The Bond Episode 3 Recap
> The Bond Recap
Qiao Zuwang instructed his children, Qiao Yicheng, Qiao Erqiang, Qiao Sanli, and Qiao Simei, to stay inside and do their homework, as guests were coming and they were not to emerge unless called. He warned them not to eavesdrop on adult matters. Soon, Mr. Shen and Mrs. Fu arrived. Qiao Zuwang invited the teachers inside and offered them freshly brewed tea. He then called Qiao Sanli and Qiao Simei out to greet them. Qiao Simei, who was seven, introduced herself.
Later, after the guests left, Qiao Zuwang asked the girls what the couple had talked about. Qiao Sanli said they just looked at them and asked about their age and grade, checking their faces, eyes, noses, hair, legs, and feet. Qiao Yicheng, sensing the underlying meaning, told his siblings it was time for bed. A few days later, Mr. Shen and Mrs. Fu visited again, bringing comic books and candy for the children.
Mr. Shen praised Qiao Yicheng for his good grades and hard work. Qiao Simei complimented Mrs. Fu's perm, and Mrs. Fu responded by admiring Qiao Simei's self-braided pigtails, even offering to braid them for her, mentioning she knew how to do a four-strand braid. Qiao Simei readily agreed. After the couple left, Qiao Zuwang confirmed with Mr. Shen that the adoption was agreed upon and was given the address of Siping Hostel, room 206, where the couple was staying.
He then gathered his children and announced that their family couldn't afford to raise so many, especially since their mother had passed away. He explained that Mr. Shen and Mrs. Fu, who were well-educated high school teachers from Suzhou, had no children and wished to adopt Qiao Simei, not Qiao Sanli.
Qiao Sanli immediately protested, but Qiao Simei, envisioning a life of "White Rabbit candy every day and a perm," declared her willingness to go and even adopted a new name, Shen Jingyi. Qiao Erqiang, however, was distraught, asking his father if Simei would ever return. Qiao Zuwang instructed Qiao Yicheng to pack only Simei's school books, saying the new parents would buy her new clothes and had foreign exchange certificates.
Qiao Yicheng, struggling with his emotions, chastised Qiao Erqiang for being preoccupied with television and poor grades, before lamenting that his siblings could watch TV at "Uncle Shen's" house in the future. He then gave the cake the Shen family had given him to his younger siblings, refusing to eat any himself. Desperate for an opportunity to further his education, Qiao Yicheng went to the Siping Hostel to speak with Mr. Shen and Mrs. Fu.
He pleaded with them to adopt him instead of Simei, highlighting his excellent grades, his role as a Communist Youth League member and class committee leader, and his strong work ethic. He explained that he only wanted a good environment to study and pursue his education, even offering to support himself. Mrs. Fu, with understanding, gently declined, revealing that they had a daughter who died at six years old.
She explained that they felt a strong connection with Qiao Simei because she even resembled their deceased daughter. Mrs. Fu encouraged Qiao Yicheng, telling him that like a lotus flower, he too could rise above his circumstances and achieve great things, becoming a useful person in the future due to his hard work and ambition. As Qiao Yicheng left, heartbroken, Mrs. Fu handed him a cake for his younger siblings. He returned home, filled with unspoken anger and disappointment.
Soon after, Qiao Simei was taken away by Mr. Shen and Mrs. Fu. Qiao Zuwang casually waved her off, telling his remaining children that Simei was now off to live a good life. But Qiao Erqiang was inconsolable, crying out for Simei not to leave. He desperately offered her all his White Rabbit candy and even his fried pork cracklings, pleading with her to stay. His heartbroken cries echoed through the neighborhood as Simei departed.
Meanwhile, Qi Ziqiang expressed his strong disapproval of Qiao Zuwang's decision to give away Simei, arguing that a true father would not "exchange his daughter for money." Wei Shufang, however, defended the adoption, explaining that it was a formal process through the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and that Qiao Simei would be better off with Mr. Shen and Mrs. Fu than with Qiao Zuwang. She also mentioned that Qiao Zuwang was a "sly devil" who would be hard to find.
Shortly after, Qiao Zuwang returned home in a foul mood after a failed investment with a man named Xu. He had lost his money and a bracelet he invested, and received only a small refund, leading to a heated argument and a physical altercation. Upon arriving home, he was confronted by Wei Shufang, who had brought Qiao Qiqi.
She explained that Qiao Qiqi's leg was badly injured and required long-term treatment at a children's hospital, and that a doctor had diagnosed him with congenital polio. Wei Shufang insisted that as Qiao Qiqi was Qiao Zuwang's biological son, he could not shirk his responsibility. Qiao Zuwang tried to blame Wei Shufang for Qiqi's injury, claiming she hadn't watched him properly when he fell in the house.
Wei Shufang countered that she had already spent a lot on Qiqi's medical care and that polio was a congenital condition, not caused by a fall. She sternly warned Qiao Zuwang that if he didn't raise his son, the authorities would intervene. With a tender "Second Auntie," Qiao Qiqi cried out as Wei Shufang regretfully left him with Qiao Zuwang, giving him a packet of candy and promising to visit, explaining she had no other choice.
When Qi Weimin returned home, he anxiously searched for Qiao Qiqi, only to be told by his mother, Wei Shufang, that she had sent Qiqi back to the Qiao family. She explained that a recent checkup indicated Qiqi had polio, a serious condition she couldn't handle, emphasizing that Qiqi's health shouldn't distract Qi Weimin from his important studies. Qi Weimin, however, recalled a classmate mentioning a highly capable Dr. Wei at the children's hospital.
Driven by concern, Qi Weimin went to the Qiao residence. He found Qiao Yicheng washing clothes, who responded with sarcasm when asked about Qiqi's condition and the unused medicine. Qiao Yicheng argued that he lacked the money for proper treatment as his father only provided basic living expenses, and challenged Qi Weimin's "moral high ground." Ignoring Qiao Yicheng's bitter remarks, Qi Weimin gently picked up Qiao Qiqi and announced he was taking him to the hospital.
As they left, Qiao Yicheng, despite his harsh words, secretly slipped his saved money into Qi Weimin's hand. After a long wait, Dr. Wei examined Qiao Qiqi and clarified that he did not have polio. Instead, Qiqi was diagnosed with hip joint bursitis, a treatable condition. Dr. Wei advised hot water compresses and rest, assuring Qi Weimin that Qiqi was healthy and would grow up strong.
She also praised Qi Weimin for his kindness, emphasizing the importance of cherishing sibling bonds. With this good news, Wei Shufang, relieved, came to take Qiao Qiqi back. Qiao Zuwang, visibly delighted, eagerly promised to repay Qi Weimin the money he used for Qiqi's medical expenses, even though Wei Shufang teased him about his happy face being twisted. In Suzhou, Qiao Simei, now sporting pretty pigtails and a dress, longed for her old home.
Alone at the train station, she asked for directions to Nanjing. Lacking a ticket, she cleverly followed an adult onto a train, hiding between the cars. A kind conductor, noticing her, gave her food and, after realizing she was alone and pointing vaguely when asked about her father, escorted her all the way to Nanjing. The railway police then contacted the local police, who brought Simei back to the Qiao household.
The officers praised Simei for her intelligence, as she was able to clearly state her home address and the names of her family members. Qiao Yicheng, Qiao Erqiang, and Qiao Sanli were overjoyed to see their sister return. Simei happily shared that she had lost a tooth and asked Qiao Yicheng to throw it onto the roof, a traditional childhood ritual.
Wei Shufang, who was also present, chided Qiao Zuwang for the trouble Simei's return caused, but expressed relief that the educated Shen couple chose not to pursue the matter. Qiao Zuwang, however, complained about the financial burden of his four children needing money for school, likening them to leeches "sucking his blood."
Wei Shufang then proudly boasted about Qi Weimin's academic excellence, mentioning his top ranking in a prestigious high school and even his published articles in newspapers, which further deepened Qiao Yicheng's quiet bitterness. The factory manager, Shi Weidong, announced Qiao Zuwang's new "easy job" as food procurement, claiming that Qiao Zuwang's "sly devil" nature made him perfect for it.
However, Qiao Zuwang soon discovered the role primarily involved hard labor, like riding a tricycle with Master Ma for purchases, instead of handling the actual buying. He confronted Shi Weidong, arguing that at his age, he shouldn't be subjected to manual labor, despite Shi Weidong's reminder that many older, even disabled, workers still performed hard tasks.
Qiao Zuwang claimed to be disabled too, having a missing big toe, but Shi Weidong retorted that it never stopped him from running quickly for benefits. Shi Weidong also accused Qiao Zuwang of being a lazy, "fiddling" worker who napped on the job and hinted at suspected theft from the warehouse, stating the factory would not keep idle people.
Qiao Zuwang denied the accusations and refused to do hard labor, but Shi Weidong declared the decision by the factory office was final and unchangeable. Later, Qiao Erqiang, having spent the day with Niu Ye, excitedly described Niu Ye's family's new "Xiangxuehai" refrigerator, which could keep food fresh for three days. Qiao Zuwang, dismissing the idea of their family owning one due to their financial situation and his "greedy eaters," threw down his dirty dishes. Still fuming about his new work assignment, he grabbed a rope and headed to Plant Manager Shi Weidong's house, finding him having dinner.
