The Bond Episode 29 Recap
> The Bond Recap
The day of Qiao Yicheng and Xiang Nanfang's wedding arrived, filled with celebratory cheers. Qi Weimin, Chang Xinyu, and Qiao Qiqi extended their congratulations to Qiao Yicheng. Encouraged by Xiang Nanfang's parents, Qiao Zuwang rose to give a speech. He began by expressing his joy and pride in his eldest son, Qiao Yicheng, and his new daughter-in-law, Xiang Nanfang, describing them as upright young people who love their country.
However, his speech soon veered into an elaborate and patriotic monologue about the party and national prosperity, before finally concluding with well wishes for the couple and all guests. Qiao Zuwang was pleased with his performance, which was praised by Xiang Nanfang's parents. Qiao Simei had worried he might make a scene, but he genuinely exceeded expectations, performing exceptionally well.
During the reception, Qiao Zuwang, who typically didn't drink, asked Qiao Sanli to swap his wine for water so he could toast everyone. At one point, Qiao Simei reminisced about Qiao Yicheng's earlier, clumsy days. That day marked a significant milestone for the Qiao family as they took their first-ever full family photograph. After the wedding, Qiao Yicheng moved into Xiang Nanfang's home. On his wedding night, he felt a bit out of place.
Later, he had a meal with his siblings. During dinner, he advised them to minimize visits to Xiang Nanfang's home to avoid troubling her parents and ensure the Qiao family was not looked down upon. He told them to approach him directly for any issues, rather than involving Nanfang. Qiao Sanli and Qiao Erqiang nodded in understanding, but Qiao Simei misconstrued his words, believing he saw them as a burden and a source of embarrassment.
She tearfully accused him of favoring Qiao Sanli and always finding fault with her and Qiao Erqiang, claiming they were the ones who brought him down. Qiao Sanli tried to console her, explaining that Qiao Yicheng wasn't trying to cut ties but merely expressing a concern, and that Qiao Simei was just seeking attention. Later, Qiao Yicheng visited Qi Weimin, bringing diapers for his child. He confided that Qiao Simei always ran to Qi Weimin whenever they argued.
Qi Weimin urged Qiao Yicheng to comfort Qiao Simei, acknowledging that his words had genuinely hurt her pride, and reminded him that all his siblings were just as proud as he was. Qiao Yicheng, however, explained that his caution stemmed from his own pride and a fear that their unintentional actions could lead to misunderstandings or trouble, especially with someone like their father. Qi Weimin suggested addressing their father directly rather than generalizing.
Qiao Yicheng retorted that he always spoke plainly with his family and didn't understand why his honesty was suddenly problematic. Qi Weimin, frustrated, eventually told Qiao Yicheng to leave, needing to wash his child's diapers. Meanwhile, Qi Chenggang's illicit relationship with Xiaomeng, an employee at the bookstore, continued to fester.
One rainy evening, Qi Chenggang called Qiao Simei, telling her he was sheltering at the store and asked her to put their daughter, Qi Qiaoqiao, to sleep without waiting for him, which Qiao Simei unsuspectingly agreed to. Even while out shopping with Qiao Simei and Qi Qiaoqiao, Qi Chenggang was preoccupied, taking a suspicious phone call he claimed was from a "store shareholder," and later secretly arranging a meeting for the evening.
As Qi Qiaoqiao grew older, Qi Chenggang and Xiaomeng maintained their secretive affair. Xiaomeng's behavior at the store became bolder, openly referring to herself as the "boss's wife." She also showed signs of jealousy when attractive schoolgirls frequented the store, drawn by Qi Chenggang's looks. When Qi Chenggang tried to leave to be with Qi Qiaoqiao one evening, Xiaomeng grew agitated, questioning if he was tired of her and accusing him of forgetting his past promises.
She then confessed her feelings for him, demanded he divorce Qiao Simei, and shocking Qi Chenggang, revealed she was pregnant. Qi Chenggang immediately rejected her demands, stating unequivocally that he would not divorce Qiao Simei or be with Xiaomeng. Despite Qi Chenggang's firm refusal, Xiaomeng pursued him to his home that very night, loudly calling for Qiao Simei. Qi Chenggang tried in vain to silence her, but Qiao Simei heard the commotion and came out.
Xiaomeng tearfully pleaded with Qiao Simei to grant her and Qi Chenggang their wish. Qiao Simei, her eyes brimming with tears, stared defiantly at Qi Chenggang, but he cowardly abandoned her and fled. Shortly after, Qiao Erqiang and Qiao Sanli arrived to find Qiao Simei distraught and crying inconsolably, while Qiao Zuwang cursed Qi Chenggang. Despite her pain, Qiao Simei begged Qiao Sanli not to call Qiao Yicheng, fearing for Qi Chenggang's safety if her eldest brother found out.
The next day, Xiaomeng's parents arrived at the Qiao family home, demanding 150,000 yuan in compensation and threatening to report Qi Chenggang for rape if they didn't comply. Qiao Simei, enraged, grabbed a broom and forcefully drove them out of the house, while Qi Chenggang remained silent and hidden. Upon receiving a desperate, tearful phone call from Qiao Simei, who claimed she no longer wanted to live, Qiao Yicheng rushed to the old house.
He immediately grabbed a knife, intending to confront Qi Chenggang. Qiao Sanli desperately tried to stop him, warning him not to ruin his life for such a man. To everyone's surprise, Qiao Erqiang grabbed an axe, declaring he would join Qiao Yicheng in confronting Qi Chenggang, prepared to face legal consequences together. Fortunately, Wang Yiding intervened and managed to disarm both brothers, calming a terrified Qi Qiaoqiao who had started crying amidst the chaos.
Meanwhile, at her office, Xiang Nanfang confided in Qi Weimin about a secondment opportunity in a local area. She admitted to being torn, eager for the professional growth but worried about leaving Qiao Yicheng, especially given the history of his first marriage. Qi Weimin, a colleague and a close acquaintance of Qiao Yicheng, advised her to speak with Qiao Yicheng without delay, to seize the opportunity, and to trust in their relationship.
He also subtly revealed that the secondment was a competitive "one-out-of-two" selection between her and him. Later, Qiao Yicheng, waiting outside Xiang Nanfang's office, called her. She suggested he not pick her up, citing the inconvenience of transporting his bicycle. As he waited, he overheard Xiang Nanfang and Qi Weimin discussing the secondment opportunity again, before choosing to leave without being seen. Qi Chenggang, now hiding at a friend's house, pleaded with Qiao Simei for help.
She revealed she had saved some money for Qi Qiaoqiao's future education, but it was insufficient to meet the Meng family's demands. Desperate to prevent Qi Chenggang from going to jail, Qiao Simei implored Qiao Yicheng for a loan. However, Qiao Yicheng adamantly refused, firmly stating he would not lend her any money and forbidding Qiao Sanli and Qiao Erqiang from doing so either.
He declared that Qi Chenggang should bear the consequences of his own actions, even if it meant jail time, and should not burden his wife with his mistakes. Qiao Sanli, furious at Qi Chenggang's cowardice, urged Qiao Simei to divorce him immediately, questioning why she would stay with a man who abandoned her in such a crisis.
Qiao Simei, however, stubbornly refused, crying that she had given Qi Chenggang her heart and life, and couldn't understand why he would treat her so cruelly. Qiao Sanli tried to make her see the painful truth: Qi Chenggang treated her that way because he simply didn't love her, asserting that "because he doesn't love, he is able to hurt." Despite this, Qiao Simei defiantly refused to divorce, vowing to "drag it on" and not let Qi Chenggang escape.
Exasperated, Qiao Sanli walked away, declaring she would no longer interfere. Later, Qiao Erqiang secretly handed a sum of money to Wang Yiding, asking him to give it to Qiao Simei, believing the situation needed a resolution. Qiao Yicheng later heard that Qi Chenggang had been beaten by members of the Meng family, and coldly remarked that he deserved it. He kept these troubles from Xiang Nanfang.
However, Xiang Nanfang sensed his recent preoccupation and offered her help, reminding him that as his wife, she was now a part of the Qiao family and should assist with their difficulties. Qiao Yicheng remained evasive, dismissing his worries as mere "household squabbles." The situation escalated when the Meng family renewed their threats, explicitly targeting Qi Qiaoqiao. This desperate new threat sent Qiao Simei rushing to Qiao Yicheng's home in a fit of rage and despair. Xiang Nanfang, completely unaware of the developing crisis, was startled by Qiao Simei's distraught appearance and frantic pleas for help, asking what had happened to her husband.
