The Bond Episode 33 Recap
> The Bond Recap
The day after their date, Ma Suqin left. Qiao Erqiang woke to find only a note on the table, informing him she had signed the divorce papers. In the note, she expressed her lasting wish for his well-being, reminding him of his child and the family that needed him. Distraught, Qiao Erqiang immediately decided to find her. Before he could leave, Qiao Zuwang called a family meeting to announce his decision to marry Qu Aying.
Qiao Simei was furious, questioning Qiao Zuwang’s sudden interest in love, given his past vices, and suspected Qu Aying was after his money. She angrily declared her right to stay in their family home, as her name was on the property deed, and refused Qiao Yicheng’s offer for her to stay at his place. Qiao Erqiang, however, expressed his support, stating that older individuals also have the right to pursue happiness. Qiao Zuwang was touched by his words.
Seizing the moment, Qiao Yicheng then agreed to the marriage but announced that the children would stop providing Qiao Zuwang with living expenses, which visibly angered Qiao Zuwang, though he remained silent. Qiao Yicheng even playfully offered to arrange a Cadillac for the wedding. Despite the family drama, Qiao Erqiang reaffirmed his unwavering determination to find Ma Suqin, believing that his responsibilities to his son and as a good person did not conflict with his love for her.
He vowed to search for her in Dongbei if she was not in Nanjing. That evening, Qu Aying quickly brought up her son, Wenbin, to Qiao Zuwang. She explained that Wenbin, who was tired of farming, wanted to move to the city for work but lacked a place to stay. Qiao Zuwang, pleased with Qu Aying's attentiveness, readily agreed to let Wenbin stay at their home.
Qu Aying then revealed what she had overheard about Sun Xiaomo's child to Qiao Zuwang, who, upon learning the news, commanded Qiao Erqiang to divorce Ma Suqin and remarry Sun Xiaomo. Qiao Simei vehemently opposed this, demanding a scientific DNA test for the child. Qiao Erqiang firmly stated his resolve to remain with Ma Suqin.
Enraged, Qiao Zuwang shattered a cup and declared that neither Qiao Erqiang nor Ma Suqin would ever be welcome in his house again, "unless he was dead." A couple of days later, Qu Aying informed Qiao Zuwang that she had to return to her hometown to assist her son and daughter-in-law, promising to be back by New Year's Day, which disappointed Qiao Zuwang.
Meanwhile, Qiao Erqiang was preparing to close his shop and travel to Dongbei to find Ma Suqin, when unexpectedly, her voice rang out from outside the shop, calling him to help with groceries. Ma Suqin had returned. She told Qiao Erqiang that she had thought things through and would not divorce him. She vowed to share the financial and parental responsibilities towards Sun Xiaomo's child, stating she understood the immense difficulty a woman faces raising a child alone.
Overjoyed, Qiao Erqiang readily agreed, only asking if she felt it was unfair to herself. Later that night, after the shop closed, Sun Xiaomo arrived. Qiao Erqiang cooked her a bowl of noodles, and she returned his savings book. He told her he trusted her, that there was no need for a DNA test, and he would raise the child, but he would not remarry her.
To his surprise, Sun Xiaomo then confessed that the child was not his; it was the son of her former superior, with whom she had been involved before meeting Qiao Erqiang. She clarified that she had severed ties with the child's father and intended to raise her son herself. Sun Xiaomo apologized for her past actions towards Qiao Erqiang and expressed gratitude to him and Ma Suqin, stating she could not wrong them again.
New Year's Day arrived, and Qiao Zuwang spent his days gazing out the door, longing for Qu Aying's return. Qiao Yicheng and Xiang Nanfang picked up Qiao Sanli and Wang Yiding. Qiao Zuwang, still angry, refused to allow Qiao Erqiang and Ma Suqin into the house, so they celebrated elsewhere. Qiao Simei openly criticized Qiao Zuwang for being infatuated with Qu Aying, much to Qiao Sanli’s confusion.
Elsewhere, Ma Suqin spoke with Zhiyong on the phone, reassuring him that she was celebrating at the Qiao family home to prevent him from worrying, though she was in reality only with Qiao Erqiang. Soon after, Qiao Yicheng, Qiao Sanli, Qiao Simei, and their families gathered at Qiao Erqiang's home. Around the same time, Qu Aying returned to Qiao Zuwang’s home with her son, Wenbin, delighting Qiao Zuwang.
The siblings enjoyed a festive meal at Qiao Erqiang and Ma Suqin's house. Qiao Simei remained resentful that they could no longer gather at their old family home because of Qu Aying. Qiao Yicheng suggested that Qiao Simei and Qi Qiaoqiao stay at his place for the night, hoping to make Qiao Zuwang realize the consequences of his actions. During the meal, Qiao Yicheng and Xiang Nanfang spoke with Wang Yiding and Qiao Sanli.
Wang Yiding assured Qiao Yicheng of his renewed commitment to Qiao Sanli after their trip to Beijing. The children played happily while the adults shared a joyful New Year. The next day, Qiao Simei returned home to find Wenbin sleeping in the main room on a fold-out bed. She immediately confronted him and Qu Aying, swinging a broom in anger. Qiao Simei remained furious, speculating that Wenbin's wife would soon follow, leading to Qu Aying's entire family occupying their home.
Despite her anger, she refused to move out, determined to "kick out the invaders." She declared her intention to constantly challenge Qu Aying and her son, feeling that Qiao Zuwang consistently sided with the "outsiders." Taking advantage of the situation, Qu Aying later approached Qiao Zuwang, complaining that Wenbin’s employer had withheld his wages. She cleverly suggested that Wenbin quit his job and work at Qiao Erqiang’s restaurant.
Qiao Zuwang, though initially reluctant, was coaxed into agreeing and called Qiao Erqiang. When Qiao Erqiang arrived, both Qiao Zuwang and Qu Aying displayed unusually pleasant attitudes, praising Ma Suqin and Zhiyong. Despite sensing something was amiss, Qiao Erqiang agreed to take Wenbin back to his shop. Wenbin, for his part, expressed eagerness to learn and even offered to work for free for the first month as a trial, as long as meals were provided.
Later, Qi Weimin, who had recently been promoted to Deputy Bureau Chief, met with Qiao Yicheng for tea. They discussed Qiao Zuwang's marriage, with Qi Weimin asserting that the elderly have the right to seek happiness, especially given that their children are often busy with their own lives. Qiao Yicheng, however, expressed his deep concern about Qu Aying, stating that unlike Uncle Ma, Qu Aying did not have good intentions.
Qi Weimin playfully accused Qiao Yicheng of always thinking the worst of people, to which Qiao Yicheng readily agreed that he was merely a "person of low character," while Qi Weimin was a "saint."
