiang Nanfang, after a moment, replied, "I'd be willing." She then asked Qiao Yicheng to meet her parents, to which he agreed.
Dressed in a suit and carrying a painting as a gift, Qiao Yicheng went to Xiang Nanfang's home, a Western-styled house, which triggered a childhood memory. He explained to Xiang Nanfang's parents that the painting was from an artist he had interviewed. Xiang Nanfang's father noted that Zen paintings, like jades, were priceless and required a true connoisseur. Qiao Yicheng mentioned that Xiang Nanfang's love for paintings was influenced by her father.
Xiang Nanfang's mother confirmed this, and her father added that a good match, like good art and friends, comes from destiny and is "never too late." While Xiang Nanfang's mother inquired about his work, Xiang Nanfang noticed Qiao Yicheng's nervousness and reassured him by taking his arm as they left. Later, Song Qingyuan was overjoyed to hear about the successful meeting, jokingly reminding Qiao Yicheng about the matchmaker's custom of receiving a new pair of shoes.
Qiao Yicheng, however, expressed his concern, realizing the Xiang family's "cadre" status was far more significant than he had previously understood. Song Qingyuan dismissed his worries, asking if cadres were somehow fundamentally different from others, and humorously flirted with Qiao Yicheng, asking if he wanted to marry him instead. In the new year, the Qiao siblings embarked on new ventures.
Qiao Erqiang, encouraged by Ma Suqin to elevate his career, decided to open his own restaurant after she found a suitable storefront and helped address his concerns about money and experience. Qiao Simei, believing Qi Chenggang's taxi work was too risky, decided to open a bookstore with him, also scouting storefronts. Qiao Qiqi, accompanied by Qi Weimin, found a location for his "Qiqi Internet Cafe." All three businesses successfully opened, marking a period of improved fortunes for the family.
When Xiang Nanfang visited the Qiao family home for the first time for dinner, Qiao Sanli and Qiao Simei repeatedly warned Qiao Zuwang to mind his manners, reminding him that Xiang Nanfang was a civil servant from a prominent family and they couldn't embarrass Qiao Yicheng. Qiao Zuwang, however, was unfazed, exhibiting a pompous attitude and boasting about seeing a foreign leader in 1971. Upon Xiang Nanfang's arrival, Qiao Yicheng introduced her to everyone.
Xiang Nanfang politely greeted Qiao Zuwang and presented him with tea and a ceramic teapot, knowing his fondness for tea. Qiao Zuwang inquired about her parents' retired civil servant status and her siblings. Later, he asked about her own work, his eyes widening with interest when she mentioned working at the Municipal Party Committee and living on the prestigious Jiangsu Road, an area he acknowledged as desirable. Xiang Nanfang then asked about his hobbies.
Qiao Zuwang proudly stated his love for Chinese chess, using an incorrect term "qie cha qie cha," which Qiao Yicheng gently corrected to "qie cuo qie cuo," meaning "to learn from each other." Qiao Zuwang quickly covered it up as common slang. As Xiang Nanfang prepared to leave, Qiao Erqiang gave her homemade sausages and salt-cured chicken, suggesting they would be convenient given her busy work schedule.
After she left, Xiang Nanfang told Qiao Yicheng she found his family "pretty cute," specifically calling Qiao Zuwang "an interesting person." She also admired the strong bond between the siblings, noting it was rare to see an adult family that still gathered so often, and concluded that his family was "great." Qiao Zuwang, however, immediately pressed Qiao Sanli for more details about Xiang Nanfang's family's "cadre" ranking, complaining that Qiao Yicheng had kept their prominence a secret.
Qiao Sanli simply urged him to practice his chess skills for his future in-law. At the bookstore, a 21-year-old girl applied for a job. Despite Qi Chenggang's initial declaration of only hiring male staff, she impressed him with her confident demeanor, good Mandarin (having been a school radio announcer), and strong academic background, explaining she had to leave school due to poverty but would have aimed for university. Qi Chenggang, instantly attracted to her, offered her a three-month trial period.
Simultaneously, Qiao Yicheng and Xiang Nanfang began their wedding preparations. The other Qiao siblings continued to lead bustling and successful lives with their new businesses. On the day of the wedding, Qiao Zuwang, meticulously dressed, once again boasted about his son marrying into a prominent family. Qiao Erqiang attended the celebration with Ma Suqin and Zhiyong, a presence Qiao Zuwang could not openly object to.
