The Bond Episode 6 Recap
> The Bond Recap
Qiao Yicheng and Wen Ju'an visited a city wall, a place he often went to with his younger siblings. Ju'an shared that she grew up in the countryside, often playing on large threshing grounds, which made her a fast runner. They playfully raced, and when Yicheng's shoes were ruined, Ju'an took off her own, citing the importance of a simple and hardworking life. As they watched the sunset, they discussed literature.
Ju'an asked Yicheng if he would leave Tatyana if he were Onegin, to which he replied he wouldn't. He also added that even if he did, he would not vainly chase her later, unlike Onegin. Ju'an, however, suggested Onegin was atoning for past mistakes. Gently, Ju'an rested her head on Yicheng's arm and asked about his future aspirations.
Yicheng admitted he hadn't decided, but when Ju'an expressed her desire to be carefree and unrestrained, always having a sanctuary where the noise and dust melted away, he declared he would be a tree with an umbrella-like canopy for her. Their youthful affection culminated in a tender kiss.
However, the tender moment was short-lived as Ju'an tearfully revealed that her mother's job was being transferred to Beijing, and she would be taken along, with no plans to return to Nanjing as her mother felt the city didn't suit her. Later that evening, Qiao Erqiang, Qiao Sanli, and Qiao Simei lay in bed, chatting about their idols. Simei was particularly enamored with her idol, Chow Yun Fat, declaring no woman was good enough for him.
Sanli teasingly reminded Simei of her yearly change of idols, while Simei retorted that at least she had an idol, unlike Sanli. Sanli then stated that her big brother, Qiao Yicheng, was her idol. When asked about his idol, Erqiang shyly admitted it was his Master. Meanwhile, Qiao Yicheng, still affected by Ju'an's departure, silently changed his shoes, having wiped away tears.
Unbeknownst to his siblings, Erqiang harbored a secret fondness for small animals, often feeding stray cats at the factory. He also took the initiative to block up a window that allowed peeking into the women's bathroom, though he couldn't quite shake the unsettling feelings he had for his Master, Ma Suqin. Soon after, Wen Ju'an's mother visited Qiao Yicheng, confirming that Ju'an and she had already left for Beijing.
She apologized to Yicheng, but he insisted there was nothing to apologize for, explaining that the emotions between young people are the purest, and their connection was destiny. She gave him the final payment for tutoring and, importantly, handed him Ju'an's address in Beijing. She encouraged Yicheng to carefully consider his future path after graduation, reassuring him that many years later, their current obstacles would seem insignificant.
Qi Ziqiang, confined to his hospital bed, anxiously inquired about his other children, Xiao Ya and Xiao Yi. His wife, Wei Shufang, complained that it often felt as if Qi Weimin was their only son, as the other children rarely visited or called. She recounted how she had encouraged Xiao Ya to save money by not calling and Xiao Yi to excel at the factory. Just that afternoon, Qi Ziqiang passed away.
Wei Shufang wept over his body, recalling their lifetime together without conflict and thanking him for their wonderful children. In stark contrast, Qiao Zuwang was heard cheerfully humming a tune, showing no signs of grief. Qiao Yicheng, shedding tears, consoled Qi Weimin, expressing his anger at Qiao Zuwang's indifference but acknowledging its futility.
He told Qi Weimin that Zuwang, "a person who only lives for themselves, will never understand the significance of a good person," and affirmed Qi Ziqiang's goodness as a father. Yicheng further comforted Qi Weimin, who worried about his mother, by assuring him that Qi Qiqi was fortunate to have him. In the wake of his father's death, Qi Weimin decided to accept his assigned position at a magazine publisher to help his family.
When asked about his own plans, Qiao Yicheng declared his intention to continue his studies, specifically to take the postgraduate exams at his university. He told Qi Weimin he wished to live for himself first, before living for others. Qiao Zuwang was vehemently against this, demanding Yicheng get a job and earn money instead of "spending his youth unemployed."
Yicheng, for once, stood up to his father, stating that he had paid for his Normal University education through odd jobs and asking, "If we're ranking selfishness, if you say you're second, who would dare say they were first!" He also corrected Qiao Zuwang's mispronunciation of "editor." Furious, Qiao Zuwang cursed him as unfilial. Back at home, Qiao Sanli discovered Qiao Yicheng writing a letter addressed to "Ju'an," deducing he had fallen in love.
She then remarked on Qiao Erqiang's similar behavior, noting he had been smiling to himself, wearing different clothes daily, even brushing his teeth at night, and blushing when she complimented his cleanliness, suggesting he might be dating. Yicheng, however, dismissed her concerns, believing Erqiang would confide in him if he were in a relationship. Sanli expressed her own reluctance to date, but Yicheng encouraged her, assuring her that there were many good boys.
Soon after, a distressed Qiao Simei burst in, begging Sanli for help as she had failed her make-up exam. Sanli, unable to lie, told Yicheng the truth. Enraged, Yicheng scolded Simei, reminding her that failing the exam would prevent her from getting her junior high diploma, effectively leaving her with only a primary school education. He threatened to wash his hands of her.
Despite his anger, Yicheng, ever the responsible elder brother, went to the principal to plead for another chance for Simei. The principal refused, citing school rules and criticizing Yicheng for neglecting Simei's education due to his own postgraduate ambitions and for burdening his younger siblings with household chores. At the factory, after taking a shower, Ma Suqin was called by Qiao Erqiang.
As she lingered by the curtain, Erqiang's emotions, which had been stirring since he saw her hair, urged him forward. Just then, the wind blew the curtain open, revealing her bare shoulder, which startled Erqiang. As Ma Suqin was about to leave work, her husband appeared, aggressively demanding money and grabbing her neck. While other factory workers hesitated to intervene, Qiao Erqiang courageously rushed forward, challenging the husband for hitting a woman. In response, the husband beat Erqiang.
The husband then picked up the money, feigned remorse, and hugged Ma Suqin, promising to make a fortune selling "Dongbei's banana pears" so she and their son could have a better life. The factory workers, accustomed to such scenes, merely grumbled about the disruption and dispersed. After they left, Ma Suqin, with tears in her eyes, tended to Erqiang's wounds. Erqiang, crying, questioned why she endured such suffering and offered to avenge her.
Ma Suqin, however, told him not to speak "foolish things," advising him to "laugh for other people to see, keep your crying inside," as "no one cares if you cry, they'll only laugh at you." Erqiang, however, insisted that he cared and cherished her. Ma Suqin dismissed him, telling him not to speak "such things again." As he walked away dejectedly, she called him back, urging him, "Don't speak nonsense and don't do anything foolish in the future.
Your master is still your master and will treat you as well as a master treats her apprentice. Okay?" Qiao Yicheng's hard work paid off, and he successfully passed his postgraduate entrance exams. The news spread, and a neighbor, Auntie Wu, congratulated Yicheng in the street. He flattered her, praising her "good pair of eyes, like the Monkey King," while his father, Qiao Zuwang, was heard muttering about her being a "bootlicker."
Simultaneously, Qiao Simei also received her junior high diploma. Simei excitedly rushed to Wei Shufang's newly opened small store to share the good news with her and Qi Weimin, boasting about her diploma and Yicheng's postgraduate acceptance as "two good things happening on the same day." Yicheng, fulfilling his promise, returned Simei's collection of novels to her. Simei, now feeling grown-up, had even begun practicing drawing her eyebrows.
Despite Simei and Sanli blossoming into elegant young women, Qiao Yicheng continued to worry about Simei. He discovered that she had borrowed money from both Qiao Erqiang and Qi Weimin to travel to Beijing with friends to attend a Fei Xiang concert. Realizing this too late, Yicheng confronted Erqiang, who admitted lending her money.
Yicheng then angrily confronted Qi Weimin at Wei Shufang's store, scolding him for giving Simei money and calling him "stupid" for believing Simei's story about two adults (her classmate's aunt and boyfriend) accompanying her. Yicheng accused Qi Weimin of not caring because Simei wasn't his biological sister, a claim Qi Weimin vehemently denied, asserting he had always treated her as his own sister. Yicheng then threatened Qi Weimin if anything happened to Simei.
Seeing Yicheng's fury, Qi Weimin provided him with the address of the guest house where Simei was staying in Beijing. As he stormed off, Yicheng defiantly declared that he would not repay the money Simei borrowed from Qi Weimin, adding, "This will stop you from having too much money to waste!"
